Otavalo weather in December
December in Otavalo: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 24 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#7 of 12 months in Otavalo · #583 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 76/100 (tier B)
- Days
- 19°C
- Nights
- 11°C
- Wet days
- 24
- Sun
- 9.6 h
- Humidity
- 83%
- Daylight
- 12 h

Traveller notes on Otavalo in December
Other months in Otavalo
Otavalo forum threads describe February as sitting near the wettest stretch of the local rainy season, though rain is typically limited to a few hours, usually in the afternoon, rather than dominating the whole day. Daytime highs were described as reaching into the mid-70s Fahrenheit with genuinely cool nights - sweater weather most evenings - and the high-altitude setting keeps humidity low even during rain spells. None of this was framed as a reason to skip the famous Saturday market, which draws vendors from across the region for one of the Andes' most significant indigenous markets, alongside the smaller daily produce market.
Forum posters name June through August as Ecuador's preferred travel window overall, including the Andean sierra where Otavalo sits, though posters are careful to note the region's 'dry season' label doesn't mean an absence of rain - just less of it than the wetter months. Typical August temperatures in the northern highlands run roughly 45F at night up to 65-75F by day, with real day-to-day variability driven by altitude and local microclimates. Posters recommend waterproof hiking shoes and a rain layer regardless of the generally favorable season, citing personal experience getting caught in rain in this exact region even during the preferred June-August stretch. Otavalo's famous Saturday market is the clear year-round draw, unaffected by which side of the wet/dry line a given week falls on.
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Otavalo climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Otavalo in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyAno Viejo effigies, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Otavalo's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherOtavalo's weather peaks July–September, best around August.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Otavalo in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Festival
Kapak Raymi
19–23 Dec · usuallyMajor festivalThe December solstice festival, one of the four Andean raymis, is being revived by Otavalo's communities as a rite of passage for children and teenagers, alongside the town's Christmas celebrations. Source ↗
- Holiday
Ano Viejo effigies
28–31 DecChristmas & New YearCrowdedLife-size effigies of the old year, often mocking politicians and celebrities, go on sale and on show in the days before New Year's Eve, then are burned in the street at midnight. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Otavalo — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Otavalo?
Otavalo in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Otavalo?
- December in Otavalo: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 24 rainy days. It ranks #7 of 12 months for Otavalo on SeasonMap's comfort score (76/100).
- What is the weather like in Otavalo in December?
- In December, Otavalo averages a daily high of 18.7°C and a low of 10.7°C, with about 197.9 mm of rain over roughly 24.1 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Otavalo in December?
- Otavalo has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 25 in December.
Within 300 km: Quito's Fiestas de Quito on 1–6 Dec.