Otavalo weather in February
February in Otavalo: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 23 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#10 of 12 months in Otavalo · #779 of 1413 destinations to visit in February · comfort 71/100 (tier B)
- Days
- 19°C
- Nights
- 11°C
- Wet days
- 23
- Sun
- 9 h
- Humidity
- 84%
- Daylight
- 12 h
Traveller notes on Otavalo in February
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.
Other months in Otavalo
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.
Add your own note from Otavalo's card on the map.
Otavalo climate normals — February
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Otavalo in February
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.
Peak crowdsCarnaval, Pawkar Raymi, school holidays in 3 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).
Toughest weatherOtavalo's weather peaks July–September, best around August.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Otavalo in February
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Festival
Carnaval
14–17 FebCarnivalCrowdedClosuresMonday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday are national holidays, and the long weekend means water balloons, foam spray and flour thrown in the streets, so dress to get wet. Buses fill as families travel, and offices and many shops close. Source ↗
- Festival
Pawkar Raymi
5 Feb – 5 Mar · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedThe flowering festival runs eleven days in Peguche, built round a football tournament that brings Otavalenos home from Europe for it, plus the Nusta contest and Andean music every night. Source ↗
- Season
Wet season
MonsoonRisk23 rainy days and about 235 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.
from the climate normals
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 February — FAQ
- Is February a good time to visit Otavalo?
- February in Otavalo: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 23 rainy days. It ranks #10 of 12 months for Otavalo on SeasonMap's comfort score (71/100).
- What is the weather like in Otavalo in February?
- In February, Otavalo averages a daily high of 18.7°C and a low of 11°C, with about 234.6 mm of rain over roughly 23 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Otavalo in February?
- Otavalo has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 33 in February.
Within 300 km: Quito's Carnaval on 13–18 Feb.