Illiniza
Illiniza is a stratovolcano mountain in the Cordillera Occidental of Ecuador. It is one of the 10 most looked-up sights in the country on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The best time to visit is during the drier months of July, August, and September, when rainfall is at its lowest with about 11 to 14 rainy days per month. During these months, daily highs are around 9 °C and lows reach 0 °C. From January to May, the area is much wetter, with rainfall reaching up to 355 mm and about 28 rainy days in March.
Illiniza is about 54 km from the capital, Quito. Travelers can reach the area via Cotopaxi International Airport in Latacunga, which is 30 km away, or Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, located 72 km from the site. Nearby locations to combine with a visit include Quilotoa, which is about 30 km away, and Cotopaxi, located approximately 31 km from Illiniza.
Weather by month
Temperatures stay much the same all year, around 5 °C on average. The wettest is March, with about 355 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| Average low, °C | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Rainfall, mm | 244 | 280 | 355 | 345 | 233 | 132 | 76 | 78 | 143 | 189 | 192 | 228 |
| Rainy days | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 23 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 21 | 22 | 25 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
