Machala in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Machala sees average daytime highs around 26°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 600 mm of rain over about 69 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 25°C in early December to 27°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 1% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Summer is Machala's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. Machala has little temperature swing across the year, so its calendar seasons blur — the season framing matters less here than for a place with four distinct seasons. For the whole year in context, see Machala's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 26°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 23°C
- Rainfall
- 600 mm
- 69 wet days
- Avg wind
- 6 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.3
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Machala in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 25°C in early December to 27°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Machala reaches about 26°C and drops to 23°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Machala weather by month
How the three summer months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27° / 23° | 200 | 24.7 | 12.2 | 4.2 |
| Feb | 27° / 24° | 277 | 23.5 | 12.1 | 3.9 |
| Mar | 27° / 24° | 350 | 24.7 | 12 | 4.0 |
| Apr | 27° / 24° | 211 | 22.9 | 11.9 | 4.2 |
| May | 26° / 23° | 154 | 22.5 | 11.9 | 4.5 |
| Jun | 25° / 22° | 70 | 17.1 | 11.8 | 5.4 |
| Jul | 24° / 21° | 41 | 11.7 | 11.8 | 6.4 |
| Aug | 24° / 21° | 28 | 8.7 | 11.9 | 6.8 |
| Sep | 24° / 21° | 37 | 9.9 | 12 | 6.5 |
| Oct | 24° / 21° | 55 | 16.9 | 12.1 | 5.5 |
| Nov | 24° / 21° | 72 | 17 | 12.1 | 5.4 |
| Dec | 26° / 22° | 123 | 21.1 | 12.2 | 4.8 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 1% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Machala gets around 600 mm of rain over 69 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 6 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 12 h 12 min in early December to 12 h 06 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 5.1 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Machala
In summer, Machala overlaps its monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Machala's monsoon runs January–April, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Machala?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a reasonable time to visit Machala for sightseeing.
What to pack for Machala in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Machala sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 69 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Machala in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 26°C across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 18 km away) is warmest in March at about 27°C and coldest in September near 23°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26 | Warm |
| Feb | 27 | Warm |
| Mar | 27 | Warm |
| Apr | 26 | Warm |
| May | 26 | Warm |
| Jun | 25 | Warm |
| Jul | 24 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 23 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 23 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 24 | Refreshing |
| Nov | 24 | Refreshing |
| Dec | 25 | Warm |
UV index in Machala in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 13 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Machala peaks around March 10 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near July 14 at about 10 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Extreme |
| Feb | 15 | Extreme |
| Mar | 15 | Extreme |
| Apr | 12 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 10 | Extreme |
| Jul | 10 | Very high |
| Aug | 10 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 13 | Extreme |
| Nov | 12 | Extreme |
| Dec | 12 | Extreme |
Where is Machala?
Machala sits at 3.3°S, 80.0°W, 16 m above sea level, in Ecuador. The nearest listed city is Guabo, 15 km away.
Topography around Machala
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Machala.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Machala has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 18 m around an average of 7 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 97 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,137 m.
The land around Machala is covered by artificial surfaces (64%) within 3 km, water (46%) and trees (31%) within 16 km, and trees (35%), water (34%) and grassland (21%) within 80 km.
Ecuador travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 43% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $7,125
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.1 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 70%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 45.7
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 20.1
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Low
- EF EPI 466
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Machala (-3.2589°, -79.9588°, elevation 16 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.