Otavalo weather in March
In March, Otavalo sees average daytime highs of 18°C and overnight lows near 9°C, with 218 mm of rain across 25.5 wet days and about 12 hours of daylight. It is the 7th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 18°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 0% of the time in March, and the air most often feels dry.
Daylight stretches from about 12 hours at the start of March to 12 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Otavalo's 12th-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Otavalo's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 18°
- 7th warmest
- Overnight low
- 9°
- 10th coldest
- Rainfall
- 218 mm
- 25.5 wet days
- Daylight
- 12 hours
- 6:23 AM – 6:23 PM
- Cloud cover
- 89%
- 12th clearest
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- 10th windiest
- Solar energy
- 4.79 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 3.5
- out of 10
Otavalo is city of Imbabura Province, Ecuador.
- Founded
- 1534
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in March
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 18°C through the month.
A typical March day in Otavalo reaches about 18°C in the afternoon and slips back to 9°C overnight — a 9°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 16°C and 20°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs on par with February and on par with April.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Avg low (°C) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | 9 |
| 2 | 18 | 9 |
| 3 | 18 | 9 |
| 4 | 18 | 9 |
| 5 | 18 | 9 |
| 6 | 18 | 9 |
| 7 | 18 | 9 |
| 8 | 18 | 9 |
| 9 | 18 | 9 |
| 10 | 18 | 9 |
| 11 | 18 | 9 |
| 12 | 18 | 9 |
| 13 | 18 | 9 |
| 14 | 18 | 9 |
| 15 | 18 | 9 |
| 16 | 18 | 9 |
| 17 | 18 | 9 |
| 18 | 18 | 9 |
| 19 | 18 | 9 |
| 20 | 18 | 9 |
| 21 | 18 | 9 |
| 22 | 18 | 9 |
| 23 | 18 | 9 |
| 24 | 18 | 9 |
| 25 | 18 | 9 |
| 26 | 18 | 9 |
| 27 | 18 | 9 |
| 28 | 18 | 9 |
| 29 | 18 | 9 |
| 30 | 18 | 9 |
| 31 | 18 | 9 |
Otavalo weather by month
How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 7th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18° / 9° | 175 | 20.8 | 12 | 4.1 |
| Feb | 18° / 9° | 170 | 20.6 | 12 | 3.9 |
| Mar | 18° / 9° | 218 | 25.5 | 12 | 3.5 |
| Apr | 18° / 9° | 241 | 26.1 | 12 | 3.4 |
| May | 18° / 9° | 167 | 24.6 | 12 | 3.7 |
| Jun | 17° / 8° | 84 | 17.7 | 12 | 4.4 |
| Jul | 17° / 8° | 56 | 13.7 | 12 | 5.0 |
| Aug | 18° / 8° | 32 | 8.7 | 12 | 5.8 |
| Sep | 19° / 8° | 74 | 13.9 | 12 | 5.2 |
| Oct | 18° / 9° | 161 | 22.5 | 12 | 4.1 |
| Nov | 18° / 9° | 216 | 25.3 | 12 | 3.5 |
| Dec | 17° / 9° | 202 | 23.4 | 12 | 3.8 |
Cloud cover in March
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 0% of the time in March, the cloudiest month of the year.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 3% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 97%.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Cloudier (%) | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 97 |
| 2 | 3 | 97 |
| 3 | 3 | 97 |
| 4 | 3 | 97 |
| 5 | 3 | 97 |
| 6 | 3 | 97 |
| 7 | 3 | 97 |
| 8 | 3 | 97 |
| 9 | 3 | 97 |
| 10 | 3 | 97 |
| 11 | 3 | 97 |
| 12 | 3 | 97 |
| 13 | 3 | 97 |
| 14 | 3 | 97 |
| 15 | 3 | 97 |
| 16 | 3 | 97 |
| 17 | 3 | 97 |
| 18 | 3 | 97 |
| 19 | 3 | 97 |
| 20 | 3 | 97 |
| 21 | 3 | 97 |
| 22 | 3 | 97 |
| 23 | 3 | 97 |
| 24 | 3 | 97 |
| 25 | 3 | 97 |
| 26 | 3 | 97 |
| 27 | 3 | 97 |
| 28 | 3 | 97 |
| 29 | 3 | 97 |
| 30 | 3 | 97 |
| 31 | 3 | 97 |
Chance of precipitation in March
Otavalo gets around 218 mm of rain over 25.5 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 82% and peaks near 85% on the wettest days.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 81 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 81 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 83 | 84 | 84 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 83 | 83 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 81 |
| 2 | 80 |
| 3 | 80 |
| 4 | 80 |
| 5 | 80 |
| 6 | 79 |
| 7 | 79 |
| 8 | 79 |
| 9 | 79 |
| 10 | 79 |
| 11 | 79 |
| 12 | 80 |
| 13 | 80 |
| 14 | 80 |
| 15 | 81 |
| 16 | 81 |
| 17 | 82 |
| 18 | 83 |
| 19 | 83 |
| 20 | 84 |
| 21 | 84 |
| 22 | 85 |
| 23 | 85 |
| 24 | 85 |
| 25 | 85 |
| 26 | 85 |
| 27 | 84 |
| 28 | 84 |
| 29 | 84 |
| 30 | 83 |
| 31 | 83 |
Humidity in March
Most of March feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, March lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Dry (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 100 |
| 2 | 100 |
| 3 | 100 |
| 4 | 100 |
| 5 | 100 |
| 6 | 100 |
| 7 | 100 |
| 8 | 100 |
| 9 | 100 |
| 10 | 100 |
| 11 | 100 |
| 12 | 100 |
| 13 | 100 |
| 14 | 100 |
| 15 | 100 |
| 16 | 100 |
| 17 | 100 |
| 18 | 100 |
| 19 | 100 |
| 20 | 100 |
| 21 | 100 |
| 22 | 100 |
| 23 | 100 |
| 24 | 100 |
| 25 | 100 |
| 26 | 100 |
| 27 | 100 |
| 28 | 100 |
| 29 | 100 |
| 30 | 100 |
| 31 | 100 |
Wind in March
Winds average 4 km/h in March.
Across March, daily wind ranges from about 4 km/h on the calmest days to 4 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Feels | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | calm |
| 2 | 4 | calm |
| 3 | 4 | calm |
| 4 | 4 | calm |
| 5 | 4 | calm |
| 6 | 4 | calm |
| 7 | 4 | calm |
| 8 | 4 | calm |
| 9 | 4 | calm |
| 10 | 4 | calm |
| 11 | 4 | calm |
| 12 | 4 | calm |
| 13 | 4 | calm |
| 14 | 4 | calm |
| 15 | 4 | calm |
| 16 | 4 | calm |
| 17 | 4 | calm |
| 18 | 4 | calm |
| 19 | 4 | calm |
| 20 | 4 | calm |
| 21 | 4 | calm |
| 22 | 4 | calm |
| 23 | 4 | calm |
| 24 | 4 | calm |
| 25 | 4 | calm |
| 26 | 4 | calm |
| 27 | 4 | calm |
| 28 | 4 | calm |
| 29 | 4 | calm |
| 30 | 4 | calm |
| 31 | 4 | calm |
Sunrise & sunset in March
Daylight runs from about 12 hours at the start of March to 12 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days grow by about 0 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 6:26 AM to 6:18 AM, and sunset from 6:26 PM to 6:18 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 6:26 | 6:26 | 6:26 | 6:26 | 6:26 | 6:25 | 6:25 | 6:25 | 6:25 | 6:24 | 6:24 | 6:24 | 6:24 | 6:23 | 6:23 | 6:23 | 6:22 | 6:22 | 6:22 | 6:22 | 6:21 | 6:21 | 6:21 | 6:20 | 6:20 | 6:20 | 6:19 | 6:19 | 6:19 | 6:18 | 6:18 |
| Sunset (PM) | 6:26 | 6:26 | 6:26 | 6:26 | 6:25 | 6:25 | 6:25 | 6:25 | 6:24 | 6:24 | 6:24 | 6:24 | 6:23 | 6:23 | 6:23 | 6:23 | 6:22 | 6:22 | 6:22 | 6:21 | 6:21 | 6:21 | 6:21 | 6:20 | 6:20 | 6:20 | 6:19 | 6:19 | 6:19 | 6:18 | 6:18 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12.0 | 6:26 | 6:26 |
| 2 | 12.0 | 6:26 | 6:26 |
| 3 | 12.0 | 6:26 | 6:26 |
| 4 | 12.0 | 6:26 | 6:26 |
| 5 | 12.0 | 6:26 | 6:25 |
| 6 | 12.0 | 6:25 | 6:25 |
| 7 | 12.0 | 6:25 | 6:25 |
| 8 | 12.0 | 6:25 | 6:25 |
| 9 | 12.0 | 6:25 | 6:24 |
| 10 | 12.0 | 6:24 | 6:24 |
| 11 | 12.0 | 6:24 | 6:24 |
| 12 | 12.0 | 6:24 | 6:24 |
| 13 | 12.0 | 6:24 | 6:23 |
| 14 | 12.0 | 6:23 | 6:23 |
| 15 | 12.0 | 6:23 | 6:23 |
| 16 | 12.0 | 6:23 | 6:23 |
| 17 | 12.0 | 6:22 | 6:22 |
| 18 | 12.0 | 6:22 | 6:22 |
| 19 | 12.0 | 6:22 | 6:22 |
| 20 | 12.0 | 6:22 | 6:21 |
| 21 | 12.0 | 6:21 | 6:21 |
| 22 | 12.0 | 6:21 | 6:21 |
| 23 | 12.0 | 6:21 | 6:21 |
| 24 | 12.0 | 6:20 | 6:20 |
| 25 | 12.0 | 6:20 | 6:20 |
| 26 | 12.0 | 6:20 | 6:20 |
| 27 | 12.0 | 6:19 | 6:19 |
| 28 | 12.0 | 6:19 | 6:19 |
| 29 | 12.0 | 6:19 | 6:19 |
| 30 | 12.0 | 6:18 | 6:18 |
| 31 | 12.0 | 6:18 | 6:18 |
Solar energy in March
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 4.79 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.67 kWh/m² to a high of 5.45 kWh/m² in September across the year — March's 4.79 kWh/m² falls in the middle.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Level | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 2 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 3 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 4 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 5 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 6 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 7 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 8 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 9 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 10 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 11 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 12 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 13 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 14 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 15 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 16 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 17 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 18 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 19 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 20 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 21 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 22 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 23 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 24 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 25 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 26 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 27 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 28 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 29 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 30 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 31 | 4.8 | Bright |
Is March a good time to visit Otavalo?
Our two travel scores rate March for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
March is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Otavalo.
What to pack for Otavalo in March
From March's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In March, Otavalo sees daytime highs around 18°C and nights near 9°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 26 days see rain.
UV index in Otavalo in March
Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 18 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Otavalo peaks around March 11 at about 18 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near July 18 at about 13 (extreme).
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) | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16 | Extreme |
| Feb | 17 | Extreme |
| Mar | 18 | Extreme |
| Apr | 15 | Extreme |
| May | 15 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 15 | Extreme |
| Oct | 15 | Extreme |
| Nov | 13 | Extreme |
| Dec | 14 | Extreme |
Where is Otavalo?
Otavalo sits at 0.2°N, 78.3°W, 2,532 m above sea level, in Ecuador. The nearest listed city is Atuntaqui, 11 km away.
Topography around Otavalo
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Otavalo.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Otavalo has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 386 m around an average of 2,617 m above sea level; within 16 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,572 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,569 m.
The land around Otavalo is covered by trees (26%), artificial surfaces (25%) and grassland (24%) within 3 km, grassland (41%) and trees (34%) within 16 km, and trees (66%) and grassland (26%) 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 Otavalo (0.2346°, -78.2625°, elevation 2,532 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. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).