Santa Elena in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Santa Elena sees average daytime highs around 29°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 277 mm of rain over about 36 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 27°C in early December to 29°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 7% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Summer is Santa Elena's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 29°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 23°C
- Rainfall
- 277 mm
- 36 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 km/h
- Travel score
- 5.1
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Santa Elena in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 27°C in early December to 29°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Santa Elena reaches about 29°C and drops to 23°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
How summer really feels in Santa Elena
Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 31 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in summer is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Santa Elena 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 | 29° / 24° | 87 | 12.3 | 12.1 | 5.0 |
| Feb | 29° / 24° | 145 | 17 | 12.1 | 4.0 |
| Mar | 30° / 24° | 143 | 17.2 | 12 | 4.1 |
| Apr | 29° / 24° | 99 | 14.9 | 12 | 4.6 |
| May | 28° / 23° | 61 | 12.2 | 11.9 | 5.4 |
| Jun | 27° / 22° | 39 | 8.9 | 11.9 | 6.4 |
| Jul | 26° / 21° | 30 | 7.1 | 11.9 | 6.9 |
| Aug | 25° / 21° | 19 | 4.5 | 11.9 | 7.3 |
| Sep | 26° / 20° | 24 | 5.8 | 12 | 7.0 |
| Oct | 26° / 21° | 20 | 5 | 12 | 7.0 |
| Nov | 26° / 21° | 20 | 4.2 | 12.1 | 7.0 |
| Dec | 28° / 22° | 45 | 6.9 | 12.1 | 6.4 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 7% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Santa Elena gets around 277 mm of rain over 36 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 8 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 12 h 06 min in early December to 12 hours 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 5.0 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Santa Elena
In summer, Santa Elena overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Santa Elena's rainy season runs January–April, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Santa Elena in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Santa Elena sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 36 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Santa Elena in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 25°C across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in March at about 26°C and coldest in August 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) | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25 | Warm |
| Feb | 26 | Warm |
| Mar | 26 | Warm |
| Apr | 26 | Warm |
| May | 25 | Warm |
| Jun | 24 | Warm |
| Jul | 23 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 23 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 23 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 23 | Refreshing |
| Nov | 23 | Refreshing |
| Dec | 24 | Warm |
UV index in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena peaks around February 21 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near July 14 at about 9 (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 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | 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 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 10 | Extreme |
| Sep | 11 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 12 | Extreme |
Where is Santa Elena?
Santa Elena sits at 2.2°S, 80.9°W, 43 m above sea level, in Ecuador. The nearest listed city is La Libertad, 6.0 km away.
Topography around Santa Elena
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Santa Elena.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Santa Elena has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 86 m around an average of 36 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 119 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 847 m.
The land around Santa Elena is covered by grassland (44%) and artificial surfaces (35%) within 3 km, water (49%) and grassland (30%) within 16 km, and water (51%) and trees (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 Santa Elena (-2.2265°, -80.8581°, elevation 43 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.