The Annual Ecuadorian Cultural Calendar

Last Updated: March 2026

Planning your travel around local festivals is one of the best ways to experience the real Ecuador. Whether you are looking to run the Jondachi Fest whitewater race, get soaked during Baños Carnival, or witness the massive Diablada de Píllaro, timing is everything. Because some festival dates shift slightly from year to year (especially events tied to Easter, equinoxes, or local municipalities), I regularly verify and update this guide so you can build your itinerary with confidence.

• Diablada de Píllaro (Festival of the Devils)

  

  Location: Píllaro, Tungurahua Province (near Baños)
  Dates: January 1 – 6
  Description: A masked folk dance and street celebration where participants wear terrifying, elaborate devil masks and costumes. This is a recognized National Cultural Heritage event.

• Jondachi Fest

  

  Location: Tena, Napo Province
  Dates: Mid-January (Dates vary slightly each year)
  Description: A grassroots whitewater festival bringing together local and international paddlers to celebrate free-flowing rivers in the Amazon basin. The highlight is the extreme race on the Upper Jondachi—just make sure to nail down the local logistics and exact locations for the put-in and finish line beforehand so you don't miss the action!

• Festival of Santa Fe de Galán

  Location: Santa Fe de Galán, Chimborazo Province (Rural Area)
  Dates: January 21
  Description: A traditional festival connected to the rural environment and agricultural calendar of the Chimborazo province, offering a glimpse into local highland life.

• Feast of the Earthquake Lord (Señor del Terremoto)

  Location: Patate, Tungurahua Province (Small Andean Town)
  Dates: February 4 (Fixed Date)
  Description: A deeply religious festival in the small town of Patate to honor the patron saint credited with protecting the town from disaster. Includes masses, traditional balls, and fireworks.

• Virgen de la Caridad Festival

  Location: Carchi Province (Northern Highlands)
  Dates: February 2
  Description: A traditional religious festival in the Carchi province featuring local dances, fireworks, cow capture, and ball games, showing the mixture of mountain and religious customs.

• Yuca Festival (Fiesta de la Yuca)

  Location: Amazonian Villages (Záparos and Kichwas communities)
  Dates: Variable, between January and March
  Description: A typical festival of the Ecuadorian Amazon where villages of the Záparos and Kichwas sing tributes to celebrate the ripening of the yuca (cassava) fruit, a staple crop.

• Day of the Amazon (Día del Oriente)

  Location: Tena, Puyo, Macas, and Zamora
  Dates: February 12
  Description: Marking the anniversary of the discovery of the Amazon River, this day is celebrated across the major jungle hubs with local fairs, parades, and cultural events highlighting the region's rich heritage.

• Carnival in Baños

  

  Location: Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua Province
  Dates: Mid-February (Moveable dates tied to Ash Wednesday)
  Description: Baños offers a high-energy mix of street parties, concerts, adventure sports, and the traditional water and foam fights.

• Fiesta de la Virgen de Agua Santa (February Celebration)

  

  Location: Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua Province
  Dates: Variable, often coinciding with Carnival
  Description: A religious devotion to the town's patron saint, including the procession of Las Yuntas and the burning of the traditional Chamiza (bonfire) in front of the Basilica.

• Carnival of Guaranda

  Location: Guaranda, Bolívar Province
  Dates: The days leading up to and including the main Carnival dates (Moveable dates tied to Ash Wednesday)
  Description: Considered one of the most important Carnival festivals in Ecuador, featuring parades, traditional dances, and the local chicha and Pájaro Azul liquor.

• Festival of Fruits and Flowers

  Location: Ambato, Tungurahua Province
  Dates: Variable, usually coincides with Carnival
  Description: A more elegant, cultural Carnival alternative to water fights, featuring stunning floats decorated entirely with flowers, fruits, and bread.

• Paucar Raymi (Spring Equinox)

  

  Location: Northern Highlands (Especially Otavalo and surrounding communities)
  Dates: Around March 21
  Description: An indigenous Andean celebration of the spring equinox, water, and the blossoming of crops. It features vibrant floral offerings, traditional water ceremonies, and community gatherings.

• Semana Santa (Holy Week)

  

  Location: Throughout the country (most notable in Quito)
  Dates: Late March or April (Moveable dates tied to Easter)
  Description: Religious processions and masses, with the most famous being the Jesús del Gran Poder procession in Quito. A traditional meatless soup called Fanesca is eaten.

• Fiestas de Riobamba (Battle of Tapi)

  Location: Riobamba, Chimborazo Province
  Dates: Events throughout April, peaking on April 21
  Description: Riobamba celebrates its independence with massive civic parades, concerts, and the famous Rodeo Macají, which draws Andean cowboys (chagras) from across the country for major equestrian competitions.

• Battle of Pichincha (Batalla de Pichincha)

  Location: Nationwide (Major parades in Quito)
  Dates: May 24
  Description: A major national public holiday commemorating the 1822 battle that secured independence. Expect civic events, military parades, and school bands, especially in the capital.

• Corpus Christi & Los Danzantes

  Location: Pujilí, Cotopaxi Province (and Cuenca for the sweets festival)
  Dates: Late May / Early June (Moveable feast, 60 days after Easter)
  Description: While Cuenca hosts a massive traditional sweets market, Pujilí puts on a spectacular parade featuring the Danzantes—dancers wearing incredibly heavy, ornate headdresses in a stunning mix of indigenous and Catholic traditions.

• Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun)

  Location: Throughout the Andean Highlands (Most notable in Otavalo and Cañar)
  Dates: Begins around June 21
  Description: An ancient Incan celebration marking the winter solstice and giving thanks to the sun god for the harvest. Celebrated with traditional music, dancing (especially the San Juan dances), and the consumption of chicha de jora.

• Fiesta de San Pedro y San Pablo

  Location: Coastal villages and highland towns like Cayambe, Alausí, and Pomasqui
  Dates: Around June 28 – 29
  Description: Celebrates St. Peter and St. Paul with large communal gatherings, music, dancing, and sometimes mock bullfights.

• Paseo Procesional del Chagra

  Location: Machachi, Cotopaxi Province
  Dates: Last Sunday of July
  Description: A colorful, highly celebrated parade where chagras (Andean cowboys) ride through the town in traditional dress, demonstrating their horsemanship.

• Fiestas Julianas (Foundation of Guayaquil)

  Location: Guayaquil, Guayas Province
  Dates: Events all month, culminating on July 25
  Description: July is essentially a month-long party in Guayaquil celebrating its foundation. It features massive civic and military parades, art exhibitions, and concerts along the Malecón 2000.

• First Shout of Independence

  

  Location: Throughout the country (major celebrations in Quito)
  Dates: August 10
  Description: A national holiday celebrating the beginning of the independence movement. Marked by military and civic parades.

• Festival of the Chonta

  Location: Amazonian Communities (Shuar and Kichwa nationalities)
  Dates: August (Dates vary by community)
  Description: An essential Amazonian event marking the harvest of the chonta palm fruit. It involves traditional dances, the communal brewing of chonta chicha, and rituals expressing gratitude to the earth.

• Pilgrimage of La Virgen del Cisne

  Location: El Cisne to Loja, Loja Province
  Dates: Mid-August (Walk typically begins August 15)
  Description: One of South America's largest religious events. Thousands of pilgrims walk for three days carrying the statue of the Virgin Mary from the rural sanctuary of El Cisne to the main cathedral in Loja.

• Yamor Festival

  

  Location: Otavalo, Imbabura Province
  Dates: First two weeks of September
  Description: The "Festival of Yamor" celebrates the harvest of corn and the blend of indigenous and Catholic traditions, featuring music, dance, and the traditional chicha drink.

• Kulla Raymi (Autumn Equinox)

  Location: Andean Highlands
  Dates: Around September 21
  Description: An indigenous Andean festival marking the autumn equinox. It is dedicated to feminine energy, fertility, and the preparation of the earth (Pachamama) for receiving new seeds.

• Mama Negra (La Santísima Tragedia)

  Location: Latacunga, Cotopaxi Province
  Dates: End of September (First of two annual celebrations)
  Description: A spectacular, theatrical parade honoring the Virgin of Mercy and celebrating diverse cultural heritages (indigenous, Spanish, and African) with elaborate costumes and characters.

• Independence of Guayaquil

  Location: Nationwide (Centered in Guayaquil)
  Dates: October 9
  Description: A massive national holiday that often creates a long weekend. It is heavily celebrated on the coast with parades, cultural events, and parties.

• Fiestas Octubrinas (Festival of October)

  Location: Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua Province
  Dates: Primarily October 7 through the end of the month
  Description: A major religious and cultural celebration dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary of Agua Santa, featuring chicha preparation, processions, games, and late-night albazos (parties with fireworks).

• Day of the Dead / All Souls' Day

  Location: Throughout the country (especially Cuenca and indigenous communities)
  Dates: November 2
  Description: A family-focused holiday where graves are visited and cleaned. The traditional meal is guaguas de pan (bread figures) and colada morada (a sweet, purple spiced drink).

• Independence of Cuenca

  Location: Cuenca, Azuay Province
  Dates: November 3
  Description: A massive civic and cultural celebration in the city of Cuenca, featuring craft fairs, art exhibitions, and traditional music.

• Mama Negra (La Gesta Cívica)

  Location: Latacunga, Cotopaxi Province
  Dates: Saturday closest to November 11 (Second and largest annual celebration)
  Description: A repeat of the spectacular September parade, but this time celebrated as a major civic festival.

• Fiestas de Quito

  Location: Quito, Pichincha Province
  Dates: Late November – December 6
  Description: A vibrant, week-long civic celebration of the city's founding.

• Baños Cantonization Celebration

  Location: Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua Province
  Dates: December 16
  Description: Commemoration of the town's founding as a canton, celebrated with parades and civic ceremonies.

• Kapak Raymi (Winter Solstice)

  Location: Andean Highlands (Notable in Saraguro and other indigenous communities)
  Dates: Around December 21
  Description: The Andean celebration of the winter solstice, focusing on masculine energy, community leaders, and the transition of responsibilities to the community's youth.

• Carrera de Coches de Madera (Push Car Gravity Race)

  Location: Baños de Agua Santa, Tungurahua Province
  Dates: Typically during the second week of December (as part of Cantonization Fiestas)
  Description: The thrilling race where teams push and ride custom-built wooden vehicles down the streets.

• Festival of the Innocents and the End of the Year

  Location: Atuntaqui, Imbabura Province
  Dates: December 26 – December 31
  Description: A unique festival culminating with the Año Viejo celebrations.

• Pase del Niño Viajero

  Location: Cuenca, Azuay Province
  Dates: December 24
  Description: Cuenca's most emblematic Christmas tradition. This massive, hours-long Christmas Eve parade features a spectacular blend of Catholic devotion and Andean cultural folklore winding through the historic center.

• Año Viejo (Burning of the Old Year)

  Location: Throughout the Country (Most notable in Guayaquil)
  Dates: December 31
  Description: A nationwide custom where large, often satirical, effigies (monigotes) are constructed and burned at midnight to symbolically welcome the new year.