You’ve probably heard about the planned power cuts in mainland Ecuador caused by a lack of rain in a country largely dependent on hydroelectric power. I recently spent two weeks touring mainland Ecuador and am happy to report that, as a traveler, I was virtually unaffected by the outages and had a wonderful time. I belong to Facebook groups like Ecuador Travel Information and found that other travelers were reporting the same positive experiences as they traveled through the country.
It's important to note that outages will be reduced and fade as the country moves into its wet season. Those most affected right now are the people of Ecuador, who must plan for scheduled power outages in their homes and businesses. It’s admirable how most take it in stride.
More than 70% of the country’s power is generated hydroelectrically. The North American summer months tend to be dry in the Ecuadorian Andes and Amazon, but conditions were much drier than usual in 2024, dropping reservoir and river levels, especially in the Amazon. There are reports that this is yet another consequence of global warming, with similar situations in Colombia and Bolivia due to the lack of rain.
The arrival of fall in North America typically signals the start of the wet season in mainland Ecuador. Though it has rained, it hasn’t yet been enough to refill reservoirs; however, heavier rains are now falling in the Amazon, bringing water levels back up.
One might ask why a country with sunlight 12 hours a day, 365 days a year, isn’t more reliant on solar energy. Many Ecuadorians are asking the same question. The answer is that in 2008 a change to the country’s constitution placed electricity under government control, which limited private investment in power. With the election of President Daniel Noboa in November 2023, there may be future changes, but for now, Ecuador remains reliant on rain for electricity.
Here's an overview of how power outages affect different locations and sectors and how to plan for them on your travels through Ecuador:
- Airports: Quito International Airport remains unaffected by power outages and has its own backup generators when grid power isn’t available. I work with guests flying in and out of Ecuador’s airports daily and have yet to hear of any issues related to power outages affecting their airport experiences.
- Traffic: Traffic is the area that affects travelers the most, as they may drive through areas where traffic lights are blinking or out. However, Ecuadorian drivers seem to handle these situations well. Many roundabouts make lights unnecessary, and the authorities deploy Metropolitan Traffic Agents to key intersections during peak hours when lights aren’t working. At Quasar, we always plan to avoid peak traffic, whether outages are occurring or not.
One piece of advice I’ve advocated for 20 years is not to rent your own car in mainland Ecuador. Let someone else do the driving, whether a private transfer, taxi, or shuttle. Ecuadorians have a different sense of space and timing compared to North Americans, and the logistics—parking, liability, etc.—can be a hassle. For instance, what would you do in the event of even a minor accident? Getting a driver is not only cost-effective but also provides work for locals.
I plan many mainland Ecuador tours for my guests, organizing itineraries to avoid traffic or selecting routes designed to minimize delays while providing top-notch service. A good tip is to work with someone who really knows mainland Ecuador to plan a trip as carefree as possible.
The Galapagos Islands: Most travelers to Ecuador are heading to Galapagos, so I’ll mention it here. The Galapagos Islands remain unaffected by mainland power outages. If you’re traveling on a yacht, it will have its own generators. On land, infrastructure in the Galapagos relies on independent power sources and is not connected to the mainland grid.
The Amazon and Ecuadorian Cloud Forest: Amazon lodges like Sacha Lodge, La Selva, and Napo Wildlife Center operate on generators, as do lodges like Mashpi in the Cloud Forest. The same is true of river cruise vessels. Some smaller lodges in areas like Mindo and other parts of the Andes may be affected, so check with them ahead of time.
The Andean Highlands: Haciendas and hotels generally have backup generators. It’s best to check in advance with smaller properties. Mostly, you’ll be affected by traffic and by the availability of credit card machines and ATMs (see below).
Quito: This is the area most affected, especially with traffic. I recommend visiting Quito primarily for the colonial section; by staying there and traveling to and from the old town late at night or early in the morning, you can avoid most traffic issues caused by outages. Most hotels in Quito have backup generators, though budget hotels may not. The more time you spend in Quito, the more likely you’ll be affected by these issues, especially traffic delays.
Other Parts of Ecuador: You’ll see a trend here—many hotels and restaurants have backup generators, and the traffic system is affected by power losses. Be sure to call your accommodations ahead of time to ask about local conditions.
ATMs: When power is out at a bank, cash machines may not work unless there’s a generator. This was generally not an issue at larger banks like Banco Pichincha, which typically offers multiple cash machines, while smaller banks with only one machine might be down. For reliable access, try ATMs at shopping malls like Quicentro, Mall El Jardín, or Scala Shopping.
Credit Cards: Credit cards are widely accepted in Ecuador, but power outages may affect the connection of point-of-sale machines. Vendors usually try to work around this by moving devices to a powered area. Keep some cash on hand as a backup.
As the wet season progresses through November and beyond, power cuts will lessen and eventually stop, with reports already showing reductions. In the meantime, rest assured that you’ll have a wonderful time in this beautiful and friendly country while being minimally affected by power outages, even at this writing.