Are you planning to visit Ecuador on a holiday? Ecuador observes around a dozen national and religious holidays each year. Most important holidays in Ecuador originate from the Catholic religious calendar and from independence from Spain. During these days banks, public offices, and most shops are often closed. If a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, the local government may declare a "bridge". This means that employees can take a long weekend.
Ecuadorian national holidays
Ecuador celebrates New Year on January 1st. The celebration starts on December 31th with social gatherings, parties, rituals for good luck and a toast to a happy and healthy year ...
Carnival is a national holiday in Ecuador celebrated either in February or March, depending on the Liturgical Calendar. It lasts four days: Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Carnival has its ...
Holy Week or "Semana Santa" is an Ecuadorian religious holiday celebrated in March or April, depending on the liturgical calendar. Holy Week is an annual tribute of the Passion of ...
Labor Day is the International Workers' Day. Known locally as "Día del Trabajo" or "Primero de Mayo". Labor Day is always celebrated on May 1st and it is an Ecuadorian national ...
The Battle of Pichincha was held on May 24th, 1822 and helped Ecuador to gain its independence from the Spanish rule. A complete victory after many battles that started on ...
Inti Raymi is the ancient Inca Festival of the Sun celebrated between June 18 and June 24th - The day the sun on the equator is at his highest point ...
Simón Bolívar Day or "Natalicio de Simón Bolívar" in Spanish is a national holiday in Ecuador celebrated on July 24th. Ecuadorians celebrate this day with military parades, as well as parades ...
Ecuadorians celebrate independence from Spain on August 10, 1809. In Spanish, it translates as "El Dia del Primer Grito de Independencia de Quito" which means "The day of the first declaration ...
The Day of the Dead in Ecuador is a national holiday celebrated every year on November 2nd. Originally, it began as an indigenous tradition to connect families with their deceased ...
Christmas is one of the main religious holidays celebrated every year in Ecuador on December 25th. Most Ecuadorians are very religious and start festivities from mid-December. Though festivities vary from ...
Holidays celebrated in main cities
The founding of Guayaquil was performed by Spanish conquistador Francisco de Orellana on July 25, 1538. Its full name is "Santiago de Guayaquil". Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest and commercial city ...
Guayaquil declared its independence from Spain on October 9, 1820. The Independence of Guayaquil is considered a national holiday, but It is mostly celebrated by those who live in the ...
Cuenca is Ecuador's third-largest city, and it was one of the major cities in the colonial era as well. Cuenca declared its independence from Spain on November 3, 1820. Known ...
Quito is Ecuador's capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Founding of Quito is also known as "Fiestas de Quito". It is one of the biggest annual events in ...
Major holidays & celebrations
Are you planning your next trip to the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest? You don't know when to go? Maybe these traditional ...
The best way to explore The Ecuadorian Andes region and learn about their history and culture is to join their ...
Find holidays to Cuenca, Ecuador. Holidays in Cuenca are simply amazing. Here is an overview of most important local holidays celebrated in ...
Want to visit Guayaquil, Ecuador? Biggest port, economic capital, and Ecuador's largest city. During its festivities, Guayaquil is full of energy, ...
Are you looking for information about the holidays in Quito, Ecuador? Discover the festivals celebrated in the beautiful city of ...
Discover holidays and festivals in Riobamba, Ecuador. The best of Riobamba, from its local markets, delicious street food and closest mountains. Most ...
Discover upcoming mayor holiday dates for the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. This guide will help you start planning to make ...
The Ecuadorian Pacific Coast region not only has beautiful beaches and wonderful nature. It is also rich with many traditional ...
Traditional holidays calendar 2020
Below is a list of mayor holidays celebrated in Ecuador to plan your trip around. If you are traveling, it is important to know these dates as they can affect your travel plans. Click here to see Ecuadorian holidays calendar for these years: 2021 | 2022 | 2023
| Date | Day | Name | Local Name | Comments |
| January 1 | Friday | New Year’s Day | Año Nuevo | National holiday |
| February 13-16 | Saturday-Monday | Carnival | Carnaval | National holiday |
| April 1-4 | Thursday-Sunday | Holy Week | Semana Santa | Observance, Christian |
| April 2 | Friday | Good Friday | Viernes Santo | National holiday, Christian |
| May 1 | Saturday | International Workers’ Day | Día del Trabajo | National holiday |
| May 24 | Monday | Battle of Pichincha | Batalla del Pichincha | National holiday |
| July 24 | Saturday | Simón Bolívar’s Birthday Memorial | Natalicio de Simón Bolívar | Observance |
| July 25 | Sunday | Guayaquil’s Founding Day | Fundación de Guayaquil | Observance |
| August 10 | Tuesday | Independence Day | Primer Grito de la Independencia | National holiday |
| October 9 | Saturday | Independence of Guayaquil | Independencia de Guayaquil | National holiday |
| October 12 | Tuesday | Columbus Day | Día de la Raza | Observance, Schools |
| November 2 | Tuesday | All Soul’s Day | Día de los Difuntos | National holiday |
| November 3 | Wednesday | Independence of Cuenca | Independencia de Cuenca | National holiday |
| December 6 | Monday | Foundation of Quito | Fundación de Quito | Local holiday. |
| December 25 | Saturday | Christmas Day | Navidad | National holiday, Christian |
| December 31 | Friday | New Year’s Eve | Fin de año | National holiday |
