Climate snapshot for alpacas
94/100Alpaca climate comfort score
12°CAverage high, Nov
2°CAverage low, Aug
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~60Frost nights per year
2068 mmAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
16Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Wet ground — 81 in of rain a year — mud, foot problems and fluke habitat
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Practically frost-free winters
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 94/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Tundra / alpine (Köppen ET). GBIF holds 52 alpaca occurrence records for Ecuador.
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10°C | 4°C | 182 mm | 139 · ok | — |
| Feb | 11°C | 5°C | 204 mm | 141 · ok | grass |
| Mar | 11°C | 4°C | 269 mm | 140 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 11°C | 5°C | 242 mm | 142 · ok | grass |
| May | 11°C | 5°C | 166 mm | 141 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 9°C | 4°C | 129 mm | 138 · ok | — |
| Jul | 9°C | 3°C | 124 mm | 138 · ok | — |
| Aug | 10°C | 2°C | 93 mm | 135 · ok | — |
| Sep | 10°C | 3°C | 84 mm | 135 · ok | — |
| Oct | 11°C | 4°C | 163 mm | 137 · ok | — |
| Nov | 12°C | 4°C | 165 mm | 139 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 11°C | 5°C | 246 mm | 142 · ok | grass |
Heat-stress index = average high (°F) + mean humidity (%). “Worms” marks months that suit barber pole worm transmission; “grass” marks the grazing season; “frost” marks months with average lows below freezing. Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (2023-2024) at -1.5°, -78.6°, elevation 3730 m.
Alpaca care calendar for Ecuador
January 10° / 4°C
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 11° / 5°C
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
March 11° / 4°C
- Toenail check and trim.
April 11° / 5°C
May 11° / 5°C
- Secure winter hay: about 16 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 9° / 4°C
July 9° / 3°C
- Toenail check and trim.
August 10° / 2°C
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
September 10° / 3°C
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 11° / 4°C
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
November 12° / 4°C
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 11° / 5°C
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: October.
- Best months for crias to be born: Oct–Dec (breed in Nov–Jan).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
- Grazing season: Feb–May, Nov–Dec (about 6 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (P. tenuis) is a North American parasite and is not present here.
- Selenium: Check regional soil selenium with your vet or agricultural advisor — many temperate regions are low.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
Places mapped on OpenStreetMap with “alpaca” in their name, within about 250 km. Contact them before visiting — opening times change.
| Name | Type | Distance | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpaka Hosteria | farm | 78 km | — |
| Alpaca Climbing | activity | 140 km | — |
| Alpaca Moda | shop | 145 km | — |
| Alpaca things | shop | 162 km | — |
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Know a farm that's missing? Add it to OpenStreetMap and it will appear here in the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Ecuador?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Ecuador scores 94/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are wet ground.
When should alpacas be shorn in Ecuador?
Plan shearing for October, once nights stay above about 38°F (3°C) but before summer heat builds.
What is the best time for crias to be born in Ecuador?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Oct–Dec. For births then, breed females in Nov–Jan (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Ecuador?
With roughly 6 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 766 lb (347 kg) — around 16 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Coordinates -1.500, -78.600. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to World.