The Weather Here is Too Nice
Welcome to a hidden paradise in western Orellana province in northern Ecuador, where the climate is ideal for both comfortable living and cultivating a wide variety of tropical fruit trees.
The western end of Orellana province, where Badass Fruiterrarist Land is located, maintains relatively stable temperatures throughout the year without extreme heat or cold, with mostly warm days and a healthy balance of sunshine and tropical rain. It’s uncommon to see it rain for more than 24 hours at a time, and the weather changes frequently enough that we rarely experience any one weather pattern for too long.
In this rainforest climate, the relative humidity is never uncomfortably high, but it is sufficient to nurture an abundance of lush vegetation – ideal for regenerating forests. The frequent rain showers also contribute to the region’s vibrant ecosystem, supporting a diverse array of plant and animal life[1].
The land here is at a higher elevation than the town of Loreto, which translates to cooler temperatures, with even the otherwise hot days usually accompanied by a cool breeze.
The close proximity to Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park also has a noticeable effect on the climate, and this more than anything else is the distinguishing climatic feature of this region.
The nearby Gran Sumaco volcano is a cloud factory, with moisture from the Amazon lowlands condensing as it approaches the mountain. As a result, this area is often spared from the dry spells that occur in town[2].
The rivers and streams that flow down from the national park also contribute to the stability of the climate here, lending their thermal mass to stabilising the temperatures and providing plenty of water which the trees transpire into the air, keeping the humidity sufficiently high and ensuring that the area never succumbs to drought.
Most importantly, the stable humidity, ample precipitation, year-round sunshine, lack of a pronounced dry season, mean temperatures above 22°C in every month, and moderate temperature highs and lows make this area suitable for a wide variety of tropical and ultra-tropical fruit trees, including durian.
1.
The Ecuadorian Amazon is known as a major biodiversity hotspot, hosting species that thrive in the unique environment formed where the Amazon meets the Andes. For example, in the Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, 872 species of birds have been recorded.
2.
On multiple occasions, we have gone to town on a hot and sunny day and found upon our return that this land received a rain shower while the urban desert was baking in the sun.