Back to country calendar
Public Holiday Nationwide

Carnival

February 2026
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
Holiday selected

🏪 What's open

  • Banks Closed
  • Government offices Closed
  • Schools Closed
  • Shops Varies
  • Restaurants Reduced
  • Public transit Reduced
  • Stock market Closed
  • Post office Closed

🛋️ Long weekend potential

4-Day Block
SAT 14 Weekend
SUN 15 Weekend
MON 16 Bridge Day
TUE 17 Holiday

4-day weekend with a bridge day on February 16

📣 Traveler notes

Ecuador is a South American country located on the Equator, featuring destinations like the Galapagos Islands (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and cities such as Quito and Cuenca. The landscape includes the Andean mountains and active volcanoes like Cotopaxi.

  • Dress warmly when visiting the Sierra mountain region (e.g., Quito).
  • Adopt more casual attire when visiting the coast.
  • Use formal address ('usted') with people you do not know well.
  • Expect physical greetings, such as handshakes and cheek kisses.
  • Use 'buenos días,' 'buenas tardes,' and 'buenas noches' when greeting people. Greetings often involve a handshake (men) or a cheek kiss (women/mixed gender). When addressing strangers or elders, use 'usted' (formal 'you') rather than 'tú' (informal 'you').

About this holiday

Carnival is the festive period marking the end of the Christian pre-Lenten season, encompassing Shrove Sunday, Shrove Monday, and Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras).