San Ignacio sits at 1,200 metres on the edge of the high jungle, and the climate is mild year-round — daytime temperatures in the low 20s°C, cooler at night.
The dry season, May through October, is the best time to visit. Roads are reliable, the views from Cerro Campano are clearer, and excursions to the Santuario Nacional Tabaconas Namballe are feasible. June and July are the coolest months.
The wet season, November through April, brings afternoon and evening downpours. The Pinturas Rupestres trail becomes muddy and the unpaved road to Faical can be impassable after heavy rain. Coffee harvest runs from May through August — visiting roasteries is most interesting then, when fresh beans are in.
For onward travel into Ecuador via La Balsa, the dry season is strongly preferable; the road through Zumba can wash out in heavy rain.