Porto Velho: Geography and Weather

Geography

The city of Porto Velho is located on the west side in the north of the country in the western Amazon. Is the capital of the State of Rondônia, which is neighboring with the States of Mato Grosso, Amazonas and Acre, and also with the country of Bolivia.

Weather

Porto Velho is a city with a tropical climate and one of the hottest cities in Brazil. The weather in Porto Velho has two seasons: the rainy season, that begins in October and goes until May, and the dry season, June through September. The temperatures are high during the whole year, except for a short period in the end of the rainy season. When you check the average temperature you have 75 ºF. However, there are months that the temperature reaches over 100 ºF, so come prepared! Because of the hot weather the visitor should pack and wear light clothes and should keep in mind that the using of sun blocks and drinking water are very important during the whole day. 

Travelers should expect to find themselves feeling sticky and warm even when just standing. See the summary of the temperatures below:

Annual Average Temperature: 24ºC (~75ºF)

Maximum Temperature: 39ºC (~102ºF)

Minimum Temperature: 10ºC (50ºF)

Average of Maximum Temperatures: 30ºC (86ºF)

Average of Minimum Temperatures: 21ºC (70ºF)

The rainfalls in the rainy season are strong but not of long duration. Those rains only last for about 20-30 minutes, but it is enough to flood some areas of the city. Is very normal to hear the citizens complain about the rain during this period, but in the dry season, when the rain could not happen for weeks, they ask a for it lot.

Rainfall during the year (Click in the image to see it bigger)

For a visitor, choosing the best season to travel must be based on the purpose of the trip. For fishing, as an example, the end of the dry season is the best period, since levels of the rivers are low, which is good because it concentrates the fish in the deeper pools. If you are someone who enjoys adventure, you probably are going to love the many rivers, not only in Porto Velho but all over the state. We have kayaking, river falls, skydiving, cycling, trekking, mountain biking and the buggy rides inside the forest!

Level of the River (Click in the image to see it bigger) 

Sunset Over Rio Madeira by Daniel Conklin

However, if you are a calm person that prefers a relaxing walk on the beach, don’t be sad! Even though Porto Velho doesn’t have beaches, all the rivers are really beautiful to take a swim and also have fun with your family.