Best Time to Visit Quito

When to visit Quito

June–September dry season (16–20°C days, cold nights 5–10°C) — sunny + peak. December–February mostly dry + cooler. March–May rainy afternoons but clear mornings + fewer crowds. Equator means near-constant 12h daylight year-round. Quito is a year-round destination — pack layers always (sun at altitude is intense; nights are cold).

What each season changes

Quito is the world's second-highest capital (2,850 m) — a UNESCO-listed colonial old town of baroque churches (La Compañía gilded interior, Basílica del Voto Nacional gargoyles), Mitad del Mundo Equator monument, TelefériQo cable car to 4,050 m Pichincha views, and South America's #1 Galápagos gateway (2h flights via LATAM + Avianca + Equair).

Season and price

Hotel rates in Quito follow demand more closely than weather. Shifting your dates by a week either side of a peak period often moves the nightly rate more than switching hotel category — check live prices for both before committing.

Seasonal planning tips

• Rest at 2,850 m altitude 24h before hiking or Pichincha cable car — coca tea (legal) + hydration help most travellers.

• Use Uber + Cabify + InDriver for all city trips — cheap (US$2–6) + safer than street taxis, especially after dark.

• Old Town free walking tour 10:30am + 2pm from Plaza Grande (tip US$10–15) — the fastest orientation to colonial Quito.