Best Time to Visit Quito

Two seasons, and a cool one all year

Quito sits almost on the equator, but at 2,854 m it never gets hot. Days stay mild and nights are chilly in every month. What changes is the rain, not the temperature.

The wetter months run from January to May. March is the soggiest, with rain on 26 days. Mornings are often clear, then clouds build and the rain arrives in the afternoon. The Old Town's stone streets get slick, and views of Cotopaxi and the other volcanoes are often hidden. Sun is scarce, so it can feel gloomy.

June to September: the best window

July, August and September score Excellent. August is the driest, with rain on just 8 days. You get the best odds of clear skies for the TelefériQo cable car, which climbs the slope of Pichincha volcano. Views from the top are far better in the morning, before clouds drift in. This is also the best stretch for day trips to Cotopaxi National Park, the Quilotoa crater lake and the Mindo cloud forest. Hiking is far more pleasant when the trails aren't mud.

It's also the busiest time. Many visitors come in these months, and the Galápagos trips many people pair with Quito are in demand. Hotels in the Old Town and La Mariscal fill faster, so book early if you're set on August.

October to December: quieter, with festivals

These months are cloudier and rain returns on most days, though showers are short. It's a good fit if you want fewer people and don't mind carrying an umbrella through the Plaza Grande.

Early December is the city's big party. The Fiestas de Quito, around 6 December, mark the city's founding with street parades, music and chivas, which are open-sided party buses. Hotels are busier then. Late February or early March brings Carnival, which is famous for water fights. You'll be wet whatever the sky is doing. Holy Week in the Old Town, around Easter, draws huge crowds to the Good Friday procession of Jesus del Gran Poder. Dress warmly for it.

Travelling on a budget, or hate crowds? Try June or October. You'll get a mix of dry mornings and fewer visitors.