When to Go
Best Time to Visit
June–September. Dry season with clear Andes views; October–May is rainy season with afternoon downpours.
Daily Spend in USD
Budget
Budget
$45/day
Mid-range
$110/day
Luxury
$320/day
Excellent value; restored old-town colonial hotels in San Marcos push the top tier.
With Kids
Family Travel
The TelefériQo cable car to Pichincha, the equator monument (Mitad del Mundo), the basilica gargoyle towers.
Together
Couples Travel
A San Francisco rooftop dinner, a Cotopaxi day trip, a Mariscal nightlife evening.
On Your Own
Solo Travel
Hostels in La Mariscal and the old town are sociable; Spanish required for the markets, English in tourist spots.
Food
What to Eat
- Llapingachos. Cheese-stuffed potato cakes with peanut sauce and a fried egg — the Quito breakfast.
- Encebollado. Tuna stew with cassava, pickled onions, lime — the universal hangover cure.
- Locro de papa. Creamy potato soup with avocado and queso fresco — Andean comfort food.
- Empanada de viento. Air-fried empanada with cheese inside, sugar dusted on top — a Quito sweet snack.
Transportation
Getting Around
Trolebús and Ecovía are the BRT lines; Uber and Cabify are cheap and the safer late-night option.
Don’t hail street taxis at night — use Uber. Old town is best explored walking with a registered guide.
Where to Base Yourself
Neighborhoods
- Centro Histórico. UNESCO old town — La Compañía gold church, the basilica, Plaza Grande.
- La Mariscal. Backpacker zone — restaurants, hostels, the Plaza Foch nightlife.
- La Floresta. Hip residential side — artisan coffee, indie restaurants, the Ocho y Medio cinema.
What to Know
Safety
Use normal big-city caution; the old town is safe by day, avoid empty streets at night. Altitude (2,850 m) affects newcomers — pace day one.