Quito is known for its high altitude and spring-like weather all year round, and both of these things combine to make the place a bit exotic, especially compared to other large cities in South America. It’s also a hub and starting point for those planning a visit to the Galapagos Islands.
| Population | 1,400,000 |
| Area | 1,900,000 |
| Timezone | UTC-5 |
| Currency | US dollar |
| Airports | Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) |
It’s becoming a popular stop for those who are touring around the continent, and fortunately for the budget traveler it’s quite cheap by international standards. Basic hotel rooms are available for a very low price, with reasonable quality available for not much more. Several hostels in the city also offer backpacker-friendly prices, and many also have affordable private rooms.
Hotels in Quito are fairly busy through the year, though they are most popular during high season from June through August, as well as during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday weeks. The rest of the year is basically low season, so it’s easier to find good deals, especially at the fancier places.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 12.00 - 20.00 |
| 36.00 - 51.00 |
| 28.00 - 87.00 |
| 46.00 - 112.00 |
| 159.00 - 284.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 6.00 - 12.00 |
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museo del Banco Central | The city's main museum mixes both history and art from the region. You can hire a guide for an extra fee. | adults | 2.00 |
| Teleferico cable car | Since 2005 this cable car has been offering stunning views of the area. | foreigners locals | 8.00 4.00 |
Food and drinks are available in all price ranges. If you concentrate more on street fare and the things locals generally eat then you can stuff yourself for very little, but tourist-oriented restaurants are less cheap, though they do make things easy if you don’t speak much Spanish.
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | If your hotel doesn't include breakfast you'll be able to find local places serving great budget options. | 2.00 - 4.00 |
| Budget lunch | Following the locals will lead to filling combo plates like chicken and rice for very little money. | 3.00 - 5.00 |
| Budget dinner | Proper restaurants in Quito have a great price range, and those on a budget should skip the touristy places. | 4.00 - 9.00 |
| Beer (.33l bottle) | Pilsener is the name of the local lager and it's cheap most places in Quito. | 1.00 - 2.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from new airport to city center | 22.00 - 46.00 |
| Airport Express Bus from airport to city | 8.00 |
| Public bus from airport to city | 2.00 |
| 3km taxi ride in Quito | 1.00 - 4.00 |
| Bus ride in Quito | 0.00 - 0.00 |
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 66 | 50 | 4.5 |
| February | 66 | 50 | 5.1 |
| March | 66 | 50 | 6.0 |
| April | 66 | 51 | 6.9 |
| May | 66 | 51 | 4.9 |
| June | 67 | 49 | 1.9 |
| July | 67 | 49 | 0.8 |
| August | 67 | 49 | 1.0 |
| September | 68 | 49 | 3.1 |
| October | 67 | 49 | 5.3 |
| November | 67 | 49 | 4.3 |
| December | 66 | 50 | 4.1 |
In Quito every day feels like spring. At a high elevation and near the equator, the temperatures barely change at all throughout the year. The dry season runs from June through September, so this is the easiest on travelers, but the wet season during the rest of the year rarely gets too bad anyway.
| 21 Mar | 6:18am | 6:24pm |
| 21 Jun | 6:13am | 6:19pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:04am | 6:10pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:08am | 6:16pm |