Ecuador · Stays via Expedia
Anniversary Getaway in Quito
Planning a anniversary getaway in Quito? Compare hotels and vacation rentals on Expedia — a boutique hotel for two or a private home with a view, whatever makes the trip. Celebrate the years with a trip that feels like a gift.
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Planning a anniversary getaway in Quito
UNESCO colonial centre at 2,850 m, the equator monument, Galápagos flights from the airport. For two, decide between a hotel with service and a private rental with space — Expedia lists both in Quito, so you can weigh price, location and reviews in one search.
What to eat in Quito
Highland Quito eats pork: hornado roasted whole and carved to order, fritada simmered then fried, both arriving with mote, llapingachos and hot aji. The Mercado Central near Plaza del Teatro serves all of it at lunch counters for a few dollars. Coastal encebollado, a tuna and cassava soup, is the recognised hangover cure. Canelazo, hot aguardiente with naranjilla and cinnamon, is drunk against the cold.
Quito after dark
La Mariscal, once the backpacker centre around Plaza Foch, has emptied out after years of pressure, and the crowd has moved to La Floresta and Guapulo. La Ronda in the old town revives on Friday and Saturday evenings with canelazo stalls and empanadas de viento, then goes dead on weeknights. Taxi back rather than walk; old-town streets darken early.
What's actually worth your time in Quito
The Basilica del Voto Nacional swaps gargoyles for Galapagos tortoises, iguanas and boobies, and the climb across open roof beams into the clock tower is the genuine thrill, not the nave. La Compania de Jesus is coated in gold leaf and earns its ticket. The TelefériQo lifts you to roughly 4,050 metres on Pichincha. Mitad del Mundo's monument stands a couple of hundred metres off the true equator.
When the weather turns in Quito
The wet season runs roughly October to May and rain lands as a hard afternoon downpour that clears. Duck into Casa del Alabado, the Centro Cultural Metropolitano, or the San Francisco church complex, whose cloisters and museum stay dry. Quicentro and El Jardin are the northern covered malls. Sitting on the equator, Quito needs an umbrella rather than a coat whatever the month.
What first-timers get wrong in Quito
At 2,850 metres the first day should be flat and slow, and alcohol hits harder than expected. The Metro charges 45 cents while the Trolebus and Ecovia take 35, all shifting onto the Tarjeta Ciudad card rather than cash. Ecuador uses the US dollar and nobody has change for a twenty. Use an app or a licensed rank; flagging cabs after dark is unwise.
When to go to Quito
| Best months for anniversary getaway | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| August | 19°C / 66°F | 10 days |
| July | 17°C / 63°F | 10 days |
| September | 19°C / 66°F | 12 days |
The month to avoid is January — around 17°C (63°F) with roughly 23 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: August is the sweet spot, January the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Layers — t-shirts under a light jacket or sweater, Evenings turn genuinely cool — pack a warm layer for after dark, A packable rain shell or compact umbrella earns its space, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.
Where to base yourself in Quito
- 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.
Common questions
What's the best stay for an anniversary?
For two, a romantic boutique hotel or a private whole-home rental with a view, a hot tub, or a great terrace makes the trip. Choose somewhere central so you can walk to dinner without a car.
How do we make it special?
Book a place with a standout feature — a plunge pool, a sea or skyline view, a fireplace — and pick a walkable neighbourhood near the restaurants and sights you want. Mention the occasion; many hosts and hotels add a small touch.
When should we book?
Two to three months ahead for weekends; sooner for peak season or a specific view. Free-cancellation listings let you hold the date and adjust if plans change.
Where should we stay for a anniversary getaway in Quito?
In Quito the areas worth basing yourself in are 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). UNESCO colonial centre at 2,850 m, the equator monument, Galápagos flights from the airport. On Expedia, compare hotels and whole-home rentals side by side, sort by guest rating, and check free-cancellation terms before booking.
When is the best time for a anniversary getaway in Quito?
August (around 19°C, ~10 rain days), July (around 17°C, ~10 rain days), September (around 19°C, ~12 rain days) rate best on Quito's 5-year climate normals. January is the month most groups skip.