Cheap Flights to Quito in August
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Weather & Crowds in August
Second-best month to visit alongside July — sunny, dry, and clear. The Quito Festival of Light often happens in August, projecting art onto colonial buildings in the historic center.
Quito in August
Essentially tied with July for best weather, slightly fewer crowds as European tourists return home. The wind picks up (Quiteños call it 'August winds') which can make the Teleférico cable car feel intense, but keeps the air clear. Strong month for Cotopaxi day trips as the volcano is reliably snowcapped and visible.
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Quick Reference
Daily Budget in Quito
$10-15 hostel dorm in La Mariscal, $10 food (almuerzo lunch $3-4, street food breakfast $2, cheap dinner $4), $3 local bus transport, $5-10 activities (most colonial churches are free or $2-4)
$60-80 hotel in Old Town or New Town, $30 food (nice breakfast $8, almuerzo $5, sit-down dinner $15 with drinks), $10 Uber/Cabify around the city, $20 activities (Teleférico $8.50, museum entries $3-5)
$180-220 at Hotel Plaza Grande or Swissôtel, $50 food (breakfast included, lunch $15, dinner at Zazu or Astrid & Gastón $35), $20 private transfers, $30 guided tours or spa treatments
The Quito Airport departure tax and Galápagos fees are unavoidable, but here's what most tourists miss: the free Sunday ciclovía. Every Sunday, major arterial roads in Quito close to cars from 8am to 2pm and fill with cyclists, joggers, and families — the city rents bikes cheaply at Parque La Carolina (around $3/hour) and the route goes through residential neighborhoods and parks you'd never see otherwise. It's genuinely the best free activity in the city and shows you Quito the way locals actually experience it. Pair it with the Sunday artisan market at Parque El Ejido right afterward.
Where to Stay
The UNESCO-listed historic center is where Quito earns its reputation — La Compañía de Jesús church alone is worth the flight. Stay at Hotel Plaza Grande ($120-180/night) for the splurge, or the reliable Hostal San Blas ($40-60) for value. Noise and street vendors can be intense, but nothing beats walking to the major sights before the tour buses arrive at 9am.
The gringo district — not meant as an insult, just accurate. This is where you'll find the highest concentration of hostels, travel agencies booking Galápagos trips, English-language menus, and the Foch Plaza bar scene. Hotel Finlandia and Nu House are solid mid-range picks at $65-100/night. Safe to walk at night in the core plaza area, but get in a cab or app ride after midnight.
Where Quiteños with money actually eat and live. González Suárez has dramatic views of the Cumbayá valley from its clifftop restaurants, and La Floresta has the city's most interesting independent restaurants and craft cocktail bars like Bandido Brewing. JW Marriott and Swissôtel are here at $150-250/night. This is the area for your splurge meal — try Zazu restaurant for modern Ecuadorian cuisine.
Residential neighborhood around Quito's largest urban park — good for families and runners who want to experience actual Quiteño daily life. The weekend markets in Parque La Carolina sell food and crafts at local prices. Hotels here like the Dann Carlton ($70-100) are solid value, though you're a cab ride from the historic center.
Events & Festivals
Quito's founding anniversary (December 6, 1534) is celebrated with a full week of concerts, street parties, chiva bus rides with live music, traditional dances, and yes, bullfights at the Plaza de Toros. The atmosphere is electric and entirely local — this is Quiteños celebrating their city, not a tourist production. Book hotels 2-3 months in advance because prices triple and rooms disappear.
The Andean sun festival celebrated by indigenous communities throughout Ecuador's highlands around the June solstice. The best place to witness it is actually a day trip from Quito — Cotacachi and Otavalo host multi-day ceremonies with traditional music, dance, and rituals that have pre-Inca roots. Combine with the Saturday Otavalo market for a remarkable cultural experience.
Holy Week processions in Quito's historic center are among the most dramatic in Latin America. The Good Friday Jesús del Gran Poder procession features thousands of cucuruchos (penitents in purple robes and pointed hoods) moving through colonial streets — genuinely moving and visually extraordinary. The historic center fills with pilgrims from across Ecuador, so book accommodations early and expect crowds.
Technically centered in Latacunga (2 hours south of Quito), this syncretistic festival blending indigenous, Spanish colonial, and African traditions is one of Ecuador's most visually spectacular. The November 11th version is the more traditional one (there's also a September version). Easily done as a day trip from Quito and absolutely worth building your itinerary around.
Other Good Times to Visit Quito
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