Cheap Flights to Quito in December
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Weather & Crowds in December
The Fiestas de Quito (first week of December) is the city's biggest party with concerts, bullfights, and street celebrations — absolutely worth timing a trip around. Prices spike the first week then drop before Christmas.
Quito in December
Split personality month — the first week is Fiestas de Quito with the city's biggest annual celebration, concerts, and parties that are absolutely worth experiencing. Prices and crowds spike December 1-8, then drop sharply before Christmas. The week between Christmas and New Year's sees another crowd and price surge as Latin American families vacation.
Events This Month
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.
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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.
Other Good Times to Visit Quito
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