Comparison · Lima vs Quito · Peru / Ecuador
Lima vs Quito
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Felipe Ruiz Hoyos, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Lima for Ceviche, Pisco sour and beaches; choose Quito for Colonial Old Town, Equator line and lower day-to-day costs. Quito is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,329 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,329 km
- Less expensive
- Quito
- Best time for Lima
- December–April
- Best time for Quito
- June–September
Side by side
| Lima | Quito | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Peru | Ecuador |
| Known for | Ceviche, Pisco sour and Malecón de Miraflores | Colonial Old Town, Equator line and Andean volcanoes |
| Best time to visit | December–April | June–September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $100–$180 | $80–$150 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | February, 27°C (81°F) | July, 20°C (68°F) |
| Coldest month | August, 18°C (64°F) | January, 19°C (66°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 4 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | Costa Verde, Miraflores | — |
| Airports | LIM | UIO |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Lima for…
Ceviche, Pisco sour and beaches. Peru's capital spreads along desert cliffs above the Pacific, and for many visitors it is the gateway to Cusco and Machu Picchu. It deserves more than a stopover: Lima is one of South America's great food cities, from cevicherías and chifa to world-ranked…
Choose Quito for…
Colonial Old Town, Equator line and lower day-to-day costs. Quito sits at about 2,850 metres in a long Andean valley beneath the Pichincha volcano, and its colonial centre was among the first places listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The Old Town packs gilded churches, monasteries and plazas into a grid…
Top sights compared
| # | Lima | Quito |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plaza Mayor | Plaza Grande and Carondelet Palace |
| 2 | Cathedral of Lima | Church of La Compañía de Jesús |
| 3 | Monastery of San Francisco | Church and Convent of San Francisco |
| 4 | Larco Museum | Basílica del Voto Nacional |
| 5 | Huaca Pucllana | Calle La Ronda |
Food compared
| Lima | Quito |
|---|---|
| Ceviche | Locro de papa |
| Leche de tigre | Hornado |
| Lomo saltado | Llapingachos |
| Ají de gallina | Empanadas de viento |
Which is cheaper?
Quito is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$150 per person there, against $100–$180 in Lima (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Quito on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,329 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 8 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Lima or Quito cheaper?
Quito is usually less expensive: about $80–$150 a day mid-range against $100–$180 (estimates).
+Is Lima or Quito better for a first trip?
Pick Lima for Ceviche, Pisco sour and beaches, or Quito for Colonial Old Town, Equator line and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Lima from Quito?
About 1,329 km in a straight line.