Season guide · Quito · Ecuador
Quito in the main rains
February–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The wettest stretch, with heavy afternoon downpours peaking in March and April, plus Carnival and Holy Week. Expect highs up to 19°C (66°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 66 rainy days across February–May.
Key facts
- Months
- February–May
- Temperatures
- 10°C (50°F) to 19°C (66°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 66
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in the main rains
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | 19°C (66°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 15 | 12.1 h | 3/5 |
| March | 19°C (66°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 18 | 12.1 h | 2/5 |
| April | 19°C (66°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 19 | 12.1 h | 3/5 |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 14 | 12.1 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 19°C (66°F) against a yearly 19°C (66°F), and 66 of the year's roughly 144 rainy days fall in these 4 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in the main rains
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Carnival — water, foam and festivities nationwide (February or March, before Lent)
- March: Fanesca season in restaurants (during Lent)
- April: Good Friday procession of Jesús del Gran Poder from San Francisco (March or April)
Good choices for the main rains
Museum · San Juan
Yaku Parque Museo del Agua
Pair it with the Basílica del Voto Nacional, a short taxi ride or a steep walk below.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Views
- Rainy day
Museum · Centro Histórico
Museo de la Ciudad
Housed in the colonial San Juan de Dios hospital on Calle García Moreno, near La Ronda, this museum tells the story of daily life in Quito from pre-Hispanic times to the 20th century, with reconstructed scenes and models that children can follow.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Gallery · Bellavista (Quito)
Capilla del Hombre and Casa Museo Guayasamín
Take a taxi up the Bellavista hill and see both buildings on one ticket; the guided visits help explain the paintings.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Views
Museum · Centro Histórico
Casa del Alabado Museum
In a restored 17th-century house near Plaza San Francisco, this museum shows pre-Columbian Ecuadorian ceramics, stone seats and gold work arranged around themes of the cosmos and ancestors rather than by date.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Day trips in the main rains
- Papallacta hot springs (About 1.5 hours by road) — Thermal pools at around 3,300 metres on the eastern side of the Andes, fed by volcanic springs and surrounded by misty páramo hills.
- Quilotoa crater lake (About 3.5–4 hours by road) — A collapsed volcano holds a turquoise lake about 3 km across, whose rim sits at nearly 3,900 metres.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the main rains a good time to visit Quito?
It is a trade-off: The wettest stretch, with heavy afternoon downpours peaking in March and April, plus Carnival and Holy Week. The best months overall are June–September.
+What is the weather like in Quito in the main rains?
Highs of up to 19°C (66°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F), with about 66 rainy days over the season.