Month guide · Quito · Ecuador
Quito in May
What May is really like in Quito: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 19°C (66°F), lows of 10°C (50°F), about 14 rainy days and roughly 12.1 hours of daylight. Rain begins to ease towards the end of the month and the countryside is green.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 19°C (66°F) / 10°C (50°F)
- Rainy days
- About 14
- Daylight
- About 12.1 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in May
May is the 8th-warmest month in Quito: days average 19°C (66°F) against a yearly average high of 19°C (66°F), and nights fall to about 10°C (50°F). Rain falls on roughly 14 of its 31 days. Compared with April (19°C (66°F)), May is about as warm; by June highs stay near 19°C (66°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:07
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 18:13
- Daylight
- About 12.1 hours
Dry season (June–September). Sunny, windy and cool at night, with the best mountain views and hiking conditions; peak demand for tours and hotels.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes May one of the better-value months to book.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Quito, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Landmark · Centro Histórico
Plaza Grande and Carondelet Palace
Start your Old Town walk here early in the morning, then follow Calle García Moreno south past La Compañía towards La Ronda.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Religious site · Centro Histórico
Church of La Compañía de Jesús
The Jesuit church on Calle García Moreno took more than 160 years to complete and is famous for an interior covered almost entirely in gold leaf over carved cedar, with Moorish-influenced patterns on its ceilings.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Art
Religious site · Centro Histórico
Church and Convent of San Francisco
After the church, visit the museum cloisters and then have a coffee in the arcades along the plaza's edge.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Art
Viewpoint · El Panecillo
El Panecillo
A hill south of the Old Town is crowned by a winged aluminium Virgin of Quito standing on a globe, assembled in the 1970s from thousands of pieces.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 19°C, lows near 10°C and 14 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Quito?
A good-value shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Quito in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Quito?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Rain begins to ease towards the end of the month and the countryside is green.
+How warm is Quito in May?
Average highs are around 19°C (66°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Quito in May?
Expect rain on about 14 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.