Why Honeymoon in Quito
Quito rewards slow travelers. Mornings are crisp and bright, the light is sharp at this altitude and the old town is compact enough to explore on foot. You can wander from Plaza Grande, with its presidential palace and shoe-shiners, to the stone-paved Plaza San Francisco in five minutes.
The city has a romantic streak that the guidebooks undersell. Evenings turn cold, so hotels light fireplaces and restaurants serve hot canelazo, a cinnamon and cane-spirit drink, by the door. La Ronda, a narrow colonial lane, fills with musicians and snack stalls on weekend nights.
Then there is the setting. Within a two-hour drive you can stand beside a glacier-topped volcano, walk a hacienda's gardens or listen to hummingbirds in the cloud forest. Couples who treat Quito as a base for those outings, rather than a layover, tend to enjoy it most. It is also a gentle introduction to Ecuador's food, since chefs in the capital are working with ingredients from every region of the country.
When to Go
Quito is often called the city of eternal spring. Days are usually in the 60s, nights drop into the 40s and the weather can change in an hour, so layers matter more than the month.
June through September is the dry season. Skies are clearest, mornings often show Cotopaxi and Cayambe on the horizon and afternoon winds pick up in August. This is the best window for volcano day trips and hikes.
October through May is the wetter half of the year. Rain typically arrives in the afternoon and March and April are the soggiest months. Mornings are still good for sightseeing, so schedule walks early and museums later.
Holidays shape the city. Early December brings the Fiestas de Quito, with concerts and street parties. Holy Week processions in the old town are solemn and spectacular. Christmas and New Year see locals leave for the coast. If your honeymoon falls in late December, the old town is quieter than usual and New Year's Eve brings bonfires of burning effigies in the streets.
Where to Stay
Stay in or right next to the historic center. That is where the character is and you can walk to the plazas in the evening.
Casa Gangotena faces Plaza San Francisco from a restored mansion with a rooftop terrace and some of the best views in the old town. It is the classic honeymoon choice. Several smaller boutique hotels occupy colonial homes on the side streets, typically with a dozen or so rooms around a courtyard. Look for ones with fireplaces in the rooms, which matter at night.
The newer La Floresta and La Mariscal districts have more restaurants and a livelier feel but less charm. They suit couples who want cafés and wine bars over churches.
For your last night, consider a hotel near the airport in Tababela. Morning flights to the Galápagos leave early and the drive from the old town can take an hour.
Outside the city, historic haciendas in the northern highlands make a great add-on. Hacienda Zuleta, a working farm with horses and a family history going back generations, is one well-known option.
Romantic Things to Do
Ride the TelefériQo, the cable car that climbs Pichincha to almost 13,000 feet. Go early before clouds roll in, bring a jacket and stroll the path a little way for a view over the whole valley.
In the old town, step inside the Compañía de Jesús church, where nearly every surface is covered in gold leaf. Then climb the towers of the Basílica del Voto Nacional, a Gothic church decorated with stone tortoises and iguanas instead of gargoyles. The final ladder up to the top is steep but the view is worth it.
Take a full-day trip to Cotopaxi National Park. A walk around Limpiopungo lagoon at the base of the volcano is easy and fitter couples can hike toward the refuge for a closer look at the glacier.
On Saturdays, the market in Otavalo, about two hours north, sells textiles, ponchos and hand-woven tapestries.
For something quieter, book a night at a cloud forest lodge northwest of the city, where trails, waterfalls and hummingbird feeders replace the noise of the capital.
Getting There and Around
Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) sits on a plateau east of the city in Tababela. The drive to the old town takes about 45 minutes with light traffic and over an hour at rush hour. Book your hotel's driver or use an app taxi rather than taking a chance on an unofficial cab.
Nonstop flights connect Quito with Miami, Atlanta and Houston and connections run through Bogotá, Panama City and Lima. Flights to the Galápagos usually stop in Guayaquil. Domestic flights reach Cuenca and Coca, the gateway to the Amazon lodges, in under an hour.
In the city, Uber and local ride apps are cheap and reliable. The old town is best walked during the day, with a short taxi ride back to your hotel after dark. Quito's metro line runs north to south but is of limited use for visitors.
For day trips, hire a private driver and guide. It is more flexible than a group tour and lets you set the pace on a day spent at altitude.
Food and Drink
Start with locro de papa, a thick potato soup topped with avocado and cheese that tastes better at 9,000 feet than anywhere else. Empanadas de viento are puffy fried pastries filled with cheese and dusted with sugar, eaten with a mug of hot chocolate.
Quito's restaurant scene has grown up fast. Chefs are building menus around native ingredients from all four regions of the country: Amazonian fruits, highland grains, coastal shrimp and Galápagos fish. A tasting dinner is a good honeymoon splurge and costs less than a comparable meal in a US city.
Ecuadorian chocolate is a point of national pride. The country grows fine-flavor cacao and several bean-to-bar shops in Quito offer tastings.
For something cozy, look for canelazo, a warm drink of cinnamon, naranjilla and a splash of cane spirit, sold at stalls on La Ronda. Local craft beer is easy to find in La Floresta. Wine lists lean on Chile and Argentina and prices are reasonable.
Honeymoon Tips
Altitude is the main thing to plan around. Most people feel short of breath or a little light-headed on day one. Keep the first day gentle, drink water and limit alcohol until you adjust. If you have flown in from sea level, save the TelefériQo and Cotopaxi for day two or three.
Petty theft is the everyday risk. Leave jewelry in the hotel safe, keep your phone out of sight on crowded streets and in the markets and use app taxis after dark.
Plan around the sun. Quito sits almost exactly on the equator, so the UV is intense even on cool days. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.
Sundays are quiet in the old town and some museums close on Mondays. Try to schedule your city day midweek or on Saturday.
Finally, if you plan to cross to the Galápagos early in the morning, sleep near the airport the night before. You will thank yourselves at 5 a.m.
