A Romantic Weekend in Quito

October 29, 2026

Travel advisory, valid October 2026. Ecuador’s government has declared an internal armed conflict with criminal gangs, and states of emergency roll from province to province. Pichincha, home to Quito, is covered until mid-November 2026. A night curfew applied in Quito in May 2026, and another could be announced with little warning. The UK FCDO lists several coastal provinces and the Colombian border strip as “all but essential travel” areas; Quito is not among them. Watch for street crime and express kidnapping: ride only in registered taxis or app cars, particularly after dark and for any trip to El Panecillo. Check the UK FCDO page for Ecuador and travel.state.gov before booking.

A weekend for two in Quito works best when the plan is simple: a characterful hotel, one evening out, one big view and one slow day. Every day is shaped by the altitude of about 2,850 m. You will feel the cold and tire quickly, so keep wine light on the first night, drink plenty of water and skip strenuous walks. If you have more time, ride the cable car on day three or later.

Friday: settle into the old town

Check in somewhere with character. Casa Gangotena is a restored 1924 mansion on Plaza de San Francisco, reported to be trading in 2026 with a rooftop terrace and a restaurant. La Casona de la Ronda is a boutique hotel of about 22 rooms in an 18th-century house on La Ronda, with a reading room and fireplace. Weekend nights on that street can be loud. Browse rooms and rates in a Quito hotel search , and confirm details with the hotel.

Friday evening: La Ronda

Wander the cobbled lane of balconied houses and craft shops. A hot canelazo, a spiced drink with cane spirit, and a plate of empanadas de viento suit the cold evening. Live music is reported on some evenings. Stay on the lane, skip the side streets, and book an app ride or registered taxi back to the hotel.

Saturday: sunset from the cable car

The TelefériQo reaches about 3,950 m at Cruz Loma after an 18-minute ride, and an adult ticket is about $9. The last ticket on weekends is sold at 17:30, and the lines close at 19:00 on Saturday. Check the operator’s schedule and weather. At dusk the temperature is around 4 to 6 degrees Celsius, so wear a coat, hat and gloves. If the clouds clear, you can see Cotopaxi, Antisana and Cayambe in the last light.

Saturday dinner

Two tasting-menu restaurants are the usual choices for a special night. Urko Cocina Local on Mallorca in La Floresta is reported to open Tuesday to Saturday, with tasting menus from around $80. Nuema is a Quito restaurant that made Latin America’s 50 Best list in 2024. Reserve ahead, and go home by a pre-booked app ride.

Sunday: Papallacta hot springs

Termas de Papallacta is about 65 km east of the city, 1.5 to 2 hours by road over a pass of about 4,000 m. The resort has hot pools and a spa, and the heat comes from volcanic sources. Prices are not published on the resort site , so reserve online and ask about treatments. Hire a driver for the mountain road, and leave early enough to return in daylight.

Small safety notes for couples

Keep phones and jewellery out of sight in the old town.
Do not accept drinks or flyers from strangers in nightlife areas.
Leave nightlife districts by app ride rather than on foot.