Quito sits at 2,850 metres on the equator, which means it has spring-like weather year-round — temperatures between about 10°C at night and 20°C during the day, with little seasonal variation. What varies is the rain. The dry season runs from June to September (with a shorter dry period in December–January), when the skies tend to be clear and the Andean views from the Teleférico and Basílica towers are at their best.
The rainy season (February–May, October–November) brings afternoon downpours, usually lasting an hour or two. The Historic Centre can feel miserable in the rain; plan morning visits to outdoor sights. The Inti Raymi festival in June (celebrating the winter solstice according to Andean tradition) brings music and celebrations to the city. Carnival in February–March can be very wet — literally, since water balloons are the traditional Ecuadorian Carnaval weapon.