The short answer
- Best overall
- May to September
- Best value and fewer crowds
- April, May, late September to October
- Wettest in the Andes
- January to March
- Inca Trail closed
- Every February
Peru has three very different climates. The Andes, where you find Cusco, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, have a dry season from May to September and a rainy season from December to March. The desert coast around Lima hardly gets any rain at all, but Lima sits under grey cloud from June to October. The Amazon is hot all year, with its driest months from June to October.
Most tours are built around the Andes, so the Andean dry season decides the best time for most people. June, July and August bring the bluest skies and the coldest nights, but also the biggest crowds and the first Machu Picchu and Inca Trail sell outs. April, May, September and October are the sweet spot.
Peru's seasons at a glance
Read across each row to see how a region changes through the year. The Andes and the coast are almost opposite: when the mountains are dry and sunny, Lima is grey.
Swipe sideways to see all 12 months →
| Region | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndesCusco, Machu Picchu, Titicaca | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult |
| Inca Trailclosed every February | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed |
| CoastLima, Paracas, Nazca | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Best |
| AmazonPuerto Maldonado, Manu | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult |
Average temperatures and rainfall
Altitude matters more than latitude in Peru. Cusco has warm, sunny days all year but nights near freezing in the dry season, while Puno on Lake Titicaca regularly drops below zero from May to August. Machu Picchu sits lower, in cloud forest, so it is milder and much wetter than Cusco.
The dry season is also the coldest at night in the mountains. Pack a warm layer for evenings in Cusco and especially for Lake Titicaca and any trek, where camps can fall well below zero.
Average daily high / low and monthly rainfall
| Month | Limacoast, grey from June to October | Cusco3,400 m, Sacred Valley is warmer | Machu Picchu2,430 m, cloud forest | PunoLake Titicaca, 3,830 m | Arequipa2,335 m, sunny all year | Puerto MaldonadoAmazon, cold snaps from June to August |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26° / 20°1 mm | 19° / 7°160 mm | 22° / 12°340 mm | 15° / 3°140 mm | 22° / 9°28 mm | 31° / 21°300 mm |
| Feb | 27° / 21°0 mm | 19° / 7°135 mm | 22° / 12°320 mm | 15° / 3°120 mm | 21° / 9°40 mm | 31° / 21°300 mm |
| Mar | 26° / 20°0 mm | 19° / 7°110 mm | 22° / 12°290 mm | 15° / 3°105 mm | 22° / 9°20 mm | 31° / 21°280 mm |
| Apr | 25° / 18°0 mm | 20° / 5°45 mm | 23° / 11°140 mm | 15° / 1°45 mm | 22° / 8°1 mm | 31° / 20°190 mm |
| May | 22° / 17°0 mm | 20° / 3°8 mm | 23° / 9°55 mm | 14° / -3°10 mm | 22° / 7°0 mm | 29° / 18°110 mm |
| Jun | 20° / 16°1 mm | 19° / 1°4 mm | 22° / 7°30 mm | 13° / -6°3 mm | 21° / 6°0 mm | 28° / 16°65 mm |
| Jul | 19° / 15°1 mm | 19° / 0°4 mm | 22° / 6°25 mm | 13° / -6°2 mm | 21° / 6°0 mm | 29° / 15°45 mm |
| Aug | 19° / 15°1 mm | 20° / 1°7 mm | 23° / 7°35 mm | 14° / -4°7 mm | 22° / 6°1 mm | 31° / 17°60 mm |
| Sep | 19° / 15°1 mm | 20° / 4°22 mm | 23° / 9°70 mm | 15° / -1°25 mm | 23° / 7°1 mm | 32° / 19°110 mm |
| Oct | 20° / 16°0 mm | 21° / 6°45 mm | 24° / 11°120 mm | 16° / 1°40 mm | 23° / 7°0 mm | 32° / 21°190 mm |
| Nov | 22° / 17°0 mm | 21° / 6°75 mm | 24° / 11°160 mm | 17° / 2°55 mm | 23° / 7°1 mm | 32° / 21°250 mm |
| Dec | 24° / 18°0 mm | 20° / 7°120 mm | 23° / 12°260 mm | 16° / 3°100 mm | 23° / 8°6 mm | 31° / 21°300 mm |
Rounded long term averages. Blue shading marks the wetter months. Individual years can be hotter, colder or wetter.
Best time for what you want to do
| Experience | Best months | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Machu Picchu | April to October | Open all year. Clearest views in the dry season; afternoon showers likely from November to March |
| Classic Inca Trail | May to September | Closed in February. Permits for June to August sell out first; see our permit guide |
| Salkantay and Lares treks | May to September | Possible in the wet season but muddy, and the Salkantay pass can see snow |
| Lake Titicaca | April to November | Freezing nights from June to August; homestays have thick blankets |
| Rainbow Mountain | May to September | Snow can cover the colours in the wet season |
| Lima and the coast | December to April | Sunny beach weather; the rest of the year is mild and grey but dry |
| Amazon (Tambopata, Manu) | May to October | Lower rivers and drier trails; Manu lodges may close in the wettest months |
| Festivals in Cusco | June | Inti Raymi on 24 June and Corpus Christi make June busy and expensive in Cusco |
When to avoid
- February in the Andes: The wettest month. The Inca Trail is closed for maintenance and landslides can delay the Machu Picchu train.
- Late June in Cusco, if you dislike crowds: Inti Raymi on 24 June fills hotels and pushes prices up. Book early or come for the festival on purpose.
- Peru's national holidays: Fiestas Patrias on 28 and 29 July is peak domestic travel, so flights and buses are full and Machu Picchu is at its busiest.
- Lima from June to October, if you want sun: Lima is dry but sits under a grey sea fog called the garúa. It is fine for food and museums, not for the beach.
Month by month in short
| Month | Andes | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | Wet | Heavy afternoon rain; green and quiet. Coast at its sunniest |
| February | Wettest | Inca Trail closed; Carnival in Puno (Candelaria festival early in the month) |
| March | Wet, easing | Fewer visitors and lush scenery; trails still muddy |
| April | Mixed | Rain fading, green hills, Easter week is busy |
| May | Dry | One of the best months: dry, green and before the peak crowds |
| June | Dry | Clear skies, cold nights; Inti Raymi festival on 24 June |
| July | Dry | Peak season and national holidays; book everything early |
| August | Dry | Peak season, windy and cold at night; Amazon at its driest |
| September | Dry | Excellent: still dry, crowds thinning |
| October | Mixed | Occasional showers, good value; some Machu Picchu routes close for maintenance late in the year |
| November | Mixed | Rain returning in the afternoons; quiet |
| December | Wet | Rainy in the mountains; Christmas and New Year are busy |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Peru?
May and September are the best all round months: dry in the Andes for Machu Picchu and treks, but less crowded than June to August.
Can you visit Machu Picchu in the rainy season?
Yes. Machu Picchu is open all year and the rain usually comes in the afternoon, so go early. The site is green and quieter, but views can be hidden by cloud and trains are sometimes delayed by landslides.
When is the Inca Trail closed?
Every February, for maintenance, and no permits are sold for that month. Treks like Salkantay and Lares stay open, though they are very wet then.
When is the cheapest time to visit Peru?
January to March, outside Easter, has the lowest prices and the fewest visitors, but it is the rainy season in the mountains. April and November are a good compromise.
Sources we checked
Peru month by month
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