When is the best time to visit Peru?
The best time to visit Peru is during the dry season, between May and October, which sees sunny days, bright blue skies in the Andes, and chilly nights. It is a wonderful time to be in Peru, especially if you plan to go on a trek, but being the peak season, early booking is crucial.
Visitors will notice more rain between November and April, with the wettest months being January and February. Travel at this time does offer the advantage of fewer visitors, greener scenery, and some lower rates for flights and hotels.
The Amazon also experiences more rain between November and March, but this should not deter you from visiting – the flora and fauna will still be abundant and there are always breaks in showers.
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Peru Climate Guide
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arequipa | 22°C 25mm | 22°C 31mm | 22°C 19mm | 22°C 1mm | 22°C 0mm | 22°C 0mm | 22°C 0mm | 22°C 1mm | 23°C 0mm | 23°C 0mm | 23°C 2mm | 23°C 4mm |
| Colca Canyon | 18°C 100mm | 18°C 106mm | 18°C 89mm | 18°C 24mm | 18°C 6mm | 18°C 1mm | 17°C 2mm | 18°C 5mm | 19°C 11mm | 20°C 13mm | 20°C 19mm | 19°C 54mm |
| Cuzco | 23°C 20mm | 23°C 25mm | 23°C 15mm | 23°C 0mm | 23°C 0mm | 23°C 0mm | 23°C 0mm | 23°C 1mm | 24°C 0mm | 24°C 0mm | 24°C 2mm | 24°C 2mm |
| Iquitos | 32°C 247mm | 32°C 245mm | 31°C 294mm | 31°C 284mm | 31°C 276mm | 31°C 199mm | 31°C 180mm | 31°C 178mm | 32°C 216mm | 32°C 211mm | 32°C 257mm | 32°C 263mm |
| Lima | 26°C 2mm | 27°C 0mm | 27°C 0mm | 25°C 0mm | 22°C 1mm | 20°C 2mm | 19°C 2mm | 19°C 3mm | 19°C 3mm | 21°C 1mm | 22°C 0mm | 25°C 0mm |
| Machu Picchu | 25°C 206mm | 24°C 217mm | 25°C 196mm | 26°C 106mm | 25°C 33mm | 25°C 18mm | 25°C 24mm | 26°C 34mm | 25°C 53mm | 27°C 91mm | 26°C 115mm | 25°C 173mm |
| Puno | 15°C 153mm | 15°C 148mm | 14°C 125mm | 15°C 43mm | 14°C 11mm | 14°C 3mm | 14°C 3mm | 15°C 8mm | 15°C 29mm | 17°C 34mm | 17°C 52mm | 16°C 105mm |
| Sacred Valley | 19°C 151mm | 19°C 130mm | 19°C 115mm | 19°C 53mm | 20°C 10mm | 19°C 5mm | 19°C 9mm | 20°C 15mm | 20°C 30mm | 21°C 53mm | 21°C 86mm | 19°C 119mm |
| Trujillo | 25°C 1mm | 26°C 1mm | 26°C 1mm | 24°C 0mm | 23°C 0mm | 21°C 0mm | 21°C 0mm | 21°C 0mm | 21°C 0mm | 21°C 0mm | 22°C 0mm | 24°C 0mm |
Month-by-month guide to travelling in Peru
Visiting Peru in January - April
The wettest time to visit the Andes and the Amazon, with the Inca Trail closing for the month of February. Travel is still possible however, and Machu Picchu remains open - it will just be more challenging for those wishing to trek. As February ends, the Inca Trail re-opens and more visitors begin to arrive; particularly as Easter approaches. This is also a popular period to visit for those wishing to combine Peru with a visit to the Galapagos Islands.
Events & Festivals
- Feast of the Virgen de la Candelaria (February): The town of Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca celebrates the feast of the Virgen de la Candelaria over a two week period with folkloric music, dance and spectacular costumes. Read more
- Holy Week (March/April): Holy Week brings sombre religious processions to Peru’s towns and cities; particularly notable in Cuzco. Read more
- The feast of the Three Kings (6th January): This feast is celebrated across Latin America, but Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley is a wonderful place to be. During the ‘Bajada de los Reyes’ the town is overtaken with jubilant processions, music and dance. Read more
Visiting Peru in May - September
As the rains in the Andes cease, visitors can enjoy warm, sunny days and chilly, crisp evenings at altitude. This time of year lends itself to enjoying all the attractions Peru has to offer, from admiring Machu Picchu in the sunshine, to enjoying a boat trip on Lake Titicaca under vivid blue skies and trekking against backdrops of snow-capped mountains. Those wishing to travel from June onward should start their planning six to nine months in advance, and up to 12 months in advance if you wish to trek the Inca Trail but have a limited travel window.
Events & Festivals
- Inti Raymi (June): A month of festivities in Peru, many building up to the Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) towards the end of the month. Our favourite alternative festival is Corpus Christi, which falls on the ninth Thursday after Easter. Read more
- Santa Rosa de Lima (30th August): Lima’s patroness is honoured with a public holiday and procession to Lima cathedral. Read more
Visiting Peru in October - December
The dry season comes to an end, but conditions are still pleasant. An abundance of birdlife and flora, particularly orchids, can be enjoyed in Peru’s cloudforests at this time. Although water levels in the Amazon will be high from December to March, meaning fauna may not venture as close to the river banks, this does offer the advantage of easier exploration of smaller tributaries which are sometimes inaccessible in the drier months.
Events & Festivals
- Santurantikuy Market (24th December): Visiting Cuzco’s Santurantikuy Market on Christmas Eve is a wonderful experience, with vendors from the high Andes arriving to sell grasses and plants for the nativity manger and children queuing for hot chocolate. Read more
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Travel advice
Practical tips for travelling to Peru, from social protocols to guidance on money matters, with a link to the latest government travel advice.
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