The Peruvian Amazon

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

Plaza de Armas, Cuzco

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
Machu Picchu, Peru

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
Sacred Valley of Incas, Peru

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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