The best time to visit Peru is during the dry season between May and October, especially if you plan to go on a trek. It is a wonderful time, with sunny days and bright blue skies, but early booking is crucial because it’s the peak season.
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 climate in Peru does vary slightly from region to region. It’s cooler in the coastal areas, where temperatures range from 68°F to 80°F, and Machu Picchu, which has a year-round average of 66°F to 68°F. The Amazon experiences warmer weather (84°F to 91°F) and sees more rain between November and March. This should not deter you from visiting — the flora and fauna will still be abundant and there are always breaks in showers.
Month-by-month guide for traveling 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: This is celebrated over a two-week period with folkloric music, dance and spectacular costumes in the town of Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
- Holy Week (March/April): Holy Week brings somber religious processions to Peru’s towns and cities; particularly notable in Cuzco. Cuzco.
- 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. Find out more about the Sacred Valley.
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) toward the end of the month. Our favorite alternative festival is Corpus Christi, which falls on the ninth Thursday after Easter. Experience it in Cuzco.
- Santa Rosa de Lima (August 30): Lima’s patroness is honored with a public holiday and procession to Lima cathedral.
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 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 in Cuzco.
Peru Climate Guide
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arequipa | 72°F 1" | 72°F 1" | 72°F 1" | 72°F 0" | 72°F 0" | 72°F 0" | 72°F 0" | 72°F 0" | 73°F 0" | 73°F 0" | 73°F 0" | 73°F 0" |
| Colca Canyon | 64°F 4" | 64°F 4" | 64°F 4" | 64°F 1" | 64°F 0" | 64°F 0" | 63°F 0" | 64°F 0" | 66°F 0" | 68°F 1" | 68°F 1" | 66°F 2" |
| Cuzco | 73°F 1" | 73°F 1" | 73°F 1" | 73°F 0" | 73°F 0" | 73°F 0" | 73°F 0" | 73°F 0" | 75°F 0" | 75°F 0" | 75°F 0" | 75°F 0" |
| Iquitos | 90°F 10" | 90°F 10" | 88°F 12" | 88°F 11" | 88°F 11" | 88°F 8" | 88°F 7" | 88°F 7" | 90°F 9" | 90°F 8" | 90°F 10" | 90°F 10" |
| Lima | 79°F 0" | 81°F 0" | 81°F 0" | 77°F 0" | 72°F 0" | 68°F 0" | 66°F 0" | 66°F 0" | 66°F 0" | 70°F 0" | 72°F 0" | 77°F 0" |
| Machu Picchu | 77°F 8" | 75°F 9" | 77°F 8" | 79°F 4" | 77°F 1" | 77°F 1" | 77°F 1" | 79°F 1" | 77°F 2" | 81°F 4" | 79°F 5" | 77°F 7" |
| Puno | 59°F 6" | 59°F 6" | 57°F 5" | 59°F 2" | 57°F 0" | 57°F 0" | 57°F 0" | 59°F 0" | 59°F 1" | 63°F 1" | 63°F 2" | 61°F 4" |
| Sacred Valley | 66°F 6" | 66°F 5" | 66°F 5" | 66°F 2" | 68°F 0" | 66°F 0" | 66°F 0" | 68°F 1" | 68°F 1" | 70°F 2" | 70°F 3" | 66°F 5" |
| Trujillo | 77°F 0" | 79°F 0" | 79°F 0" | 75°F 0" | 73°F 0" | 70°F 0" | 70°F 0" | 70°F 0" | 70°F 0" | 70°F 0" | 72°F 0" | 75°F 0" |
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Travel advice
Practical tips for traveling to Peru, from social protocols to guidance on money matters, with a link to the latest US State Department travel advice.
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