Best time to visit Peru: Machu Picchu and Cusco

Peru has three very different climate zones: the desert coast with Lima, the Andes with Cusco and Machu Picchu, and the Amazon lowlands in the east. For most travellers the Andes decide the timing. There the year is split into a dry season from about May to September and a rainy season from about November to March or April. According to the UK travel advice, the rainy season in Peru runs from November to May and can bring heavy rain and snow to the Andes and Cusco. Lima follows a completely different pattern: it hardly ever rains, but in the southern winter a grey sea fog covers the city for months. We analysed the weather from 2015 to 2024 at three places.

The short answer

• Best time for Cusco and Machu Picchu: May to September. Dry, sunny days, cold nights.
• Peak season: June to August, the driest months with the most visitors.
• Rainy season: December to March, with around 200 mm a month in Cusco and up to 328 mm at Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail is closed in February.
• Lima: sunny and warm from December to April (24 to 25 °C), grey and cool from June to October.

Peru's climate: all 12 months

Temperature and rain: monthly averages 2015–2024 from the ERA5 reanalysis (via Open-Meteo), rounded. A grid cell is about 25 km wide, which in the Andes averages valleys and high mountains. Treat the Cusco temperatures as a rough guide: in the city itself the days are usually a little warmer and the dry-season nights colder, often close to freezing. For Lima, the cell also covers the foothills, so the summer rain values are higher than in the city, where it rarely rains at all. The seasonal rain pattern in the Andes is reliable.

The rain chart for Cusco shows the dry season clearly: June and July get only 8 to 10 mm, while December to February bring around 190 to 220 mm a month.

Lima is warmest in February at 25.4 °C and coolest in August at 18.6 °C. The difference you notice is the sky: in winter the city lies under low cloud for weeks.

Peru month by month

May to September: dry season in the Andes

The best time for Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The days are sunny and clear, which also makes it the best season for high-altitude treks such as the Inca Trail or to Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain. Nights in Cusco are cold – bring warm layers. June to August are the busiest months; for Machu Picchu tickets, train seats and Inca Trail places, book well in advance.

October and November

The rainy season begins gradually. October is still a good compromise in Cusco with 85 mm, but the cloud forest around Machu Picchu is already wetter at 205 mm. Views can be misty.

December to March: rainy season

Heavy afternoon showers are typical in the Andes, with around 200 mm a month in Cusco and up to 328 mm at Machu Picchu in January. According to the UK travel advice, rockslides, mudslides and snow can disrupt walking routes, roads and trains in mountain and jungle areas. The landscapes are green and there are fewer visitors.

February: the Inca Trail is closed

Every February the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is closed for maintenance. In 2024, for example, Peru's state news agency Andina reported that the trail reopened on 1 March after a month of work on paths, campsites and bridges, confirmed by the Ministry of Culture's office in Cusco. The citadel of Machu Picchu itself can be visited in February by train and bus; if your trip is set for February, plan an alternative trek or a day visit.

April

The end of the rainy season: Cusco is down to 77 mm, the hills are still green, and the main season has not yet started. A good month for travellers who want quieter sites.

Altitude and the classic route

Cusco lies at about 3,400 metres, Machu Picchu at about 2,400 metres. Many travellers fly from Lima to Cusco and spend the first days lower down in the Sacred Valley to get used to the altitude, before visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu. The train to Aguas Calientes and the bus up to the citadel are the usual way to Machu Picchu; the multi-day Inca Trail can only be walked with a licensed operator. The historic centre of Cusco and the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From Lima, a pre-booked airport transfer^* avoids the evening traffic. Comparing Latin America? See also the best time to visit Costa Rica and the best time to visit Mexico.

How YesTrip helps with this trip

In YesTrip you plan Lima, the Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu day by day on one map, including acclimatisation days and the train to Aguas Calientes. The forecast for your travel days shows the cold nights and the rain in the mountains, and the packing list suggests warm layers, a rain jacket and sun protection for the high altitude. Travelling as a group, you share the trip and log shared expenses like tours and train tickets.

Before you go

• Entry: Check the current entry rules for British citizens on gov.uk before you travel.
• Time: Peru is 5 hours behind the UK in winter and 6 hours in summer.
• Power: 220 volts; sockets are type A (US style) and C (European style), so bring an adapter.
• Mobile data: a travel eSIM^* is usually much cheaper than roaming; our eSIM price index compares the prices per gigabyte.

More destinations by month: Best time to visit: where to go when.

The order that eases you into the altitude is set out in our 2-week Peru itinerary.

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