Updated for the 2026–27 season.
The best time to visit Peru is the dry season, from May to September, when the Andes have sunny days and Machu Picchu has its clearest views. For the best balance of good weather and fewer visitors, choose May or September, or the shoulder months of April and October. But Peru has three climates: the desert coast is sunny from December to April, and the Amazon is driest from May to October, so the right month depends on where you go.
Best monthsMay and September
AndesDry from May to September; rainy from November to March
Coast and LimaSunny from December to April; grey from June to October
AmazonDrier from May to October
BusiestJune to August, and 28–29 July
Inca TrailClosed every February
Peru’s three climates
Seasons in Peru do not follow the calendar of the northern hemisphere. What matters is the region and the altitude: in a single trip you can go from the desert coast to the high Andes and the rainforest.
| Region | Best months | The other season | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Andes | May to September: dry, sunny days and cold nights | November to March: rain most afternoons, heaviest from January to March | Cusco, Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa and the Colca Canyon |
| The coast | December to April: summer, sun and warm sea | June to October: grey skies and a fine mist called garúa, but almost no rain | Lima, Paracas and the Ballestas Islands, Huacachina and Nazca |
| The Amazon | May to October: drier, with trails and beaches along the rivers | November to April: heavy rain and high rivers | Tambopata and Puerto Maldonado in the south; Iquitos in the north |
Peru weather by month
Average daily high and low temperatures, with monthly rainfall for Cusco and the Amazon and hours of sunshine for Lima, where it almost never rains:
| Month | Andes (Cusco) | Coast (Lima) | Amazon (Puerto Maldonado) | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20.5 / 8.0 °C · 153 mm | 26.8 / 20.4 °C · 185 h of sun | 30.9 / 21.4 °C · 343 mm | Rainy in the Andes and the Amazon; summer on the coast |
| February | 20.3 / 8.0 °C · 132 mm | 28.0 / 21.0 °C · 166 h | 30.7 / 21.2 °C · 333 mm | The wettest month in the mountains; the Inca Trail is closed |
| March | 20.5 / 7.8 °C · 106 mm | 27.6 / 20.5 °C · 189 h | 31.0 / 20.9 °C · 275 mm | The rains ease; green and quiet |
| April | 21.0 / 6.2 °C · 38 mm | 25.4 / 18.7 °C · 182 h | 30.7 / 20.3 °C · 154 mm | Very good: green Andes and little rain |
| May | 21.2 / 3.6 °C · 7 mm | 22.8 / 17.3 °C · 113 h | 29.8 / 18.8 °C · 106 mm | Excellent: dry, clear and before the peak |
| June | 20.8 / 1.9 °C · 3 mm | 20.5 / 16.6 °C · 45 h | 29.0 / 17.4 °C · 58 mm | Dry and sunny; Inti Raymi in Cusco; busy |
| July | 20.6 / 1.2 °C · 6 mm | 19.6 / 15.9 °C · 36 h | 29.6 / 16.8 °C · 57 mm | The driest, coldest nights and the busiest month |
| August | 21.5 / 2.8 °C · 7 mm | 19.2 / 15.4 °C · 29 h | 31.2 / 17.8 °C · 63 mm | Dry and busy; good for Amazon wildlife |
| September | 21.7 / 5.0 °C · 18 mm | 19.6 / 15.3 °C · 35 h | 32.0 / 18.8 °C · 98 mm | Excellent: dry, warmer and calmer |
| October | 21.9 / 6.8 °C · 55 mm | 20.8 / 16.0 °C · 60 h | 32.0 / 20.4 °C · 164 mm | Very good: the first showers, fewer visitors |
| November | 22.3 / 7.6 °C · 77 mm | 22.4 / 17.1 °C · 103 h | 31.6 / 21.1 °C · 237 mm | Showers return; good value; the coast brightens |
| December | 21.1 / 7.8 °C · 125 mm | 24.4 / 18.6 °C · 130 h | 31.1 / 21.3 °C · 279 mm | Rainy in the mountains; Christmas in Cusco; sunny Lima |
Climate averages from the weather stations at Lima airport (1991–2020), Cusco airport (3,249 m) and Puerto Maldonado (1961–1990), from NOAA and other published climate normals. The verdicts are based on our own experience planning trips from Cusco.
The Andes: Machu Picchu, Cusco and Lake Titicaca
The dry season, from May to September, brings blue skies, sunny days of around 20 °C and nights close to freezing in Cusco. It is the best time for the views from the Sun Gate, for treks and for the train journeys through the mountains. It is also the high season: entrance tickets, trains and the best hotels sell out early.
From November to March the rains turn the mountains green. Showers usually come in the afternoon, the terraces are quiet and prices are lower, but trails are muddy and the Inca Trail closes in February. April and October are our favourite months: the landscapes are green and the crowds are smaller.
Read our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Machu Picchu, and see our Sacred Valley and Cusco guides. Lake Titicaca follows the same seasons, with colder nights at 3,800 m: read our Lake Titicaca guide.
Lima and the coast
Lima is a desert city where it almost never rains. From December to April it has summer: warm, sunny days and beach weather from Lima to Paracas. From June to October a layer of low cloud covers the coast, with cool, humid days and a fine mist called garúa. The desert further south, around Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca, is sunnier for much of the year.
Plan a flight over the Nazca Lines on a clear morning, and see the best things to do in Peru, from Lima’s restaurants to the Ballestas Islands.
The Amazon
In the southern Amazon, around Tambopata and Puerto Maldonado, the drier months from May to October are the best time for walks in the forest and boat trips, with wildlife gathering near the rivers. Between June and August, cold fronts from the south sometimes bring a few chilly days. From November to April heavy rain raises the rivers and some trails flood, but the forest is at its most lush.
Around Iquitos, in the northern Amazon, rain falls all year; the high-water months are best for exploring the flooded forest by boat.
The best time for what you want
| If you want… | Go in | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The best weather for the classic route | May to September | The dry season in the Andes, with clear views of Machu Picchu |
| Good weather and fewer people | April, May, September and October | The shoulder months before and after the peak |
| The Inca Trail | May to September | Dry trails; the trail closes every February |
| Beaches and the coast | December to April | Summer in Lima, Paracas and the desert coast |
| Amazon wildlife | June to October | Less rain, lower rivers and wildlife near the banks |
| Green landscapes and lower prices | January to March | The rainy season, outside Christmas and New Year |
| Festivals | June | Inti Raymi and Corpus Christi in Cusco |
Festivals in Peru
Peru’s festivals are a great reason to choose your dates. Some move with Easter, so check the exact days for your year:
| When | Festival | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Early February | Virgen de la Candelaria: two weeks of music and costumed dances | Puno, on Lake Titicaca |
| February or March | Carnival | Across the Andes, especially Cajamarca and Cusco |
| March or April | Holy Week, with the Lord of the Earthquakes procession on Holy Monday | Cusco and the whole country |
| May or June | Qoyllur Rit’i pilgrimage and Corpus Christi | Near Ausangate; Cusco |
| 24 June | Inti Raymi, the Inca festival of the sun | Cusco and Sacsayhuamán |
| Mid-July | Virgen del Carmen, with masked dancers | Paucartambo, near Cusco |
| 28–29 July | Fiestas Patrias, the national holidays | The whole country: the busiest days of the year |
| October | Lord of Miracles processions | Lima |
| 24 December | Santurantikuy, the Christmas market | Plaza de Armas, Cusco |
Read more about Corpus Christi in Cusco.
Crowds, prices and when to book
- High season: June to August, Holy Week, the national holidays of 28–29 July, Christmas and New Year.
- Low season: January to March and November, with lower hotel rates, except over Christmas and New Year.
- Book early: for June to August, book Machu Picchu tickets, trains and hotels several months ahead, and the Inca Trail even earlier. Read the Inca Trail rules.
- Altitude: it does not change with the seasons. We start most trips in the Sacred Valley, which is lower than Cusco.
Combining Peru with its neighbours
Peru’s dry season is also a good time for Bolivia, and the Galápagos Islands can be visited all year. The Uyuni mirror effect comes in the rainy months, from January to March, and Patagonia is best from November to March, when the Andes are rainy, so October, November, March and April are the best compromise for Peru and Patagonia together. See our guide to the best time to visit South America.
What to pack for each season
- Dry season: warm layers and a down jacket for the cold mornings and nights in the Andes, sunscreen and a hat for the strong sun at altitude.
- Rainy season: a light waterproof jacket or poncho, quick-drying clothes and shoes with good grip.
- The Amazon: long sleeves, insect repellent and a light jacket for the cold fronts between June and August.
- Lima: a light sweater for the grey months; summer clothes from December to April.
Planning your route? See our Peru itineraries for 5 to 14 days, our guides to a Peru honeymoon and a Peru family vacation, or start planning a tailor-made trip.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Peru?
May and September. Both are in the dry season in the Andes, with clear views of Machu Picchu, and they are less busy than June, July and August.
When is the rainy season in Peru?
In the Andes, from November to March, with the heaviest rain from January to March. In the Amazon, from November to April. On the coast it almost never rains; instead, the sky is grey from June to October.
Is it worth visiting Peru in the rainy season?
Yes, if you are flexible. The mountains are green, there are fewer visitors and prices are lower. Showers are usually in the afternoon; plan a spare day in case rain affects a train or a road.
When is the cheapest time to visit Peru?
January to March and November, outside Christmas and New Year, when hotels have their lowest rates.
When is the best time to hike the Inca Trail?
From May to September, in the dry season. The trail closes every February for maintenance, and permits for the high season sell out months ahead.
What is the weather like in Lima?
Sunny and warm from December to April, with highs of about 25–28 °C. From June to October the sky is usually grey and the air humid, with highs of about 19–21 °C, but it hardly ever rains.
When is the best time to visit Peru and Bolivia?
From May to October, the dry season in both countries. To see the Uyuni mirror effect, travel from January to March and expect rain in Cusco and Machu Picchu.
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Wilfredo Zúñiga Huamanguillas
Anthropologist & Hospitality Professional | South America Travel ExpertAnthropologist, hospitality professional and South America travel expert with 11 years of experience in tourism, trained at the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco. Wilfredo writes about the people, traditions and landscapes of the continent, from the Andes and Machu Picchu to Patagonia, Brazil and the Amazon.
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