The best time to visit Peru for Cusco and Machu Picchu is the dry season, from May to September. April, May, September and October are the sweet spot: dry weather and fewer crowds than June to August. Lima and the south coast are sunniest from December to April.
Peru has three very different climates: the coast (Lima, Paracas, Nasca), the Andes (Cusco, Ayacucho) and the jungle. The “best” month depends on which ones you visit, so here is how the year looks for each.
Peru month by month
- January–March: summer on the coast, with sun, beaches and ceviche season in Lima. Rainy season in the Andes; the Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance, although the train and Machu Picchu stay open. In March, Ica celebrates its grape harvest festival (Vendimia).
- April–May: the rains end in the Andes and the landscapes are green. One of the best times to go. Easter week in Ayacucho (March or April) is one of the most famous in Peru.
- June–August: dry season and high season in Cusco: clear skies, cold nights and the most visitors. On June 24, Cusco celebrates Inti Raymi, the Inca festival of the sun. Lima is grey and mild.
- September–October: still dry in the Andes, with fewer crowds. Great for treks like Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake.
- November–December: the rains start to return to the Andes and the sun comes back to the coast. Good prices and quieter sites.
Lima and the coast
It almost never rains in Lima. From December to April it is sunny and warm; from May to November the sky is usually grey with a light mist the locals call garúa. The food is great all year, so Lima works in any month. Paracas and Huacachina are sunny most of the year, with wind in the afternoons.
Cusco and Machu Picchu
The dry season (May to September) brings blue skies, but it is also when tickets and trains sell out first. The rainy season (December to March) means afternoon showers, muddy trails and more chance of changes, but also green mountains and fewer people. Pack a rain poncho and leave some margin in your plans.
See what your month looks like
In the free CustomPeru planner, choose your travel month and it warns you about rain, closures and festivals for each place on your route.
Other regions worth timing
- Lunahuana rafting: best from December to April, when the river is high.
- Millpu (Ayacucho): visit in the dry season to see the pools turquoise; in the rains the water turns brown.
- Oxapampa and Pozuzo: late July brings Pozuzo’s anniversary, with Tyrolean dances. Check road conditions from December to March.
Still undecided between two months? Tell us your dates in a planning session and a local will show you what each one means for your trip.