Traveling to Peru is always a good idea, but if you want to really enjoy the Andean country, you should organize your trip based on the best time to visit Peru for the route you want to take, and thus enjoy its wonderful landscapes with the best possible weather. . Peru is one of the destinations that must be visited at least once in a lifetime. A country full of hidden treasures and home to one of the wonders of the world: The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, considered a World Heritage Site by Unesco, where the lost city of the Incas is located.
Beyond Machu Picchu and the city of Cusco, considered the “Navel of the World”, Peru hides countless places that are worth visiting such as Puno, a city located in the south of the country next to Lake Titicaca, the largest navigable lake. top of the world; Arequipa, the “White City” guarded by volcanoes; Lima, one of the largest capitals in Latin America, or the famous Nazca Lines in Ica.
It is likely that you still do not know when is the best time to travel to Peru to discover this country with such a rich history and culture. You should know that you can travel to Peru all year round, only that, depending on the region, there are months that are better than others. Hitting the best time to visit Peru can be complicated. Not surprisingly, the country has 28 of the 32 climatic zones in the world. The best time to visit Peru depends entirely on which part of the country you plan to explore. Peru is divided into three main areas in relation to the country’s average climate: the coast, the highlands, and the Amazon jungle.
Without going into technicalities, the climate in Peru is determined by four factors:
If you add to that the anomalies caused by phenomena such as El Niño or cold weather, things get even more complicated.
As a summary, we could say that the rainy season in Peru runs more or less from January to March. Even so, because there are different types of climates, it is necessary to specify a little:
I’m sure you’ve already guessed it, but the driest months in Peru are equivalent to our summer, more or less from May to September.
Regarding temperatures, due to its geographical location, they remain more or less stable throughout the year, reaching higher values between November and March. As you may have already imagined, the hottest areas are those of the Amazon and on the coast, where temperatures can exceed 33ºC in March and April, although the maximum is around 27ºC.
In the Andean areas (Cusco, Arequipa, etc.) the maximum temperatures do not usually exceed 21ºC, while you will need to go shelter at night, since the minimum temperatures between the months of May and September rarely exceed 5ºC. During the rest of the year they are around 7ºC and even slightly less depending on the altitude at which you are.
For all this, in order to plan your trip, whatever the season in Peru, you will need to carry a backpack/suitcase with the most varied clothes. If you plan to make the jump to the Peruvian Amazon, don’t forget the raincoat.
You already know that there is a lot to see in Peru. From the spectacular Nazca Lines to Machu Picchu passing through the beaches of Máncora, Peru is infinite and, in addition, it has super varied climates.
With all this, since the weather is good both in the Amazon and in much of the corners of the Andes Mountains, the best time to travel to Peru is more or less from April/May to September.
So that you can see it more clearly, here we detail month by month what it is like to travel to Peru due to its climate:
After all, you may still be wondering when is the best time to travel to Peru. From our perspective, due to the weather, we would say that this goes from April to October, when there is little rain in most of the country and you will enjoy blue skies in the Andes. Obviously, this is also the high season and therefore the most expensive to travel and when you will find more people, especially in July and August. Therefore, if this worries you, two good times are April / first half of May and the end of September / first half of October.
Perhaps the worst time to travel to Peru is from December to February, since the rains can put up with the trip a bit, in addition, you can find some roads cut due to landslides.
Speaking of the tourist star of Peru “Machu Picchu“, which you are surely wanting to know and, if possible, with blue skies, the best time to visit Machu Picchu is during the dry season. That is to say from April to October, being even better between May and August. This is also the season with the greatest influx of visitors. Therefore, we advise you to book everything as soon as possible, including tickets to Machu Picchu.
The worst months in terms of weather are February and March, when it rains more. Even so, in the rainy season (November to March) there can be sunny days, especially as the morning progresses and the mists disappear. Of course, the prices of accommodation and trains are much lower at the moment. For those who love hiking and want to do the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, mention that in February this wonderful hike to the Inca citadel is closed for maintenance.
Visit Peru and discover its highlights from Lima to Cusco on an exciting journey that encompasses modern cities and ancient worlds. From the depths of the Colca canyon to the heights of the Andes and on to the unique islands of Lake Titicaca, be immersed in fascinating Peruvian culture while discovering its history buried deep within the walls of lost cities.
Feel the magic and the energy of Cusco and Machu Picchu, then continue to where the legend began – Lake Titicaca, to get off the beaten path and immerse yourself in the local culture and enjoy the peace and tranquility on the shores of the Lake.
Dive deep into the culture and landscapes of Peru with this adventure to Machu Picchu, the Amazon and more. Search for wildlife along jungle trails and rivers in the rainforest from a comfortable lodge then head up into the Andes to Cusco, the capital of the Inca empire.
