Best Time to Visit Peru (I've visited in peak & off season)

Peru has part of my heart, which is why I’ve visited more than once, and it just so happens that I’ve travelled around Peru in both the dry season in June and the beginning of the wet season in November.

I’ve explored Cusco, Lima, Paracas, the Amazon Jungle, Machu Picchu, Huacachina and did both the Salkantay and the Inca Trail.

Both times I was pleasantly surprised by the weather and I was able to enjoy hiking the incredible trails in the mountains and also soak up the sun in the cities, drink coffee and enjoy the incredible food on outdoor patios. I got lucky but good weather is not guaranteed, especially during November which is when I visited Peru for the second time.

Peru can be a totally different experience depending on the time of the year that you visit. Not only can the weather change dramatically, but also the number of crowds. This guide will help you get a better idea of when the best time is to visit Peru for you, depending on what you want to see and do while you are there.

girl cuddling a poncho on Rainbow Mountain at sunrise — *Rainbow Mountain in November*

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When is the Best Time to Visit Peru? My Quick Answer

The first time I visited Peru was during the beginning of the dry season in June, which is Peru’s winter. It was pretty cold in Cusco where Dave and I travelled to. We were wearing puffer jackets, beanies and gloves.

Then we hiked the Inca Trail, and the meaning of cold went into a whole other level. We were waking up early on the trail to start hiking so it was pretty freezing at around -1°C to 5°C (32°F to 41°F) overnight and in the early morning.

The flipside of that is that it was nice and dry, so even though we were prepared for the worst and had all of our rain gear, we didn’t get a single droplet while we were in Cusco, Machu Picchu or on the Inca Trail.

The downside of visiting Peru in the dry season is that it is the most popular time for tourists so will most likely be the most crowded time of the year. June is the very start of peak season so you might be able to just slip in before it gets too busy.

I would 100% visit Peru in June again. I just love having more of a guarantee that the weather is going to be good and honestly, there are almost ALWAYS crowds in Machu Picchu no matter the season. June is also when Inti Raymi is celebrated (June 24) which is the grand Inca Festival of the Sun. Celebrations are held in Cusco with historical reenactments at Qorikancha and Sacsayhuamán.

June is a good choice for the rest of Peru too, with temperatures being less hot and milder than summer on the coast.

While I loved June in Peru and had a great experience, if you want to try to avoid some of the peak tourism crowds, you could book your trip for May. May is when the rainy season ends but peak-season crowds haven’t arrived yet.

Dave standing in the middle of Cusco in June

Peru By Season

Dry Season

The dry season (May to September) is considered the best time to visit the most popular part of Peru – Cusco and Machu Picchu.

The driest months of the season are from June to August if you want to really guarantee having the best luck with the weather. This is also the best time for doing any trekking in the Andes region like the Salkantay Trek, Inca Trail, Humantay Lake or Rainbow Mountain.

The dry season also seems to be the overall best weather season for the rest of Peru so if weather is your biggest concern, then this might be the time to visit, except for maybe Lima which switches to more overcast and grey skies during winter.

I can confirm that when Dave and I visited Cusco and Machu Picchu and hiked the Inca Trail in June, we didn’t get even a spot of rain.

Wet Season

The rainy season in Peru is from November – March. When I returned to Peru in November, in my first 30 minutes after landing, I’ve honestly never seen so much rain. It was like a full on monsoon. My taxi driver couldn’t even get my suitcase out of the boot because there was so much rain.

So we had to wait it out until it stopped. It seems like this is the way it goes. There is super heavy rainfall for a little and then it stops completely.

After the crazy monsoon downpour on my arrival to Peru, I was graced with another pretty wet day when I did my Sacred Valley Tour. The rain was pretty annoying on this day because we did a lot of standing around at the Inca sites learning about the history from our guide.

Then I did the Salkantay 5 day trek and was lucky enough to not get any rain at all! Our guides said that this is highly unusual though and that we were really lucky.

I also visited Paracas in November which had lovely weather and fewer crowds than peak season. The wildlife was also incredible when we did the Ballestas Boat tour and very active!

Huacachina was extremely quiet in November but the weather was really pleasant. We got some incredible sunsets when we were there. During the day temperatures were around 23°C to 25°C, with overnight lows dropping to a comfortable 13°C to 19°C.

We never had to make any reservations for eating out because there were literally no other tourist there. I can imagine this place getting pretty busy in peak season though.

girl sitting on top of sand dunes at sunset in Huacachina PEru — Sealions on the Ballestas Islands

Shoulder Season

The shoulder seasons in Peru are during October and April. These are excellent times to visit if you want to avoid the peak season crowds.

In April, after all of the rain, the mountains are at their greenest and most lush with wildflowers everywhere on the hillsides. Machu Picchu tends to be a little less crowded than peak season.

There are less people on the trails so you’ll get a more peaceful experience and the temperatures are a little warmer than during the dry season.

In the Amazon Rainforest, these months are between the low and high water seasons which is a great time for wildlife viewing. In saying that, the Amazon is best visited in the dry season, another reason the dry season is “peak season” in Peru.

Best Time to Visit Peru by Location and Activity

Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu

The best time for ideal weather in Machu Picchu is the dry season from May to October with the very best months being June – August.

However, if you also want to avoid some of the larger crowds, the months of May and September to October offer the best mix of less crowds and clear weather.

MAchu Picchu on a sunny cloudy day in November — *Machu Picchu in November*

Best Time to Hike the Inca Trail or Salkantay Trek

The best time to hike any of the multi-day (or even 1 day) treks in Peru is during the dry season but specifically between the months of June and August. This is the best time for good weather and less rain.

This, unfortunately is also peak season BUT you are much more likely to have perfect weather than in any other month. In saying that, you could always still get rain on your trek, even in the dry season, so make sure you are prepared and have lots of wet weather gear.

Salkantay Mountain on the Salkantay Trek — Salkantay Trek in November

girl hiking up Dead Woman's Pass on the Inca Trail — Salkantay Trek in November

Best Time to Visit Lima

The best time to visit Lima depends on whether you are wanting to explore the city or hang out on the beaches and go surfing.

If you want to hang out on the beaches: Go during summer from December to March. This is when Lima is hottest, with clear skies and literally no rain. The temperatures range from 20°C to 28°C (68°F–82°F). The downside of visiting Lima in the summer is that hotels are most expensive and the city can feel very hot and sticky.

If you just want to explore the city: April & November are great times to explore Lima. I went in November and it was still fairly warm during the day with quite a bit of sun and great sunsets but not suffocatingly hot.

Best Time to Visit the Amazon

The best time to visit the Amazon Rainforest on the Peru side specifically is between the months May to November.

The reason for this is that the water levels lower so things like hiking and spotting wildlife is easier. There are also fewer mosquitoes which is a nice little bonus.

Because the water levels drop, sandy river beaches, mudflats and forest trails are exposed. Believe it or not (I don’t), the weather is cooler and drier (30°C–35°C / 86°F–95°F). I visited the Amazon in June and it was extremely humid and hot so I can’t imagine what it would be like in the wet season!

The downside to visiting the Amazon in the dry season is that it is also the most popular season. Make sure you book your tours and accommodation well ahead of time.

Best Time to Visit Arequipa and Colca Canyon

The best time of the year to visit Arequipa and Colca Canyon is during the months May, June, and July for the clearest weather and peak condor sightings!

The downside of this time of the year is that the night time temperatures are at their coldest and it is also the busiest time of the year for tourists, especially in July.

Best Time to Visit Huacachina

The best time to visit Huacachina greatly depends on the type of trip you want.

If you are looking to go when the nightlife is at its best: Go anytime from December to March. This is the hottest time of the year in Huacachina with daytime highs reaching 28°C to 30°C+ so it’s the best for hanging by the pool. It’s also the busiest period for locals and there are major local events that you can go to like the Ica Vendimia grape harvest festival.

If you want the best weather: Go anytime from May to September when temperatures average around 23°C to 25°C. The skies are usually clear and the nights do get a little chilly so you’ll need a jacket and maybe some jeans. This is a great time of the year for outdoor activities in Huacachina like sandboarding.

If you want to avoid the crowds and have the benefit of more affordable pricing: Go in April, October or November. I can confirm that November is definitely a quieter time to visit Huacachina and the hotel prices were not bad at all. My friend Candace and I stayed at Banana’s Adventure Hostel which was such a vibe!

feet hanging over sand dunes in Huacachina — Huacachina in November

Girl lounging in Hammock at Ecocamp Huacachina — Huacachina in November

Best Time to Visit Paracas

If you are looking to stay in Paracas, November was actually a really nice time to visit (google has also confirmed that the shoulder season of April–May and September–October is the best time to visit).

The crowds weren’t too bad but the little seaside town was still lively. The weather was sunny when I was there but not too hot and honestly the whole place was just a vibe.

However, if you are adding Paracas onto a larger trip that you are doing during the dry season, this is also a great time to visit. During this time, there are clear skies, not much rain and good conditions for the boat tours to the Ballestas Islands.

June to August is peak tourist season though so if you visit during this time, make sure you are well organised and book everything well in advance.

When I Wouldn’t Visit Peru

The Rainiest Months in Peru

The rainiest months in Peru are January, February and March with the largest amount of rainfall usually occurring in February in the Cusco and Machu Picchu area.

I’m not sure if this is why they shut the Inca Trail for maintenance every February but I feel like maintaining such a large trail in the middle of torrential rain would be so so tough!

Why I Would Avoid Visiting Peru in February

February is the one month that the Inca Trail closes each year for trail maintenance. It’s also the wettest month of the year in the Peruvian Andes (Machu Picchu and Cusco area) and also in the Amazon.

Is the Wet Season in Peru Worth It?

If you want lower prices and to avoid peak season crowds, then visiting the wet season in Peru might be worth it for you.

If you are travelling to Lima and the coast, the weather here is much more dry and sunny at this time of the year than in the Machu Picchu and Cusco areas.

Kerry in the Sacred Valley at Olyantaytambo — *Olyantaytambo, Sacred Valley in November*

When to Avoid Visiting Peru’s Popular Attractions

It depends what is more important to you. If you want to avoid the crowds in the Amazon and Machu Picchu, then I would avoid visiting during the dry season between May and October.

If you are wanting to avoid bad weather, then don’t visit the Amazon or Machu Picchu in the wet season between December and March.

When to Visit Peru: My Final Thoughts

If you are doing a larger adventure through Peru, then I don’t think you can really go wrong with any time, however, personally I would avoid the wet season if you are visiting Machu Picchu, Cusco or the Amazon or doing any treks through the mountains.

If you really want to avoid the peak season crowds then you could try the shoulder season for better weather and less crowds.

🦙 Have you been to Peru? Let me know in the comments when you visited and what the weather was like.

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