Peru

The Best Time to Visit Peru

All our Peru departures reward you with awe-inspiring views, fascinating archaeological sites, wonderful cuisine, and a warm welcome from WT’s local friends. You can visit comfortably during much of the year because Peru is close to the equator and doesn’t have a lot of variation in temperature.

The two climate seasons are wet and dry. Hiking is best during shoulder and dry seasons from April through December. Temperatures can vary quite a bit on the trail, so plan to dress in layers.

A couple at Huayhuash mountain range in Peru.

A group of tourists admiring Incan Ruins.

January through March are the wettest months; we do not recommend visiting during this time.

April through early May is shoulder season—an especially good time to visit Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, which are lush and green from the rainy season.

Late May through September, the driest months, are high season and an excellent time to visit. We usually find that skies are clear, trails are dry, and late afternoons are pleasantly cool. Night temperatures at altitude can drop into the mid-30s.

October through December is also shoulder season, when occasional rain is possible—but the Peruvian highlands are a temperate desert where is not uncommon for weather to be dry for weeks at a time, even during the height of the “rainy” season. This is a good time to visit because there are more flowers in bloom, the nights are slightly warmer, and there are fewer tourists and fewer hikers on the trail.

Our Inca Trail and Machu Picchu trips run from April—when the rains have lightened up and the mountains are green—through December. Temperatures in the Cusco-Machu Picchu region range from the high 60s in the daytime to the low 40s at night, with some variation depending on the time of year.

In the high mountains, we typically encounter sunny days with daytime temperatures ranging between 65°F and 70°F degrees, dropping to the 40s and lower at night. The sun is strong at high altitude, and it’s often warm enough to hike in shorts and a T-shirt. However, it can also get extremely cold—even in the daytime, if the sun slips behind a cloud—and nighttime temperatures can drop to below freezing. Mountain weather is unpredictable and sudden storms can occur, especially on high mountain passes. Our mountain treks, to Chavin, Cordillera Blanca, and Cordillera Huayhuash, generally run from June through August.

In the Chachapoyas region the climate is subtropical-highland, with an average temperature of 64°F and an average relative humidity of 74%. May through October are the driest months, with sunny days and occasional clouds or fog, and early mornings are often misty or foggy—but in mountains there’s always a chance of rain. At night, the temperatures drop significantly. Our Chachapoyas trips run from June through August.

The Amazon Basin is warm and humid throughout the year. Rain most often falls in passing cloudbursts, and excursions are planned accordingly. There are two seasons:

High water season (December to May): During this time the Amazon rainforest is at its lushest, with slightly cooler temperatures. The rivers and creeks are more navigable, allowing you to cruise further along the wildlife-rich waterways, getting close to more plants and animals.
Low water season (June to November): The trails are more accessible, allowing you to explore the jungle by foot. You’ll spot exotic migratory birds—with the chance to see capuchin monkeys, kinkajou, and other mammals.

A group of tourists hiking at Huascaran National Park.

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Our Latin America Specialists know every detail about our Peru trips. They will be happy to answer any questions and help make sure it’s the right adventure for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!

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