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What is the best time to travel to Peru?

Posted On: 11 October 2024 #TierrasVivas 28

Choosing the best time to travel to Peru can be complicated. Not in vain, the country has 28 of the 32 climatic zones in the world. So that you don't get too confused and can carry out your travel itinerary through Peru without getting caught in the rain, throughout this article we will delve into what the weather is like depending on the month and part of the country, as well as the variation in prices depending on the season.

Keep reading and find out when to travel to Peru and, of course, the best time to go to Machu Picchu, which is sure to be one of your most longed-for travel dreams.

What is the climate like in Peru

Without going into technicalities, the climate in Peru is determined by four factors:

Its geographical location, at low latitude and close to the equator, which means that it is a tropical country with few differences between the average temperatures of winter or summer. The influence of sea currents, especially the Peruvian or Humboldt current.

The trade winds, especially from the so-called South Pacific anticyclone (SPA). This, together with the cold sea currents, determines that the so-called arid subtropical climate is dominant on the Peruvian coast.

The influence of the Andes mountain range. The different altitudes of these mountains determine different types of climate in their different territories.

If you add to that the anomalies caused by phenomena such as El Niño or the cold snap, things get even more complicated. Don't worry, throughout this article we will tell you what is the best time to travel to Peru in general terms and by place.

When is the rainy season in Peru?

To summarize, we could say that the rainy season in Peru goes more or less from January to March. Even so, because there are different types of climates, it is necessary to be more precise:

Northern coast: it rains little in general, the rainiest months being January, February, March and April, especially March.

Central-southern coast: very dry climate, it hardly rains.

Peruvian Amazon: rain is present throughout the year, but it is even rainier in the months of December, January, February and March.

Andes mountain range: a good part of it has a type of climate called temperate subhumid, in which the rainiest months are from October to March, with more chances of rain in February and March.

You have probably already guessed it, but the driest months in Peru are equivalent to those of our summer, more or less from May to September.

When is it hottest in Peru?

As for 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 guessed, the hottest areas are the Amazon and the coast, where temperatures can exceed 33ºC in March-April, although the usual maximum is around 27ºC.

In the Andean areas (Cuzco, Arequipa...) the maximum temperatures do not usually exceed 21ºC, while you will need to take 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 a little less depending on the altitude you are at.

Therefore, when planning your trip, whatever the time of year in Peru, you will need to carry a backpack/suitcase with a wide variety of clothes. If you plan to make the jump to the Peruvian Amazon, do not forget your raincoat.

Travel safely in Peru

In addition to knowing when is the best time, it is also essential to know how to enjoy the safest trip. As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs insists, it is essential to have travel insurance for Peru to ensure the greatest peace of mind and not regret it later.

A simple slip that turns into a sprain could cause you medical expenses of thousands of euros here if things go wrong. That, or an illness that would be easily solved at home.

Don't take any chances in Peru and get your insurance now:

The weather in Peru by area

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 Mancora, Peru is endless and, in addition, it has super varied climates. We have already given you a brief summary, but here we go into a little more detail about the weather you can have in each one and the best time to visit them:

Best time to visit the Peruvian coast (Lima, Paracas, Huacachina, Mancora…): we already know that it is very long, but it is more or less similar, with the climate being even more arid the further north we go. Any time is good to visit this part, but, if you want to enjoy the beaches, it is warmer from November to March. Between February and April there are more hours of sunshine and fewer grey days in Lima, famous for its “belly of a donkey”.

Best time to visit the Peruvian Amazon: with a humid tropical climate, you can expect heat and rain all year round. However, April to October are the months with the least rain and, therefore, the best time for this area of ​​Peru. Even so, the so-called high water season (December-May) makes parts of the rivers accessible by boat and makes it easier to spot certain fauna, so it is also interesting.

Best time to visit the mountains of Peru (Cusco, Arequipa, Puno…): since temperatures are quite similar throughout the year (between 20ºC maximum during the day and 7ºC minimum at night), the most interesting thing is to pay attention to the rainfall. From November to March it can rain a lot, so it is best to go during the dry season, from April to October.

With all this, since the weather is good both in the Amazon and in most corners of the Andes Mountains, the best time to travel to Peru is more or less from April/May to September.

What is the best month of the year to travel to Peru?

To make it clearer, here we detail month by month what it is like to travel to Peru due to its climate:

Travel to Peru from December to March: it is the rainy season in much of the country, in the Andes Mountains, in Cusco and surrounding areas, a maximum of 144 mm of rain can be reached. Therefore, these are not good months for Machu Picchu or for treks such as Salkantay or Choquequirao. During February, the Inca Trail is closed. In the Amazon rainforest, it rains more, with up to 278 mm recorded in Iquitos. The rivers are fuller and boat trips are easier, but keep in mind that there are also more mosquitoes. On the other hand, on the coast, including Lima, the weather is pleasant and many people visit the beaches, so hotel prices in places like Huanchaco or Mancora are higher.

Travel to Peru in April and May: the dry season begins and it is not so hot, so these are ideal times for hiking and also for not finding so many tourists. In the Amazon, temperatures are still high, although with somewhat less rain. The rivers are still at quite high levels, so the chances of seeing animals are high. Humidity in Lima increases a little, but temperatures drop slightly. Travel to Peru from June to August: the weather is driest and more travellers (especially from North America and Europe) decide to visit the country on their work and school holidays. Prices therefore increase. On the northern coast (Mancora and surrounding areas) it is still hot, around 26ºC, but the frequency of visitors is lower.

Travel to Peru from September to November: temperatures are gradually increasing, but it is a good month for hiking in the Andes mountain range. In Lima the climate is more spring-like and the humidity is lower, so it is more pleasant to visit.

The seasons: what is the cheapest time to travel to Peru?

It is easy to guess, but when it comes to seasons, almost everyone wants good weather. Thus, the high season in Peru runs roughly from July to September, with July and August being the most sought-after months and, therefore, also the most expensive in terms of accommodation and flights.

The low season is from December to February, although at Christmas, especially on the coast, it is not unusual to see skyrocketing prices. February is usually a bad month to travel if you want to go hiking, as the Inca Trail is often closed.

If you are looking for something in the middle of the price range, a good time to travel to Peru is the months of March, April, May, September and October. It doesn't rain as much and there are fewer people in most of the country.

In short, when to travel to Peru?

After all, you may still be wondering what the best time to travel to Peru is. From our perspective, due to the weather, we would say that this is from April to October, when there is little rain in most of the country and you will enjoy blue skies in the Andes mountain range.

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 is a concern for you, two good times are April/first half of May and late September/first half of October.

Perhaps the worst time to travel to Peru is from December to February, as the rains can put a damper on your trip and you may also find some roads closed.

Things to do in Peru

Peru is a country full of wonders and activities for all tastes. If you still have doubts about it, here are some unmissable experiences for an unforgettable adventure:

Edwin Caviedes Profesional guide

Edwin Caviedes is the founder and manager of Tierras Vivas, a company that benefits native people communities.