Machu Picchu wide angle image

Machu Picchu Travel Guide

Trustpilot
  1. Homepage
  2. Americas
  3. Peru
  4. Machu Picchu

When to go? Seasons, climate, festivities

  • July to August

    This is the driest time to visit Machu Picchu. There may be occasional showers, but these will be lighter and less frequent than other times of the year. July to August is also the peak time to visit this ancient city. Booking early is essential to guarantee permits during this time and there will be more visitors about that the shoulder months of the dry season.

  • September to November

    September signals the start of spring for Machu Picchu. The vegetation is beginning to bloom, the rainforest is lush and teeming with wildlife. There are less visitors during these milder months, but it is still a wonderful time to visit.

  • December to March

    November into December is when the summer rains arrive, with January and February the wettest months of the year for Machu Picchu. Although it is often easier for those on a budget to visit during this time we would strongly recommend avoiding travelling here during January and February. If you want to avoid the crowds and don’t mind getting a bit wet, consider November for your Machu Picchu hike instead.

  • April to June

    By April the wet weather will be starting to ease and autumn rolls across the mountain slopes. These are also considered shoulder months for visiting Machu Picchu where there are less visitors about and the weather is more pleasant, although not guaranteed to be completely dry. The rainforests are lush and dense and whilst the trekking may be a little muddy, the mild temperatures and quieter trails are reason enough to trek during this time.

Temperatures and climate

Min/max temp (°C) / Average rainfall (mm)

  • Machu Picchu

    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    Average temp C° min / max
    8° / 15°
    8° / 15°
    8° / 15°
    7° / 15°
    7° / 14°
    5° / 14°
    4° / 14°
    5° / 14°
    6° / 14°
    7° / 15°
    7° / 15°
    8° / 15°
    Average rainfall (mm)
    270
    251
    243
    150
    71
    49
    49
    69
    97
    155
    186
    241

  • Cusco

    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    Average temp C° min / max
    8° / 20°
    8° / 20°
    8° / 20°
    6° / 21°
    4° / 21°
    2° / 20°
    1° / 20°
    3° / 21°
    5° / 21°
    7° / 22°
    7° / 22°
    8° / 21°
    Average rainfall (mm)
    150
    150
    110
    50
    15
    5
    5
    10
    25
    65
    75
    135

Our blog

All articles