Best Time to Visit Peru

Three Perus, three calendars

Peru doesn't have one best time. The coast, the Andes and the desert south all run on different clocks, so start by asking where you're headed.

Lima and Callao sit on the dry coast. They're at their best from October to May, with warm, sunny days that peak in February at 27°C. Rain barely happens here. March is the "wettest" month at just 6 mm. The catch is the winter grey. From June to September a low cloud called garúa hangs over the city, and it can feel damp and dull.

Cusco is the opposite. Its best months are April to October, the dry season. Days are bright and nights are cold. September is the warmest month at 19°C, which tells you the highlands never get properly hot. February is the wettest by far at 156 mm, and heavy rain can make Machu Picchu trains and the Inca Trail trickier. The Inca Trail also closes every February for maintenance.

Arequipa and Trujillo

Arequipa is the easy one. Our data says it's good all year. It's warmest in November at 27°C, and February is its wettest month at 41 mm. Even then, you'll mostly get afternoon showers, so mornings at the Santa Catalina Monastery stay pleasant.

Trujillo suits April to May and November to February. August is its hottest month at 29°C, but that's the coastal winter, so expect haze more than blazing sun. Beach days at nearby Huanchaco are best in the warmer months.

Holidays and crowds

High season in the Andes runs from June to August, and it's busiest around Inti Raymi, Cusco's Inca sun festival on 24 June. Hotels fill up and Machu Picchu permits go quickly. If you hate crowds, aim for April, May or October.

Fiestas Patrias, Peru's independence days on 28 and 29 July, bring a long weekend. Locals travel, buses sell out and prices rise. Holy Week in March or April is also busy, especially for processions in Cusco and Ayacucho.

Low season is the wet months, from December to March in the mountains. You'll get quieter ruins and cheaper rooms, but some views will vanish into cloud. Travelling with kids? The shoulder months are usually your calmest bet.