Cusco Weather by Month: When to Go

Cusco has two seasons: the dry season, from May to September, with clear skies and freezing nights, and the rainy season, from December to March, with almost daily showers and green landscapes. April, October and November are transition months, with good weather and smaller crowds. The daytime high barely changes through the year, staying between 20 and 22 °C; what changes is the nighttime cold and the rain.

Cusco’s two seasons at a glance

In the Andes, people talk about the dry season and the rainy season rather than summer and winter. That split shapes almost everything: the condition of the trails, the view from Machu Picchu, the snow on the mountains and the number of travelers.

Dry season (May to September)

It hardly rains: between May and August, less than 3% of the year’s total rainfall comes down. The days are sunny and the sky is a deep blue. In exchange, the nights are the coldest of the year: in June and July the average low drops below 0 °C on the outskirts of the city, and there’s frost in the higher areas. This is peak season, with more visitors, tickets that sell out sooner and higher prices for hotels and trains.

Rainy season (December to March)

It rains often, usually as afternoon or evening showers, though some days stay overcast from start to finish. Nights are milder than in the dry season, because the clouds hold in the heat. There are fewer tourists, the countryside is lush and green, and it’s easier to find availability. February is the trickiest month: the Inca Trail closes for the whole month for maintenance, although Machu Picchu stays open.

Transition months (April, October and November)

These are our pick if your dates are flexible. In April the rains end and the valley is still green. In October and November the first afternoon rains return, but mornings are usually sunny and the crowds are smaller than in July or August.

Cusco weather by month: temperature and rainfall table

The figures in the table are the official 1991-2020 climate normals from SENAMHI’s Granja Kcayra station, at 3,214 m in the Huatanay Valley, on the outskirts of the city. They’re averages: any given day can be colder, warmer or rainier. Temperatures are rounded.

Cusco weather month by month

Average high and low (°C)

0 °C

1. 20°7°
2. 20°8°
3. 20°7°
4. 21°4°
5. 21°1°
6. 21°−1°
7. 21°−1°
8. 22°1°
9. 22°3°
10. 22°5°
11. 22°6°
12. 21°7°

1. Jan
2. Feb
3. Mar
4. Apr
5. May
6. Jun
7. Jul
8. Aug
9. Sep
10. Oct
11. Nov
12. Dec

Rainfall (mm per month)

1. 146
2. 126
3. 97
4. 33
5. 6
6. 4
7. 4
8. 5
9. 15
10. 44
11. 71
12. 115

1. Jan
2. Feb
3. Mar
4. Apr
5. May
6. Jun
7. Jul
8. Aug
9. Sep
10. Oct
11. Nov
12. Dec

• Dry season
• Good time
• Rainy season

Month	Season	Average high / low	Monthly rainfall	Best for
January	Rainy	20 °C / 7 °C (68 °F / 45 °F)	146 mm (the wettest)	The city, museums and Machu Picchu with fewer people
February	Rainy	20 °C / 8 °C (68 °F / 46 °F)	126 mm	Machu Picchu without the crowds and Carnival; no Inca Trail
March	Rainy	20 °C / 7 °C (68 °F / 45 °F)	97 mm	A green Sacred Valley and good prices
April	Good season	21 °C / 4 °C (70 °F / 39 °F)	33 mm	Holy Week and the first treks of the year
May	Dry	21 °C / 1 °C (70 °F / 34 °F)	6 mm	The Inca Trail, Salkantay and the mountains
June	Dry	21 °C / −1 °C (70 °F / 30 °F)	4 mm	Inti Raymi and Cusco’s festivals
July	Dry	21 °C / −1 °C (70 °F / 30 °F)	4 mm	Treks and clear skies (book ahead)
August	Dry	22 °C / 1 °C (72 °F / 34 °F)	5 mm	Treks, photography and Rainbow Mountain
September	Dry	22 °C / 3 °C (72 °F / 37 °F)	15 mm	Trekking with slightly smaller crowds
October	Good season	22 °C / 5 °C (72 °F / 41 °F)	44 mm	Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley with a good balance
November	Good season	22 °C / 6 °C (72 °F / 43 °F)	71 mm	Flexible travelers, sunny mornings
December	Rainy	21 °C / 7 °C (70 °F / 45 °F)	115 mm	Santurantikuy and year-end festivities

Two things the table shows that surprise many travelers: the warmest month at midday isn’t January but November, and the coldest month at night is July. Nearly three quarters of the year’s rainfall, which totals around 666 mm, falls between December and March.

Tip: don’t plan around your phone’s weather app a week ahead. In Cusco the weather changes within a few hours. Check the official SENAMHI forecast a day or two before, and always carry a waterproof layer, even in the dry season.

What to expect each month

January

This is the wettest month. Mornings can start out clear and cloud over toward midday. It’s a good time to explore the city, its museums and San Pedro Market at a relaxed pace, and to visit Machu Picchu with fewer people. Bring a poncho and shoes that won’t get soaked. From January to April, all PeruRail train departures from Cusco are bimodal: one leg by bus and another by train.

February

It’s still raining a lot, and the Inca Trail is closed the entire month for maintenance. If your dream is to hike into Machu Picchu, change your dates or consider an alternative route. Machu Picchu stays open. It’s Carnival season, on a date that varies between February and March, with water fights and traditional food in the neighborhoods and communities.

March

The rains ease toward the end of the month. The Sacred Valley is at its greenest, and hotel prices are still low. Depending on the year, Holy Week falls in March or April: on Holy Monday, the Lord of the Earthquakes (Señor de los Temblores), Cusco’s patron, is carried in procession around the Plaza de Armas, one of the city’s busiest religious festivals.

April

The heavy rains end and the good season begins. The fields are still green and the July crowds haven’t arrived yet. It’s an excellent month to combine Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, and for the first treks.

May

The dry season gets underway. Clear skies, very little rain and cold nights, close to 0 °C on the outskirts. It’s one of our favorite months for the Inca Trail, the Salkantay and Rainbow Mountain: good weather and slightly lower demand than in June and July. Between May and June, depending on the date of Easter, thousands of pilgrims climb to the sanctuary of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i, on the slopes of Sinakara, near Ausangate.

June

Dry, sunny and cold at night. All of June is Cusco’s jubilee month, with parades on the Plaza de Armas almost every day, plus the feast of Corpus Christi, which moves each year and almost always falls in June, when people eat chiri uchu. June 24 is Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, with its main ceremony at Sacsayhuamán. It’s the busiest week of the year: book your hotel, train and ticket months in advance.

July

This is the coldest month at night and the one with the most travelers, thanks to summer vacation in the Northern Hemisphere and Peru’s national holidays (Fiestas Patrias) on July 28. The sky is usually clear. Around July 16, the main day, Paucartambo celebrates the festival of the Virgen del Carmen, with dozens of traditional dances. Buy your Machu Picchu ticket and your trains one to three months in advance.

August

Still dry and sunny, with frost at night. Demand at Machu Picchu stays high. In August many families and communities make offerings to Pachamama, Mother Earth, a tradition closely tied to this month.

September

The last dry weeks, and slightly fewer people than in July and August. The nights start to get milder. It’s a great month for any trek and for photography.

October

Mild weather, long days and the first scattered showers, almost always in the afternoon. A good balance between price and weather. For Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, it’s one of the best choices if you want to avoid the crowds and don’t mind the odd shower.

November

The afternoon rains begin, but mornings are usually sunny and the midday temperature is the highest of the year. There are fewer tourists. In the first days of the month, Cusco celebrates All Saints’ Day and the Day of the Dead, with the traditional doll-shaped bread sold at markets and bakeries.

December

Frequent rain returns, along with the year-end festivities. On December 24, the Plaza de Armas fills up for the Santurantikuy, the big Christmas fair where artisans from across the region sell figures for nativity scenes. It’s a very local experience, though you’ll want to bring an umbrella or a poncho.

Weather by destination

From Cusco you travel in just a few hours between very different climate zones: from the cloud forest of Machu Picchu, at about 2,400 m, to mountain passes above 4,600 m. That’s why the city’s weather isn’t enough to pack by.

Destination	Approximate altitude	Weather	Best time
Cusco city	3,399 m	Mild days, cold nights	Year-round; driest from May to September
Sacred Valley	2,870 m	Milder than Cusco	Year-round; less rain from April to October
Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes	2,430 m and 2,040 m	Warm and humid, with mist	Year-round; rain from November to March
Rainbow Mountain	5,036 m	Cold and windy; snow possible	April to November
Humantay Lake	4,200 m	Cold, freezing early mornings	April to November
Inca Trail and Salkantay	Up to 4,215 m and 4,630 m	From high-mountain cold to the heat of the cloud forest	April to October; Inca Trail closed in February

Cusco city

At about 3,399 m, the city has pleasant days and cold nights all year. In the midday sun you can walk around in a T-shirt; in the shade and after dark you’ll need a fleece. Many homes and budget hotels don’t have central heating. More details in our Cusco guide.

Sacred Valley

It sits lower than Cusco, in the Urubamba River valley, which makes it milder. It’s ideal for spending your first nights and acclimatizing. In the rainy season the Sacred Valley is very green, and the rain rarely gets in the way of sightseeing.

Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes

Machu Picchu is in the cloud forest, where the Andes drop down toward the Amazon. It’s warmer and more humid than Cusco, and in the morning the citadel is often wrapped in mist that clears as the hours go by. It can rain in any month, even more so from November to March. In Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of the citadel, use insect repellent.

Rainbow Mountain

Rainbow Mountain reaches about 5,000 m, in the Vilcanota mountain range. Mornings are very cold, the wind blows and it can snow; in the rainy season, snow can cover the colored bands. The best time is from April to November. Day trips leave Cusco before dawn: bundle up.

Humantay Lake

Humantay Lake sits at about 4,200 m, at the foot of a snowcapped peak. The hike starts early and the predawn hours are very cold, although the day turns pleasant in the sun. It’s best from April to November; in the rain, the trail gets slippery. In the dry season, clear skies give you a better view of the peak from the shore of the lake.

Inca Trail and Salkantay

Both treks cross several climate zones in just a few days: below-freezing nights on the mountain passes and humid heat as you descend toward Machu Picchu. The best time is from April to October. The Inca Trail closes in February, and in the dry season its permits sell out months in advance; the Salkantay has no limited permit, but in the rainy season the trail gets muddy.

Important: on hikes above 4,000 m, the weather can go from sunshine to hail or snow in less than an hour, in any month. Do them after two or three days in Cusco, once you’re acclimatized, and read our guide to altitude sickness in Cusco.

Temperature swings and UV radiation: what surprises people most

From midday heat to nighttime cold

High-altitude air is dry and holds little heat. That’s why, on a single day in July, the temperature can swing more than 20 °C between midday and the early morning hours, according to SENAMHI’s normals. In January the difference is smaller, about 13 °C, because the clouds act like a blanket. In practice:

• You head out at 6:00 a.m. in a hat and gloves, and by 11:00 a.m. you’re in a T-shirt.
• Once the sun goes down, the temperature drops within minutes.
• Inside adobe and stone houses it’s often colder than it is outside at midday.
• On predawn trips to the mountains, the wind chill is very low.

A sun that’s stronger than it looks

Above 3,000 m, ultraviolet radiation is very high, even on cool or cloudy days. SENAMHI rates a UV index of 11 or more as extremely high, and in Cusco it has forecast values as high as 19 in the rainy season. It recommends avoiding direct sun exposure between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and wearing sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection. In the dry season, the clear skies also let a lot of radiation through.

Tip: reapply sunscreen every two or three hours and don’t forget lip balm. Sunburned ears, necks and lips are among the most common complaints for travelers arriving in Cusco.

What to wear by season

The rule is the same all year: dress in layers you can take off and put back on throughout the day. What changes is how heavy each layer is. You’ll find the full list in our Cusco packing list.

Dry season

• A thermal base layer for the nights and predawn departures.
• A fleece and a down jacket or heavy coat.
• A wool hat, gloves and a scarf.
• A cap or sun hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen.
• A light windbreaker: even when it doesn’t rain, the afternoon wind is chilly.

Rainy season

• A breathable waterproof jacket, or a rain poncho.
• A backpack rain cover and bags to protect your phone and documents.
• Waterproof shoes with good grip: the stone streets are slippery.
• Quick-dry clothing; cotton takes a long time to dry.
• A fleece: the nights are milder, but still cool.

In April, October and November, combine both lists: warm clothes for the night and a light waterproof layer for the afternoon.

The best time to visit Cusco for your goals

• Seeing Machu Picchu in good weather without as many crowds: April, May, September and October. Machu Picchu is open all year.
• The Inca Trail: May to September for the best weather; for May to August, book your permit four to six months in advance; April and October are good alternatives. Never in February.
• Salkantay and other treks: April to October. Compare routes in our comparison of treks to Machu Picchu.
• Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake: April to November, ideally in the dry season.
• Festivals and living culture: June, for Inti Raymi and the jubilee month; Holy Week; July in Paucartambo; and the Santurantikuy in December.
• Fewer people and better prices: January to March, if you accept the rain, and November.
• Green landscapes for photography: March to May, when the rains end and the countryside is still green.
• Traveling with kids or older adults: April, May, September or October, with nights that are less extreme than in June and July and less rain than in the southern summer.

Tip: if you can only travel in the rainy season, plan your outdoor visits for the morning, when the sky is usually clearer, and save the afternoons for museums, markets and restaurants.

Summary: what to do in your case

• If you’re looking for the best balance of weather, price and crowds, travel in April, May, September or October.
• If you’re traveling from May to August, book your Machu Picchu ticket, your train and, if you want to do it, your Inca Trail permit early.
• If you’re traveling from December to March, bring rain gear, plan your day trips for the morning and remember that the Inca Trail closes in February.
• If you’re going above 4,000 m, acclimatize first and bring clothes for snow in any month.
• Whatever your dates, dress in layers and wear sunscreen every day.

Once you’ve chosen your season, the next step is planning your route: check out our 3-, 5- and 7-day Cusco itinerary and adapt each day to the weather in the month you’re traveling.