Best time to do the Inca Trail
temperature & rainfall
When to trek the Inca Trail
a month by month guide
Towards the end of January and into the rainiest month of February the Inca Trail, as well as several other national parks in Peru, is closed for essential repairs.
The trail reopens in March, though the highlands are still rainy through into April, and travellers may find some highland paths and roads are impassable.
Either side of the region’s dry season i.e. May and October, are the best times to trek the Inca Trail as there are less crowds and much drier weather conditions.
The Festival of the Sun (Inti Raymi) takes place towards the end of June and Inca cities, such as Cuzco, always get busier with plenty more crowds heading towards Machu Picchu.
Peru’s national holiday at the end of July is also a peak time for locals to tackle the Inca Trail or visit Machu Picchu by train. The warm, dry conditions never fail to prove popular with holidaymakers all the way through August and into September.
By November, the rainy season is starting to begin in earnest. However, you still might get some solid trekking conditions with nothing like the crowds of the summer - and you won't need to secure your pass quite as far in advance.
December is wet and also attracts crowds over the holidays with many accommodation and travel prices rising, despite the weather.

If you'd like to chat about the Inca trail or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Rosy & team.
Best time to do the Inca Trail
Our recommendations
"July and August are very cold in the Peruvian Andes as it's winter. People think they're going to Peru, it's near the equator, and it's going to be warm - but once you get up to 3,000m it's pretty cold! April is just coming out of the summer rainy season and into the dry season - so you've still got a bit of heat there and the weather's good."
"The Inca Trail is very popular and it can get busy, so if you're going at a time of year when getting permits might be difficult, remember that there are other routes you can take that connect with Machu Picchu. Trails like Salkantay don't get anywhere near as busy and they're just as beautiful, so ask your operator to explain all the options available."
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