Best time to visit Peru
Peru has one of the most varied climates on the planet, thanks to its wild, diverse geography![]()
The best time to visit Peru is the dry season between May and September, when there’s ideal weather for trekking in the Peruvian Highlands. The dry season is also the best time of year to visit Peru for wildlife watching in the Amazon, as animals congregate along shrinking rivers and mosquitoes are fewer, while the arid coast is also pleasantly cooler at this time. Just be prepared for falling temperatures in the mountains at night, and pack appropriately. As you’ll see from our guide to when to go to Peru, December to March is the rainy season, when you’ll find it hard going on the Inca Trail.
When to visit Peru & when not to
Our Peru Holidays
Peru 2 week tour
Lima, Colca, Titicaca & Machu Picchu in a customisable tour
From
£2065
14 days
ex flights
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
£3749 to £4499
17 days
inc UK flights
Inca Trail adventure holiday
Discover Cuzco and the Sacred Valley on this Incan adventure
From
£1028 to £1640
7 days
ex flights
Peru holiday, encompassed
Coastal desert, snowy Andean peaks and lush forest
From
£3495 to £3895
16 days
inc UK flights
Hiking the Inca Trail holiday
An unrivalled combination of history and spectacular scenery
From
£3199 to £4149
10 days
inc UK flights
Galapagos and Machu Picchu holiday
Cusco, Short Inca Trail & Galapagos Island Hopping
From
£3595
14 days
ex flights
Cuzco & the Highlands Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
4
17
153
FEB
4
17
136
MAR
4
17
120
APR
3
18
46
MAY
0
18
8
JUN
-2
18
2
JUL
-2
17
4
AUG
-1
18
8
SEP
1
18
23
OCT
3
19
40
NOV
3
19
68
DEC
4
18
116
Our top Peru Holiday
Peru 2 week tour
Lima, Colca, Titicaca & Machu Picchu in a customisable tour
From
£2065
14 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Peru or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
01273 823 700
Call us until 6pm
Calling from outside the UK
Our recommondations
Elena Larkin is a Latin America specialist at our supplier, Natural World Safaris. Originally from Lima, she tells us which is her best time to visit Peru's highlands, and why:
"For me personally, the best time to go and see the mountains is mid to late April, because it's after the rainy season and everything is green. But it's the end of summer, so it's still a bit warmer. My least favourite time is in July and August when it's filled with local families as well as tourists - it's just too crowded, and very cold. Also, if you arrive in Lima during April, it's just finishing summer - so it doesn't have the grey skies you can expect to find there for the rest of the year."
Festivals & events in Peru
February: Pisco Sour Day
The first Saturday of February is set aside to honour Peru's national drink: the Pisco Sour. It's also a great opportunity to discover Peru's fantastic food, as well as its traditional music and dance.
February: Virgen de la Candelaria
This 18-day folk festival takes place in Puno, beginning on 2nd February each year. The virgin is paraded through the streets, followed by hundreds of colourfully clad musicians and dancers, in a wonderful blend of Catholic and indigenous traditions and beliefs.
Did you know about...?
Carnival in Peru
Rio's not the only place to celebrate Carnival in South America. Throughout February you are likely to get drenched - as Peruvians indulge in traditional water fights. To mark the end of carnival, a symbolic tree - called a yunsa - is adorned with gifts. Couples compete to fell it with an axe, releasing the gifts. Cajamarca and Puno have some of the biggest carnivals.
More about Peru
Our Peru travel guide is here to help you travel like a local, including a handy section on food, shopping and culture, plus what we rate and what we don't...
Our Peru map and highlights will help you make the most of your holiday, whether you’re seeking classic highlights, an Inca trek or combining Andes and Amazon...
If you're hoping to rediscover Machu Picchu, explore the Amazon or get off the beaten track then read on for our top things to do in Peru...
Our guide to Machu Picchu reveals the history of this sacred site, with tips on what to see, how to travel there and the best time to visit...
Peru's Inca Trail is one of the highlights of a South America holiday. Discover the history of the trail, the best time to go and a sample itinerary...
There are several alternative Inca trails that lead to Machu Picchu, taking in cloud and rainforest, high passes and indigenous villages...
We explain why, when you cross the border at Lake Titicaca and see Bolivia and Peru together, you gain more than just an extra stamp in your passport...
Community homestays, brightly woven handicrafts and spectacular island hikes are Lake Titicaca’s calling cards.
The Nazca Lines in Peru remain one of the country’s great mysteries. Find out about the lines’ history, and how to view them from land and from the air...
Travelling in Peru with kids is a fabulous idea. Machu Picchu will delight children as much as parents, while long-lashed llamas are sure to enchant...
Our Peru travel tips page is packed to the rafters with sound, practical advice from our South America experts as well as our independent traveller reviews...
Porters' rights are one of the most important Peru responsible tourism issues. We also share information on volunteering, homestays and the environment...
Find all of our Peru guides in one place, for particular places in Peru such as Machu Picchu. Or perhaps you would like to know more about the different types of Peru holidays we offer such as culture or trekking the Inca Trail.
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