Travel advice for Peru
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Peru
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Choosing when to go to Peru is complicated by huge differences in temperatures across the country’s different regions. The best time to visit Peru will depend on which regions you intend to go and what activities are you planning to do.
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Female Empowerment Tour
From meditations in Miraflores over visits to craftswomen in Chincheros to gratitude rituals in the Sacred Valley. This itinerary will allow you to reconnect with your feminine energy and learn more about women's lives in Peru.
customize ⤍Culture, Nature and Adventure in Peru
Get to know Peru through its locals and breathtaking trails- full of history. Hop aboard a motorboat to get to know the local way of life of the Uros people, before you start the great Inca trail, where beautiful landscapes, archaeological sites and fresh air are waiting for you.
customize ⤍The Inca Empire and the Nazca Culture
Peru has a rich history and culture, this itinerary will give you a taste of just how special it is. Take a flight over the mysterious Nasca lines, head to Cusco for some brilliant archaeological sites and discover the Inca cities. This trip will leave you wanting more!
customize ⤍Peruvian Inca Domains
Ideal for everyone wanting to explore the Inca history and combine it with today's culture and traditions. Fly over the mysterious Nasca lines, visit the penguins on Ballestas islands, sail the Titicaca Lake and discover the stunning Sacred Valley with Machu Picchu.
customize ⤍Witness the Sun Ceremony Inti Raymi in 2024
Celebrate the spectacular Sun Ceremony in Peru in 2024. This trip starts on the 24th of June 2024 to be able to witness the ceremony. Extensions and pre-programs are readily available.
customize ⤍Machu Picchu, Titicaca & Uyuni
The highlights of every Peru and Bolivia trip: the fascinating ruins of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, followed by a trip to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Afterwards, continue via La Paz to the Salar de Uyuni, the incredible salt flats.
customize ⤍Coast, Mountain Ranges and the Amazon Rainforest
Discover Peru, it's history, nature and culture. You will start in the captivating city of Lima, from where you will make your way to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu only to end in the Peruvian jungle....where you can find lakes, nature trails and stunning views.
customize ⤍Wonders of Peru and Bolivia
Start your trip by exploring Lima before heading out to Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Spend a few days exploring these wonders before heading off to Lake Titicaca. Just a short hop across the border lies Bolivia with the de facto capital La Paz, ready to be explored.
customize ⤍During the wet season (November to March) there's more rainfall, especially in the Andean region and the Amazon rainforest. Trekking routes, such as the Inca Trail, may be closed due to heavy rains and landslides. However, the wet season can be an excellent time to visit the coastal regions, including Lima and northern Peru, as they experience warmer temperatures and fewer tourists.
The shoulder seasons (April and October) mark the transition between the dry and wet seasons. The weather can be more unpredictable, with occasional rainfall. It's a less crowded time to visit popular sites like Machu Picchu, and you may find better deals on accommodations and tours.
Planning a trip to Peru? Perhaps our local experts in Peru can help you!
Since you’re unlikely to find the best time to visit all areas on a single trip, there's little point in worrying about it. The country’s attractions are broad enough to override the need for guarantees of good weather.
In the Andean highlands, temperatures range from 10-20°C (50-68°F), ideal for exploring ancient ruins like Machu Picchu. The Amazon rainforest experiences high humidity and temperatures around 25-30°C (77-86°F).
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In the Andean highlands, temperatures range from 10-20°C (50-68°F), providing comfortable conditions for exploring Cusco and Sacred Valley's archaeological wonders.
The Amazon rainforest experiences tropical weather, with temperatures around 25-30°C (77-86°F) and occasional showers.
In the Andean highlands, temperatures range from 10-20°C (50-68°F), creating comfortable conditions for hiking.
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In the Andean highlands, temperatures range from 10-20°C (50-68°F), providing pleasant conditions for hiking the Andes or visiting cultural gems like Arequipa. The Amazon rainforest experiences warm temperatures around 25-30°C (77-86°F) and increased rainfall, offering vibrant ecosystems and unique wildlife encounters.
With our tailor-made trip to Peru for nature lovers, you can explore one of the most ecologically diverse countries on earth. Peru boasts an impressive range of ecosystems, with 84 out of the 103 known ecosystems and nearly 90% of the world's recognized climates found within its borders.
The Andean highlands have similar temperatures to April, ranging from 10-20°C (50-68°F), providing pleasant conditions for visiting Machu Picchu or trekking through the Sacred Valley.
The Amazon rainforest has more showers and warm temperatures that hit 25-30°C (77-86°F).
Colder temperatures are felt in the Andean highlands, dropping to 5-15°C (41-59°F), providing cool but manageable conditions for exploring the Inca Trail or visiting Lake Titicaca.
The humid Amazon rainforest experiences Peru's warmest June temperatures of between 25-30°C (77-86°F) with regular rain showers.
Temperatures in the Andean highlands stubbornly stay at around 5-15°C (41-59°F), providing cool weather for trekking to Machu Picchu or visiting Cusco.
The Amazon rainforest remains warm and humid with regular downpours.
Lima is largely dry, despite temperatures falling again to around 16-19°C (61-66°F), whilst the Amazon rainforest experiences thes warmest temperatures of around 25-30°C (77-86°F) with occasional showers.
In the Andean highlands, the relatively dry period starts to ease, ushering in more rain. This can be the time to explore cultural gems like Arequipa rather than hiking.
The Amazon rainforest is warm, with temperatures around 25-30°C (77-86°F), wet and vibrant.
It hardly rains in Cusco or around Machu Picchu either, so weather-wise it can be a good time to visit, though many will have the same idea.
The air is fresh and crisp in the Andean highlands with little chance of downpours and warmer temperatures that fluctuate between 10-20°C (50-68°F).
It’s also much drier in the Amazon and a good time to visit.
In the Andean highlands, temperatures range from 10-20°C (50-68°F), creating pleasant weather for trekking to Machu Picchu or exploring the Sacred Valley.
The Amazon rainforest experiences temperatures around 25-30°C (77-86°F) with occasional showers, offering lush landscapes and incredible biodiversity.
Whereas the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere fall around June to August, the height of the summer (verano) along the desert coast more or less fits the expected image of the Southern Hemisphere.
That’s to say it’s extremely hot and sunny between December and March (especially in the north), cooler and with a frequent hazy mist, known as garúa, between April and November. Only in the polluted environs of Lima that the coastal winter ever gets cold enough to necessitate a sweater.
The peak season attracts a significant number of tourists, so popular sites can be more crowded, and prices for accommodations and tours may be higher. It's advisable to book your travel arrangements well in advance if you plan to visit Peru during the peak season.
In the Andes, the seasons are more obviously defined, with heavy rains from December to March and a warm, relatively dry period from June to September, the peak season. Inevitably, though, there are always some sunny weeks in the rainy season and wet ones in the dry. There is quite a difference between temperatures in the day and at night, so be sure to pack warm clothing.
In Arequipa in the south, the temperatures are really pleasant at this time of year. During the December to February period, you can expect the rainy season in the Amazon Basin and the Andes. Water levels are high at this time, and flora and fauna are abundant. At this time of year, the Inca Trail often closes during February due to possible landslides and maintenance. Machu Picchu itself remains open during this period.
For those coming from the Northern Hemisphere spring is considered to be roughly from March to May. From March the temperature on the coast begins to get milder. It’s still wet within the Andes, but you will find that it’s quieter with fewer crowds on the trails. The rainforest is still hot and humid – as it is all year.
In March to May, it is still hot in the coastal areas, but temperatures are beginning to drop. March is the end of the rainy season in Machu Picchu, and you can expect the area to be drier and warmer by May.
In the Andean highlands the average annual rainfall varies between 500mm and 1,000mm (20 to 40 inches). The rainy season in the highlands coincides with the summer months, from December to March.
Cusco is at its best and you can make the most of the Andes’ fantastic trekking opportunities. It is cold though when the sun goes down, so take extra layers. The Amazon is hot all year but at its driest during the May to September period.
December to February can be the best time of year to visit Peru if you are travelling to the coastal regions, especially in the north. You can expect temperatures to be hot and sunny at around a pleasant 29˚C. There will be very little rainfall in coastal regions.
There is less rain in the Andes at this time of year and it’s a good time to travel for those who want to go trekking or climbing. You’ll get some excellent views of the mountain peaks and clear blue skies.
Temperatures are much milder on the coast – at around 18˚-22˚C– than between December and March. Lima is also shrouded in grey mist at this time of the year. The coolest temperatures occur from June to October (lows of 15˚C and highs of 19˚-20˚C).
In the Amazon, temperatures are hot and humid, but this is the dry season, so there will be less rainfall and lower water levels
The whole area is quieter from October to April but it’s wetter. The Inca trail is closed in February, which is usually the wettest month. It closes for annual maintenance and repair, although Machu Picchu itself is still open.
The month of May is quite a good choice as it’s the end of the rainy season, and the sky will be bright and clear with excellent views.
Rough Guides tip: check our Rough Guides Itineraries
If you visit between April to November, you may experience a blanket of grey mist, although it hardly ever rains in the capital.
The main national holidays are those at Easter, Christmas and during October, when everything closes up for the holidays – worth bearing in mind if planning a visit to Peru at these times.
September
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Peru
written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 12.07.2023
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