When is the best time to visit Peru?

The best time to visit depends on where you go. Arequipa: November & December; Colca Canyon: November & December; Cusco: August & June; Huacachina: November & October; Huaraz: October & November; Huayna Picchu: August & September.

Which month is best overall in Peru?

Averaged across our 12 destinations in Peru, the strongest months are October, September, May. Individual places can shift a month or two earlier or later — each destination page lists its own peak.

How are the Peru travel scores calculated?

Every city is rated 0-10 per month using ERA5 climate normals - temperature, precipitation, humidity, daylight, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.

Best Time to Visit Peru: Weather by Month

01 · Peru

About Peru

Peru stretches from the Pacific desert up through Andean highlands to the Amazon basin, with Inca, colonial and indigenous cultures across it. Cusco and Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, and the Amazon around Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado are best-known stops. The dry months from May to September suit Andean trekking and ruins; the coast is mild and hazy much of the year, and the Amazon is wettest from December to April.

Did you know?

Peru packs three worlds into one country: Pacific coastal desert, the Andean highlands, and Amazon rainforest east of the mountains.
Peru is the original home of the potato, and farmers still cultivate more than 3,000 varieties in the Andes.
Machu Picchu was built around 1450 and abandoned within a century; the Spanish never found it, which is why it survived intact.

Weather

Peru: weather by month

Warmest month: February (15°C). Wettest: February (128 mm). Best overall score: October (9.7/10).

Month	Avg temp	Rain	Sunny days	Score
January	15°C	74 mm	26	8.6/10
February	15°C	128 mm	22	7.5/10
March	15°C	75 mm	25	8.4/10
April	14°C	40 mm	25	9.3/10
May	13°C	14 mm	24	9.4/10
June	12°C	6 mm	24	9.3/10
July	12°C	20 mm	25	9.3/10
August	13°C	7 mm	27	9.4/10
September	13°C	22 mm	26	9.6/10
October	14°C	29 mm	29	9.7/10
November	14°C	62 mm	27	9.0/10
December	15°C	71 mm	27	8.7/10

Travel Tips

01Best time & timing: October leads the year at 9.7/10, with September and May close behind — February (7.5/10) is the one to avoid without a specific reason.
02Weather & what to pack: In October plan for about 14°C; the month brings 29 mm of rain. Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.
03Crowds & value: Crowds build in September and rates follow; April usually pairs good conditions (9.3/10) with the lowest prices of the strong months.

Things to do in Peru

Peru. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

FAQ

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Peru?: The best time to visit depends on where you go. Arequipa: November & December; Colca Canyon: November & December; Cusco: August & June; Huacachina: November & October; Huaraz: October & November; Huayna Picchu: August & September.
Which month is best overall in Peru?: Averaged across our 12 destinations in Peru, the strongest months are October, September, May. Individual places can shift a month or two earlier or later — each destination page lists its own peak.
Which cities in Peru does bestime.to cover?: We currently score 12 destinations in Peru: Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cusco, Huacachina, Huaraz, Huayna Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Lima, Machu Picchu, Máncora, +2 more.
How are the Peru travel scores calculated?: Every city is rated 0-10 per month using ERA5 climate normals - temperature, precipitation, humidity, daylight, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.

Climate data: Open-Meteo ERA5 historical archive, the five most recent complete years (2021–2025). Scores are monthly averages for that window, not forecasts, and short-window precipitation can differ from longer-term normals. “Sunny days” count days with at least 6 hours of measured sunshine — they are not dry days.

Curated in Peru