Best Time to Visit Peru

What to see in May and October

This dry-season period is ideal if you wish to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the at-times steep and rocky path being immensely easier to deal with when rain is not substantial. All the extensive trails leading to Machu Picchu will be open for business at this time so whether you choose the well-trodden path or a lesser-visited option, you can expect to visit remote Inca sites and soak up the splendours of the Peruvian Andes.

Tourist walking in Machu Picchu ruins

Worst time to Visit Machu Picchu

Rain in the Central Andes can sometimes cause transport delays and even landslides (in the worst-case scenario) which can halt travel to and from the historic site for a few days whilst things are cleared up. Given that most visitors are on somewhat of a tight schedule, therefore, it makes sense to skip a visit during the wettest period, between January and March although do note that disruptions don’t occur every single year. If they do, they’re likely to happen in February.

Llamas in Peru

What to see between January and March

Off-season Machu Picchu tours can actually be very rewarding. This is Peru’s most popular attraction so visiting at a time of year when crowds are at a minimum can be quite idyllic. This is especially true if you plan on taking the train. Not only will you find Machu Picchu a lot quieter but also Cusco, the Sacred Valley and all the wonderful stops usually included on a Machu Picchu tour itinerary. Cheaper prices, greater availability of accommodation and excursions, warmer temperatures and a much more relaxed vibe all-round can make for very rewarding travels, a bit of rain notwithstanding.

Machu Picchu ruins in the Andes mountains

Best time to Visit the Amazon

The fertile Amazon Rainforest is soaked by rainfall all year long. However, some months do bring a drastic increase in rainfall, which floods riverbanks and forests and make for exceptional cruising. Humidity levels and temperatures stay constant all year-long so choosing the right time to visit the Amazon will depend on whether you wish to cruise the Amazon River or enjoy a lodge-based stay instead.

Best time

The period between June and October is ideal for lodge-based Amazon tours in Peru, these ‘drier’ months allowing for extensive jungle walks in search of wildlife. You’ll still take plenty of canoe trips on tributaries of the Amazon River (and there will still be plenty of water!) but the lack of torrential downpours means you can be out in the wilderness for many more hours during the day and walking trails will be drier and easier to negotiate.

Boat tour in the Amazon jungle

What to see between June and October

Daily guided walks on Amazon lodge-based tours are the prime highlight for all those who visit. Not only is this the best way to spot the elusive wildlife hiding behind thick foliage but you also learn all about the unique flora found in this part of the world. The dry(er) season offers greater chances of spotting terrestrial Amazon wildlife, as water is scarcer so animals tend to congregate near riverbanks.

Toucan in the Amazon Rainforest

Worst time to visit the Amazon

Heavy rains can certainly dampen things between November and April and your movements will be greatly restricted if you choose a lodge-based Amazon tour at this time. Trails will be waterlogged and muddy and the sheer concentration of insects make jungle walks less than idyllic. But wait, there’s a beautiful silver lining to all this…

Monkeys in the Amazon Jungle in Peru

What to see between November and April

Big rains and flooded rivers mean wet season is the perfect time to explore the Amazon by small ship cruise. Amazon cruising is an astonishing way to explore the resplendent rainforest, with smaller vessels reaching more remote regions you wouldn’t otherwise ever get to visit. Cruising here is also a wonderfully luxurious experience, with gorgeous vessels equipped with air-conditioning cabins and offering stunning gourmet dining to boot.

Beautiful sunset in the Amazon Jungle

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Best time to visit Lake Titicaca

The highest navigable lake on earth is one of Peru’s most delightful highlights as well as one of the country’s most significant spiritual sites.

Best time

Being in the Central Andes of Peru, Lake Titicaca tours can coincide with visits to Machu Picchu although the climate is slightly different, so the lake generally sees a lot less rain than the ancient Inca City does. The dry season here starts around mid-February and lasts all the way to November, so you can easily consider this an (almost) year-round destination.

Floating islands in Lake Titicaca

What to see between Feb and November

Lake Titicaca tours usually involve a mix of road and boat travel, with a smattering of Inca sites lining the shores and indigenous communities living on islands right in the heart of the lake. When you travel during the dry season, you’ll be able to soak up the splendours on all sides. From the famous floating reed islands of the Uros people to authentic home-stays with the local indigenous community on Amantani Island and glorious hikes around Taquile, arguably the most picturesque island on Lake Titicaca, one home to a whole community of men who knit for a living (yes, you read that right).

Unique boats in Lake Titicaca

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Worst time to visit Lake Titikaka

December and January are the rainiest months here to which can bring about unsettling boating conditions. Your boat excursions to both Taquile and Amantani (3 hours each way) may have to be organised on the spot when you arrive, so you can better ascertain the weather in the coming days.

Sunset in Lake Titicaca

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What to see between December and January

Ironically enough, the rainiest months on Lake Titicaca are also the ones with the highest concentration of colourful festivals, culminating in the Candelaria Festival which starts in late January and lasts for two whole weeks. Puno, the base town for Lake Titicaca tours in Peru, comes to life during this time, with daily festivities involving music, dancing and religious ceremonies turning this usually sleepy town into fiesta-central. Do note that the floating Uros islands are only a 20-minute boat ride from Puno so if you get lucky and score a lovely rain-free morning (or afternoon) you can still easily include a visit here.

Visit Lake Titicaca

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Best time to go trekking in Peru

If you’re planning your first visit to South America, you’ll be forgiven for thinking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the be-all and end-all of Peru trekking. Not so! This highly mountainous country boasts some of the most picturesque Andean topography of all and, given its excellent tourist infrastructure, it means you can head here and literally hike for months on end.

Best time

There’s no denying that high-altitude hiking is best done during the driest months of the year and, in Peru’s case, that’s between May and August, with June and July being absolutely perfect – these are the months with the best weather of all.

Trekking in Peru

What to see between May and August

Aside from at least six alternative Machu Picchu treks, you’ll find at least a dozen multi-day treks around the country you can enjoy at this time. You can tackle the deepest canyon in the world in four days (Cotahuasi Canyon Trek), tackle the 5-day circle trek around Ausangate (the most sacred peak in the country), trek to turquoise glacial lakes from Huaraz in the Cordillera Blanca and take less-trodden trails from Chachapoyas, the ‘Cusco of the North’.

Hiking to Machu Picchu

Worst time to go trekking in Peru

January to March is typically considered the worst trekking period of all, with heavy rain mucking up trails and making hiking life more than a little challenging.

Beautiful lagoon in the Andean mountains

What to see between January and March

It probably won’t surprise you to know that avid hikers organise Peru trekking tours at precisely this time of year, all so they can get ‘entire mountain ranges’ all to themselves. With proper wet-weather gear and a bit of patience, rainy treks can actually be quite spectacular in Peru. The Andes are verdant and lush (not to mention warmer) during the first three months of the year, all of which makes the scenery all the more outstanding. Also, do keep in mind that whilst the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu may be closed in February, all the other alternative trails will still be open. Our tip? Ask us about luxury lodge-stays on your Peru trekking tour and you’ll have plenty of delicious comforts awaiting you at the end of every hiking day.

Hiking to Cordillera mountains in Peru