Summer
Dec → Feb18 to 19°
nights 11 to 12°
- 29 rainy days · 290 mm
- 8.5 h of sun
When is the best time to visit Cusco and Machu Picchu?
- Jan18°not recommended
- Feb18°not recommended
- Mar18°not recommended
- Apr19°fair
- May18°recommended
- Jun18°recommended
- Jul19°recommended
- Aug19°recommended
- Sep19°recommended
- Oct19°fair
- Nov19°not recommended
- Dec19°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Cusco and Machu Picchu, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18° | 12° | 8.7 h | 322 mm | 30 d | |
| February | 18° | 12° | 8 h | 256 mm | 27 d | |
| March | 18° | 11° | 9.1 h | 269 mm | 30 d | |
| April | 19° | 11° | 9.9 h | 176 mm | 25 d | |
| May | 18° | 10° | 10.4 h | 72 mm | 14 d | ✓ |
| June | 18° | 9° | 10.2 h | 41 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| July | 19° | 9° | 10.7 h | 36 mm | 10 d | ✓ |
| August | 19° | 9° | 10.8 h | 60 mm | 13 d | ✓ |
| September | 19° | 10° | 10.6 h | 140 mm | 23 d | ✓ |
| October | 19° | 11° | 10 h | 202 mm | 26 d | |
| November | 19° | 12° | 9 h | 265 mm | 27 d | |
| December | 19° | 11° | 8.7 h | 291 mm | 30 d |
The four seasons in Cusco and Machu Picchu, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Machu Picchu) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May18 to 19°
nights 10 to 11°
- 23 rainy days · 172 mm
- 9.8 h of sun
Winter
Jun → Aug18 to 19°
nights 9°
- 11 rainy days · 46 mm
- 10.6 h of sun
Spring
Sep → Nov19°
nights 10 to 12°
- 25 rainy days · 202 mm
- 9.9 h of sun
Book early for May to September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Cusco and Machu Picchu, month by month
EventsInti RaymiJuneQoyllur Rit'iMay to JuneCorpus ChristiMay to JuneSeñor de los TembloresMarch to AprilDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Towns & culture: June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Cusco and Machu Picchu, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- JuneInti Raymi big crowds
A re-enactment of the Inca festival of the sun at Sacsayhuamán, preceded by a procession from the Coricancha and the Plaza de Armas.
- May to JuneQoyllur Rit'i
Thousands of pilgrims climb to over 4,600 metres at the foot of the Sinakara glacier, with dances and vigils in the cold.
- May to JuneCorpus Christi big crowds
Fifteen saints leave their parishes and converge on the cathedral, with chicharrón and chiriuchu on the square.
- March to AprilSeñor de los Temblores
On Holy Monday, the cathedral's Black Christ crosses Cusco under a shower of red ñucchu petals.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended18°12° at night
- 322 mm · 30 d
- 8.7 h
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended18°12° at night
- 256 mm · 27 d
- 8 h
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended18°11° at night
- 269 mm · 30 d
- 9.1 h
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair19°11° at night
- 176 mm · 25 d
- 9.9 h
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended18°10° at night
- 72 mm · 14 d
- 10.4 h
High season, book early
June
Recommended18°9° at night
- 41 mm · 11 d
- 10.2 h
High season, book early
July
Recommended19°9° at night
- 36 mm · 10 d
- 10.7 h
High season, book early
August
Recommended19°9° at night
- 60 mm · 13 d
- 10.8 h
High season, book early
September
Recommended19°10° at night
- 140 mm · 23 d
- 10.6 h
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair19°11° at night
- 202 mm · 26 d
- 10 h
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended19°12° at night
- 265 mm · 27 d
- 9 h
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended19°11° at night
- 291 mm · 30 d
- 8.7 h
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. A very wet month, 322 mm of rain over 30 days. Expect 8.7 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. A very wet month, 256 mm of rain over 27 days. Expect 8 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. A very wet month, 269 mm of rain over 30 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 176 mm over 25 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.9 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 72 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. High season: book early.
June. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (41 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. High season: book early.
July. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (36 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. High season: book early.
August. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (60 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 140 mm over 23 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.6 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 202 mm over 26 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. A very wet month, 265 mm of rain over 27 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. A very wet month, 291 mm of rain over 30 days. Expect 8.7 h of sunshine a day. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Cusco and Machu Picchu?
May to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 18 to 19 °C, with 14 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Machu Picchu).
Which month should you avoid in Cusco and Machu Picchu?
January: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 322 mm over 30 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Machu Picchu).
What is the hottest month in Cusco and Machu Picchu?
April, with 19 °C on average in the afternoon and 11 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Machu Picchu).
What is the coldest month in Cusco and Machu Picchu?
January, with 18 °C at best during the day and 12 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Machu Picchu).
What is the driest month in Cusco and Machu Picchu?
July: 36 mm over 10 days of rain, against 322 mm in January, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Cusco and Machu Picchu?
August, with 10.8 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Cusco and Machu Picchu guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Peru: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Marije Kouyzer / Pexels · Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Adrien Daurenjou / Pexels