When to go · PE
When to visit Cusco
May through October is the sweet spot for Cusco. Days run 5-18°C with under 84mm of rain across the window, before the peak-season surge.
The year at a glance
- Excellent
- Good
- OK
- Avoid
How we score weather
How we score months: each starts at 50 and earns or loses points across three signals. Temperature in the 18 to 26°C comfortable band adds 30; 14 to 17°C adds 15; warm 27 to 30°C adds 10. Past 30°C or below 14°C the page starts taking points back, with a 30-point hit at the extremes (below 5°C or above 33°C). Rainfall under 60mm adds 15, 200mm costs 25, over 300mm costs 40. Sunshine over 240 hours adds 10; under 80 hours costs 20. The result lands in one of four bands: Excellent (80+), Good (60-79), OK (40-59), Avoid (under 40). Crowds and prices come from the events calendar, separately, so weather and busyness stay readable as two different signals.
Jan
16°
228mm
Feb
16°
202mm
Mar
16°
154mm
Apr
16°
76mm
May
16°
36mm
Jun
17°
8mm
Jul
17°
12mm
Aug
18°
22mm
Sep
18°
37mm
Oct
18°
84mm
Nov
18°
125mm
Dec
17°
193mm
Best to worst, by weather.
- Excellent
- April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Good
- March, November, December
- OK
- January, February
- Busy
- May, June, July, August, September
Peak demand in Cusco starts in March. Lock flights and the room you actually want by November, or you'll pay for what's left.
What's worth timing
Closure · Feb
Inca Trail closure
Inca Trail closes the whole of February for maintenance. Salkantay and Lares stay open and are quietest then.
Peak season · May-Sep
Andes dry season
Inca Trail permits sell out six months ahead for June through August. Choose May or September for half the foot traffic.
Festival · Jun
Inti Raymi
Cusco solstice ceremony at Sacsayhuaman, June 24. Plaza de Armas hotels triple rates and book by January.
Wildlife · Nov-Apr
Amazon high water
Pacaya-Samiria flooded forests accessible by canoe November to April. Pink dolphins easier to spot; mosquitoes notably worse.
Shoulder · Dec-Mar
Andes wet season
Daily afternoon rain in the Sacred Valley but mornings clear. Machu Picchu prices and crowds at their lowest.
Month by month
January
16°C, 228mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds.
February
16°C, 202mm rain. Shoulder. Cheaper, fewer crowds. Inca Trail closes the whole of February for maintenance. Salkantay and Lares stay open and are quietest then.
March
16°C, 154mm rain. Pack a shell.
April
16°C days, 76mm rain. The window.
May
16°C and 36mm rain. Inca Trail permits sell out six months ahead for June through August. Choose May or September for half the foot traffic.
June
17°C and 8mm rain. Inca Trail permits sell out six months ahead for June through August. Choose May or September for half the foot traffic.
July
17°C and 12mm rain. Inca Trail permits sell out six months ahead for June through August. Choose May or September for half the foot traffic.
August
18°C and 22mm rain. Inca Trail permits sell out six months ahead for June through August. Choose May or September for half the foot traffic.
September
18°C and 37mm rain. Inca Trail permits sell out six months ahead for June through August. Choose May or September for half the foot traffic.
October
18°C days, 84mm rain. The window.
November
18°C, 125mm rain. Pack a shell.
December
17°C, 193mm rain. Pack a shell.
Pack for the window
Layers. Long sleeves you can shed by 11am. High-SPF, even when it's cool.
Ready to put it on the calendar?