The best time to go to Peru

The best time for you to go to Peru will depend on where you want to go and what you want to see. As Peru is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are generally reversed, but with such an array of topography the weather patterns in Peru can still be somewhat confusing and conflicting depending on where you are; the jungle will differ totally from the Andean highlands, which will also differ from the lowland coast, which can in turn differ according to whether you are in the north or south.

The best way to tackle this initially daunting task is by prioritising what you would like to see and do on your trip and starting to tailor your itinerary around this, and we can use our expertise of the region to do this for you.

Amazon Rainforest: Year round - from December to May, it is flooded and excursions are done by boat. Outside of this, you can hie and trek.

Colca Canyon: May to December – the condors tend to put on the best shows during the dry season.

Hiking the Inca Trail: Available year round (except February), May to October are the driest months. The trail can be less crowded in September and October.

Machu Picchu: Available year round; for clear skies aim for May to October, however this is the busiest season.

Nazca Lines: Year round – as the sun shines in Nazca Desert pretty much all year round there is no real best time to visit them.

Sacred Valley: May to October – the Sacred Valley is best visits when rainfall is at its lowest.

Lake Titicaca: May to October – The best time to visit Puno is during the dry season.

Amazon

Perennially hot and humid, the jungle areas east of the Andes nonetheless have distinct seasons- a dry season between May and October, and a wet season between November and April, when the rivers swell following frequent rain showers. Iquitos lends itself more to year-round travel, being closer to the equator, whilst Manu and Tambopata are far more favourable to visit in the dry season, when you can witness monkeys, birds, caimans, and small mammals. In Iquitos, animals can be easily spotted along the mud banks between June and September, once river levels recede.

Andean Highlands

Most visitors to Peru will incorporate the obvious charms of the Andean Highlands of Peru and the optimum time to trek amidst the beautiful Andean scenery of this region is between May and October, when the days can be clear and warm with somewhat chilly evenings, with temperatures reaching 20°C-25°C, or 68°F to 77°F in the daytime. This is Peru’s high season, and visitor numbers can be high. This is of particular note to those looking to trek the spectacular scenery of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, which we recommend booking at least 6 months in advance to secure space. Outside of these months you may experience rain, but there will be fewer tourists, more verdant vegetation and flora, including orchids at Machu Picchu.

Coast

Between November and April the coastal regions are bathed in sunshine. The further north you go, the longer this summer weather lasts, with places like Mancora in the far north enjoying good weather well into Peru’s winter. Further south, including the areas around Lima, May to October and Peru’s winter months bring cloud and a much cooler climate.

Birds: Year round – from condors in the Andes, macaws in the Amazon, and hummingbirds along in Inca Trail Peru is a fantastic birding destination.

Condors: May to December – although the condors are present throughout the year the best sightings tend to happen during the dry season.

Pink Dolphins: Year round – whether you travel during the rainy season or the dry season in the Peruvian Amazon then you have great chance of spotting the unique pink dolphin.

Monkeys: December to May – by visiting the Amazon during high water season more of the river channels become accessible by boat which increases your chances of seeing monkeys ever so slightly.