best month to go to Peru
The best month to go to Peru depends on what you want to do and see. The dry season opens up the Andes, where some of the country’s most popular sights beckon in clear sunlight, and eye-popping festivals take place.
Peru’s coastline takes a turn for the tropical at this time, too. Beaches are at their pristine best, and the salt-washed conglomeration of surf shacks in Mancora is chilling central.
Meanwhile, the Amazon Basin’s downpours ease up and a verdant sprouting of flora entices wildlife to emerge from hiding. Lodge-based visits are still a rewarding option, and forays down rivers like Tambopata yield some particularly diverse sightings.
A dense fog called La Garua hangs over Lima during these months, making spending time outdoors difficult. However, further up the coast, sunshine is plentiful.
November is an ideal time to visit the ice mummies and misty volcanoes of the far south, while in the capital, Peruvian artisans showcase their work at the city’s monthlong Handicraft Fair.
The beaches of Lima are warm and inviting, while the sand dunes of Huacachina, a teeny-tiny town built into a desert near Ica, are at their most spectacular. This is also the perfect time to sandboard down What to do in Peru highest dunes!
January is a great month to visit Machu Picchu. It is a little warmer than the high season, but there are plenty of hotels and restaurants to choose from and the weather is lovely. The Inca Trail is open at this time and there are fewer people than during the high season.
What is the best month to go to Peru?
Cusco is a delight to explore at this time, with its mix of Incan and Spanish colonial architecture and the Sacred Valley’s ruins. You can also hike to the mountaintop Incan citadel of Sacsayhuaman or admire its carved stone walls.
The jungles of Peru remain green and lush in June, with a burgeoning vegetation attracting animal life to the surface. It’s still not a good idea to walk long distances on the trails around Machu Picchu, though, as rain is likely.
In the Sacred Valley, hiking is still possible, but it’s best to stay at a lodge rather than camp. The ruins of Ollantaytambo are more accessible at this time too.
July is a fine month to visit, with the weather generally drier than in the high season. You’ll find it easier to secure a permit for the Inca Trail, and wildlife is at its most active along the trails.
August and September are also fine times to visit, with the rains receding and a lush flora attracting wildlife. However, it’s not a great month for trekking, and the trails to Machu Picchu are closed in these months.
Unlike other parts of Peru, the coast is sunny and warm throughout the year. This makes it a great spot to relax and unwind. There are plenty of sand-bottomed pools to splash about in, and the beaches at Mancora are just as pretty. It’s a great time for surfing too, as the waves are at their most consistent.
