2024 Updated information about the best time to travel to Peru, how to avoid the rainy season and experience the best weather during your stay.
Deciding when is the best time to visit Peru can sometimes be a little confusing as there is a lot to consider. The weather along the coast, the mountains, and the jungle all vary from each other. This can make preparing and knowing what to pack for excursions through Peru difficult.
Due to Peru’s various elevations and landscapes, there is usually a significant difference in temperatures between the jungle, coast, and mountain areas. Despite the season you can experience very different weather conditions even visiting different locations on the same day. Knowing the proper season and months to visit certain areas are key to having a great time in Peru. Luckily, we’ll cover the best times to visit certain areas when traveling in the various areas of Peru. The best way to see all of these unforgettable locations is by using Peru Hop’s hop on hop off service!
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Peru typically has two distinct seasons, the wet and the dry season. During the dry season is when the majority of travelers and tourists choose to visit many of the areas in Peru. However, visiting during the wet season also has a few benefits, depending on when and where you are looking to explore. By understanding the seasons you’ll be able to better plan your trip to Peru and the activities that you’ll be able to do.
The dry season runs from May to October, while the wet season goes from November to April. You can expect more sunny days, higher rates for tours and treks, and larger crowds of tourists during the dry season. The wet season usually offers greener scenery, lower rates, and obviously, more rain as well. The wet season is also a great time to visit because there are fewer people so you can avoid the crowds in the in peak tourist season.
The beautiful ancient site of Machu Picchu has long been a popular tourist attraction since it’s discovery. Most tours or treks start from the city of Cusco, Peru. From there they climb up to see the Incan citadel sitting over 7,000 foot above sea level. At this height, the weather in the Andes Mountains in Peru is very unpredictable. This is especially true around the months of April and October.
From around April to November, although still unpredictable, the weather in the mountains is mostly nice and sunny. However, when it does rain, which is pretty rare, it normally doesn’t last too long. This is a very popular time of the year to travel in Peru to the mountains for tourists because of fewer rainy days. Even though it’s usually sunny, it’s also rather windy and grows colder the higher you climb.
Starting late November to mid-December you can start to expect rainfall a lot heavier as well as colder temperatures. During these months, as you climb higher and the sun begins to set, the temperature can drop rather quickly which is a problem if you’re not prepared ahead of time. Despite these weather conditions, tours and treks are still offered and travelers are still eager to go. Exploring the mountains of Peru can be just as beautiful during the wet as it is during the dry season.
With so many gorgeous beaches that sit along the coastline (like Paracas), the coast of Peru is a top place to visit for many tourists. If you are looking to lay in the sun or go swimming, make sure you get your timing right. Depending on what months you plan on visiting, you may be in for some weather that you didn’t anticipate. To ensure you experience prime warm beach weather, make sure to visit the coast and beaches during the months of November through March.
Now if you plan to visit the beaches around May through September, there may not be as much sunshine as you expected. You can usually expect to encounter heavy dense fog in the coastal and beach areas called La Garua. Also during these months, there are lower temperatures to be expected. There is even drizzle, although it usually burns off as the day progresses.
Although it is the start of the wet season, November to March is considered the summer months in Peru. The weather during this time is usually hot and humid all summer. With the ocean breeze and the warm water, this is one of the best places to be. Although it does rain more, there are frequent breaks in between the rain showers.
There are fewer things in life that are as memorable as a hike through the jungles of Peru, especially the Amazon Rainforest. The Amazon Rainforest has a sub-tropical climate so you can expect high humidity pretty much all year round. From the months of October through to sometime in April, you can expect to get a lot of rain for a large portion of the time. Even though the humidity is high, the rain helps cool things off. Beware though as night falls temperatures can drop and it can get quite cool.
In May you can start to expect fewer rainy days as your trek through the jungles, however, don’t expect them to disappear completely. Due to the high humidity during these months eventually all the moisture breaks and you’ll receive a short rain shower. If you’re looking to explore the jungles, the best time to consider visiting is anytime between May and mid-September. That is unless you don’t mind the rain. If that’s the case and you like to explore in the rain then you’ll be graced with cooler temperatures as well.
Peru is a very beautiful and complex place, especially in regards to the weather experienced there. Depending on where you plan on visiting, the time you think is best to visit may not actually be the case. By taking the time to understand Peru’s diverse landscapes and climates, you’ll be properly prepared to handle any season no matter your location.
