Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu City is located in the Cordillera of Vilcabamba of the Andes mountains and the eyebrow of the jungle. The climate is temperate all year round but it gets chilly and cloudy mornings in the wet season. The average minimum temperature is 10 ° C and average maximum temperature is 27 ° C. As it is also located in the eyebrow of the jungle, it can rain or get foggy anytime of the year. From April to September is dry season and from October to March is wet season.

Usually all travellers ask about the “Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu”, “when is the best time to go to Peru”, “best month to go to machu picchu”, “Machu Picchu rainy season” or “Machu Picchu weather”. These questions surge according to your planned trip to Peru.

According to weather conditions and our experience, the best time to visit Machu Picchu is from late April / early May to late September / early October. Nowadays the weather conditions have changed due to global warming so it is usually unpredictable but less rainy.

When is the Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu in Peru

In order to know when to visit Machu Picchu, you should learn about the weather in Machu Picchu and peak season time to avoid crowds so as to enjoy exploring the site.

• Dry season in Machu Picchu: It occurs between April and October and for many, although not for all, it is the best time to visit Machu Picchu. The sun shines all day and there is almost no rain, allowing you to explore the site with clear views of the scenery and Inca constructions. Different treks in the Andean mountains en route to Machu Picchu also offer scenic beauty and best views of the surrounding scenery and Machu Picchu. This time of year, you will likely line up to enter and visit the different temples, shrines, livng strututes of the royalty, etc. It is very important that you book your Machu Picchu tour, Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu mountain extra hike, train tickets, hotel, etc at least 6 months in advance.
• Rainy season in Machu Picchu: It occurs between November and March. It does not rain all day. It does more in the afternoons and it is usually covered in fog early in the mornings but it clears away late in the morning, giving you the opportunity to see Machu Picchu as the fog clears as if an artist reveals his masterpiece. If you do not mind getting a little wet, you can get lower prices, discounts at hotels and other places.

If you come in June, we recommend that you to book the Inti Raymi (the sun worship festivity) it takes place on June 24th, and also the Rainbow mountain Tour located in high up in the Andes.

Machu Picchu Peak Season

The high season of tourism occurs between May and August; this season coincides with the dry season. This also is the vacations in Europe and the USA. If you plan to travel in high Machu Pichu tourist season, know that you will have to book Machu Picchu tickets at least 6 months in advance. But remember you’ll also have to book in advance, train tickets, guides and additional tour. In this season you will have to compete with other visitors for the first bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, for the best places in Huayna Picchu Mountain and in the Inca city. One of the main disadvantages of this season, it is not precisely that you do not find places, but what you will have to pay for them.

During the high season, the prices of most tourist services, rise between 30 and 100%, depending on the time of anticipation of your reservations.

Machu Picchu Weather Month to Month

Machu Picchu in January, February and March

They are the rainiest months in Machu Picchu and in general in the region of Cusco. During the day the sky is cloudy, but there are periods of clear skies, the temperature is relatively pleasant with an average of 14 ° C. The rains can be an inconvenience when visiting Machu Picchu, but they make Machu Picchu look spectacular green and with colorful flora in all its surroundings, this makes Machu Picchu become a fable scenario, almost surreal.

One of the main advantages of visiting Machu Picchu in these months is that you will be able to find the vast majority of services at reduced prices, with many offers in luxury services. So with a moderate budget you can greatly enjoy your stay in Machu Picchu. If you are the traveler who wants to save the most, this is the time you should visit the Inca city.

Machu Picchu in April

April is one of the best months to visit Machu Picchu, the rains are minimal and the days become sunnier and more pleasant. Although the high season of tourism already begins this month, it is still possible to find offers in the services, April the the best time to enjoy the views when all is green and flowering.

Visiting Machu Picchu in May

In the month of May the days are already completely clear, except for some occasional rain that usually occurs. The dry season is here, with sunny days and cold nights. During this month there is a large number of visitors to the Inca city of Machu Picchu and tourist services rise in price. In May see and enjoy many of the activities of the jubilee parties of Cusco.

Machu Picchu in June

Undoubtedly June is the month that has more tourist activity. Machu Picchu is full of tourists from all over the world. The weather this month is sunny during the day and very cold at night, especially at dawn. The services are saturated so it is advisable to book them before arriving at Machu Picchu. All this is and the activities that take place in the city of Cusco in June. If you are here in late June make sure you attend the Inti Raymi ceremony.

Machu Picchu in July /August

During these months the winter, the days are similar to those of June, these are months in which Machu Picchu receives a high traffic of visitors. The clear days in these dates allow to see Machu Picchu with splendor, take magnificent and clean photographs. The days when visiting Machu Picchu become very pleasant with the company of the imposing Inti (Sun).

NOTE: Between May and August the demand for the Machu Picchu Ticket is high, so if you want to visit Machu Picchu on these dates you must book in advance. If you want to climb the Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu must book your ticket with more than two months in advance.

Machu Picchu in September / October

During these months there is a change of season, the cold of winter decreases and the temperature becomes warmer with a very pleasant climate. The high season of tourism begins to fall, and the costs of various services. For the experience of many visitors and travelers, these are the best months to visit Machu Picchu. The first rains make the Inca shrine begin to turn green and the sun shines on most days. These are days to enjoy all the beauty of the Inca wonder.

Visiting Machu Picchu in November / December

Machu Picchu takes bright green colors in the rainy months. During these months the rain is already with great intensity in Machu Picchu. It is still possible to enjoy sunny and warm days. Tourist services begin to have more offers, so there are months in which you can visit Machu Picchu and travel it without it being saturated with visitors.

No matter the month in which you visit Machu Picchu, the first thing to do is book your Machu Picchu Ticket, depending on the season you should also book your train ticket in advance.

Best Time to trek into Machu Picchu

The most popular months to go to Machu Picchu on a tour are from April to October. The rains are scarce and you can experience the dawn in the ruins without any problem. The landscapes of the subtropical zones and the humid forests in the route of the Inca Trail do not change during the dry season.

Unless you are an experienced hiker, we recommend avoiding the month of February, especially if you plan to tour the Huayna Picchu mountain. The trails of the mountain are narrow and vertical, and can be somewhat more frightening if they are wet. The month of February has the highest amount of rain. The Inca Trail is closed in the month of February for maintanance, so there will be less people visiting Machu Picchu.

Tours to Machu Picchu with a Direct Local Tour Operators

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Trekkings to Machu Picchu

Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.