Before we start talking about the best time to visit Cusco, we have to explain about the times of the year in Cusco and the Peruvian Andes.

In summary there are 2 seasons throughout the year, 1. The dry season and 2. The rainy season, if you come there are 4 seasons of the year, these are not much noticeable in Cusco.

Therefore, the best time to visit Cusco is in the dry season, which is from June to October. This may change depending on the rainy season.

Although temperatures range between 60 and 60 degrees all year round, the city has less rainfall during the winter months, moreover, it does not rain, the skies are clear, both during the day and at night.

Even so, this is the high season for tourism, so wait for many trekking companions by your side to marvel at the emblematic places.

To escape the waves of tourists and high room prices, you can visit in the rainy season, which is between November and late April.

The rainiest month is the month of February, during this month several routes are closed for maintenance and safety, within these routes is the Inca Trail.

Some routes are still open, but have a high probability of being cancelled due to bad weather.

Weather in Cusco

The average temperatures in Cusco vary very little. Considering the humidity, temperatures feel cold all year round, with a good probability of rainfall in the middle of the year.

The rainy season is summer on this side of the world, the weather during the day will be hot, and during the night it will be cold, in the dry season it gets colder at night.

Best month to Visit Cusco

We consider that the best month to go to Cusco is the month of June, why? Because in the month of June the Cusco festivities are celebrated, especially on June 24th, then almost every day of June you find in the streets festivities and celebrations. like:
Folklore parades, parades, dance contests, etc.

The main day of this celebration is the 24th of June, that day is celebrated the Inti Raymi, the biggest Inca festival in Latin America.

The Wet & Dry Seasons

The Dry Season (May to October)

The dry season in Cusco is from May to October. The climate during this time is predominantly dry, especially during the months of June, July and August.

The days are bright and sunny with an average daytime temperature of 16 °C (61 °F). Nighttime temperatures are much lower during the dry season, and the months of June and July are usually 0 °C (32 °F).

The dry season is widely considered the best time to travel, but it is also one of the busiest.

The Wet Season (November to April)

The rainy season is from November to April, and as we said, it can be advanced or delayed for a few days.

During this time Cusco receives a greater amount of rain. Statistically, the rainiest month is January, with 160 mm of rain.

During the wet season (which is summer in the southern hemisphere) average daytime temperatures are marginally higher than the dry season at 18 °C (64 °F), but nighttime temperatures are significantly milder, with an average of 9 °C (48 °F).

Although the wet season is less attractive for tourism in Cusco, the increased rainfall makes the region much more lush and green than the dry brown/grey feeling of the dry season.

During the rainy season it rains all day, but usually the rain comes in strong, hard gusts that can last from 20 minutes to a few hours. The rain usually falls in the afternoon (but quote us at don´t!).

During the rainy season there is a greater likelihood of landslides in the Cusco region and especially around the Machu Picchu region.

Landslides can often cause delays in train services operating from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes).

These delays can be minor inconveniences to long delays lasting one or two days. From experience, landslides are more common during the month of February, as the land has been gradually weakened by the constant rains of previous months.

Although this is cause for concern (since you obviously want to see Machu Picchu), planning a lot of free time around your trip to Machu Picchu is essential to avoid any disappointment!

Cusco holiday calendar

• 1 of January New Year.
• March Sunday: Carnivals.
• Holy Monday: Procession of the Lord of the Tremors.
• June: Jubilee month of Cusco.
• June 23: Salute parade to Cusco.
• June 24: Inti Raymi Festival.
• July 28: Independence Day of Peru.
• August 1: Pachamama Day.
• November 1: Feast of All Saints.
• December 24: Christmas.