Are you planning a trip to Machu Picchu? Wondering when’s the best time to hop on a flight to Peru and travel from Lima to Cusco to visit the famed ancient Incan citadel?
If you want to soak up the sweeping sunlit vistas of this UNESCO World Heritage Site at a time with little to no crowding at relatively reasonable rates, read on to explore our ultimate guide to figuring out the best time of year for your visit to Machu Picchu!
3 Factor Formula for visiting Machu Picchu or Andes of Peru
There’s a lot of factors you need to consider when deciding when’s the best time to travel to Peru to tour Machu Picchu, but we’ve narrowed it down to 3 of the most crucial factors:
- Weather
- Crowding
- Prices
When’s the best time to visit Machu Picchu and imbibe in the architectural genius of the Inca empire? Well, that really depends on which one of these factors you prioritize.
1. Weather in Machu Picchu
If you want to have an interrupted, fun filled and exhilarating trip to the ancient archeological site built by the Inca empire, the weathervane may be your best guide!
If you’re planning on hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you’ll definitely want to avoid the incessant rains, muddy terrains and slippery slopes all too familiar to Machu Picchu during the rainy season.
Here’s a month by month breakdown of Machu Picchu’s weather patterns:
- January
January in Machu Picchu falls within the rainy season of Cusco’s Andean
mountain range. This is the off season. So, if you’re looking to visit Machu Picchu at a time with little to no crowds, January may be the ideal time to visit if you’re planning on visiting the citadel by train!
Weather: Rainy season
Temperature: 80˚F (27˚C) – Daytime
63˚F (17˚C) – Night-time
- February
Peak rainy season, February is bookended and packed with torrential
rains making it the least ideal month to visit Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is closed during February for the annual cleanup drive.
Weather: Rainy season
Temperature: 82˚F (28˚C) – Daytime
65˚F (18˚C) – Night-time
- March
With the rains subsiding, the latter two weeks of March are the perfect window to book a hiking tour to Machu Picchu.
Weather: End of the rainy season
Temperature: 81˚F (27˚C) – Daytime
64˚F (17˚C) – Night-time
- April
The final month of Machu Picchu’s rainy season, April is ideal for a hike to the ancient Incan city, although there is still a slight chance of precipitation.
Weather: End of the rainy season
Temperature: 77˚F (22˚C) – Daytime
61˚F (14˚C) – Night-time
- May
The start of the dry season, May will grant you the bluest mist-free skies, sweeping sights of snowcapped mountains and glimmering lakes.
Weather: Start of the dry season
Temperature: 68˚F (20˚C) – Daytime
55˚F (13˚C) – Night-time
- June
The start of Machu Picchu’s high season, June also marks the Inti Raimi Festival. Hike to Machu Picchu in June to witness the city in all its glory. While the days in June are relatively warmer, the early mornings and nights are incredibly chilly.
Weather: Dry season
Temperature: 68°F (20°C) and 52°F (11°C) – Daytime
23°F (-5°C) – Night-time
- July
Machu Picchu in July is absolutely stunning! With spectacular views and vibrant fauna and flora dotting the path to the Incan citadel, July is one of the best months to hike to Machu Picchu.
Weather: Dry season, Winter
Temperature: 66°F (19°C) – Daytime
50°F (10°C) – Night-time
- August
Machu Picchu in August is characterized by cold weather but like July is sure to grant stellar views of Peru’s Andean mountain range and an adventure filled trek to Machu Picchu.
Weather: Dry season, Winter
Temperature: 68°F (20°C) – Daytime
54°F (12°C) – Night-time
- September
The last days of the dry season, September will grant you a few good explorations of the Incan citadel with the slight chance of a spell of rain along the way.
Weather: End of the dry season
Temperature: 70°F (21˚C) – Daytime
54˚F (12˚C) – Night-time
- October
Blessed with temperatures ideal for hiking, October is the best month to take a hike to Machu Picchu. October like September may also have a spell of rain.
Weather: End of the dry season
Temperature: 72˚F (22˚C) – Daytime
54˚F (12˚C) – Night-time
- November
Machu Picchu in November is considered as the start of the rainy season. However, November is quite dry with a few spells of rain every now and then.
Weather: Start of the rainy season
Temperature: 75˚F (24˚C) – Daytime
54˚F (13˚C) – Night-time
- December
With rain clouds looming overhead, Machu Picchu in December is a gloomy affair with the rain gods blessing the Peruvian Andes with a few spells of showers every now and then.
Weather: Rainy season
Temperature: 79˚F (26˚C) – Daytime
61˚F (16˚C) – Night-time\
So, if you want exemplary weather for your tour to Machu Picchu, book your hiking tour between May and October for the best uninterrupted treks!
Alternatively, if you’re okay with a few spells of unexpected showers and gloomy weather with possible morning mists, book your tour between November and December, or between the latter two weeks of March and April.
We do not advise booking a hiking tour along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in January or February, however, if you want to explore the Incan citadel in January without having to hike to Machu Picchu, you can book a train which will take you straight from Aguas Calientes, or Machu Picchu Town, all the way to the gates of Machu Picchu.
2. Crowding in Machu Picchu
The weather in Machu Picchu has a direct correlation to the size of the crowds that congregate at the gates of the citadel, awaiting entrance to an alluring exploration of the mystical archeological site. The high, peak and low seasons of tourism coincide with the dry and rainy seasons of Machu Picchu which are based on the weather patterns of the ancient citadel.
Tourism seasons of Machu Picchu:
- High – May to October: Dry season
- Peak – June to August: Dry season
- Low – November to March: Rainy season
So, if you’re averse to large throngs of people, book your tour to Machu Picchu during the low season between November and March.
However, if you want to take advantage of the limited crowds during Machu Picchu’s low season, you might want to plan your trip around the following days which, although they fall within the low season period, are susceptible to overcrowding:
- End of November – Thanksgiving
- End of December to mid-January – Christmas and winter break
- One week in March or April – Spring Break
If, on the other hand, you don’t mind massive crowds, then be sure to book a Machu Picchu tour during the high – peak season months between May and October!
3. Prices in Machu Picchu
If you’re looking for the best of both worlds: low affordable prices and little to no crowds, then target Machu Picchu’s low season and book your tour between November and March.
Although the weather isn’t ideal for hiking, landscape photography or sightseeing, by booking a tour during the low season you’ll be able to leverage the low price points and stellar deals that the low season has to offer!
When is the best time of day to visit Machu Picchu?
Visits to the enchanting citadel of Machu Picchu are allowed between 6:00 am and 5:30 pm, daily. If you want to bear witness to Machu Picchu’s stunning sunrise the best time of day to visit Machu Picchu is at dawn, 6:00 am.
If you decide to visit Machu Picchu in the morning hours, but you don’t want your exploration of Peruvian archeological wonders to stop there, you could also book tickets for a 2 hour round trip trek to Huayna Picchu or the 3 hour round trip trek to Montaña Machu Picchu, also known as Machu Picchu Mountain, for after your tour of the Machu Picchu citadel.
If you want to catch a few more winks before your tour of Machu Picchu, you could opt for the second session which starts after 3:00 pm. You’ll be able to tour the citadel among fewer people and you’ll also garner a great view of Machu Picchu’s blissful sunsets.
When is the best time to hike The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?
The temperature and weather in the months of May and October are ideal for hiking the Inca Trail! The dry season months between June and September are also great options for taking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
While the trail is closed in February for an annual cleanup and restoration drive, it’s not advised to hike the Inca Trail during the rainy season months between January and the first two weeks of March.
In a nutshell: When is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?
- Great Weather: If you want to enjoy a hike on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with great weather, this will put you right in the middle of high or peak season between May and October when tours to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, are in high demand! This means higher prices and lots of crowds. So, if soaking up the sun on the Andean uplands as you gaze at golden views of the Incan citadel is what you want, you’ll also have to bear the costs of higher prices and crowding.
- Affordable Prices and No Crowds: If you’re looking to leverage lower price points and get a great offer for your visit to Machu Picchu, you’ll have to target Machu Picchu’s low season between November and March. Although the cheapest and most affordable option, the low season months are plagued with incessant rains and bad weather. On the flip side, this means there’ll be no crowding. With a few spells of showers during the low season, get ready to be mystified by the allure of the seemingly untrammeled paths of the Peruvian Andes, with quietquite sounds of solitude whistling in the winds of the Machu Picchu mountains.
Have you decided when you want to visit Machu Picchu? Book a tour now!
