Are you planning a trip to Machu Picchu and are wondering when the rainy season is in Peru?
Here you’ll learn all about the dry and rainy seasons in Peru, and everything you need to know about the weather in general to plan the perfect trip.
First of all, let’s start with the four seasons.
When are Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring in Peru?
Since Peru is in the Southern hemisphere, Summer lasts from mid-December to mid-March, Autumn from mid-March to mid-June, Winter from mid-June to mid-September, and Spring from mid- September to mid-December.
Weather and Seasons in Peru
Peru is a big country; there is coast, highlands and jungle. So contrary to what you may be used to, the weather can vary greatly depending on what part of the country you are.
We have the four seasons in Peru, but they are a point of reference in some parts of the country more than in others.
In the coast, people will refer more to the four seasons. It doesn’t rain in the coast, at most it drizzles a bit. Maybe you don’t know this, but the coast of Peru is a desert. So forget about the rainy season when you visit Lima, Máncora, or other cities on the coast of Peru.
In the coast you need to think more about summer or winter. Summer is warm and winter is cold (not that cold though) but there’s no rain nor snow.
The seasons in between, like spring or autumn, theoretically exist but you won’t see foliage in the autumn nor blossoming flowers in the spring. It just means that autumn is a bit cold and in spring it’s starting to get a bit warm.
But in other parts of Peru, like the highlands (for example, Cusco), or jungle, they only have two marked seasons, which are the rainy season and the dry season. So if you are planning a trip to those areas, then it is important that you organize your trip according to them.
Rainy Season in Peru
The rainy season in Peru is from September to April, and mainly from December to March. January and February are the two months with the most rain, and February is the rainiest month of the year.
During those months, it can rain several days in a row, and the skies can be grey from the morning until the late afternoon.
The main issue that you will encounter while traveling in Peru during the rainy season, will be the rain interfering with doing outdoor activities. For example, if you are planning to go on the Inca trail or hike in Huaraz.
Of course, this will depend on where you go. If you are planning to do outdoor activities on the coast, you don’t need to worry about the rainy season.
But in the case that you do have plans to engage in outdoor activities in the highlands (like Cusco or Arequipa) or jungle of Peru, and you are flexible in your dates, I recommend you to to avoid the rainy season.
If you are not planning to do outdoor activities though, it doesn’t really matter so much if you travel in the rainy season. I’m Peruvian and have traveled extensively in Peru. I never really worry about whether it’s the dry or rainy season when I plan a trip if I’m not doing outdoor activities. It can rain for a couple of hours, then it stops.
Average Temperatures During the Rainy Season
The temperatures will be higher during the rainy season than during the dry season, which is contrary to what one may think.
In the highlands, for instance in Cusco, the average temperature will be between 17°C (63°F) and 23°C (73°F) during the day. In places like Iquitos, in the jungle, the average temperature will be 32°C (90°F) during the day, which is quite hot.
But in the mornings and nights, the average temperature is lower. For example, in the highlands, like in Cusco, it might be between 5°C (41°F) and 7°C (45°F). In the jungle, it will be much warmer. The average temperature will be around 28°C (82°F) at night in places like Iquitos.
Cons of Traveling to Peru During the Rainy Season
When you think of the rainy season in Peru, don’t imagine a monsoon, though. It rains, it can be intense in some areas, but generally there are no terrible floodings. There are no hurricanes either.
But it can still be bothersome and it can interfere with your plans. So let’s take a look at all the disadvantages of visiting the Andes of Peru during the rainy season.
Cons in the highlands
❌ If you want to go hiking, you won’t enjoy it that much during the rainy season. Your clothes and shoes might get wet, so you might have to consider bringing extra luggage. Especially in the highlands your clothes will take more time to dry.
❌ If you are doing a multi-day hike, keep in mind that camp sites can be affected, since they are usually next to the slopes of the mountains. During rainy seasons, there can potentially be landslides.
❌ If you are going to camp, there is a chance for your tent to get flooded.
❌The stunning views that you get from Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate if you hike the Inca trail, will be covered by fog.
❌ The Inca Trail is actually officially closed in February. This is because it can get so wet that it can be dangerous and people could slip on the stairs. So to avoid potential accidents, the government closes it. They also use this time work on the maintenance to the area. Machu Picchu remains open the whole year though.
❌ If you are going to visit Machu Picchu, you might have issues getting back to Cusco city. This is because sometimes there can be landslides that block the train tracks.
❌ There can be heavy rainfalls in the afternoons.
❌ If you are visiting Cusco and you want to visit the Rainbow Mountain, you could potentially be dissapointed. Sometimes there can be some snow on the the mountain, obstructing its colors.
Cons in the Jungle
❌ If you are going to travel to the jungle, you will find some of the walking trail will be flooded, so you will be able to explore less by foot than if you would visit in the dry season.
❌ There are more mosquitoes during the rainy season than during the dry season.
Pros of Traveling to Peru During the Rainy Season
But it’s not all bad: there will be a few advantages of traveling to Peru during the rainy season.
✅ Rainy season means there are fewer people traveling to Peru, so prices of accommodation and tours will be lower.
✅ Less people means that there will be less people in the popular attractions, like in Machu Picchu.
✅You don’t need to buy your flights or entry tickets to sites so much in advance, so you can be more flexible with your plans.
✅ Landscapes will be much greener in the highlands.
✅ If you travel to the jungle, you have more chances to see bigger animals, like jaguars, at the shores of the rivers. Sightings are more common during rainy season.
✅ In the jungle, rivers will have more water, meaning that you will be able to access, by boat, places where you can’t reach on the dry season.
Reccommendations for your Trip During Rainy Season
💦If you haven’t decided where you are going to go yet, take a look at this 5-day itinerary in Cusco. It doesn’t include hiking, so it is a good option for the rainy season.
💦 If you are planning to hike, bring waterproof bags with you for your phone and passport.
💦Wear shoes that can dry easily.
💦 Have a rainjacket or poncho with you.
💦 Don’t book a flight for the same day that you are returning from some excursion, especially if they are not close by. You never know when a road can be affected by a landslide, which could take some hours to be cleared.
Seasons and Weather in the Coast
Like I mentioned, you don’t need to worry about the rainy season if you will be in the coast, since it doesn’t rain there.
If you visit Peru during the rainy season in the highlands and jungle, it means that it will be summer. So expect warm and sunny days in Lima, which is on the coast. This is the best time of the year to visit Lima, since the rest of the year the sky is grey.
Again, in Lima, it never rains. In winter there is some drizzle, but just a little bit. Nothing that will prevent you from walking outside without an umbrella. Actually, they don’t sell umbrellas in Lima and nobody owns one. It’s cold, though.
Confused about what to pack for your days in Lima? Take a look at this post about what to wear in Lima, a month-by-month guide.
In the northern coast of Peru, like in Piura or Trujillo, it can potentially rain sometimes if there is El Niño going on in that year.
If you visit Peru during the dry season, it will be winter in the coast. The weather will be colder. The sky in Lima will be grey, but in the rest of the coast it can vary and be sometimes sunny. But don’t expect any rain, and for sure not any snow.
In winter there will be a lot of humidity on the coast. Actually the humidity level of Lima can sometimes reach 100%. So even if you see that the average temperature in Lima is 16°C (61°F), it feels way colder than it would in a dryer place.
Final Thoughts
So, in conclusion, if you travel to the coast, it doesn’t matter in what season you travel.
If you travel to the highlands, the rainy season is not the best if you are planning to engage in outdoors activities. Especially January and February.
If you are traveling to the jungle, though, this season is not the best for walking, but great for going around on a boat and spotting animals.
But unless you are planning to do a big hike in Peru, don’t worry too much about if you can only travel in the rainy season. It can rain for a couple of hours, which you can use to read a book or do some meditative journaling about your adventures in Peru in a cozy cafe.
After that, the skies will clear out. You will still be able to explore everything that Peru has to offer.
