Best time to visit Cusco
The best time to visit Cusco is May–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Cusco, Cuzco Department, Peru
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.7 °C / 58 °F | 5.7 °C / 42 °F | 227 mm / 9 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 14.4 °C / 58 °F | 5.8 °C / 42 °F | 225 mm / 8.8 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 14.6 °C / 58 °F | 5.5 °C / 42 °F | 175 mm / 6.9 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 14.8 °C / 59 °F | 4.7 °C / 40 °F | 79 mm / 3.1 in | good month |
| May | 14.7 °C / 58 °F | 3.3 °C / 38 °F | 29 mm / 1.2 in | best month |
| June | 14.6 °C / 58 °F | 2 °C / 36 °F | 10 mm / 0.4 in | best month |
| July | 14.8 °C / 59 °F | 1.3 °C / 34 °F | 12 mm / 0.5 in | best month |
| August | 15.4 °C / 60 °F | 2.4 °C / 36 °F | 17 mm / 0.7 in | best month |
| September | 15.9 °C / 61 °F | 4 °C / 39 °F | 36 mm / 1.4 in | best month |
| October | 16.2 °C / 61 °F | 5.3 °C / 42 °F | 84 mm / 3.3 in | good month |
| November | 16.2 °C / 61 °F | 5.9 °C / 43 °F | 122 mm / 4.8 in | good month |
| December | 15.2 °C / 59 °F | 5.9 °C / 43 °F | 202 mm / 8 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–September
- Good
- April, October–November
Cusco's dry season from May through September is reliably clear, mild and dry, ideal for days spent exploring on foot, with April, October and November as decent shoulder months; the wet season from December through March brings heavy, afternoon-peaking rain and high humidity that make sightseeing outdoors much less pleasant.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 86%, feels like (high) 14.3 °C / 58 °F, precipitation 79 mm / 3.1 in, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily high 14.8 °C / 59 °F, average daily low 4.7 °C / 40 °F.
Against: wet days 19.1 days, relative humidity 75%.
Also on: Semana Santa (Holy Week).
Watch out for: Semana Santa price rise.
May · best
In its favour: precipitation 29 mm / 1.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, feels like (high) 13.2 °C / 56 °F, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily high 14.7 °C / 58 °F, relative humidity 68%.
Against: wet days 8.8 days, average daily low 3.3 °C / 38 °F.
Also on: Fiesta de las Cruces.
June · best
In its favour: precipitation 10 mm / 0.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, wet days 2.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily high 14.6 °C / 58 °F, relative humidity 62%.
Against: average daily low 2 °C / 36 °F, feels like (high) 12.4 °C / 54 °F.
Also on: Inti Raymi.
July · best
In its favour: precipitation 12 mm / 0.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, feels like (high) 12.5 °C / 55 °F, wet days 2.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily high 14.8 °C / 59 °F, relative humidity 58%.
Against: average daily low 1.3 °C / 34 °F.
August · best
In its favour: precipitation 17 mm / 0.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, feels like (high) 13.6 °C / 56 °F, wet days 5.7 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily high 15.4 °C / 60 °F, relative humidity 58%.
Against: average daily low 2.4 °C / 36 °F.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 14.7 °C / 58 °F, precipitation 36 mm / 1.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, relative humidity 62%, average daily low 4 °C / 39 °F.
Against: wet days 12.7 days.
October · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.6 °C / 60 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, precipitation 84 mm / 3.3 in, average daily high 16.2 °C / 61 °F, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, relative humidity 67%, average daily low 5.3 °C / 42 °F.
Against: wet days 20.6 days.
November · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.9 °C / 61 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, average daily high 16.2 °C / 61 °F, precipitation 122 mm / 4.8 in, average daily low 5.9 °C / 43 °F.
Against: wet days 22.9 days, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, relative humidity 70%.
Also on: Dia de los Muertos.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–September
- Good
- April, October–November
May through September is outstanding for trekking around Cusco, cool, largely dry and bright, though nights turn near-freezing in June-August; April, October and November are good but wetter shoulder months, while December through March's heavy, afternoon rain makes trails poor for hiking.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: average daily high 14.8 °C / 59 °F, precipitation 79 mm / 3.1 in, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, feels like (high) 14.3 °C / 58 °F, average daily low 4.7 °C / 40 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, daylight per day 11.8 h, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: wet days 19.1 days, relative humidity 75%.
Also on: Semana Santa (Holy Week).
Watch out for: Semana Santa price rise.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.7 °C / 58 °F, precipitation 29 mm / 1.2 in, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 13.2 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, average daily low 3.3 °C / 38 °F, daylight per day 11.5 h, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: wet days 8.8 days.
Also on: Fiesta de las Cruces.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.6 °C / 58 °F, precipitation 10 mm / 0.4 in, wet days 2.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 12.4 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, daylight per day 11.3 h, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: average daily low 2 °C / 36 °F.
Also on: Inti Raymi.
July · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.8 °C / 59 °F, precipitation 12 mm / 0.5 in, wet days 2.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 12.5 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, daylight per day 11.4 h, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: average daily low 1.3 °C / 34 °F.
August · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.4 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 17 mm / 0.7 in, wet days 5.7 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 13.6 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, daylight per day 11.7 h, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: average daily low 2.4 °C / 36 °F.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, precipitation 36 mm / 1.4 in, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 14.7 °C / 58 °F, average daily low 4 °C / 39 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 12 h, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: wet days 12.7 days.
October · good
In its favour: average daily high 16.2 °C / 61 °F, precipitation 84 mm / 3.3 in, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, feels like (high) 15.6 °C / 60 °F, average daily low 5.3 °C / 42 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, daylight per day 12.4 h, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: wet days 20.6 days.
November · good
In its favour: average daily high 16.2 °C / 61 °F, feels like (high) 15.9 °C / 61 °F, average daily low 5.9 °C / 43 °F, precipitation 122 mm / 4.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, daylight per day 12.7 h, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: wet days 22.9 days, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, relative humidity 70%.
Also on: Dia de los Muertos.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Portillo, 2154 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 14.6 °C | 14.3 °C | 14.4 °C | 14.3 °C | 13.2 °C | 12.4 °C | 12.5 °C | 13.6 °C | 14.7 °C | 15.6 °C | 15.9 °C | 15 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 6.8 days | 7.7 days | 3.9 days | 0.8 days | 0.1 days | 0.1 days | 0.1 days | 0.1 days | 0.1 days | 0.9 days | 2.5 days | 5.5 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 3 pm | 3 pm | 2 pm | 3 pm | 12 pm | 12 pm | 1 pm | 12 pm | 12 pm | 3 pm | 3 pm | 3 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 9.1 h | 8.5 h | 9.4 h | 10.2 h | 10.4 h | 10.4 h | 10.6 h | 11.1 h | 11.1 h | 10.6 h | 10.2 h | 9.2 h |
| Relative humidity | 79% | 80% | 79% | 75% | 68% | 62% | 58% | 58% | 62% | 67% | 70% | 76% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 4.2 µg/m³ | 4.8 µg/m³ | 5.1 µg/m³ | 6.5 µg/m³ | 6.9 µg/m³ | 6.2 µg/m³ | 6.4 µg/m³ | 6.9 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ | 6.2 µg/m³ | 5.6 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 8.6 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ | 10.7 µg/m³ | 11.6 µg/m³ | 12.1 µg/m³ | 10.9 µg/m³ | 11.1 µg/m³ | 11.4 µg/m³ | 14.7 µg/m³ | 10.9 µg/m³ | 10.2 µg/m³ | 9.8 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Inti Raymi Major
June
- Carnaval
February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Semana Santa (Holy Week)
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Fiesta de las Cruces
May
- Dia de los Muertos
1–5 November
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception
8 December
Worth knowing before you go
- Inca Trail closed for February
February
- Semana Santa price rise
March and April, dates vary from year to year
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Historic centre of Cusco
2 km away