Best time to visit Machu Picchu
The best time to visit Machu Picchu is May–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Machu Picchu, 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 | 13.9 °C / 57 °F | 6 °C / 43 °F | 278 mm / 10.9 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 13.7 °C / 57 °F | 6.2 °C / 43 °F | 266 mm / 10.5 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 14 °C / 57 °F | 6 °C / 43 °F | 256 mm / 10.1 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 14.1 °C / 57 °F | 5.1 °C / 41 °F | 148 mm / 5.8 in | good month |
| May | 13.8 °C / 57 °F | 3.8 °C / 39 °F | 64 mm / 2.5 in | best month |
| June | 13.2 °C / 56 °F | 2.3 °C / 36 °F | 32 mm / 1.3 in | best month |
| July | 13.1 °C / 56 °F | 1.6 °C / 35 °F | 32 mm / 1.3 in | best month |
| August | 13.3 °C / 56 °F | 2.3 °C / 36 °F | 53 mm / 2.1 in | best month |
| September | 13.5 °C / 56 °F | 3.6 °C / 38 °F | 89 mm / 3.5 in | best month |
| October | 14.1 °C / 57 °F | 5 °C / 41 °F | 158 mm / 6.2 in | good month |
| November | 14.5 °C / 58 °F | 5.9 °C / 43 °F | 193 mm / 7.6 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 14.1 °C / 57 °F | 6.1 °C / 43 °F | 255 mm / 10 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: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–September
- Good
- April, October
Machu Picchu's dry season from June to September is best for exploring on foot, with minimal rain, the year's best sunshine and comfortably cool days (nights near freezing). May and October are good shoulder months, while November through March bring heavy, frequent, afternoon-concentrated rain that makes sightseeing much less pleasant.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 86%, feels like (high) 14 °C / 57 °F, average daily high 14.1 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 5.1 °C / 41 °F.
Against: wet days 28.1 days, precipitation 148 mm / 5.8 in, relative humidity 86%, days with heavy rain 2.7 days.
May · best
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 92%, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, feels like (high) 13 °C / 55 °F, days with heavy rain 0.4 days, average daily high 13.8 °C / 57 °F.
Against: wet days 19.6 days, relative humidity 83%, average daily low 3.8 °C / 39 °F.
June · best
In its favour: precipitation 32 mm / 1.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily high 13.2 °C / 56 °F, wet days 11.2 days.
Against: feels like (high) 11.9 °C / 53 °F, average daily low 2.3 °C / 36 °F, relative humidity 81%.
July · best
In its favour: precipitation 32 mm / 1.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily high 13.1 °C / 56 °F, wet days 10.4 days.
Against: feels like (high) 11.8 °C / 53 °F, average daily low 1.6 °C / 35 °F, relative humidity 80%.
August · best
In its favour: precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily high 13.3 °C / 56 °F.
Against: feels like (high) 12.4 °C / 54 °F, wet days 18.1 days, average daily low 2.3 °C / 36 °F, relative humidity 81%.
September · best
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 93%, feels like (high) 13.3 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 89 mm / 3.5 in, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily high 13.5 °C / 56 °F.
Against: wet days 26.1 days, relative humidity 83%, average daily low 3.6 °C / 38 °F.
October · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 14.4 °C / 58 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, average daily high 14.1 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 5 °C / 41 °F.
Against: wet days 30.1 days, precipitation 158 mm / 6.2 in, relative humidity 85%, days with heavy rain 1.9 days.
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: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–September
- Good
- April, October
June through September is the best window for trekking here, with dry trails, minimal heavy rain, the year's best sunshine and cool climbing conditions, though nights run close to freezing. May and October are good shoulder months; November through March bring heavy, frequent, afternoon-concentrated rain that leaves trails wet and hiking much less enjoyable.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: average daily high 14.1 °C / 57 °F, feels like (high) 14 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 5.1 °C / 41 °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 28.1 days, precipitation 148 mm / 5.8 in, days with heavy rain 2.7 days, relative humidity 86%.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.8 °C / 57 °F, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 0.4 days, feels like (high) 13 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, average daily low 3.8 °C / 39 °F, daylight per day 11.5 h, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: wet days 19.6 days.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.2 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 32 mm / 1.3 in, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 11.9 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, daylight per day 11.4 h, wet days 11.2 days, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: average daily low 2.3 °C / 36 °F.
July · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.1 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 32 mm / 1.3 in, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, feels like (high) 11.8 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, wet days 10.4 days, daylight per day 11.4 h, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: average daily low 1.6 °C / 35 °F.
August · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.3 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, feels like (high) 12.4 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, daylight per day 11.7 h, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: wet days 18.1 days, average daily low 2.3 °C / 36 °F.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.5 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 89 mm / 3.5 in, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, feels like (high) 13.3 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, daylight per day 12 h, average daily low 3.6 °C / 38 °F, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: wet days 26.1 days, relative humidity 83%.
October · good
In its favour: average daily high 14.1 °C / 57 °F, feels like (high) 14.4 °C / 58 °F, average daily low 5 °C / 41 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 85%, daylight per day 12.4 h, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: wet days 30.1 days, precipitation 158 mm / 6.2 in, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, relative humidity 85%.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Portillo, 2200 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 °C | 13.8 °C | 14.2 °C | 14 °C | 13 °C | 11.9 °C | 11.8 °C | 12.4 °C | 13.3 °C | 14.4 °C | 14.9 °C | 14.3 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 10.5 days | 10.8 days | 7.5 days | 2.7 days | 0.4 days | 0.1 days | 0.2 days | 0.2 days | 0.2 days | 1.9 days | 4.4 days | 8.4 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 2 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 1 pm | 1 pm | 1 pm | 3 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 1 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 8.9 h | 8.3 h | 9.1 h | 10.2 h | 10.6 h | 10.6 h | 10.8 h | 11.1 h | 11.2 h | 10.6 h | 10 h | 9.2 h |
| Relative humidity | 87% | 88% | 88% | 86% | 83% | 81% | 80% | 81% | 83% | 85% | 85% | 87% |
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 | 3.3 µg/m³ | 3.7 µg/m³ | 4.3 µg/m³ | 5.1 µg/m³ | 5.4 µg/m³ | 4.9 µg/m³ | 5.7 µg/m³ | 6.7 µg/m³ | 9.6 µg/m³ | 5.4 µg/m³ | 4.3 µg/m³ | 3.9 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 7.4 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | 9.5 µg/m³ | 9.8 µg/m³ | 10.3 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ | 10.6 µg/m³ | 11.7 µg/m³ | 16 µg/m³ | 10.3 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | 7.9 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.
Worth knowing before you go
- Inca Trail closed in February
February
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
7 km away