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Best time to visit Cusco

Month-by-month weather, crowds, prices, and festival calendar — so you know exactly when to book.

Best time to visit Cusco, Peru

Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.

Month	Weather	Crowds	Prices	Highlights
January	10-20°C, frequent heavy rain, overcast	moderate	moderate	• Lush green landscapes • Fewer crowds on Inca Trail (if open) ⚠ Heavy rainfall can cause landslides and trail closures, including the Inca Trail.
February	10-20°C, very heavy rain, humid	low	low	• Extremely low tourist numbers ⚠ The Inca Trail is closed for maintenance. Many other trails may be impassable due to rain.
March	10-21°C, rain decreasing, clearing skies	low	low	• End of rainy season • Green scenery • Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations ⚠ Inca Trail reopens mid-month. Weather can still be unpredictable.
April	8-20°C, minimal rain, sunny days	moderate	moderate	• Start of dry season • Clear skies for Machu Picchu • Autumn colors in Sacred Valley
May	6-20°C, very dry, sunny days	moderate	moderate	• Ideal dry weather • Vibrant Inti Raymi preparations begin • Crisp, cool evenings
June	3-19°C, dry and sunny, cold nights	high	high	• Inti Raymi festival • Peak dry season • Stargazing opportunities ⚠ Inti Raymi (June 24th) causes significant crowds and price hikes around Cusco.
July	4-20°C, dry and sunny, cold nights	peak	peak	• Dry season continues • School holidays in Peru and abroad • Excellent trekking conditions ⚠ Highest tourist season, book flights and accommodation well in advance.
August	6-21°C, dry and sunny, cooler evenings	peak	peak	• End of dry season • Clear skies • Good for high-altitude trekking ⚠ Still very busy due to international holidays.
September	8-21°C, transitioning to wetter, mostly sunny	moderate	moderate	• Shoulder season benefits • Pleasant temperatures • Fewer crowds than peak summer
October	9-21°C, rain increasing, sunny mornings	moderate	moderate	• End of dry season, but still good weather • Beautiful landscapes • Autumn harvest festivals
November	10-20°C, frequent rain showers	moderate	moderate	• Beginning of rainy season • Green scenery • Fewer tourists ⚠ Rainfall increases, potentially impacting travel plans and trail conditions.
December	10-20°C, frequent rain, humid	high	high	• Christmas and New Year's celebrations • Festive atmosphere • Lush landscapes ⚠ Rain can be heavy, especially in the afternoons. Inca Trail can be busy despite rain.

Annual events worth timing your trip around

March

Semana Santa (Holy Week)

Solemn religious processions and vibrant cultural celebrations throughout Cusco.

June

Corpus Christi

A major Catholic festival featuring processions of saints' statues from various churches.

June

Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun)

A spectacular reenactment of the ancient Inca winter solstice ceremony, held at Sacsayhuamán.

July

Festival de San Ignacio de Loyola

Celebrations honoring the patron saint of the Jesuits, often with cultural events.

July

Festival de la Virgen del Carmen

A lively festival in Paucartambo with colorful dances, music, and religious parades.

September

Señor de Huanca Festival

A pilgrimage and religious festival honoring a revered Christ image in Calca.

November

Cusco Anniversary

Festivities commemorating the founding of Cusco, with parades and cultural events.

Insider timing tips

•The dry season (April-October) offers the most reliable weather for trekking and sightseeing, but coincides with peak tourist numbers and prices.
•February is the wettest month and sees the closure of the Inca Trail, making it the least advisable time to visit for hikers.
•The shoulder months of April, May, September, and October provide a good balance of decent weather and fewer crowds compared to July and August.
•While the rainy season (November-March) generally means more precipitation, it also brings lush green landscapes and significantly lower prices and crowds, with intermittent sunny days possible.
•Local holidays, especially around Inti Raymi in June and Christmas in December, can lead to surges in domestic tourism and higher prices in Cusco itself.