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Best time to visit Lima

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

Best time to visit Lima, Peru

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

Month	Weather	Crowds	Prices	Highlights
January	24-30°C, humid and overcast with sunnier afternoons	high	high	• Summer beach season • Festival de Verano ⚠ Can be uncomfortably humid for some.
February	25-31°C, humid and overcast with sunnier afternoons	high	high	• Carnaval celebrations • Warmest ocean temperatures ⚠ February is often the most humid month.
March	23-29°C, overcast mornings clearing to sunny afternoons	moderate	moderate	• End of summer crowds • Ceviche season at its peak
April	21-27°C, mild with frequent sunny afternoons	moderate	moderate	• Pleasant, dry weather • Shoulder season benefits
May	19-25°C, cool mornings, sunny afternoons	moderate	moderate	• Comfortable temperatures • Art and culture festivals begin
June	17-22°C, cool and often overcast, especially mornings	low	low	• Start of the dry, cooler season • Whale watching season begins offshore ⚠ Coastal fog (garúa) is common.
July	16-21°C, cool and often overcast	low	low	• Driest month • Museums and indoor attractions are ideal ⚠ Garúa can persist throughout the day.
August	16-21°C, cool and overcast	low	low	• Still very dry • Cheapest month for flights and accommodation ⚠ Can feel quite gloomy due to persistent fog.
September	18-24°C, overcast mornings giving way to sunnier afternoons	low	low	• Transition to sunnier weather • International Book Fair
October	19-25°C, mild with increasing sunshine	moderate	moderate	• Pleasant weather returns • Festival de Marinera (in Trujillo, but celebrated in Lima)
November	21-27°C, warm and sunny	moderate	moderate	• Warmest pre-summer weather • Excellent for exploring Miraflores and Barranco
December	23-29°C, warm and mostly sunny	high	high	• Start of summer • Christmas markets and decorations ⚠ Crowds build rapidly towards the end of the month.

Annual events worth timing your trip around

January

Festival de Verano (Summer Festival)

A celebration of summer with music, food, and cultural events across the city.

February

Carnaval Limeño

Local celebrations with music, parades, and traditional festivities, though less grand than in other Latin American cities.

October

Festival de Marinera

While the main event is in Trujillo, Lima hosts related celebrations and showcases of Peru's national dance.

October

Día de la Canción Criolla (Day of Criollo Music)

A nationwide celebration of Peruvian criollo music, with live performances in bars and restaurants.

July

Peruvian Independence Day

National holiday with parades and official ceremonies, though less impactful on tourism than in other countries.

August

Festival Internacional de Cine de Lima (Lima Film Festival)

Showcases a wide range of national and international films.

Insider timing tips

•Lima's coastal microclimate means it's rarely very hot, but can be perpetually overcast and humid from June to September due to the 'garúa' (coastal fog).
•Summer (December-March) brings higher humidity and more intense sun when the clouds break, coinciding with peak tourist season and prices.
•The shoulder months of April-May and October-November offer the best balance of pleasant weather and fewer crowds, with moderate prices.
•While Lima itself doesn't have major festivals in July/August, it's the prime time for inland Peru's dry season trekking, making flights to Lima potentially more expensive due to transit travelers.
•Local holidays can mean some smaller businesses close, especially around religious dates, but major tourist sites generally remain open.