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Best Time to Visit Peru

Figuring out the best time to hit up Peru can be a bit tricky cause the weather’s all over the place. It really depends on where you’re going. Here’s the basic rundown to help you plan your trip.

Peru’s Weather: What to Expect

Peru is massive, so you get lots of different weather zones.

• The Mountains (Andes): Up high in the Andes, maybe somewhere like Cusco which sits at about $11,150$ feet ($3,400$ meters), it’s generally cool to cold. The dry season is their winter, and summer gets rainy. You’ll hear folks say “bring layers!” cause temps can swing a lot.
• The Coast: Down by the ocean, like near Lima (which is pretty much at sea level, around $509$ feet / $155$ meters), it’s super dry. Like, almost desert vibes with very little rain.
• The Jungle (Amazon): Over in the eastern lowlands, the jungle part, near places like Iquitos (way down at $348$ feet / $106$ meters), expect hot and sticky weather. Rain can kinda happen anytime throughout the year.

Dry vs Wet Season

So, Peru basically has two main seasons:

Dry Time (May – September)

This is winter in Peru. Less rain, especially up in the mountains. Makes hiking stuff like the Inca Trail way easier. A lot of travelers aim for this time.

Wet Time (December – March)

This is their summer. Expect more rain showers, particularly in the Andes and the jungle. Sometimes trails can get muddy or even temporarily closed, which can be a bummer.

When It Gets Crowded (and Pricey)

Peak season for tourists is usually May through October cause that’s the dry season. It’s prime time for hitting big spots like Machu Picchu.

But here’s a heads up: even though it’s rainy season, things get really expensive and busy from mid-December to mid-January. Probably cause of Christmas and New Year holidays. So yeah, when you go affects crowds and your wallet!

Quick Look at Peak Times & Prices

Maybe Skip This Time?

Quick tip: Try to avoid traveling right around July 28. It’s Peru’s main national holiday (Fiestas Patrias) and pretty much everyone in Peru travels then. Finding a hotel or even a bus seat in popular places like Cusco or the beaches up north can be a real headache. It gets seriously packed.

Cool Festivals to Check Out

Peru loves a good festival! If your trip lines up, these are pretty cool to see:

Fiesta de la Candelaria (February)

Usually happens in Puno, near Lake Titicaca. It’s amazing, super colorful with thousands of dancers and musicians out in the streets. A huge party vibe.

Inti Raymi (June 24)

This is the Festival of the Sun, mainly celebrated in Cusco. It’s a big re-enactment of an old Inca ceremony. Lots of cool costumes, music, dancing. Great cultural experience.

Festival Internacional de la Vendimia (March)

This one’s down in the Ica region (which is around $1,332$ feet / $406$ meters high), the wine area. It’s all about celebrating the grape harvest. They even have a queen stomp the first grapes, kinda fun if you’re into wine.

Just remember: Festival dates, especially Candelaria, can sometimes shift a bit each year cause they might follow older calendars. So if you really wanna catch one, double-check the exact dates closer to your trip.