Best Time to Visit Peru

Best Months: May • June • July • August

The best time to travel to Peru for sightseeing is from May to August, which can take you from the dry Pacific coastline high into the Andes Mountains. These months are the heart of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter, which accounts for a drier season in the mountains and cooler days along the coast.

May to August can also give you a more comfortable and immersive experience when visiting Peru’s Amazon Rainforest. These winter months reveal the exceptional natural and cultural wonders of Peru.

Best Months: May • June • July

May to July in Peru are the winter months of the Southern Hemisphere and provide you with the best all-around weather across the country.

Winter is drier than other months, allowing you to immerse yourself in the wilderness of the Amazon or the remarkable ruins of the Andes.

Peru's weather is diverse, depending on the region, and you can embrace the gorgeous beaches along the Pacific coastline or witness the distinctive contours of the desert from May to June as you explore and enjoy the country’s variety.

Best Months: December • January • February • March

The beaches in Peru can divulge the country’s rich history and vibrant culture, while overlooking golden sands and crystal-clear waters best experienced from December to March. These months overlap the Southern Hemisphere’s summer and fall, with more comfortable weather and fewer crowds. You can still enjoy the exciting ruins and vibrant landscapes around Peru while indulging in the surprising grandeur of the Pacific coast stretching between Ecuador and Peru.

Best Months: April • May • June

The best time to visit Machu Picchu is from April to June. Machu Picchu has captured the imagination of visitors from around the world and embodies the wonders of Peru.

April to June straddle the Southern Hemisphere’s fall and winter to give you more comfortable weather if you choose to wander the ruins of the forgotten city or trek the length of the Inca Trail.

When visiting during the drier months, you have a greater opportunity to climb Huayna Picchu, explore the surrounding Sacred Valley, and avoid the high season.

Best Months: May • June

The seasons in the Amazon are generally dry and wet, with May and June offering better weather, with fewer crowds. Visiting the Amazon at this time can take you wandering along the riverbanks fishing for piranha or visiting authentic villages scattered beneath the dense canopy. During the beginning of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter, you can discover macaws or even find rare pink dolphins, which encapsulate the wonders of the wildlife.

Best Months: May • June • July • August

The best time to go to Peru for a food tour is between May and August, which will give you some of the most robust flavors across the country.

The diverse regions of the coastline, Andes, and rainforest provide vastly different culinary experiences within the Southern Hemisphere’s winter months.

The drier weather can give you access to delicious seafood, rich chicken stews, or dynamic ceviches, for which Peru is known, in more comfortable weather.

Best Months: May • June • July • August

Visiting Peru as a family is best between May and August, during the drier months of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter. The diverse landscapes mean traveling in these months will take your family to the edge of the shoulder season and into the high season to reveal exceptional wonder around Machu Picchu or the Amazon Rainforest, Nazca lines or the Ballestas Islands.

Visiting as a family between May and August gives you a more comfortable climate and far more access to what will captivate you during a Peru family vacation.

Best Months: May • June • July • August

The best time to visit Peru as a couple is between May and August, during the dry winter of the Southern Hemisphere.

You can find romance in Peru along the beaches or opulence in the highlands as you escape to the secluded corners of the Andes to visit Machu Picchu or venture to the golden shores of the Pacific for a coastal getaway.

The weather across Peru during these months is generally mild and can give you fantastic access to a wildlife adventure in the Amazon or the steep steps of the Inca Trail.

Best Months: November • December • January

The best months to visit Peru in the Southern Hemisphere’s spring and summer are November to January. During this time you can admire Machu Picchu or bask on the luxurious sands of the Pacific.

The warm days along the coastline and cool, crisp evenings in the mountains provide a delightful climate in which you can enjoy fewer crowds at popular destinations like the forgotten city, sample ceviche in Lima, overlook the Nazca Lines, or visit the glinting splendor of Arequipa, the White City. It is considered the rainy season, but overall the ambiance only enhances the experience.

Activities: Floating islands • Cooking class • Beaches • Amazon canoeing • Sand-dune buggy

Best Months: April • May • June • July

Fall and winter in Peru capture the dry season, and April to July offer the most consistent weather across the country, while also providing a bit of an escape from the crowds. In the Andes, you can find crisp flavors and snowcapped peaks looming above the lush valley, while the Amazon has less rain and access to remarkable trails.

The desert offers cooler weather in which you can view the arid landscape and the coastline often sees a settling marine layer. The diversity of Peru’s ecosystems can give you a wide variety of things to do and see in fall and winter.

Activities: Surfing • Andes trekking • Wildlife viewing • Food tour • Visit Inca ruins

Peru embodies the spirit of wonder that can take you high into the Andes Mountains or deep into the Amazon Rainforest. You can connect to Incan cities or venture to an isolated Pacific island in search of active wildlife, with every step providing a new glimpse into Peru’s most famous destinations.

Our Peru vacations and tours can give you inspiration on how to experience your perfect Peru trip, or find more information for your trip in our Peru travel guide.