Peru weather for holiday travel

Ruins of the ancient Inca city Machu Picchu were discovered in 1911 by American explorer Hiram Bingham, deep within the thick jungles of South America's Andes mountains in Peru.

It's a location you simply can't miss during your South America travel.

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Although Peru boasts 28 different climates, the weather is generally broken into the coastal strip (damp, humid and cloudy winter from June to September with average temperatures around 14 degrees Celsius, and 28 degrees Celsius during summer), the highlands (warm almost all year with consistently dry mornings but frequent chilly nights) and the Amazon jungle (tropically humid throughout the year with heavy afternoon rains from December to April).

Inland Peru has warm to hot, dry days from April to October but the nights can be particularly cold in high altitudes and Atlantic cold fronts can occasionally make it chilly all day.

Peru's inland wet season from November to mid-April is very rainy in January and February, the average daily temperature around 18 degrees Celsius. The mornings are usually clear with the clouds opening up in the afternoons.

The mountains and jungles of Peru are drenched with afternoon rains from December to April.

It's wet weather and some roads to remote villages become impassable, but there are far fewer tourists competing for hotel rooms and this can be the best time to book airfares and holiday tickets for Peru and Machu Picchu tours.

Be aware that the Peruvian coastline is hot and dry from December to April, ideal for swimming and holiday tanning. The coastal weather is still fairly warm from May to November but blankets of sea mist envelope much of the coastline, except in the far north of Peru.

It hardly ever rains in Lima, the blue skies being interrupted by light mists from June to October. The coastal desert strip of Peru is almost always dry except in the far north around Tumbes and Piura, which have tropical climates.

It's difficult to know exactly what clothing and equipment to pack for a tour of Peru as the country has climatic weather extremes from the high altitude chill of the Andes to the sweltering Amazon Basin of South America.

Warm to hot, dry days are enjoyed from April to October, although the nights can get very cold in Peru, and the crowded tourist season is from June to September.

During South America's winter months from June to September, the mountainous areas of Peru are often sunny during the day but cold at night.

Lightweight clothing should be worn during the summer months, although it's wise to bring some warmer clothes if you're planning holiday travel through the highlands and mountains of Peru.

It rarely becomes uncomfortably hot in the mountains, unlike the sweltering Amazon jungles you might encounter during your South America holiday travel.

Rainfall in the Amazon lowlands of South America is most intense from June to November, although light tropical clothes should be worn year-round because of the persistently warm to hot weather.

The wet season from October to April is awash with rain and localised flooding that often delays flights, damages transport routes and makes Peru holiday travel heavy-going.

Be aware that during the wet season, mosquitoes can be a problem.

If you want to go hiking and enjoy views that aren't obscured by cloud, the most pleasant time for holiday travel in Peru is from June to September when daytime temperatures average 18 degrees Celsius in the day and 7 degrees at night.

However, Peru holiday travel prices and crowds both increase at this time of year with some hotels in Cusco, for example, raising their rates as much as 50%.

Cusco travel guide

Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Holiday tips in Peru

Machu Picchu travel images

Peru travel tips for tickets

Alpaca in Peru

Peru holiday money advice

Peru landscape and culture

Peru travel crime hazards

Peru holiday health concerns

To book cheap flights, hotels, car rentals and holidays to Machu Picchu, visit our Travel Shop.

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