The best time to hike Machu Picchu is in the shoulder months (late April / early May and late September / early October) of the dry season. At these times, the trails tend to be significantly quieter than the peak season, the Citadel less packed, and the weather conditions relatively good.
Like most of the sub-tropics in the Andes, there are only two seasons en route to Machu Picchu:
- dry season (May-September)
- wet season (November-April)
Temperatures are moderate during the day and cold at night during the shoulder months in this part of Peru.
In this article, I will discuss the best times to hike Machu Picchu by providing information and historical weather charts on temperature, rainfall and wind.
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Best Time To Hike Machu Picchu
If you are not too bothered about crowded trails, busy hotels and the many tourists that visit Machu Picchu by train from Cusco each day, then another good time to hike Machu Picchu is during the dry and peak season which runs from May through to September.
If you decide to go during the peak season, you will need to book early to grab one of the 500 permits issued on the Inca Trail each day.
Please Note: About half of these daily permits are used by guides and porters.
Alternatively, you could trek on the less popular (yet equally authentic trails) of Salkantay, Lares or Vilcabamba. However, some of these alternative Inca trail and route options are more challenging than the classic Inca Trail, so make sure you do lots of fitness training beforehand.
The wet season begins in November and gets into full swing over the months of December, January and February. The Inca Trail is closed every year in February for restoration. I do not recommend trekking to Machu Picchu in these months; although, if you plan to catch a train from Cusco, you can get lucky with the weather and have a lovely day in Machu Picchu.
November and March are risky months for trekking, but not for visiting Machu Picchu by train. Nevertheless, it is still possible to encounter limited rain during these times. The upside of these months is that you will have the trail largely to yourself.
Like with any trip, it's always a good idea to consult weather conditions ahead of time. Now, we will look at weather considerations in more detail when considering the best time to hike Machu Picchu.
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Weather Considerations when hiking Machu Picchu
Temperature Chart - Average High and Low Temperatures
Below, you can see the average high and low temperatures for Machu Picchu.
You will notice that temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the year, which is a common feature in the sub-tropics. The maximum highs and lows can fluctuate though, as you can see on the chart.
It is worth noting that temperatures are usually moderate to warm during the day at Machu Picchu, but drop relatively rapidly in the evening, and can go below zero degrees Celsius (about 32 degrees Fahrenheit) at night time.
For this reason, it is important to bring along layered clothing throughout the year (here are equipment packing list requirements for Machu Picchu).
Rain Chart - Average Monthly Rainfall
The rain chart shows average monthly rainfall in Machu Picchu in milimetres. You can clearly see the two distinct seasons illustrated here. The dry months run from late April through to early October, and the wet months from late October through to early April. If you are trying to avoid the rain, then the best time to hike Machu Picchu is May through September. Keep in mind that this is of course the busiest time as well.
Average Number of Rain and Drizzle Days
There is a possibility of encountering some rain or drizzle at any time in the year. en route to Machu Picchu The chart below shows the average number of rain or drizzle days by month. Unsurprisingly, the trend matches the average precipitation by volume chart as shown above.
Wind Chart - Average Wind Speeds
The chart below shows average monthly wind speeds (measured in km/h) in Machu Picchu. As you can see, the average wind speed in this region is relatively low and consistent. The light grey bars show the maximum winds speeds ever recorded in Machu Picchu.
Month by Month Breakdown
To go into greater detail, let's take a look at a monthly breakdown of weather conditions in Machu Picchu.
January
January is an extremely wet month, very quiet, and not the best time to hike Machu Picchu. So, it's better to avoid trekking along the trail at this time of year.
Weather Conditions | |
|---|---|
Temperature | Daytime average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and night time average lows around 8°C (46°F) |
Humidity | Average daily relative humidity is around 66% |
Rain | It rains on average for 23 days of the month and total average precipitation is around 154mm (6 inches) |
Wind | Average daily wind speed is around 5km/h (3 mph), with absolute maximum being recorded at 81km/h (51 mph) |
Fog | Not a foggy month in general |
February
February is another wet month, and also not the best time to visit to Machu Picchu. Even if the weather conditions were ideal, the Peruvian government always closes the Inca Trail in February to perform necessary maintenance and repairs to the trail and the surrounding ruins.
Weather Conditions | |
|---|---|
Temperature | Daytime average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and night time average lows around 8°C (46°F) |
Humidity | Average daily relative humidity is around 66% |
Rain | It rains on average for 18 days of the month and total average precipitation is around 188mm (5 inches) |
Wind | Average daily wind speed is around 6km/h (3 mph), with absolute maximum being recorded at 81km/h (51 mph) |
Fog | Not a foggy month in general |
March
March is yet another rainy month, and not the best time to hike Machu Picchu because of wet weather and the quiet. With that said, it is not a bad month to visit Machu Picchu if you are just taking a train from Cusco and doing minimal trekking along the trail.
Weather Conditions | |
|---|---|
Temperature | Daytime average highs are around 18°C (64°F) and night time average lows around 6°C (42°F) |
Humidity | Average daily relative humidity is similar to Jan and Feb around 66% |
Rain | It rains on average for 19 days of the month and total average precipitation is around 109 mm (4 inches) |
Wind | Average daily wind speed is around 5km/h (3 mph), with absolute maximum being recorded at 74km/h (46 mph) |
Fog | Not a foggy month in general |
April
April is moderately wet and quiet, making it fine for trekking in comparison with earlier months. The rain begins to dry up towards end of the month, so it's ok for visiting Machu Picchu or trekking the Inca Trail.
Weather Conditions | |
|---|---|
Temperature | Daytime average highs are around 21°C (70°F) and night time average lows around 6°C (42°F) |
Humidity | Average daily relative humidity is a little lower than the first three months, at 63% |
Rain | It rains on average for 9 days of the month (mainly at the beginning) and total average precipitation is around 41 mm (2 inches) |
Wind | Average daily wind speed is around 5km/h (3 mph), with absolute maximum being recorded at 74km/h (46 mph) |
Fog | Not a foggy month in general |
May
May is mercifully drier with the rain ostensibly decreasing and the trekking season kicking off. However, you will need to book early to secure Inca Trail permits during this month.
Weather Conditions | |
|---|---|
Temperature | Daytime average highs are around 21°C (70°F) and night time average lows around 3°C (37°F) |
Humidity | With lower rainfall, moisture content is lower and average monthly relative humidity drops to 56% |
Rain | It rains on average for 3 days of the month and total average precipitation is around 9 mm (0.5 inch) |
Wind | Average daily wind speed is around 4km/h (2.5 mph), with absolute maximum being recorded at 80km/h (50 mph) |
Fog | Fog is possible |
June
June is considered the start of the peak season for visiting Machu Picchu. The weather is dry and the trail is busy. Trekking season is in full swing, so permits are difficult to get and the Citadel is already packed by 11am.
Weather Conditions | |
|---|---|
Temperature | Daytime average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and night time average lows around 2°C (35°F). Get’s cold in the evening |
Humidity | Average monthly relative humidity is 54% |
Rain | It rains on average for 2 days of the month and total average precipitation is around 18 mm (1 inch) |
Wind | Average daily wind speed is around 4km/h (2.5 mph), with absolute maximum being recorded at 74km/h (46 mph) |
Fog | Fog is possible |
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July
July is a busy time and the weather is dry, making it one of the best times to hike Machu Picchu. However, you should book your hiking permits well in advance and opt for taking day tours of Machu Picchu to avoid the afternoon crowds.
Weather Conditions | |
|---|---|
Temperature | Daytime average highs are around 20°C (68°F) and night time average lows around 1°C (33°F). Expect cold weather in the evening |
Humidity | Average monthly relative humidity is 52% |
Rain | It rains on average for 2 days of the month and total average precipitation is around 8 mm (0.5 inch) |
Wind | Average daily wind speed is around 5km/h (2.5 mph), with absolute maximum being recorded at 74km/h (46 mph) |
Fog | Fog is possible |
August
The weather is dry in August and the trail is extremely busy. So, make sure you book your hiking permits in advance and hike up to Machu Picchu earlier in the day.
Weather Conditions | |
|---|---|
Temperature | Daytime average highs are around 21°C (70°F) and night time average lows around 3°C (37°F). Expect cold weather in the evening |
Humidity | Average monthly relative humidity is 52% |
Rain | It rains on average for 4 days of the month and total average precipitation is around 10 mm (0.5 inch) |
Wind | Average daily wind speed is around 6km/h (3 mph), with absolute maximum being recorded at 80km/h (51 mph) |
Fog | Fog is possible |
September
September marks the end of the peak season and interest in trekking to Machu Picchu starts to die down. During this time, early rains are possible, but the trails are still busy and permits are tough to come by.
Weather Conditions | |
|---|---|
Temperature | Daytime average highs are around 21°C (70°F) and night time average lows around 5°C (41°F) |
Humidity | Average monthly relative humidity is 53% |
Rain | It rains on average for 6 days of the month and total average precipitation is around 14 mm (1 inch) |
Wind | Average daily wind speed is around 6km/h (3 mph), with absolute maximum being recorded at 78km/h (49 mph) |
Fog | Fog is possible |
October
The rainy season begins in late October and the trail becomes a lot wetter. This is a good month for trekking as the crowds decrease and trails to Machu Picchu start to get quieter.
Weather Conditions | |
|---|---|
Temperature | Daytime average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and night time average lows around 7°C (45°F) |
Humidity | Average monthly relative humidity is 56% |
Rain | It rains on average for 12 days of the month and total average precipitation is around 47 mm (2 inches) |
Wind | “Windiest” month. Average daily wind speed is around 7km/h (3 mph), with absolute maximum being recorded at 93km/h (57 mph) |
Fog | Fog is possible |
November
November is moderately wet with the arrival of the rainy season the previous month. However, the trails are still fine for trekking and relatively quiet, if you don’t mind getting a little wet.
Weather Conditions | |
|---|---|
Temperature | Daytime average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and night time average lows around 7°C (45°F) |
Humidity | Average monthly relative humidity is 57% |
Rain | It rains on average for 14 days of the month and total average precipitation is around 77 mm (3 inches) |
Wind | Average daily wind speed is around 7km/h (3 mph), with absolute maximum being recorded at 81km/h (50 mph) |
Fog | Fog is possible |
December
It is extremely wet in December and not good for trekking to Machu Picchu. By this point, the rainy season is in full swing and makes hiking less enjoyable. With that said, it's still fine to visit Machu Picchu if you are taking a train from Cusco.
For more insight, see visiting Machu Picchu in December.
Weather Conditions | |
|---|---|
Temperature | Daytime average highs are around 19°C (66°F) and night time average lows around 7°C (45°F) |
Humidity | Average monthly relative humidity is 62% |
Rain | It rains on average for 20 days of the month and total average precipitation is around 110 mm (4 inches) |
Wind | Average daily wind speed is around 6km/h (3 mph), with absolute maximum being recorded at 83km/h (51 mph) |
Fog | Fog is possible |
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References: (1) MyWeather
I heard Machu Picchu is currently closed…….any word on when it will reopen?
As of March, 1st 2023 Machu Picchu and the Inca trail are open.