Because many people get time off over Christmas, I often get asked by our readers if trekking to Machu Picchu in December is a good idea.
Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to put together a quick article in response to this question to help all our readers decide for themselves.
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Trekking to Machu Picchu in December
Is Machu Picchu open in December?
The first point to be made clear is that both the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu are open during December. In fact, Machu Picchu remains open all year-round and the Inca Trail is only closed in February for yearly repairs.
Therefore, hiking to Machu Picchu in December is certainly an option.
Don't panic if you can only go in February as there are plenty of other trekking routes to Machu Picchu that remain open during this period such as the Lares, Salkantay trail and Vilcabamba trail.
Cons of December Treks to Machu Picchu
Trekking to Machu Picchu in December becomes a bit of a gamble when you consider the weather on the Inca trail.
December is the wet season in Peru and rain certainly prevails throughout December. The rain is not torrential though and it's usually just a drizzle that occurs for a few hours a day. That being said, some days are totally clear.
If you hate rain, then trekking to Machu Picchu late in the year may not be the best option for you.
If you do decide to trek to Machu Picchu in December or January, then bringing a lightweight rain poncho to go over your clothes and day pack is highly recommended.
Cloud cover is also a factor you need to consider.
Photographers generally avoid the wet season in Machu Picchu like the plague because more often than not, cloud cover obscures the best views. Once again though, this is not always the case and some days (and occasionally weeks) will be crystal clear with stunning vistas.
The ruins of Machu Picchu are often shrouded in cloud and this is certainly not the best way to see the ancient citadel in all its glory.
Another consideration when trekking to Machu Picchu in December is the trails themselves. These can be water logged and often extremely muddy. The Inca Trail is often steep and gets quite slippery when the mud thickens.
The mud is never extremely deep however, and there are usually ways around it. You may want to bring some gaiters with you though.
See our packing list for the Inca Trail.
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Pros of December Treks to Machu Picchu
Because December is in the wet season, crowd levels on the 4-day trail and the 2-day trail, as well as at Machu Picchu drop considerably. Over a million tourists visit Machu Picchu every year. With so many tourists, the trail and city can sometimes become quite hectic.
This often detracts from the overall experience and takes away the magical element that should surround Machu Picchu. The chances of having a more relaxed hike with less crowds around you are far higher if you go trekking to Machu Picchu in December.
Whilst most photographers prefer the dry season for clear shots, I personally prefer photographing Machu Picchu during the wet season. Taking shots when there is low cloud surrounding the city is a great way to add atmosphere to the picture, particularly if the sun is poking through in areas.
Most people though want the classic bird's eye clear shot. Shooting in the wet season does have some drawbacks of course. The ruins are often completely covered and the rain means that you'll need to bring along a weather proof camera.
Conclusion
It's certainly possible to hike Machu Picchu in December. You simply need to weigh up how well you will cope with a bit of rain and mud. The trails will be far less crowded and you'll have many sections of the ancient ruins to yourself (depending on what time of the day you arrive).
Crowd cover is an issue, especially for keen photographers, but you will more than likely get one clear day in which to take photos. The rain and cloud certainly add atmosphere to the whole experience!
Bear in mind that permits need to be booked early for the Inca Trail, even in the wet season. See more information on Inca Trail permits and hiking availability when booking a trek to Machu Picchu in December.
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FAQs
If you have any further question or queries regarding trekking to Machu Picchu in December, please leave a comment below and we'll respond as soon as possible.
Thank you and happy trekking!
How long does it take?
Hi Cadence, most treks to Machu Picchu take 4 days, there are some slightly longer routes like the Choquequirao and Vilcabamba, and a few shorter routes like the Short Inca Trail. All the best!
I’m going to visit Machu Pichu in Mid March. How is the weather during this time.? Thank you
Hi Thuy Luu, March is not a bad time to visit Machu Picchu, but you may experience some rain and low cloud cover. You can read more about weather by month here: https://www.machupicchutrek.net/best-time-to-hike-machu-picchu/
I will be treking to MP in December. What temperatures might I expect to encounter? Are the daytime temps very marked in difference from night time temps? Thank you
Hi Alonso, temperatures during the day can be very temperate, but early mornings and evenings are cold. Make sure you have a warm sleeping bag and layered clothing to layer up in the eves. Hope this helps!
You said it gets cold in the evenings in December on the 4 day hike to MP. Trying to decide how much warm clothes to take because I will also do 2 days in the Amazon and I think that is suppose to be very hot and humid.
Hi Cheryl, you want to make sure you have a few layers with you so that you can layer up when the temperatures are cold. A good idea is having one base later, a fleece jacket and an insulated jacket. Check out our packing list for advice: https://www.machupicchutrek.net/inca-trail-packing-list-machu-picchu/
Great!!! I really enjoy to read this blog. Thanks for sharing this blog.
Hi,
I had the chance to do Inca Trail during December and to not have rain even if the risk was big to have rain everyday during the trek. The landscapes were amazing, for those who don’t like only climb or go down mountains, these trail was most of the time more or less flat. So you could concentrate on the view. The organization was amazing, food excellent even if everything had to be carried by porters (no animals admitted on the trail). We had even our hot water each morning to wash 🙂
Hi Mark, Thanks for the blog. This is super informative.
We are planning our trek sometime in December. Had a quick question. If my wife (46) and daughter (12) cannot make it trekking, are there any alternative modes of transport to get them to Machu Pichu?
Appreciate your response!
Thanks much again!
Praveen.
Hi Praveen, yes, they could take a train: https://www.machupicchutrek.net/how-to-get-to-machu-picchu/
I’m planning to hike Machu Picchu and Waynapicchu December 30, what time of day do you recommend hiking?
Thanks!
Hi Rachel, check out this article for best times to climb Huayna Picchu etc.: https://www.machupicchutrek.net/hike-to-machu-picchu/climbing-huayna-picchu/
How many days should be planned to visit Machu Picchu (especially in late December) and should you come in early to get acclimated to altitude before visiting? If yes, where do you recommend to stay?
Hi Robin, you only need 1, maybe 2 days (if you want to hike Machu Picchu mountain and explore Aguas Calientes) to visit Machu Picchu. You will fly into Cusco, which is nearly 3,400 high. So I recommend acclimatising here or in Ollantaytambo (2,800m) for two days. There is lots to do in Cusco (https://www.machupicchutrek.net/things-to-do-in-cusco/) and the Sacred Valley (https://www.machupicchutrek.net/things-to-do-in-the-sacred-valley/). Then once you acclimatised you can enjoy Machu Picchu more without worrying about the altitude as it is lower than both Cusco and Ollantaytambo.
Hi
I am thinking of planning a trip to Machu Picchu with my family to celebrate my husband’s 60th birthday . I did not realize
Hi
I am thinking of planning a trip to Machu Picchu in December.
As I read more, I see that that is the rainy season and now I am very very nervous to proceed. The plan was for 12/21–28. Is it actually possible to get eight straight days of rain?
Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated
Thank you
Eileen
Hi Eileen, December is not the best month weather-wise. It is possible to get a bad week, but the probability of 8 straight days of rain is low. It does generally rain every other day though.
Hi Mark
I am wanting to do the 4 day Inca Trail this December, 2022. I am looking at flying out Sunday 18th December and using the tour guide company I am thinking of using we would arrive Machu Picchu on Xmas day. The rain doesn’t concern me I’d enjoy that but is the cloud potentially so bad you can’t see the views? Your opinion an Xmas well spent?
Regards
John
Hi John, sounds like an epic Xmas plan. It’s hard to predict the weather so far out. I would say you have a 50:50 on getting good weather.
Hello, I was looking to hike to Macchu Picchu in late December or early January. I was wondering how safe the route is considering it is all slippery and muddy.
Hi AR, it’s not the best time of year, but the route should be safe. If you wanted to do the Salkantay I would say the landslide risk is too high, but the Inca trail should be fine.