Weather in Cusco and Machu Picchu: what you should know for a good trip

One of the essential requirements to enjoy a trip is to be well prepared for the weather in the destination. In Cusco and Machu Picchu, the year is divided into two: the dry season and the rainy season and the climate varies greatly in each of them.

If you are preparing your trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu and you are not sure what you have to put in your suitcase, do not worry! Here we leave you all the details you need to know to come fully prepared.

Weather in Cusco and Machu Picchu

As we mentioned before, in the Cusco region there are two seasons, the rainy season and the dry season, so the first thing you will have to know is in what season you are going to make your trip. Once you know it, these are the tips we give you for each of the seasons.

Dry season – Between April and October

The dry season occurs between the months of April and October. During this time, the days are sunny, with average temperatures between 17 and 19 ºC (62 and 66 ºF), but the nights are very cold and the thermometers can reach less than 0 ºC (32 ºF).

Although it is known as dry season, Cusco and Machu Picchu are in the Peruvian highlands, so during these months there are also intermittent rainfall, but less frequently.

If you visit Machu Picchu during the dry season, you will find the skies cludless and, in general, you will have total visibility of the citadel at any time. In addition, during the month of September spring comes to this place and gives us beautiful pictures with the first flowers sprouting and decorating Machu Picchu.

Also, during this months there are more insects, so you will have to come prepared to avoid bites.

With this information, you will be asking yourself, what clothes and accessories do I have to wear for such a different climate? Here we leave you a list with the essentials articles:

• Cap.
• Sun screen.
• Sunglasses.
• Light clothes for the day.
• Outerwear for the night.
• Repellent.
• Raincoat.

Rainy season – Between November and March

The rainy season coincides, curiously, with the Peruvian summer, since it occurs between the months of November and March. During this period, humidity increases both in Cusco and Machu Picchu and there are higher temperatures that reach between 18 and 23 ºC (64 and 73 ªF) during the day. The nights, despite being somewhat warmer than in the dry season, are also cold (around 4 ºC, 39 ºF).

The precipitations are the main characteristic of this time. The rains usually occur during the afternoon and, although they are not the best companions for a trip, Cusco and Machu Picchu look really beautiful with the rainbow as a companion.

In this time, although the clouds take longer to disappear and in some moments Machu Picchu has less visibility, the citadel and its surroundings have a deep green, creating incredible landscapes that will captivate you completely.

Also, if you are going to travel during this season you have to bear in mind that the rains can cause changes in the schedules of the trains, so we recommend you to program the connections between the places you are going to visit leaving some hours more than normal between each one of them.

To visit Cusco and Machu Picchu during the rainy season, this is what you have to put in your suitcase:

• Waterproof clothes of all kinds.
• Light clothes for the day.
• Outerwear for the night.
• Waterproof boots that hold well on surfaces with water and mud.
• Umbrella / raincoat.
• Cap and hat.
• Sun screen
• Sunglasses.

Have you already decided when you are going to visit Machu Picchu? Whether in the rainy season or, especially, in the dry season, we recommend you to buy your tickets for the Inca citadel and for the train in advance, so you can organize your trip without suffering any setbacks.