Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu: Month by Month, From Our Guides
The best time to visit Machu Picchu is from April to May or in September and October: the dry season's clear mornings with fewer people than in the peak months of June, July and August. The dry season runs from May to September, with sunny days and cold nights, and it is also the busiest time. The rainy season, from November to March, brings green mountains, fewer visitors and afternoon showers, and its wettest months are January and February. The Inca Trail closes every February, but Machu Picchu itself is open every day of the year. There is no bad month to see it; there are only months that suit different trips.
Machu Picchu month by month
| Month | Weather | Crowds | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Rainy; frequent showers and cloud | Low, except the New Year days | Rainy-season trains from Cusco usually become bus-and-train services |
| February | The wettest month | Lowest of the year | Inca Trail closed for maintenance; Salkantay and the train run |
| March | Rainy, easing towards the end | Low; busier at Easter | Very green; Easter week can fall in March or April |
| April | Transition; showers become rarer | Moderate | One of our favorite months: green and increasingly clear |
| May | Dry, clear mornings | Moderate, rising | Our top pick for treks and photos |
| June | Dry, cold nights | High | Inti Raymi on 24 June in Cusco; busy period begins on 1 June |
| July | Dry, the coldest nights | Very high | Peru's national holidays at the end of July add domestic travelers |
| August | Dry and windy | Very high | Book Machu Picchu, train and Huayna Picchu early |
| September | Dry, warming up | High | Excellent weather with a little less pressure on tickets |
| October | Mostly dry; first showers late in the month | Moderate | A great shoulder month; busy period ends on 15 October |
| November | Rains begin | Moderate to low | Inca Trail permits for the next year usually go on sale |
| December | Rainy | Low, then busy at Christmas and New Year | 30 and 31 December count as a busy period at the gate |
The crowd column reflects what our guides see at the gate, and the busy periods match the official ones: the Ministry of Culture allows more tolerance at the entrance from 1 June to 15 October and on 30 and 31 December, precisely because those are the peak times. Daytime temperatures at the citadel are mild all year, roughly 12 to 24 °C (54 to 75 °F); what changes from month to month is the rain, not the heat.
The dry season: May to September
From May to September the skies over Machu Picchu are usually clear and blue, the paths are dry and the mountains around the citadel stand out sharply. It is the most reliable time for photos and for treks, and the nights in Cusco and on the trails are cold, often below freezing at the high passes.
The price of good weather is people. June, July and August are the peak months, with European and North American summer holidays, Inti Raymi in Cusco and Peru's own national holidays at the end of July. The best entry hours, the Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain tickets and the convenient trains sell out weeks or months ahead.
If you travel in these months, book the Machu Picchu ticket first and build the rest around it. Our guide to the Machu Picchu circuits explains which tickets go first.
The rainy season: November to March
The rains do not mean it rains all day. A typical rainy-season day starts with low cloud, opens into bright spells and brings showers in the afternoon. The mountains turn a deep green, the orchids flower in the cloud forest and there are far fewer people, especially in February and early March.
The downsides are real, though. Mornings can be completely clouded in, paths and steps are slippery, and heavy rain occasionally causes landslides that delay trains or close roads for a few hours or days. January and February are the wettest months. In those months we always build a spare day into an itinerary, so that one bad morning does not cost you the visit.
If clouds worry you, remember that they move fast at Machu Picchu: many of our rainy-season groups arrive in thick mist and leave under blue sky two hours later.
The shoulder months: April, May, September and October
If we could choose one month for a friend, it would be May: the rains have ended, the landscapes are still green, the skies are clear and the peak crowds have not arrived. April is very similar with a little more chance of a shower.
September and October are the mirror image: still dry and sunny, warmer than mid-winter, and slightly calmer than the July and August peak. Late October can bring the first afternoon showers.
In all four months it still pays to book early. They are popular precisely because they are good.
When is the best time of day to visit?
The citadel opens at 6:00 am and the last entry is at 3:00 pm. The first hours are the most atmospheric, with mist rising from the valley and soft light, but in many months the classic view is still in cloud at 6:00 am. The mid-morning slots often give clearer views. The afternoon entries are usually calmer, once the day-trippers from Cusco have left to catch their trains.
To take an early entry you need to sleep in Aguas Calientes the night before. Our guide on how to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco explains how to time the train and the bus with your entry hour.
The best time for the Inca Trail
The Inca Trail is at its best in the dry season, from May to September, and especially in May, June and September. It is also when permits sell out fastest: there are only about 200 places a day for trekkers, so book 4 to 6 months ahead. The trail is closed every February for maintenance and the paths reopen on 1 March.
April and October are good compromises, with fewer hikers and mostly good weather. From November to January the trail is open but wet, and the stone steps are slippery. Our guide to Inca Trail permits explains when the next season goes on sale.
Salkantay, Choquequirao and the day trips
The Salkantay Trek runs all year and needs no permit, which makes it the natural alternative in February or when Inca Trail permits are sold out. In the rainy season the 4,600 m pass can be snowy and the descent into the jungle muddy; from May to September it is cold at the top and clear.
The Choquequirao trek is best in April and May, according to our team, before the canyon gets very hot in the dry months. Humantay Lake and Rainbow Mountain are clearest from April to October, when the glacier and the colored slopes are free of cloud and snow.
Whatever the month, plan one or two days in Cusco before any high-altitude trip. Our guide to altitude sickness in Cusco explains why.
Festivals: Inti Raymi, Easter and the end of the year
Inti Raymi, the Inca Festival of the Sun, is celebrated in Cusco every 24 June, with a huge re-enactment at the fortress of Sacsayhuaman. It is spectacular, and it fills the city: hotels, flights and Machu Picchu tickets around that date go early. Corpus Christi in Cusco, a few weeks earlier, is another major celebration.
Easter week, in March or April, brings processions in Cusco and more domestic travelers. Peru's national holidays on 28 and 29 July make the end of July one of the busiest moments of the year. Christmas and New Year are quiet in the weeks before and busy in the last days of December.
If you want to see a festival, book everything early. If you would rather avoid the crowds, a week either side makes a big difference.
So, when should you go?
- First visit, want the best chance of blue sky: May, June or September.
- Want good weather with fewer people: April, May, September or October.
- Inca Trail: May to September, with permits booked 4 to 6 months ahead; never February.
- Lowest crowds and greenest landscapes: February and March, by train, with a spare day for the weather.
- Inti Raymi: around 24 June, booking as early as you can.
- Only free at Christmas or in January: go. Pack a good rain jacket, sleep in Aguas Calientes and keep your plans flexible.
- Whichever month you choose, our 7-day Peru itinerary shows how to fit in Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu with time to acclimatize.
What to pack for each season
- All year: layers, a warm fleece for early mornings, a rain jacket, sunscreen and sunglasses, insect repellent, comfortable shoes with grip and your original passport.
- Dry season (May to September): a warm jacket, hat and gloves for the cold Andean nights and early starts, and lip balm for the dry air.
- Rainy season (November to March): a proper waterproof jacket, a rain cover for your backpack, quick-drying clothes and a spare pair of socks. A cheap poncho over your backpack also works.
- For treks, our Salkantay Trek packing list covers every climate from glacier to jungle.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Machu Picchu?
May is our favorite: dry, clear and green, before the peak crowds of June to August. April, September and October are also excellent. June to August have the most reliable weather but the most visitors.
Is it worth visiting Machu Picchu in the rainy season?
Yes. Rain usually comes in showers, not all day, the mountains are very green and there are fewer people. Bring a good rain jacket, expect some cloud and leave a spare day in your plans in January and February.
Is Machu Picchu open all year?
Yes, Machu Picchu is open every day of the year. What closes is the Inca Trail, every February, for maintenance. The train and the other treks, such as Salkantay, run in February.
When is Machu Picchu least crowded?
From February to early March, and in November outside holidays. Within any day, the afternoon entries are often calmer once the day-trippers from Cusco have left.
What is the weather like at Machu Picchu?
Mild all year, roughly 12 to 24 °C (54 to 75 °F) during the day, with cold early mornings. The dry season runs from May to September; the rainy season from November to March, wettest in January and February.
When should I book Machu Picchu tickets?
For June to August, several weeks to a few months ahead, and earlier for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. In the rainy season a few weeks are usually enough. Inca Trail permits need 4 to 6 months for the dry season.
What is the best time of day to visit Machu Picchu?
Early entries are atmospheric but often misty; mid-morning entries usually give clearer views; afternoon entries are often calmer. For an early entry, sleep in Aguas Calientes the night before.
Official sources: Ministry of Culture of Peru: Machu Picchu entry times and tolerance (PDF) · Ministry of Culture of Peru: official Machu Picchu and Inca Trail tickets · SERNANP, Peru’s protected natural areas service · Tu Boleto, the Ministry of Culture's official ticket platform for Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail
