How to be Prepared for Cusco Region Weather
Cusco is a city in the high Andean Mountains, surrounded by snow capped peaks. The ancient city is an unforgettable and prodigious experience not one that you will want to miss. Full of history, culture, manmade and natural beauty at every turn. The weather in Cusco varies from day to day and depends on the time of year that you visit. The mountain sky in Cusco is a clear and crystal blue not like anything you will ever see anywhere in the world.
The high Peruvian Andes has 2 seasons and a visit in each will give a totally different experience. A visit in the Wet Season, which falls from November to March means that you will experience rainfall. Most days it will rain, not all day but the skies will be cloudy. You will need to bring with you your wet weather gear, including a rain coat and pants. If you plan to do a hike during this time, ensure that you also bring waterproof hiking boots and waterproof cover for your backpack.
Most of the ruins that you will visit, including Machu Picchu will have cloud cover, the pictures you will take will be cloudy. The plus side for visiting Cusco in the wet season is that the herds of tourists that visit Cusco in the high season will be less, making a visit to the more popular attractions a more pleasant, peaceful experience with the mountains green and lush.
If you travel to Cusco in the Dry season from May to September the weather will be clear and dry. Experience the clear blue skies and perfect weather. This time of year, the temperatures will be colder, with the mornings crisp and the nights cold. You will need to bring a warm down jacket and don’t forget your raincoat as the weather in Cusco and the Andes can be unpredictable.
When in Cusco in the dry season expect to see loads of tourists. Most of the ruins you will visit in Cusco will be teaming with happy tourist excited to see all the Inca treasures that the Cusco region has to offer. Expect to wait to take photos at the best spots in Machu Picchu, but the pictures will be exquisite. Remember to book in advance for high season as tickets sell out quickly.
Also, there are 2 months of the year that are considered the shoulder season, not wet and not dry, April and October have become popular with less rainfall and less crowds, these months would be perfect for a visit to Cusco.
The overall high temperature does not vary much all year round from around 18° centigrade (65° Fahrenheit) to 22° (72° Fahrenheit) high. What varies is the low temperature at night, which can get to below zero in the dry season and wet nights in the rainy season.
Please review the charts below to better understand month by month how to be prepared for the weather and be able to enjoy our beautiful Cusco Region.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
High °F | 63 | 63 | 63 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 64 | 64 | 66 | 66 | 64 |
Low °C | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | -2 | -3 | -1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Low °F | 39 | 39 | 39 | 37 | 32 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 34 | 37 | 37 | 39 |