When to visit the city of Cusco?
What is the best month to travel to Cusco?
This will depend on the type of climate that you like the most. The rainy season in Cusco goes from November to April, while from May to October is the dry season; But no matter what time of year you decide to come, you should always be prepared for the weather, since isolated rains can be given at any time of the year. Cusco can be visited throughout the year, but the months of June to October and the weeks leading up to Christmas and the New Year are usually the busiest times for travelers from all over the world. Given that Cusco is a tourist city, has many festivals and celebrations, you should plan your trip very well either to include them or to avoid them.
As we mentioned before, Cusco can be visited at any time of the year. However, in the month of May there is a very low possibility of rain, the mountains are more lush and the landscape more green. Likewise, the influx of visitors is usually a little lower during this month cusco.
How is the weather in Cusco?
The climate in Cusco is divided into two seasons:
Dry season (May to October)
The dry season in the imperial city of Cusco goes from May to October. The weather during this season is dry most of the time, especially in the months of June, July and August. The days are warm with an average temperature on the day that ranges between 16 ° and 18 ° C. The nights are colder during the dry season, and it is not uncommon that in the months of June and July, temperatures fall by below 0 ° C. The dry season is considered the best time to travel, but it is also the time with the highest influx of visitors.
Rainy season (November to April)
The rainy season goes from November to April. In this time, the imperial city of Cusco presents the highest amount of rainfall throughout the year. Statistical data reveal that the months of January and February are the ones with the strongest rains of the season. In the rainy season it is summer in the southern hemisphere, so the average temperatures in the day are slightly higher than in the dry season and averaged 18 ° C. But the temperatures during the night are significantly higher, with a average temperature of 8 ° C. Although fewer people choose the rainy season to visit Cusco.
The abundance of rains of this time makes the region much more lush and green, compared to the dry season, where vegetation often looks brown / gray. During the rainy season there is the possibility of rain that falls without stopping throughout the day, but most of the time the rain comes in very strong intermittent bursts, which can last from 20 minutes to a few hours.
In general, the rains fall in the afternoon, but there may be rain at any time of the day, so do not trust yourself.
What are the disadvantages of the rainy season?
Undoubtedly the biggest disadvantage of making your trip in the rainy season, is that there is a greater probability of landslides in the southern region of Peru; and in Cusco, especially in the Machu Picchu region, landslides can cause delays in the transfer by train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). These can cause minor inconveniences or long delays that last up to 48 hours.
We know from experience that landslides occur more frequently in the month of February, where the land has suffered greater erosion, due to the constant rainfall of previous months.
We know that coming to Cusco in the rainy season can be a cause for concern, since it is obvious that you want to visit Machu Picchu; For this reason we recommend you to plan your trip very well, try to leave free time around your trip to Machu Picchu, it is essential to avoid any disappointment.
Cusco in Festive Season
The calendar of festivities of Cusco is too big to include here. But you should take into account that during the weeks adjacent to the Inti Raymi (June 24), hotel prices in Cusco may double. Likewise, in the months of Christmas and New Year, hotels also tend to increase their tariffs.
Important information of Machu Picchu | Sanctuary of Machupicchu | by Train Ollantaytambo and travel with us Machupicchu Agency.