Cusco & Machu Picchu Travel Guide
When to Visit Cusco and Machu Picchu
How the seasons work in Cusco and Machu Picchu: the dry season from May to September, the rainy season from November to March, the February Inca Trail closure, high-season caps at Machu Picchu, festivals, and what to pack.
There is no bad time to visit Cusco and Machu Picchu, but the seasons are very different, and choosing the right one for you makes a big difference to your trip. The Andes near the equator do not have summer and winter in the usual sense; instead, there is a dry season and a rainy season, with temperatures that change more between day and night than between months. Here is how they work, and how the rules at Machu Picchu and on the Inca Trail follow them.
The dry season: May to September. These are the months of blue skies, strong sunshine and dry trails, and the most popular time to visit. Days are pleasantly warm in the sun, but nights in Cusco are cold, often near freezing in June and July, and many older buildings have limited heating. Views from Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain and the passes of the Inca Trail are at their clearest. This is also when demand peaks: Machu Picchu's high-season cap, 5,600 visitors a day in 2026, applied from 19 June to 2 November, and the most popular circuits, mountain routes, Inca Trail permits, trains and hotels sell out weeks or months ahead. If you travel in these months, book everything early and start your days early.
The shoulder months: April and October. These are often the best balance, with mostly good weather, greener landscapes than in the dry season and fewer people. April follows the rains and the valley is lush; October can bring the first showers. Prices and availability are generally better than in the peak months.
The rainy season: November to March. As this guide is published at the start of November, the rains are beginning. Typically, mornings are bright and clouds build in the afternoon, with showers and storms that can be heavy, especially from December to February. The landscape turns an intense green, the Sacred Valley's fields are planted, the orchids and birds of the cloud forest around Machu Picchu are at their best, and crowds thin. From 3 November the Machu Picchu cap drops to 4,500 visitors a day in 2026, and tickets are easier to get. The downsides are real, though: trails are muddy and slippery, views from the mountains and Rainbow Mountain are more often hidden by cloud, and landslides can affect roads and the railway. PeruRail runs all its Cusco services as bus-plus-train combinations from January to April. The Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance. Pack a good rain jacket, waterproof shoes and a dry bag, plan outdoor sights for the mornings, and build in a buffer day around Machu Picchu.
Weather surprises. Mountain weather is unpredictable at any time of year. In August 2026, in the middle of the dry season, unusual heavy rain caused landslides on the Inca Trail, which was closed from 19 August until routes reopened on 6 September, and a forest fire near the railway halted trains for a day earlier that month. Always check the latest conditions and keep your operators' contact details handy.
Festivals. Cusco's calendar is full of celebrations that can be the highlight of a trip, though they also fill hotels. Inti Raymi, the Inca Festival of the Sun, is reenacted at Sacsayhuaman on 24 June, with events in the city in the days before, and is the biggest event of the year. Corpus Christi, in May or June, brings processions of saints from the city's churches to the Cathedral and the dish chiriuchu. Holy Week sees the procession of the Lord of the Earthquakes on Holy Monday. Qoyllur Rit'i, a pilgrimage to a glacier in the mountains, is held before Corpus Christi. Christmas brings the Santurantikuy craft market to the Plaza de Armas on 24 December. In 2026, the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cusco on 15 November, with events at Sacsayhuaman and the Cathedral square, will draw huge crowds.
Temperature and altitude. Cusco sits at about 3,400 meters, the Sacred Valley several hundred meters lower, Machu Picchu at about 2,400 meters and Aguas Calientes lower still, in the cloud forest. That means the climate changes markedly within a short distance: cold nights in Cusco, milder days in the valley, and warm, humid conditions with insects at Machu Picchu. Rainbow Mountain, at about 5,200 meters, is cold and can be snowy at any time of year.
What to pack. Layers are essential year-round: a warm fleece or down jacket for evenings, a waterproof shell, a sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sun protection for the strong high-altitude sun, comfortable walking shoes with good grip, insect repellent for Machu Picchu and the valley, and a reusable water bottle. Bring a small daypack, as luggage on the Machu Picchu trains is limited to a small bag.
Choosing your season. If clear views and dry trails matter most, go from May to September and book early. If you prefer fewer people, lower prices and green landscapes, and can accept some rain, the rainy season, especially November, March and early April, can be wonderful. If you want to hike the Inca Trail, avoid February and aim for the drier months. And whichever month you choose, give yourself enough days to acclimatize and a little flexibility around Machu Picchu.