What to Do in Peru

The best time to visit Peru generally coincides with the dry season in the Sierra and Altiplano, which runs from May to September. These months offer ideal weather for activities such as hiking and visiting high-altitude archaeological sites like Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail, as the sky is clear and there is less chance of rain. However, you should keep in mind that the high tourist season is concentrated from June to August, meaning more travelers and higher prices. If you are looking for pleasant temperatures and fewer tourists, the shoulder season (April, May, September, and October) is also excellent. The Peruvian coast, including Lima, has pleasant weather during the southern hemisphere summer (December to March).

Peru's climate is notably diverse, divided into three main regions: the Coast, characterized by being desert and subtropical, with temperatures ranging between 15°C (winter minimum in July/August) and 30°C (summer maximum in January/February) in Lima; the Sierra or Andes, which has a cold and dry high mountain climate, where average highs reach 20°C to 25°C during the dry season (May-September), but with nighttime lows that can drop near or below 0°C, especially in the winter months (June-August); and the Amazon Jungle, which is tropical and humid, maintaining warm and stable temperatures with highs around 30°C to 35°C throughout the year.