Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu: Month by Month
May and September are the sweet spot: dry weather without the July crowds. What each month is actually like, when the Inca Trail closes and when to avoid.
May and September are the best months to visit Machu Picchu. Both are dry, both have clear mornings, and neither has the crowds of June to August. June, July and August have the most reliable weather but also the highest prices and the longest queues.
If you can only travel in the rainy season, November and March are far better than January and February.
A clear morning in the dry season. Mist is common at dawn even in June. Photo: Pierre André Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0
The two seasons
Peru's Andes have a dry season and a wet season, not four. The dry season runs roughly from May to September and the wet season from November to March. April and October sit in between and are unpredictable in both directions.
Temperature barely changes across the year at Machu Picchu itself: daytime highs stay around 20°C. What changes is rain and how many people are there.
Month by month
January. Heavy rain, greenest landscape, fewest visitors and the lowest prices. Trails are muddy. Machu Picchu stays open.
February. The wettest month, and the Inca Trail closes for the whole month for maintenance. Machu Picchu itself stays open, but this is the hardest month to enjoy.
March. Rain easing, still green, still quiet. A good month for anyone who does not mind an afternoon shower.
April. The transition. Green from the rains but drying out. One of the best value months.
May. Dry, clear, the landscape still green from the wet season. One of the two best months.
June. Dry and cold at night. Inti Raymi on 24 June fills Cusco. Crowds build sharply.
July. Peak season. Best weather statistically, most visitors, highest prices.
August. Same as July. Book everything months ahead.
September. Dry, crowds thinning, prices easing. The other best month.
October. First rains return. Quiet and often still fine. Good value.
November. Rain more consistent, landscape turning green again. Quiet.
December. Wet, and busy around Christmas and New Year despite the rain.
The rainy season leaves the slopes green. The trade-off is mud and cloud. Photo: Mx. Granger, CC0
What time of day to go
Independent of the month, the first entry slot of the day is the best. Mist usually sits in the valley at dawn and lifts between 8 and 10 in the morning, and the light before the day groups arrive is better. The last slots of the afternoon are the second best option and are usually easier to get.
When the Inca Trail closes
The whole of February, every year. The trail shuts for maintenance while Machu Picchu itself stays open. If February is your only option, the Salkantay trek runs all year, and so does the train.
See our guide on Inca Trail permits and availability for how far ahead to book.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Machu Picchu? May or September. Both are dry and neither has the crowds of June to August.
What is the worst month? February. It is the wettest month and the Inca Trail is closed for maintenance.
Is Machu Picchu open all year? Yes. Only the Inca Trail closes, and only in February.
Does it rain in the dry season? Sometimes, but briefly. Morning mist is normal all year and usually lifts by mid-morning.
How cold does it get? At Machu Picchu, mild: around 20°C by day. In Cusco and on the treks, nights in June and July drop below freezing.
When is Machu Picchu least crowded? January to March, because of the rain. In the dry season, the quietest months are May and late September.