What is the climate like in Peru?
The climate in Peru is divided into three zones: the coastal region (Costa), the Andean region (Sierra) and the rainforest (Selva). The seasons in Peru are divided into dry and rainy seasons. The dry season is during the Peruvian winter from April to September. The rainy season falls in the Peruvian summer from October to March. The temperature in Peru is significantly influenced by the altitude. The higher the location, the cooler the temperatures.
It is dry all year round on the coast of Peru . A maximum of one or two rainy days await you in the Peruvian winter. In summer there is no precipitation at all and maximum temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius per day. The water temperature of the Pacific averages 19 degrees Celsius.
In the Andes, the climate is different depending on the altitude. The Andean region has an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius below an altitude of 1,000 meters. Between 1,000 and 2,000 meters above sea level, it is on average cooler at 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. It gets even colder at an altitude of 3,500 meters, where the average temperature is twelve degrees Celsius. At the zero degree limit and below are the temperatures from an altitude of 5,000 meters. During the Peruvian summer (November to March) is the rainy season in the Andes with twelve to 18 rainy days per month.
In the rainforest region of Peru there is a tropical rainforest climate. Here it is warm and humid all year round and there is a high probability of rain. On average, it rains 12 days a month. The temperatures are all year round at an average of 31 degrees Celsius per day. On average, the night temperatures are 21 degrees Celsius.
Find out below when is the best time to travel to different regions of Peru ! With the help of climate tables you get comprehensive information about the temperatures and the weather.
The best travel time for Peru by region at a glance
The best time to visit Peru to determine need for a separation of the different regions. The following brief overview shows you the best months to travel to the coastal region, the Andean region and the rainforest of Peru. Below I show you with the help of climate tables which climate you can expect and why the mentioned months are the best travel time for Peru’s different regions .
| Best travel time to Peru | |
| Coastal Region (Lima) | December, January, February, March, April |
| Andean region (Machu Picchu) | April, May, June, July, August, September |
| Rainforest (iquitos) | May, June, July, August, September |
The weather in Peruvian summer and winter
According to Watchtutorials, the summer and winter time in Peru are opposite to the European seasons. If summer time is here, the Peruvian winter prevails in Peru and vice versa. However, the seasons in Peru are very different from ours. The Peruvian summer is characterized by more rainfall in the Andes and in the rainforest. This is the time of the rainy season in Peru. The Peruvian winter is the dry season with less rainfall. This is particularly important for active holidays. During the rainy season, the roads can be muddy and sometimes inaccessible. I advise against trekking tours and mountain hikes in the Andes during the rainy season (October to March). In the rainforest region in northern Peru it is humid all year round. However, the tropical climate is more bearable during the Peruvian winter between May and September. The precipitation in the rainforest is characterized by heavy showers in the afternoon. Before and after, it is tropical and humid with a humidity of 80%. The rainy season hardly shows up on the Pacific coast . It is dry here all year round. During the summer, however, it is on average warmer on the Pacific coast. In winter, on the other hand, the sky is often gray and the temperatures are too low for a beach holiday to be possible. For hiking and sightseeing tours, the winter months from May to November are just as suitable for a vacation in Lima, for example.
Best travel time for the coastal region of Peru
If you want to go on a beach vacation on the Pacific , the Peruvian summer is best. In the months of December to April you can have a wonderful bathing holiday without precipitation in the coastal region of Peru. On average, you can expect temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius in the capital Lima during the day. During the winter time, the coastal region is often shrouded in fog and the sky is gray. Despite fewer rainy days, the temperatures around 19 degrees Celsius during the day are not warm enough for a beach holiday. At night it cools down to 14 degrees Celsius.
Climate table for the capital Lima (coastal region)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Max. Temperature in ° C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 23 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 26 |
| Min. Temperature in ° C | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Hours of sunshine per day | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Water temperature in ° C | 19 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 |
| Rainy days per month | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best travel time for the Andean region of Peru
The months April to September are best for mountaineering in the Andes . This is the time of the Peruvian winter, the dry season in the Andes region. If you want to climb Machu Picchu, winter time is best for it. During the summer, heavy rains can make roads and paths impassable. The high tourist season in the Andean region is between June and August.
Climate table for Cusco (Andean region)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Max. Temperature in ° C | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 |
| Min. Temperature in ° C | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Hours of sunshine per day | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Rainy days per month | 18 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 16 |
Best travel time for the rainforest of Peru (Amazonas)
The best time to travel to the rainforest is between May and September , i.e. during the Peruvian winter. During the Peruvian summer, the rainy season prevails in Peru, so heavy rain showers can occur in the rainforest. During the Peruvian summer you have to reckon with up to 14 rainy days per month in the rainforest region. This certainly has its charm, but rainforest tours in the dry are a bit more pleasant, as it is less muddy and you can enjoy the warming sun. On average, it rains in the afternoon between two and three hours in heavy shows and then it becomes more pleasant again. You should make sure to take a change of clothes with you in case the rain catches you.
Climate table for Iquitos (Rainforest)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Max. Temperature in ° C | 31.8 | 31.4 | 31.8 | 31.2 | 31.5 | 31.1 | 30.8 | 32.1 | 32.9 | 33 | 32.9 | 32.1 |
| Min. Temperature in ° C | 21.7 | 21.4 | 21.8 | 21.7 | 21.8 | 21.1 | 20.3 | 20.3 | 21 | 21.5 | 21.9 | 22 |
| Hours of sunshine per day | 5.4 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 6.3 | 6.9 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 6.4 | 6 | 5.1 |
| Humidity in% | 80 | 81 | 80 | 83 | 83 | 81 | 81 | 80 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 |
| Rainy days per month | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
Warnings for traveling to the south of Peru
The Federal Foreign Office warns against traveling to southern Peru due to earthquakes and active volcanoes . The last time it came to life-threatening earthquakes on August 15, 2016 in Caylloma Province was four people. An earthquake in the Ica region in August 2007 even claimed hundreds of lives. The Sabancaya volcano is still active in the south . It is located around 80 kilometers northwest of Arequipa and 30 kilometers southeast of the Colca Gorge, two popular tourist destinations in Peru.
The third largest country in South America in terms of area knows how to convince with various elements. In Peru you can take a beach holiday in the Pacific , climb Machu Picchu and visit the ruined city of the same name, as well as explore the rainforest, which takes up 60% of the country. Depending on the region, different climatic conditions prevail. If you want to go on a beach holiday on the coast of Peru, the months December to April are best. Here it is warm and dry in summer – perfect conditions for a beach holiday on the Pacific. To explore the Andes region with the famous Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains, the Peruvian winter time is best. Between April and September you have the best weather conditions for your hiking holiday in Peru. The best time to visit the vast rainforest of Peru is between May and September . If you want to make a round trip through Peru, the month of April is best. If you can do without swimming in the Pacific on your round trip , the best time to travel to Peru is clearly in the winter time (April-September). Due to the lower rainfall, sightseeing tours across the country are wonderful.