Skip to content

Best Time To Visit Peru – Your Complete Guide

Best Time To Visit Peru and it's unique wonders

Are you asking: “What is the best time to visit Peru?” If you are planning to have a holiday in this beautiful country, I am sure that you don’t want to let your money go to waste.

So, naturally, you will need to know exactly when to plan your trip. Well, I have some great news for you!

I have compiled a list of all of the times to plan your trip so that you may decide when the best time to visit Peru is and what the best things to do are. So, hold onto your hats and get ready to prepare for your dream holiday.

Why Visit Peru?

Couple admiring the spectacular view of Machu Picchu

There are many great places to visit when you are planning your dream holiday. The world is full of beautiful and exciting destinations that you can choose to travel to.

So, why should you choose Peru as your travel destination? Well, there are a few reasons that make Peru a great travel destination. For starters, Peru is a culturally rich country.

You will get the opportunity to experience food, activities, scenery, and tourist destinations that you will not get to see in your own country or another country.

Amazing Diversity

On that note, Peru has some of the most awe-striking tourist destinations that you cannot afford to miss out on. Peru is home to the world-famous Andes Mountain Range for those who enjoy hiking and mountain vibes.

Otherwise, the country is also home to the great and lush Peruvian Rainforest where you will get to witness the exquisite variety of animals that inhabit the forest. Due to the variety of climates that Peru has, it is considered to be one of the most diverse countries in the world in terms of wildlife, ocean life, and plant life.

There certainly are a lot of things to see and learn about in Peru. It is a country with a rich history and a strong cultural background and let us not forget the mouthwatering local cuisine that you will be able to dig into to curb your appetite.

Also, if you are looking for a holiday where you can explore unbelievable places, Peru is the perfect holiday destination for you.

Get to know the Peruvian country, witness its diverse wildlife and explore places that will make you feel as if you are in a completely different universe. Peru is most certainly the place to be on your next holiday.


Recommended Reading

Best Time To Visit Switzerland – Your Complete Guide


Is Peru a Safe Place to Travel to?

There is a stigma surrounding Peru and a lot of people assume that it is an unsafe place to travel to. The truth is that this is an incorrect assumption. Peru is, in actual fact, a top tourist destination and it is definitely a safe holiday destination to travel to.

Now, it is important to realize that every country has safe areas to travel to, but in the same breath, it is important to note that every country has dangerous areas that are best to avoid.

When traveling to Peru it is best to travel to certain destinations and to do adequate research on the area that you are traveling to. Here is a list of some of the best and safest places to visit in Peru.

1: Arequipa (The White City)

Best time to Visit Arequipa Peru

Arequipa is one of the most relaxing places to visit in Peru since it has a very low crime rate. In other words, you can unwind without having to worry about being mugged or running into the wrong crowd.

It is also a beautiful holiday destination that has been rated as the second-best place to visit in Peru. The city architecture has giant walls that are whitewashed and there are quite a few restaurants where you can enjoy the cultural cuisine.

So, if you are concerned about your safety when visiting Peru, it may be a good idea to book your stay at a hotel in Arequipa.

2: Huancayo

Best Time To Visit Huancayo in Peru

Huancayo is another one of the safest and more popular cities to travel to when you are visiting Peru. Not only is it a safe place to book your stay, but it is also the perfect destination for the adventure junkies out there.

Yes, this city is loaded with thrilling activities that you can take part in and the greatest part about visiting Huancayo is that you can go on thrilling adventures without having to worry too much about your safety.

Naturally you would still need to be careful in the same way that you would need to be careful in any country that you travel to, but Huancayo is most definitely one of the safest places in Peru to book your stay.

3: Chiclayo

Chiclayo main square and cathedral church in Peru

Chiclayo is a beautiful city that is located in the Northern region of Peru and it runs along the coast. The city has jaw-dropping architecture and it is perfect for travelers who want to experience the nightlife that the country has to offer.

Chiclayo has also been rated as one of the safest places to travel to in Peru provided that you stay out of dark alleyways and avoid starting conflict with any of the locals.  Chiclayo also has great indoor and outdoor activities to do so the best time to visit Peru in Chiclayo could be at any time of the year.

So, if you are looking for a safe place to stay on your trip, be sure to book your hotel in Chiclayo.


Recommended Reading

Best Beaches In Cancun


Best Time to Visit Peru

Titicaca Lake in the background, Peru.

The moment of truth has come. I am sure that you are still wondering when is the best time to visit Peru. Well, that is exactly what we will be discussing next. The best time to visit Peru may vary from person to person.

This is simply because Peru has so much to offer that the best time to visit Peru may completely depend on your bucket list of things to do in Peru. So, let us cut to the chase and take a look at when exactly is the best time to visit Peru.

1: Winter

Landscape of snow mountain in Huaraz Peru

According to a lot of previous travelers, winter is the best time to visit Peru. The first reason for this includes the fact that there is not a lot of rainfall in Peru during winter, so you will not have to worry about weather getting in the way of your outdoor fun.

Regardless, of the fact that you will be traveling in winter, you do not have to worry too much about freezing temperatures getting in the way of your fun either.

As a matter of fact, there is still a lot of sunshine during the winter season which makes it the perfect time to visit Peru for those who want to go on outdoor adventures and experience the beautiful landscapes and scenery that the country has to offer.

Matchu Picchu

One of the best things to do in Peru during winter is to visit Machu Picchu which is one of the top tourist destinations in the country. Hiking through Machu Picchu is one of the most life-changing experiences that you will have since the green mountain landscapes and the old ruins in the area are a sight that you will remember for a lifetime.

The only thing to take note of is that wintertime is the most popular time to travel to Peru which means that there will be a host of other tourists who have the same plans as you do.

If you are looking for a more quiet and serene experience without the streets being crowded with tourists from all around the world, then winter may not be the best time to travel to Peru.

However, if you are okay with tourist-filled streets and are interested in meeting tourists from different cultures or simply making new friends then wintertime will still be the perfect time to plan your travel.

Wintertime in Peru takes place between May and October, so be sure to book your trip in advance since the hotels fill up rather quickly during peak season.

2: Autumn

Best Time To Visit Manu National Park, Peru

Autumn may or may not be the best time to visit Peru depending on how lucky you are feeling. The reason for this is that you may either run into good weather, bad weather, or both during the autumn season.

Not even the Peruvian locals know exactly what the weather will do which is why not a lot of people travel during this time.  However, as mentioned before, the best time to visit Peru depends completely on the things to do in Peru that are on your bucket list.

For example, if you are interested in exploring the cuisine that is available in Peru you will not always need great weather.  Also, since the unpredictability of the weather may grant you some sunny days and some rainy days, you can spend half of your time taking part in indoor activities and the other half taking part in outdoor activities.

However, if your purpose behind visiting Peru is to experience the outdoors and breathtaking scenery that the country has to offer or if you would like to explore the rainforest or go for a hike through the mountains, Autumn may not be the best time to visit Peru since you will not get to make the best of your experience.

On the other hand, there will also be a lot fewer tourists during the Autumn season since a majority of tourists will book their trips during the winter season.

So, if you are willing to take the risk on the weather conditions and are looking for a more quiet experience without too many people, Autumn could very well be the best time to visit Peru for you and your family.

Festivals In Peru

Autumn in Peru takes place from March to April so be sure to plan your trip accordingly if you are planning to visit Peru during this season. If you do choose to travel in Autumn, there are a variety of local festivals that you will be able to attend.

One of these festivals is called the Holy Week. The Holy Week festival is a festival in which Peruvian citizens celebrate their religious beliefs for an entire week.

Attending the festival is a great way to embrace the culture that Peru has to offer. It is one of the best things to do in Peru during Autumn and it will most certainly give you a great story to tell your friends and families when you return home.


Recommended Reading

Best Time To Visit Portugal


3: Summer

Best Time To Visit Peru - Atacama Desert

Most people do not consider summer to be the best time to visit Peru. You may be wondering why this is since summer is usually associated with clear, blue skies, sunny weather, and the perfect time to take a dip in the cool Peruvian lakes and rivers.

However, summer does not quite work this way in Peru. On the contrary, summer in Peru is considered to be the country’s rainy season which makes it a better time to stay indoors.

You may still experience some warm weather, however, due to the excessive amount of rainfall you may find that a majority of the hiking trails, outdoor activities, and outdoor tourist attractions are closed to the public due to the muddy terrains being hazardous to walk through.

The upside or element that may make summer the best time to visit Peru for some people includes the fact that it takes place during the off-peak season. This means that you will most likely be one of a small number of tourists that are visiting the country.

In other words, you will not have to worry about the hotels filling up too quickly and you can take your time to plan your trip carefully. Also, since Peru does not receive a lot of tourists during this time, it is also one of the cheapest times to travel to the country.

The prices of hotels will be much lower than they will be in winter and autumn which means that it will be a better option for those who are traveling on a budget.

Museums and Architecture

If you are lucky enough to catch a sunny day during the summer, there will not be too many queues to stand in to reach the main tourist attractions if there are any in the first place. Summer can also be the best time to travel to Peru for those who would rather stay closer to home and get to know the Peruvian culture indoors.

Since Peru has such a rich, cultural history there are a variety of historical museums that you can visit on rainy days. For example, Museo Larco is one of Peru’s most famous museums and it is guaranteed to teach you all about the history and culture of the country. It is one of the top-rated things to do in Peru as well.

Otherwise, if you want to witness some of Peru’s beautiful architecture and learn about the religion that the natives follow, you can pay a visit to the Cusco Cathedral. One of the best things to do in Peru in the summer for those who enjoy cultural festivals is attending the Marinera Festival.

The festival is all about celebrating the country’s dance style and there are even dance competitions that you can watch and enjoy. If you are visiting Lima in Peru you can also attend the Mistura Food Festival.

So, despite the fact that many people don’t consider summer to be the best time to visit Peru, the cheap hotel rates, cultural, indoor activities and wide variety of festivals still make it a great time to visit if you don’t plan on spending all of your time outdoors.

4: Spring

Best Time To Visit Peru - Mancora Beaches

The last question to answer is, “is Spring the best time to visit Peru?” Well, let us take a deeper look. Although you may encounter some rainfall during Spring, this season will offer quite a few hot days for those who wish to spend some time outdoors.

Spring in Peru takes place from December to March, depending on which hemisphere you are in which means that it also does not take place during the peak season.  You will find that it will be easier to book hotels and that the streets will not be crowded with tourists.

Spring can also be the best time to visit Peru if you are not afraid of hot weather. As a matter of fact, one of the hottest days of the year takes place during spring in the month of February.

Therefore, it may be wise to bring along some sunscreen and to drink a lot of water, especially if you are planning on exploring Machu Picchu or one of the other outdoor beauties that Peru has to offer. Since there is not a lot of rainfall in the spring your options of things to do in Peru are also a lot more diverse.

Visit Mancora

You are highly unlikely to have your day ruined by bad weather, so you can visit one of Portugal’s historical museums or go on a lovely hike. Otherwise, if you are looking to have a splashing time in Peru you can always visit Máncora which is home to one of Peru’s most beautiful beaches.

You can rise the waves on your surfboard, take a dip in the cool ocean waters or you can catch a tan on the sandy beach. But wait there is more! One of Peru’s biggest festivals takes place during spring and it is called the Trujillo Spring Festival.

It takes place in a city called Trujillo and the purpose of the festival is to celebrate what the natives call an everlasting spring. When you attend the festival you will see flamboyant parades and mesmerizing dances and you will get to listen to bands that play Peruvian music.

This could make Spring the best time to visit Peru for those who would like to attend one of the country’s most culturally enriching festivals that will give you a taste of everything that Peru is all about. 


Recommended Reading

Best Time to Visit Guatemala


Things to do in Peru

If you have decided to travel to Peru, you probably do not want your hard-earned money to go to waste by spending the whole day in your hotel room.

There are a lot of interesting and thrilling things to do in Peru which is exactly why the country is such a popular tourist destination.

Let us take a look at what some of the best things to do in Peru are.

1: Visit Machu Picchu

Best Time To Visit Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is one of Peru’s most popular tourist destinations since it is one of the most beautiful attractions that the country has to offer.

It consists of lush, green mountains that you can hike through the ancient stones that make it look like something that came out of a Mediaeval movie.

Visiting Machu Picchu is also something that many people dream of doing which means that you will have something to brag about to your friends and family once you go back home.

2: Experience the Amazon Jungle

Tropical Jungle

Peru is home to one of the world’s largest rainforests which I am sure we have all heard of. Taking a walk through the Amazon Jungle is most definitely a must-do when you visit Peru since it is an activity that most people will never get to experience.

The Peruvian Amazon Rainforest is filled with lush trees and a large variety of wildlife that you will not get to see anywhere else. Imagine being able to tell your friends and family that you walked through the real Amazon Jungle!

You will get to live a day in the life of Indiana Jones and have a great story to tell.


Recommended Reading

Best Time To Visit Antigua


Conclusion – Best Time To Visit Peru 

So, now that I have given you all of the facts about visiting Peru, the best time to visit Peru is up to you to decide.  I would consider winter to be the best time to visit Peru, and summer is considered as not the ideal time for many to visit Peru.

However, there are exciting activities to do every season. Peru is a beautiful, cultural, scenic, and historical city and you cannot go wrong by deciding on it as your next holiday destination.