Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu

General & Geography

Machu Picchu is a legendary ruined city in the Andes of Peru. The well-preserved”city in the clouds” was built at an altitude of around 2,400 metres and still holds many secrets today.

The assumption that the Incas fled the Spanish conquistadores, fleeing their city and the conquerors from southern Europe simply overlooked the mysterious Machu Picchu is now considered consolidated.

Only in 1911 did US researcher Hiram Binghams rediscover the ruins, now hidden by the jungle, which have since become Peru’s most important sight.

Machu Picchu is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern Age and lies between the peaks of the mountain of the same name and the neighbouring Huayna Picchu above the Urubamba valley.

The city of Cusco is about 50 miles away and is the main access point for exploring the Andes. From here we continue by train via the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu.

The cloudy Aguas Calientes is the tourist centre on the world-famous wonder of nature, the formerly small village has continued to grow in recent years and now accommodates a large number of accommodation, restaurants and tour operators.

Climate at Machu Picchu and the Andes of Peru

Machu Picchu lies in the Andes of Peru and despite its location in the high mountains at around 2400 metres above sea level, temperatures are well above freezing all year round. The climate is warm and humid with quite constant temperatures all year round. Only during heavy rainfall do the values temporarily cool down significantly.

There are no classical seasons like in Europe in the region around Machu Picchu. However, the distinct rainy season in Peruvian summer (our winter months) is to be clearly distinguished from the dry season in the Andes. The rainy season at Machu Picchu usually begins in December and causes heavy rainfall until the end of March.

April is regarded as a changeable month of transition, which, however, becomes increasingly stable over the course of the month. The dry season then runs from the beginning of May to around mid-November, before it becomes significantly wetter again towards the end of November and the upcoming rainy season begins in the Andes.

In general, rainfall can also occur in the dry season at Machu Picchu. Especially between May and August showers are the absolute exception. The rainy months are January and February, the quite strong showers can lead to impairments and closures. In February the Inatrail is even completely closed.