Looking for the best time to visit Machu Picchu?
I’m in the enviable position of having attempted the trip to Peru’s best bucket list attraction twice. The first time didn’t go so well. The second time went VERY well.
While I’d love to say that the best time for Machu Picchu is whenever you can visit, it’s just not true. It’s important to consider Machu Picchu weather conditions, especially if you’re planning any Inca Trail treks. It’s also important to consider whether you’re targeting peak season.
Peak season doesn’t mean you can’t go. It just means you’ll need to plan well in advance for this epic trip.
I’ll get into all of it, including a month-by-month breakdown of the best time of year to visit Machu Picchu.
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What is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?
The best time to visit Machu Picchu, Peru, is from May to September. You can get lucky with off-season travel in April and October, but it’s best to try to plan your Machu Picchu itinerary toward the end of April and the start of October if you go that route.
What is the best month to travel to Machu Picchu?
The best months to travel to Machu Picchu are May, June, September, and October. Outside of that, there are two main seasons in the Andes: wet and dry.
The wet season from November to April is warmer, but obviously wetter. The dry season from May to October has few rainy days, but cooler nights. Shoot for the dry season when visiting Machu Picchu, especially if you have hiking in mind.
A Monthly Breakdown of the Best Times to Visit Machu Picchu
If you like a good chart, let’s take a look at Machu Picchu weather by month so you can decide on the best month to visit Machu Picchu for yourself.
| Is January a good time to visit Machu Picchu? | January is not a good time to visit Machu Picchu. It’s peak rainy season. If you’re planning Inca Trail tours, you’ll need rain gear. The views of the citadel may not be great, either. |
| Is February a good time to visit Machu Picchu? | February is not a good time to visit Machu Picchu. It’s the worst time to visit Machu Picchu. This is the rainiest month of the year. It’s also when the Inca Trail closes for maintenance. |
| Is March a good time to visit Machu Picchu? | March is not a good time to visit Machu Picchu. This is the end of the wet season. It could just be a drizzle during your visit, but it could also mean downpours. |
| Is April a good time to visit Machu Picchu? | April is a pretty good time to visit Machu Picchu. The weather in Machu Picchu in April is variable, but it’s approaching the dry season by this time. |
| Is May a good time to visit Machu Picchu? | May is a good time to visit Machu Picchu. The norm is warm and sunny days. That said, you can still experience wet Inca trek conditions if April was a wet one. |
| Is June a good time to visit Machu Picchu? | June is a good time to visit Machu Picchu. Try to time your travel toward the start of the month. The end of June through August are peak season for tourists. |
| Is July a good time to visit Machu Picchu? | July is a pretty good time to visit Machu Picchu. This is the peak dry season and peak tourist season. Machu Picchu weather in July means warm, dry days and cool evenings. |
| Is August a good time to visit Machu Picchu? | August is a pretty good time to visit Machu Picchu if you plan ahead. Machu Picchu in August is peak tourist season. Expect high season prices on flights and accommodations. |
| Is September a good time to visit Machu Picchu? | September is a good time to visit Machu Picchu. Temperatures are mild throughout the Sacred Valley and it’s still the dry season. Some of the visitors have gone home by this point. |
| Is October a good time to visit Machu Picchu? | October is a good time to visit Machu Picchu. Temperatures are still nice and you can expect more dry days than wet ones. This is shoulder season at the Inca citadel. |
| Is November a good time to visit Machu Picchu? | November can be a pretty good time to visit Machu Picchu if you visit toward the start of the month. This is the start of the rainy season, which can mean bad visibility. |
| Is December a good time to visit Machu Picchu? | December is not a good time to visit Machu Picchu. You’re in rainy season again, so expect wet days and, even less fun, wet hiking conditions. |
What are the rainy months in Machu Picchu?
The rainy months in Machu Picchu are November through March. That doesn’t mean you won’t get rain the rest of the year. You’re just more likely to have to deal with wet conditions and slippery sections of trail during that time.
I’m usually all about dealing with rain as it comes, especially in bucket list destinations, but you’re not only dealing with rain during the wet season. You’re dealing with fog, too. That means your images of Machu Picchu may be disappointing after all that effort.
A bad rainy reason can also affect access to the Inca Trail well after it’s all done.
Our first attempt at visiting the citadel was a no-go after a season that left tourists stranded there due to mudslide activity. People died at that time, so it wasn’t something we wanted to mess around with. We switched gears completely for a Lima-only vacation, only returning to Machu Picchu 10 years later.
It was all worth the wait.
What is the least busy time to visit Machu Picchu?
The least busy time to visit Machu Picchu is during the rainy season from November through the beginning of April. It’s obvious why. You have a pretty good chance of experiencing wet conditions during that time.
As far as time of day, the best time to go to Machu Picchu is 6am. This is when Machu Picchu opens. The last time slot at 3pm is another option if you want to beat the bulk of the crowds, but it definitely won’t be as sparse as first thing in the morning. Machu Picchu closes at 5:30pm.
What is the cheapest time to visit Machu Picchu?
The cheapest time to visit Machu Picchu is during the low season from November to April. You could have sections of the ruins to yourself if you visit Machu Picchu on a dreary day, but rainy conditions could also mean less than stellar photos.
The rainy season also begs for flexibility. I’d add a few days of buffer on either end of your travel if you’re traveling during the rainy season, just in case you need to move a trek or visit to the site.
When is the best time of day to visit Machu Picchu?
The best time of day to visit Machu Picchu is as early as possible. You may need to wait for the fog to lift depending on the time of year, but the bulk of tourists arrive mid-morning. If you don’t want to compete with too many others, book Machu Picchu tickets for the first group at 6am.
The end of the day at the 3pm time slot is also pretty good as far as tourist activity is concerned. While we arrived late afternoon after our short Inca Trail trek, we didn’t actually enter any of the main circuits until the following morning.
It definitely felt less crowded in the morning from what we could observe from our perch up above. The lighting was better in the morning, too.
Best Time to Hike Machu Picchu
The best time to hike Machu Picchu is April to May and September to October. This is the start and the end of the dry season, so you can enjoy better hiking weather.
June, July, and August all boast great hiking conditions, but the trail will be more crowded if you’re on a Machu Picchu tour.
Our short Inca Trail hike fell at the end of May. The trek was challenging enough — I don’t miss those monkey steps! — without worrying about rain and wet conditions along the way.
Note: You can read all about planning a short Inca Trail hike in my guide to our experience. Action Peru Treks was our tour operator if want a high-quality, personal experience. It was truly one of the most incredible things I’ve ever done!
Interested in doing some comparison-shopping? Here are a few more options:
The shoulder months before and after high season are also the best time for any alternative treks. That includes the Salkantay trek that runs beneath Salkantay Mountain, the Lares trek that connects ancient communities in the Sacred Valley, and Rainbow Mountain.
If you’re hiking any Machu Picchu mountains like Huayna Picchu mountain while you’re there, you’ll definitely want good weather to tackle the strenuous hike.
No matter when you go on your Machu Picchu hike, bring a waterproof hiking backpack, a pair of trail runners or hiking boots that you broke in ahead of time, a rain jacket, sunscreen, and bug spray.
You want to prepare yourself for whatever the jungle throws at you, which could mean rain even during the dry months.
How many days do you need in Machu Picchu?
You need at least one day in Machu Picchu if you’re sticking to full-day Machu Picchu tours of the archaeological site. You’ll have up to four hours on your Machu Picchu ticket to explore the site, but most guided tours last a maximum of three hours.
Machu Picchu operates on a one-way loop within a system of circuits to organize foot traffic at the site. Circuit 2 is the most popular route.
That one allows tourists to visit the upper and lower parts of the site with some of the most classic views of the citadel. The tour lasts about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Note: If you book with a tour company as we did, there’s more flexibility as to what you can see and in what order.
I’d highly recommend more than one day at Machu Picchu. With more time, you can hike Huayna Picchu mountain. Two days will also allow you to build in time in Aguas Calientes town as your overnight and see the site at both sunset and sunrise.
Fun fact: The town itself is cute, too. Grab a drink after a day of bucket list activity or visit the local hot springs.
If you’re hiking, you’ll need at least two days. The short Inca Trail is one full day of hiking and one full day at Machu Picchu. The classic Incal Trail is four days of trekking. It goes up from there if you’re interested in any of the more aggressive alternative routes. We weren’t, but I want to hear all about it if that’s what you end up doing.
How far in advance do you need to book Machu Picchu?
You need to book Machu Picchu at least three to four months in advance with the exception of the rainy season. During the wettest months, you can get lucky with last-minute Machu Picchu tickets.
I’ve mentioned this in the info box at the top of this post, but the trail closes for maintenance in February. The best time of year for Machu Picchu is when it’s all open, right?
Outside of February, there are 3,044 tickets available for purchase on a daily basis on the official Machu Picchu website. There are another 1,000 tickets sold daily in Aguas Calientes.
Fun fact: Machu Picchu gets 1.5 million visitors per year. Book ahead is what I’m saying!
If you plan to hike the classic Inca Trail, try to give yourself even more of a buffer. The full trek is limited to just 500 permits a day. That includes tourists, guides, and porters.
For our own trip, we booked about eight months ahead of our trip. We were just that excited. Unfortunately, the trip became a COVID casualty that forced us to postpone our Inca Trail adventure for a full two years.
It was definitely worth the wait.
Where to Stay to Visit Machu Picchu
If you want to follow my advice and overnight in Aguas Calientes during your trip, you can start with the Hatun Inti Classic. This is where we stayed after a full day on the Inca Trail. Our tour company booked it, but I’d still highly recommend it for its friendly staff and friendly pricing.
Use the map below if you’d like to browse a few more options:
What are the best and worst times to visit Machu Picchu?
The best times to visit Machu Picchu are the shoulder months within the dry season. May, June, September, and October are all great times to go. The worst times to visit Machu Picchu are during the rainy season. That’s April through November.
You’ll certainly enjoy fewer people and lower prices if you travel during those wet months, but you also put yourself at risk for flooded-out trails and poor visibility of Machu Picchu itself.
You’re not coming all this way for garbage photos, right?
I’d love to come back and walk more of the circuits. While I don’t see myself hiking the full Inca Trail anytime soon, it certainly sounds like an incredible accomplishment if that’s what you’re after!
Ready for Machu Picchu, Peru?
Your Flight: I use a variety of tools to find cheap airfare, but when I’m looking to book during a particular period of time in my Peru trip planning, I’ll use Skyscanner. It’s a great tool for when you’re more flexible, too, as it allows you to compare travel based on length of travel, departure date, etc.
Generally, you’re most likely to find deals from the United States and throughout Europe to Lima, Peru’s gateway. Book well in advance if you’re traveling during the country’s dry season and the months of July and August in particular.
The most efficient way to get from Lima to Cusco, your stopover on the way to Machu Picchu, will be a domestic flight. LATAM Airlines and Avianca have the most routes.
For adventurous folks who travel on the reg, I also subscribe to Going, formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights. You’ll get cheap flight deals from your home base straight to your inbox.
Your Accommodations: Booking.com and Hotels.com are my usuals when booking accommodations, and Vrbo has become my go-to Airbnb alternative. Scroll up for my recommendations for where to stay in Aguas Calientes.
Seeking even more wallet-friendly accommodations? Try Hostelworld. Their picks are heavily vetted and reviewed to offer you a safe experience for Peru budget travel.
Etc.: For general travel goodies, visit my Favorite Things page. For more information on trip planning and travel tips, visit my Travel Tools page.
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