The Best Times of Year & Day to Visit Machu Picchu

Alongside price, weather is one of the most important factors to take into account when planning a visit to Machu Picchu. November, December, January, February and March constitute the rainy season for much of Peru, especially in the Cusco region. If you’re a photography enthusiast, or if you plan on hiking to the ruins, this is a difficult time to visit because of the mud along the trails and the fog which envelops the site for much of the day. Also, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu closes for the entire month of February for maintenance. (Machu Picchu itself stays open, as do the popular alternative trails.) On the upside, January, February, and March are the touristic low season, with much fewer tourists milling about, leading to lower prices for lodging and tours. 

April is a transition month, with the rains beginning to die down, but from May onwards you can expect to enjoy the Incan citadel in the sunshine, with the occasional short gentle rain at most. The high season officially begins in June, and continues throughout July and August. These are the months when wintertime in the Andes begins as well, so the mornings and evenings can get pretty cold while the afternoon remains sunny and bright. The trails are dry, and with some layers to combat the chill and proper skincare to combat the strong UV rays during the afternoon (the high altitude means you can burn quickly even when it doesn’t appear to be that sunny). Because north Americans and many Europeans generally take their vacations at this time, there are more travelers milling about and prices are higher. For those planning on undertaking an alternative trek to Machu Picchu, such are Lares or Salkantay, this can be a boon, as these treks don’t have daily departures- they leave only when a sufficiently-sized group can be amassed.

When it comes to actually planning the time of day for your visit, there are several options. Many people opt to spend a night in Aguas Calientes and hike up, or take the first bus, in the early morning. Those who hike the Inca Trail do this as well as those who arrive in Aguas Calientes by train. The aim is to reach Machu Picchu before it opens at 6am, which can be done if you wake up for breakfast at 4:30am and leave soon thereafter. Because the mountain peaks block the original sunrise, this is early enough for visitors to be at the site when first light hits.

Despite all of the talk about arriving early, the crowds are actually heaviest from 11am to 3pm each day. This is because the trains that arrive in Aguas Calientes throughout the day unload passengers who are visiting the ruins as one long Machu Picchu daytrip, leaving Cusco or the Sacred Valley very early in the morning and returning quite late at night. As the trains keep arriving in Aguas Calientes, and the buses at Machu Picchu Archeological Site, the crowds keep growing. Eventually, however it tapers off as people head back down to town for lunch. From 3pm through 5pm, the light is still nice and parts of the site can seem as if you have them all to yourself!

Having looked at all of the pros and cons, we prefer the transition months of April and October for a nice price/fair weather balance, although this does involve a slightly higher risk of inclement weather (compared to the high season) that some will be loath to accept. When it comes to the time of day, the important thing is to allot yourself as much time as possible by packing enough water and snacks. (Snacks can be discouraged, but having witnessed some fainting spells, we highly suggest them- just be absolutely sure to take any garbage with you when you go.)