Best Time Of The Year To Visit Machu Picchu

The best time of year to visit Machu Picchu is with no doubt the dry season, running from mid-April to late October. You will have clear skies, great views, and there are almost no rains allowing you to make a pleasant tour of the Inca City. However certain months are better than others, such as the shoulder-seasons.

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Machu Picchu Best Month To Visit

Let’s first take a look at the most important months of Machu Picchu travel, which also includes the worst time to visit Machu Picchu as well as the varying seasons here.

When is the worst time to visit Macchu picchu?

The worst time to visit Machu Picchu is January, being specific late January. This time of year the rain is intense. So landslides block the train track from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and the roads from Cusco to Ollantaytambo. For instance, back on January 26th 2010, hundreds of stranded tourists had to be evacuated from Machu Picchu Pueblo after flooding and mudslide.

Machu Picchu during Shoulder season

There are two shoulder seasons in Machu Picchu: Autumn (Mid April to May) and Spring (September to Early November). Those are the transition months between the wet and dry seasons, or vice-versa. The climate is pleasant; the nights are not too cold, during the day is not too sunny, not too rainy. Also, Machu Picchu gets fewer tourist than the high season(June to August). So shoulder season is considered the best time of the year to visit Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu during Dry season

The dry season begins in May and ends October. Days are clear offering amazing views and often spectacularly sunny, with chilly or downright cold nights. These are considered to be the best times to visit Machu Picchu in terms of weather, and correspondingly are the busiest months (high season). But it might still rains at any time of year because Machu Picchu is located on the edge of the rainforest.

Machu Picchu during Rainy season 

The rainy season in Machu Picchu runs from December to Early April. You should expect very heavy showers at any time of the day or night. Machu Picchu may be shrouded in the clouds, Sometimes the clouds cover the ancient citadel longer than expected and only vanish only for a few seconds. The wettest month is February, in which the famous Inca trail closes for maintenance as well. During the wet season the amount of people in Machu Picchu decrease. In those months you can get lower prices in accommodations, tours and other services.

The Best Time To Visit Machu Picchu

Overall the best time to visit Machu Picchu will really depend on you and what you most want from your own trip to Machu Picchu. However generally for most, this will be the dry season (which runs from April up until October), where we will have more chances of clear-blue skies, virtually no rainfall and perfect mountain views. 

It’s also a good time to visit the rest of the Cusco region too, given there are plenty more scenic hikes to embark on. This includes the breathtaking Four Day Inca Trail Trek, which is perfect for both scenery and views of the remote ruins. There will also be less chance of travel disruptions as there is no rain – which can otherwise cause flooding or landslides.

The only downside is that there are a lot more crowds during this time, so prices can rise for accommodation as well as less availability on certain treks and tours. However many may prefer this, given that Cusco will be busier and have an overall more festive atmosphere.

Machu Picchu Weather: Month By Month

Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Months To Visit Machu Picchu

Below we’ll now answer some of the frequent questions we get about the best month to visit Machu Picchu, as well as anything else important that you need to know.

What Month Is The Best To Go To Machu Picchu?

The shoulder months of April, May, September and October are overall considered to be the best months to go to Machu Picchu. Not only do they have clear skies and little rainfall, temperatures won’t be as cold in the evenings as they can get deep within the winter season (from June until August). We’ll also find there to be less queues and crowds, meaning you can enjoy the site in a more authentic state.

What Is The Best Entrance Time For Machu Picchu?

The very best time is arguably in the morning, at around 6:00am when they open the site for the public. Here we can see an epic sunrise here and potentially some mists (which is more likely in the wetter months). Crowds will also be at their lowest, making it both quieter and easier to get those unreal Machu Picchu photos without having to wait a while. The afternoon hours after 2:00pm are a great alternative time to visit too.

How Cold Is Machu Picchu In September?

Whilst not as cold as July and August, Machu Picchu in September is still somewhat chilly at night. Evening lows can dip to around 44°F in the nearby town of Aguas Calientes. It’s important to remember that you cannot access Machu Picchu at night – so here you will still have warm daytime temperatures of between 60-73°F to enjoy when exploring the ruins.

Overview Of Machu Picchu Best Month To Visit

And that’s all for this guide on the best time to visit Machu Picchu.

This incredible ancient sanctuary was one of the very best creations of the Inca civilization, who once thrived within these Andean regions some 500+ years ago. As we have seen, the dry season remains the most popular time to visit for great weather and views, although other times of the year do also offer their own unique benefits.

Are you ready to explore Machu Picchu? Here at AB Expeditions we operate an unforgettable overnight Machu Picchu tour which includes all transport, entrances, meals, accommodation as well as an expert guide that will lead your group.

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