Visiting Peru In April: Everything You Need To Know

Is It Worth Visiting Peru In April?

Quick Answer: April is widely regarded as one of the very best months to visit Peru, given it’s a low-peak shoulder season month.

The rainy season has now all but ended, and we can start to enjoy clearer blue skies all around the country. This makes it perfect to go on famous hikes such as the Four Day Inca Trail To Machu Picchu, given the larger crowds don’t arrive here until late May and June. Nature enthusiasts will also love this month, where we can spot over 3000 different species of orchids that will be in full-bloom during April.

All around Peru the temperatures will begin to further drop as we now enter closer towards the winter season. During April in Peru, the Andean regions (like Cusco, Huaraz and the Sacred Valley) will still be comfortable in the evenings – although you’ll need warm layers ready. Lima and the coast will also have comfortable daytime temperatures, and the rainforest will have much less showers now during this month which is perfect for wildlife treks.

Important Things To Know:

• April is one of the best months to go hiking in Peru given its low rainfall and comfortable temperatures.
• Despite being one the best months for weather, tourism remains low in this month (aside from Semana Santa if it falls within this month).
• April is the final month of the wet season, so we may still get a few light showers during the first week or two.

The Pros Of Visiting Peru In April:

• There is much less rainfall around the country, making it a perfect time to go hiking.
• Crowds are still low, so we can finally see Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain with clear-blue skies and few queues.
• Wildlife and fauna are abundant, so if heading to Peru in April then you’ll want to take full advantage of this!

The Cons Of Visiting Peru In April:

• There are very few (if not zero) drawbacks to visiting Peru in April.

Everything You Need To Know About Visiting Peru In April 

Below we’ll now explore what Peru in April is like. This includes what the weather will be like, the best things to do during this month as well as a solid Peru packing list for April.

Best Things To Do In Peru In April 

If you are thinking of coming during this month, then you really do have free rein to do whatever you please all around Peru! Hiking around the Andes is a must, where we will begin to have more clear-blue skies, much less rainfall compared with previous months as well as blooming orchards along the trails. Some of the best hiking circuits around Cusco include the Inca Trail, Ausangate Trek and the Lares Trek, whilst around Huaraz these include the Huayhuash Circuit and Santa Cruz Trek. 

Given April isn’t so busy, it’s a great time to explore some of the usually-busy cities to have a more authentic experience. This includes Cusco and Arequipa, whilst Lima will still be great to visit before the famous cooler weather and grey skies begin to come. It’s also worth adding some more novel destinations to your itinerary around Peru if you can, given the gorgeous weather of April. This includes Chachapoyas, Lake Titicaca as well as the Tambopata Jungle.

The Weather Of Peru In April 

April is sometimes regarded as the beginning of the dry season by some, although others say it’s May. What we can agree on though is that April is a strong shoulder season, where we will start to see some seasonal changes. It’s also arguably one of the best months of the year for general weather throughout Peru!

Most importantly, the heavy showers that were present from earlier in the year (in months like February) begin to lighten up. Now whilst we can still get some light rains around the Andes and Amazon Jungle regions, they will be much lighter which makes for some more ideal hiking conditions. This makes it a great time to head on the Four Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu – although it’s still worth bringing a poncho just in case.

The other noticeable change that occurs around April is the daily temperatures. Moving further away from the hot summer season, this month starts to see a further decline in highs and lows around the country. Thankfully they’re not too cold just yet (which begins to happen around June), whilst the Coastal and Jungle regions are also more comfortable in terms of highs when compared with the extreme heats experienced earlier in the year.

Packing List For Peru In April 

Given April marks the shift from the wet season into the long-awaited dry season, our packing list will slightly change from the previous months.

Rainfall will be much lower around the Andes regions, so hikes will require less waterproofs (although still bring a poncho given the odd showers can sometimes happen). It’s also good to know that temperatures begin to decrease as we get closer to the winter, so it will also be ideal to bring some warmer layers too.

Below we’ll share an ideal starting point for getting together your own Peru packing list.

• Thin layers (such as Shorts and T-Shirts).
• Swimming trunks / Bikini.
• A warm coat.
• A jumper.
• A poncho (the odd April shower could occur during your trip)
• Waterproof clothes.
• Comfortable hiking boots for treks.
• A hat to prevent getting burnt during the day.
• A hand towel.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from harsh sun and glare (especially on treks in the high altitude Andes).
• High SPF sunscreen (we suggest using a minimum of SPF 30 when hiking).
• For certain hikes that are higher altitude, it’s worth bringing a thick hat, scarf, and gloves.
• Insect Repellent.
• A reusable water bottle.
• A day pack to hold everything you need during your treks and day trips.
• A quality camera or mobile phone.
• Medication for personal use.
• Padlocks which you can use for your bags when on longer treks or on public transport.
• Charging adaptors and power banks
• Extra batteries for your camera.

A Breakdown Of Peruvian Regions In April 

Are you still wondering what each particular destination will be like in April? Although we can’t cover them all in just one post (there’s hundreds throughout Peru), below we’ll explore the main destinations and what to expect with each.

The Coastal Regions

The changes of weather in April can be felt quite dramatically along Peru’s coastal regions. Lima will start to get a bit cooler, given there will be more cloudy skies – so you may need a jumper when heading out for the evening. Other destinations such as Ica, Trujillo and Máncora will be perfect to visit in this month, as temperatures will be a lot more comfortable for hitting the beaches. Speaking of which – if you want to go surfing, then this is an ideal last month as sea temperatures will get much colder from May onwards!

The Andes Regions

Regions throughout the Andes in April become very ideal for hiking, given there is a sharp drop in rainfall which makes conditions easier and more enjoyable. There will also be beautiful landscapes of blooming flowers given the recently changed climate too. Some of the best hikes to enjoy in April include heading on the Salkantay Trek, visiting Machu Picchu as well as embarking on the Inca Trail. If heading to Cusco, then we can experience the novel festival of El Señor de los Temblores – which is a patron saint of Cusco who was said to have stopped a giant earthquake – and is celebrated with many parades and local dances.

The Amazon Jungle Regions

If we had to recommend any month of the year to visit the Amazon Jungle, then April would be among one of the very best. Although rainfall will still fall throughout the year in the rainforest, April marks a noticeable drop in storms and heavy downpours. When heading on multi-day treks in Iquitos or Tambopata, we will also see the jungle in all kinds of vibrant greens and with ripened fruits given the recent rains. River levels will now be moderately high, making it easier to spot land animals such as Jaguars and Capybara that come to feed along the river banks.

Our Top Tips For Visiting Peru In April

Overall April is an ideal month to head all throughout Peru during your trip, given weather conditions are at some of their best. This means you’ll want to pack a range of clothes, which includes thin layers for the Coastal regions, thick layers for the Andes regions as well as mosquito repellant and hiking boots for the Amazon Jungle regions.

Whilst March in Peru is best visited in the latter weeks of the month, here in April pretty much any time is good for a visit – although there are a couple of things to keep in mind. If your priority is minimal rainfall, then we suggest coming in the last week of the month which marks the start of the long-awaited dry season. If you want to experience authentic festivals and don’t mind crowds, then you’ll want to head here during Carnival (usually the first week of April although it changes annually).

Another suggestion is to try and visit some of the lesser-known places in Peru given the weather is ideal (and crowds are overall lower this month). This includes Chachapoyas to see the incredible Kuelap Ruins and surrounding waterfalls, as well as jungle cities such as Pucallpa and Tingo Maria.

Overview Of Visiting Peru In April

And that’s all for this guide to visiting Peru in April.

This month marks the shoulder season for the country, where rainfall begins to drop significantly when compared with earlier months of the year. This makes it an ideal time to go hiking around the Andes and Amazon Rainforest regions, and also to enjoy cultural celebrations and visit lesser-known areas as tourist crowds remain low.

Are you looking to visit ancient ruins and have an unforgettable hiking experience? April is the perfect month to head on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, where we will have all meals, camping equipment and permits included – where we will also explore ruins such as Sayaqmarca, Wiñay Wayna and Intipata.