Visiting Peru In February: Everything You Need To Know

Is It Worth Visiting Peru In February?

Quick Answer: Whilst February is known to be the rainiest month of the year in Peru, there are still some great reasons to plan your visit during this month.

Those who are after a more authentic and less-crowded experience will love Peru in February. This month is usually less busy when compared with the previous month of January, making it great for seeing attractions without long queues or crowds around – which is especially true with day tours around Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Lima as well as other popular regions.

The weather in February also has its own unique advantages compared with a visit during the dry season. Temperatures will be at their hottest, which makes a visit to the Andes more comfortable (especially at night with less chilly lows), as well as for a perfect opportunity to head to various beach towns along the coast. Although extra rainfall can sometimes prove to be a challenge, it will make for some epic green landscapes and memorable misty backgrounds when going hiking.

Important Things To Know:

• There are fewer crowds in major attractions around Peru during this month.
• February tends to be the wettest month to travel around the country, which has its own unique pros and cons.
• Costs of flying and travelling around Peru in February are usually quite low.

The Pros Of Visiting Peru In February:

• Temperatures will be at their overall warmest throughout the country.
• There will be lots of incredible local festivals and celebrations to enjoy all around Peru.
• Crowds will be minimal, which is especially felt at the more popular destinations like Machu Picchu and Cusco.

The Cons Of Visiting Peru In February:

• The heavy rains lead to many trek closures around the Andes, most noticeably the Inca Trail for the entire month of February.
• Given this month is the peak of the Peruvian summer, you’ll want to regularly apply sunscreen to avoid getting burnt (especially along the Coast and in the Amazon Jungle).

Everything You Need To Know About Visiting Peru In February 

Below we’ll now explore what Peru in February 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 February.

Best Things To Do In Peru In February

There are many unique Peruvian festivals to enjoy during February. This includes the Virgen de Copacabana in Cusco, as well as Carnival (although this varies each year depending on when the Easter holidays are). Those who want the most incredible experience will want to head to Puno to enjoy the celebrations of the Virgen de la Candelaria, which includes 16 days of local dances, crazy costumes and giant feasts.

February also marks a nice month to see usual Peru highlights without the crowds around. This includes ruins around Cusco like Sacsayhuamán and the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu, as well as the Colca Canyon near Arequipa. The hot temperatures also make it perfect for visiting beach towns such as San Bartolo and Punta Hermosa near Lima, as well as Máncora further north. Finally, we can also enjoy some beautiful alpine and snowy landscapes on high altitude hikes like those of Rainbow Mountain.

The Weather Of Peru In February 

February tends to be quite an extreme month for weather in Peru, given its both the hottest and wettest month.

High temperatures are a common characteristic of February, and this is a real benefit for anyone heading to the Andes regions. Daytime temperatures will still be comfortable, however the usual nighttime lows won’t be as cold as they can get in the winter months (such as July or August). In the Coastal and Amazon regions you’ll want to keep reapplying sunscreen, given the hot temperatures can make it easy to get sunburns.

Rainfall will also be heavy throughout the country (aside from Lima which has little). This can often cause landslides and closures of treks in the Andes, although alternatives such as the Lares Trek are still ideal. The extra rains will also make it easier to spot different animals and rare bird species within the Amazon Jungle.

Packing List For Peru In February 

Given the more extreme weather conditions that are common during February, this means that we will want to pack according for our trip around Peru.

Although it depends on where you visit, we still recommend bringing a variety of items and clothes just for that extra piece of mind. 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 (for the Jungle and beaches).
• A warm coat (especially if heading on multi-day Andes treks).
• A jumper.
• A poncho for hiking (rains are at their highest during February throughout Peru).
• Waterproof clothes.
• Comfortable hiking boots for treks.
• A hat to prevent getting burnt during the day (which can happen in the coastal, mountain and jungle regions during this month).
• A hand towel.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from harsh sun and glare (especially in the Andes Mountains).
• 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 (for the Amazon Jungle and Andes hikes such as in Iquitos or near Machu Picchu).
• 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 February 

Are you still wondering what each particular destination will be like in February? 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

Similar with Peru in January, here in February the coastal areas remain hot and dry along Peru’s Pacific regions – so using high SPF sunscreen and drinking lots of water is a must. Given February is a deep summer month, we can continue to expect some of the hottest temperatures in destinations here such as within Lima, Huacachina and Máncora. This also includes areas like Trujillo and Chiclayo which are perfect for surfing and culture, and along with the above-mentioned places will experience much less rain when compared with the rest of the country.

The Andes Regions

Whilst the Andes can get very cold in other months of the year, during February we can expect more comfortable temperatures come the evenings. This does make overnight hikes better in this sense, although many circuits such as the Inca Trail are either closed or only recommended for advanced hikers (given potential hazards like landslides and snow). You can expect heavy but brief infrequent showers in these regions such as around Cusco and Huaraz, and as such it’s wise to bring a poncho or raincoat ready with you. A benefit of heading to these regions in February is that you won’t need to book treks far in advance, or have to deal with long queues.

The Amazon Jungle Regions

February can be quite a special time to visit the Amazon Jungle region. Although high river waters and showers tend to put off many travellers, it does also mean we will see the jungle and abundance of exotic animal species in full flow. Around Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado we have a better chance of seeing different types of Monkeys and Jaguars (given there will be less hiking groups and noise on expeditions). The higher waters make accessibility by boat easier too into the jungle – so aquatic species such as Pink Dolphins, Giant River Otters and Anacondas are usually easier to spot as well.

Our Top Tips For Visiting Peru In February

Overall February is quite a wild and authentic month to visit Peru, and as such it’s ideal to take advantage of this when heading around the country. This includes heading to Andean destinations such as Puno and Cusco for their traditional celebrations, which will have higher domestic tourism (but overall less international tourists and crowds when compared with other months of the year).

We also recommend packing properly for the weather of this month. Unless you are only staying in Lima during your trip, there’s a good chance you’ll experience some rains within the Amazon Jungle and Andes. For this reason you’ll want to bring a solid raincoat or poncho, as well as high quality trekking boots that are ideal for walking in sometimes-slippery conditions along the treks and paths.

It’s also important to research the different activities you want to do, and to make sure they are possible around Peru in February. The Inca Trail for example is closed during this month, so you will need to look for alternative treks such as the Lares Trek. Given the wild weather in the Andes during this month, you’ll also want to set proper expectations (there will most likely be mists and some showers in destinations such as Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain).

Overview Of Visiting Peru In February 

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

Another hot summer month throughout Peru, February is a great time to explore this diverse South American country for numerous reasons. This includes seeing many great destinations like Machu Picchu and Huacachina without the crowds, as well as more exotic wildlife in the Amazon Jungle. It’s important to remember that showers will be at their heaviest this month, and the popular treks such as the Inca Trail will be closed.

If you’re thinking of heading to Cusco and the Andes, but are unsure what trek to do, then consider heading on the Four Day Lares Trek. Not only is the weather ideal for this scenic trek all year, we can also enjoy breathtaking mountain vistas along the route.