Visiting Peru In May: Everything You Need To Know

Is It Worth Visiting Peru In May?

Quick Answer: May is a great month to visit Peru for several reasons, including for both the season and the weather.

When it comes to the weather, the rains have officially stopped as of this month, and it’s common to experience no showers at all for travellers who come now in comparison with months like March and February. This makes it a perfect time to go hiking around Cusco and the Peruvian Andes, and also to explore the Amazon Rainforest given it’s one of the drier months of the year. Temperatures have also dropped in May, but are still warmer than the latter months of June, July, August and September.

Although May also is a month within the popular high tourist season, it’s definitely the quietest of them all. This means that if you look well (and usually between the first couple of weeks of the month), we can still find great prices on flights to Peru and for accommodation. Similarly, heading during these months can also be ideal for experiencing the country’s more iconic destinations with less crowds around.

Important Things To Know:

• May marks the start of both the dry season for Peru, as well as the winter season.
• Although crowds start forming, they are still much less compared with later months like July and August.
• It’s common for certain micro-climates of Peru to change during this time of the year, such as the case with Lima.

The Pros Of Visiting Peru In May:

• Rainfall is now minimal, which is perfect for trekking in the Andes and Amazon Rainforest regions.
• The first couple of weeks are still considered low season, which is a good time to visit for cheaper prices.
• Landscapes will still be fresh and green given the recent rains in April.

The Cons Of Visiting Peru In May:

• Temperatures can get quite cool in May, and especially in the evenings in the higher altitude areas like Cusco and Huaraz.
• Lima begins to experience its “el gris” effect in May, where grey clouds semi-permanently hang above the skies here.

Everything You Need To Know About Visiting Peru In May

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

Best Things To Do In Peru In May 

May is a great month to visit Peru for many reasons, and one of the very best is to go hiking throughout the Peruvian Andes. This is because conditions are very dry, and also as temperatures have dropped (but are not as cold as those in the later winter months). The Four Day Inca Trail To Machu Picchu Trek is a great choice for seeing ancient ruins and Inca history, whilst the Huayhuash Circuit in Huaraz also offers surreal mountain scenery.

There’s also many other spectacular regions to visit throughout Peru during this month. This includes the destinations found on the classic Southern Peru loop such as Lima, Paracas, Huacachina, Nazca and Arequipa – given the weather is ideal for outdoor exploration – which are not too hot like it was in months like February and March. We highly recommend experiences such as visiting Colca Canyon as well as flying over the Nazca Lines.

The Weather Of Peru In May 

The true starting point of the dry season, May brings noticeable changes in weather compared with the earlier months of the year. 

Firstly rainfall levels drop to almost non-existent levels around the country, which is felt most in the Andes and the Pacific Coastal regions. This makes it perfect for heading on multi-day treks with clear blue skies overhead, whereas earlier months would have brought sparse showers. Whilst it will still rain in the Amazon Rainforest regardless, it’s much drier and ideal for deeper jungle walks.

Temperatures for Peru in May also begin to further drop compared with earlier months, now that we have officially entered the winter season for the country. Whilst high temperatures throughout the country remain similar to the summer months, the biggest differences occur during the evenings. In the Andes it will get chillier in May, so you’ll want to bring several layers ready. Whilst the coasts aren’t so cold just yet, you’ll still want to bring a jumper for the evenings.

Packing List For Peru In May

As we’ve seen above, we can expect some noticeable weather changes when transitioning from April into May around Peru.

Whilst we can leave the ponchos and waterproofs at home, we will instead need to bring more layers as temperatures get cooler. This is even more important if you plan to spend more time around the mountainous Andes regions. 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.
• Thick layers (several jumpers and sweaters are ideal for May).
• Comfortable hiking boots for treks.
• A hat to prevent getting burnt during the day (especially in the high altitude Andes regions)
• A hand towel.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from harsh sun and glare.
• 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 (remember that temperatures will be even colder in May).
• 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 May

Are you still wondering what each particular destination will be like in May? 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 winter months along the Peruvian coast start to fall back down to more moderate temperatures, and especially during the daytime (whilst they could get quite hot earlier in the year). This makes May a more comfortable month to visit popular destinations like Huachacho (Trujillo), Punta Sal (Piura) and the Ballestas Islands (Ica). Evening temperatures can get somewhat cold, so be sure to bring a jumper or coat ready. Lima has its own particular micro-climate, so during May we can expect even cooler temperatures so you’ll want to pack accordingly.

The Andes Regions

Perhaps the region with the more noticeable changes of weather for Peru in May, the Andes regions see almost no rainfall. This makes for some perfect hiking conditions such as on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and to Rainbow Mountain, where mists and clouds from previous months will have now all but disappeared. Whilst it can start to get busy with tourist crowds, you can avoid the majority of going within the first couple of weeks of the month. Whilst daytime temperatures in cities like Huaraz and Cusco in May remain the same, nighttime temperatures get much colder as we move deeper into the month – so be sure to bring several warm layers ready!

The Amazon Jungle Regions

As was the case with Peru in the month of April, here in May the levels of rainfall in the Amazon regions continue to drop exponentially. This means that whilst of course there are still showers (it is the Amazon Rainforest after all!), it will be much drier. This makes it a perfect time for exploring deeper into the jungle by foot, and a great time for spotting Jaguars and Capybara. May is a preferable month to come if you want to stay at a remote jungle lodge and see all kinds of animals, as river levels are still easy to navigate before they drop even lower in the following winter months.

Our Top Tips For Visiting Peru In May

Overall May is often considered one of the best months to visit Peru, along with those of April and October. This means that you’ll want to visit the three different regions during your trip given each will be at their most optimum conditions – where rainfall is low and temperatures aren’t yet at their coldest. You’ll still want to bring lots of warm layers though, and especially when spending more time in the Andes regions.

It’s important to know that whilst still technically a shoulder month, tourist crowds start to rise quickly as we head towards the end of the month. Therefore if you’re after a more authentic experience, then you’ll want to come to Peru in May during the first couple of weeks. This is also the same case for prices, as they will be cheaper here (both for international flights heading to Lima or Cusco, as well as for accommodation costs).

Finally, if you are planning on heading on some of the more popular treks around Cusco (such as the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu), then you’ll want to book these way in advance. Given this is a popular month to go hiking, availability for these treks often sell-out months in advance. We highly suggest booking your spots at least 6 months in advance to guarantee both your place and preferred camping locations.

Overview Of Visiting Peru In May

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

This month is both the start of the cooler winter season for Peru, and also the beginning of the dry season. This makes it one of the most optimum and best months for hiking around the country, and also for the coastal regions where we will have more comfortable temperatures.

One of the very best experiences you can enjoy during Peru in May is heading on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Not only can we witness ancient Inca Ruins and some incredibly clear vistas given the month, it’s also great for hiking temperatures. Just make sure to book your spot urgently for May given all spots can sell-out months in advance!