On the top of Andean Mountains of Peru lays the mythological Inca city of Machu Picchu. There’s no way anyone would visit Peru and miss the chance to see its beauty. There’s no denying that Machu Picchu is one of many travelers’ dream vacations. Situated in one of the most exotic and interesting countries in the world, more and more foreign travelers add Peru in their South America itinerary. Walking in the footsteps of the Incas, cuddling with alpacas, breathing the, meeting someone of the friendliest locals and marveling at Machu Picchu itself are enough reasons why to visit this place. But you might be asking… what is the best time to go to Machu Picchu?
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What Is the Best Time to Go To Machu Picchu?
The peak season in Machu Picchu starts in July and August. This is when accommodations and tours tend to be overbooked, so if you are planning to visit during those months, it would be smart to book well in advance. The weather during these months is good during but it tends to be crowded, not only in Machu Picchu but as well as on other tourists’ points of interests. But peak season doesn’t always mean it’s the best time to visit, right?
Best Time of the Year to Visit
If you want to get a chance to lay your eyes on one of the Seven Wonders of the World and use your camera to take the best photos possible when skies are blue and clear, then your best chance is during the driest season between the months of May and September. However, you have to take note that even throughout the dry season, there might be morning and afternoons where you can experience drizzling rain that can hide the perfect views.
The Best Time of Day to Visit
The best time of time to go to Machu Picchu in the day is in the early morning or if you are not good at waking up early, you can consider checking out the place at mid-afternoon. This is because it tends to be the most crowded from about 11 in the morning up to 3 in the afternoon.
The site opens up to the public at 6 in the morning. The earliest arrivals are normally the Inca Trail trekkers. Otherwise, the first buses that arrive from Machu Picchu Pueblo or Aguas Calientes start going to the site at approximately 5 in the morning.
Wet Season
The rainy season in the country normally starts in the month of October and continues until the month of March with the months of January and February being the rainiest months. The rain can be really heavy, which tends to cause landslides and interrupted transportation timetables. In 2010, local government was forced to close Machu Picchu as the rain caused landslides and a lot of road damages which made it difficult for people to access the site. During this reason, the average temperatures play around 5°C to 19°C.
Dry Season
The dry season runs from the month of April until the month of September. The months of June and July are considered to be driest months but at the same time, the coldest with temperatures of the season when below zero temperature are experienced. The average temperatures throughout the dry season differ from 0°C degrees to 25°C degrees throughout the day. Temperatures tend to go up in the afternoon because of the strong daytime insulation and the dryness and transparency of the atmosphere. The same way, the loss of solar radiation is able to lead to temperatures to go down below zero in the evening and early morning.
Packing Tips
Now that you know the best time to go to Machu Picchu, you have to know that knowing the best gears to pack for your trip for your trip would be necessary. Here are some tips to make your trip more comfortable.
First of all, you have to know that your packing list is going to vary depending on what time of the year you are going to travel. Machu Picchu and its surrounding regions have a particularly dry season and wet season. Again, the dry season starts from April until September while the wet season shows up from the month of October until March. The months in the middle of them are essentially a toss-up: you may want to expect to experience both sunny and rainy days.
It’s also essential to know that the dry season corresponds with the winter of Peru thus also the coldest months. The wet season falls throughout the summer season of Peru, and so then you will experience the hottest months. Isn’t it weird?
If you are planning to visit Peru during the winter season, of course, you would want to pack gears for cold weather. Even though the sun tends to be very strong and hot throughout the daytime, at night temperatures it can fall to below zero. Even though you are not planning to hike the Inca Trail, you will still experience a cold evening in town, so, it’s going to be smart to prepare with a thick jacket, scarf, hiking hat, and nice shoes. If you are planning to go hike Machu Picchu early in the morning in order to witness the sunrise, be smart and wear layers. Make sure to have a backpack with you where you can put the top layers in if ever it gets a bit warmer and you want to take your layers off.
Again, the winter season is also the sunny season, which means you are likely to see nice sunny days. It would be smart to have your sunscreen with you. You will also make use of wearing a pair of sunglasses and a hat. Because it is dry, you will probably also want to make sure you have your moisturizer with you along with eye drops and lip balm.
You are likely to experience some rain during summer, so make sure to wear clothes that dry up quickly, along with rubber shoes.
Hopefully, our mini guide helped you have an idea what to expect when you visit Peru during the best time to go to Machu Picchu. Do you have other tips we forgot to mention in this article? Let us know in the comment box below!
