Planning a Trip to Cusco? Here's the Weather
See what weather to expect in Cusco, Peru and plan your trip with confidence. Monthly averages from real historical weather data.
Cusco sits at high altitude in the Peruvian Andes, and its climate reflects that: temperatures are remarkably stable year-round, with highs rarely straying far from 17°C or 18°C in any month, while nights can turn genuinely cold, dipping to 4°C or 5°C even in the driest months. What varies dramatically is rainfall — January can bring 215mm of rain, turning the cobblestone streets around the Plaza de Armas slick and the surrounding hills a vivid green, while the dry stretch sees a fraction of that.
Written by Leo Vicente, founder & engineer who loves to travel
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17°C
Avg. high
7°C
Avg. low
1187mm
Yearly rainfall
5
Best months
Travel Window Score · 8.5/10
Cusco's best stretch runs June–July — around 3 rain days a month and daytime highs near 18°C, on a 10-year historical average (climatology tier).
Climatology · 10-YR AVG · How we forecast →
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Start PlanningMonthly Temperature & Rainfall
17°
8°
215mm
Jan
16°
8°
207mm
Feb
16°
8°
165mm
Mar
17°
7°
75mm
Apr
17°
6°
30mm
May
17°
5°
7mm
Jun
18°
4°
10mm
Jul
18°
5°
21mm
Aug
19°
6°
36mm
Sep
18°
7°
93mm
Oct
18°
8°
142mm
Nov
17°
8°
186mm
Dec
What Weather to Expect in Cusco
Cusco typically has the most favorable weather for travel during May, June, July, August, September, with comfortable temperatures and relatively low rainfall — ideal conditions for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Best Time to Visit Cusco
May through September offer a reliably drier stretch — averaging well under 30mm per month — that makes trekking routes like the Inca Trail far more manageable and keeps Machu Picchu's mountain views clear rather than shrouded in cloud. Daytime highs stay comfortable near 18°C or 19°C, though nights remain cool, so layers are essential even at the peak of the dry period.
The best time to visit Cusco is May through September, when daytime highs average around 18°C and rainfall stays low at roughly 21mm per month. These months offer the most comfortable conditions for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and exploring the city at a relaxed pace. June is typically the driest of these months, with only around 7mm of precipitation.
The months around January bring heavy, persistent rainfall exceeding 200mm that can affect trail conditions, disrupt transport, and limit visibility at high-altitude sites.
Cusco Weather by Season
Spring
Spring (March–May) brings mild weather to Cusco, with highs averaging 17°C and lows around 7°C. The season is moderately wet, accumulating around 270mm total with roughly 18 rainy days per month.
Summer
Summer (June–August) brings mild weather to Cusco, with highs averaging 18°C and lows around 5°C. The season is very dry with minimal rainfall, accumulating around 38mm total with roughly 4 rainy days per month.
Autumn
Autumn (September–November) brings mild weather to Cusco, with highs averaging 18°C and lows around 7°C. The season is moderately wet, accumulating around 271mm total with roughly 18 rainy days per month.
Winter
Winter (December–February) brings mild weather to Cusco, with highs averaging 17°C and lows around 8°C. The season is quite wet, accumulating around 608mm total with roughly 27 rainy days per month.
Things to do in Cusco
Handpicked activities you can book now, matched to typical weather in Cusco.
Itineraries Featuring Cusco
Climate data is a 10-year historical average (2016–2025), averaged across a wide area rather than a single weather station. Temperatures in Celsius. How we forecast →