Weather in Peru

If you’re planning a trip to Peru to see the Amazon, Machu Picchu, or Lake Titicaca, you should definitely be sure to take the weather into account!

For those of you not familiar with the weather outside the United States or Europe, the seasons taking place south of the equator are the reverse of those happening at the same time north of the equator; i.e. when it is summer time north of the equator, it is winter time south of the equator.

Peru, which is on the Pacific side of South America, to the south of Ecuador and Colombia, has three main regions that can be identified by the prevailing atmospheric conditions found in each: coast, sierra, and jungle.

The Peruvian coast has a foggy, overcast winter that lasts from June to September, with temperatures hanging around 55˚F (13˚C) during the day and 50˚F (10˚C) at night, give or take a few degrees as you move north or south along the coast from the capital of Lima. During the sunny, humid summers which run from November to March, temperatures can reach 83˚F (28˚C) or more!

The Peruvian sierra experiences clear, sunny skies almost year round, excepting brief, daily downpours during the rainy season, which runs from December through April. In winter (June-September) the nighttime temperatures can reach 38˚F (3˚C) while in summer the average temperatures are in the 60’s (approx. 18˚C). In contrast to the coast, which receives hardly any rain at all, the sierra has so much during the rainy season that the famed Inca Trail near Cusco is closed every year during February!

The Peruvian jungle, or the Amazon around Iquitos, could be described as tropical, with year round temperatures in the 80’s (about 30˚C) and a heavy rainy season lasting from December to April.

Before traveling to South America, it would be to your advantage to prepare for the weather so you’re not surprised during your Amazon boat cruise in Iquitos, your Lima City Tour, or even your hike through the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu or Ollantaytambo!

This guide to weather in Peru was written by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less, here to help you design your customized Peru vacations.