AI-generatedMachu Picchu at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Aug
- Warmest month
- Oct · 19°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,720 h
- Rain a year
- 2,007 mm
- Climate
- Mountain
- Time zone
- UTC−5
- Elevation
- 2,189 m
Climate in Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu has a mountain climate: summers are fresh, winters cold and snowy. October is the warmest month with average highs of 19 °C, while June is the coolest at 18 °C. With around 1,720 hours of sunshine a year, Machu Picchu is moderately sunny; July is the sunniest month with 6.0 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: June – August
Good forSightseeing & walks
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 15°
- Midday, 13:00: about 19°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 18°
- Evening, 20:00: about 15°
- Night, 23:00: about 13°
05:2417:47
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:11–05:53 · evening 17:19–18:00
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:03–05:11 · evening 18:00–18:08
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Machu Picchu in October?
In October, Machu Picchu is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 30 days, adding up to 164 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Machu Picchu.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 22 min05:24 – 17:47
- UV index
- 15 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 7 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 85 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC−5America/Lima
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %32 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Mountain air”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Machu Picchu
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 4.9 of 12.4 hours of daylight in Machu Picchu, 40 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Machu Picchu
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 15 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in February (UV 15).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 10 min
- Light brown skin
- about 15 min
- Olive skin
- about 20 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Machu Picchu: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Machu Picchu has about 30 rainy days with 164 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Machu Picchu
How breezy and how cloudy Machu Picchu is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Machu Picchu typically peaks at 7 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light air.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 85 % of the sky over Machu Picchu: mostly overcast, with about 4.9 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Machu Picchu
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
CoolOctober: nights around 12°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in July (9°), the warmest in January (13°).
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 51 | 19° | 13° | 3.4 h | 31 | 292 |
| FebruaryFeb | 50 | 18° | 13° | 3.1 h | 28 | 274 |
| MarchMar | 52 | 19° | 13° | 3.6 h | 31 | 262 |
| AprilApr | 56 | 19° | 12° | 4.7 h | 29 | 177 |
| MayMay | 58 | 18° | 11° | 5.5 h | 24 | 95 |
| JuneJun | 65 | 18° | 10° | 5.7 h | 15 | 50 |
| JulyJul | 71 | 18° | 9° | 6.0 h | 13 | 43 |
| AugustAug | 61 | 18° | 9° | 5.9 h | 18 | 63 |
| SeptemberSep | 59 | 19° | 10° | 5.7 h | 23 | 91 |
| OctoberOct | 56 | 19° | 12° | 4.9 h | 30 | 164 |
| NovemberNov | 54 | 19° | 12° | 4.2 h | 30 | 217 |
| DecemberDec | 52 | 19° | 13° | 3.7 h | 31 | 278 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
13.16° S, 72.52° W · 2,189 m · America/Lima
Best time to visit Machu Picchu
The best time to visit Machu Picchu is from June to August. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, the weather is pleasant all year round. Rain is most frequent from September to May; the wettest month is January with 292 mm.
Machu Picchu through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Machu Picchu in spring
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 19 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 83 rainy days in all
Machu Picchu in summer
Dec – Feb
Fair
- 18–19 °C by day
- 3 h of sun a day
- 90 rainy days in all
Machu Picchu in autumn
Mar – May
Fair
- 18–19 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 84 rainy days in all
Machu Picchu in winter
Jun – Aug
Good
- 18 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 46 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Machu Picchu for you.
Your best months: July – September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Machu Picchu
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
July has the better holiday weather in Machu Picchu: score 71 against 56. In July, days are 1 °C cooler than in October. July has 17 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in July.
| Month | October | July |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 56 | 71better |
| Day high | 19° | 18° |
| Night low | 12° | 9° |
| Sunshine | 4.9 h | 6.0 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 30 | 13better |
| Rainfall | 164 mm | 43 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Hiking & mountain trips
All year
13–27 °C in the village, little snow
Rainy months
Sep – May
18 or more rainy days, often short showers and storms
Machu Picchu month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
51January19° · 3 h
In January, Machu Picchu is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 31 days, adding up to 292 mm. All in all, January is a so-so month for a holiday in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in January50February18° · 3 h
In February, Machu Picchu is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 28 days, adding up to 274 mm. All in all, February is a so-so month for a holiday in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in February52March19° · 4 h
In March, Machu Picchu is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 31 days, adding up to 262 mm. All in all, March is a so-so month for a holiday in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in March56April19° · 5 h
In April, Machu Picchu is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 29 days, adding up to 177 mm. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in April58May18° · 6 h
In May, Machu Picchu is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 24 days, adding up to 95 mm. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in May65June18° · 6 h
In June, Machu Picchu is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 50 mm. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in June71July18° · 6 h
In July, Machu Picchu is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 43 mm in total. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in July61August18° · 6 h
In August, Machu Picchu is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 63 mm. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in August59September19° · 6 h
In September, Machu Picchu is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 23 days, adding up to 91 mm. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in September56October19° · 5 h
In October, Machu Picchu is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 30 days, adding up to 164 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in October54November19° · 4 h
In November, Machu Picchu is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 30 days, adding up to 217 mm. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in November52December19° · 4 h
In December, Machu Picchu is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 31 days, adding up to 278 mm. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in DecemberMachu Picchu compared
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Machu Picchu vs. Cusco
In October the holiday weather in Machu Picchu and Cusco is about equally good (score 56 vs. 55). During the day Cusco is 2 °C cooler than Machu Picchu.
| in October | Machu Picchu | Cusco |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 56 | 55 |
| Daytime high | 19° | 17° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 30 | 30 |
| Best time | Jun – Aug | Apr – Dec |
Through the year
Peru in October: the best places
In October, Machu Picchu ranks 3 of 6 destinations in this country.
- Arequipa22°100
- 2Lima20°95
- 3Machu PicchuThis page19°56
- 4Cusco17°55
- 5Iquitos31°34
- 6La Rinconada5°7
Planning a trip to Machu Picchu
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Machu Picchu in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Machu Picchu has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 65) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 52).
- 55
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 19 °C by day
- 4.4 h of sun a day
- 30 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 59
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 18 °C by day
- 5.5 h of sun a day
- 22 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 65
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
GoodBest holidays
- 18 °C by day
- 5.9 h of sun a day
- 16 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 56
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 19 °C by day
- 4.9 h of sun a day
- 30 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 52
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Fair
- 19 °C by day
- 3.6 h of sun a day
- 31 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 12 h 30 min
- Distance
- 9,950 km
- Time zone
- UTC−5
- Jet lag
- About 4 days (6 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Machu Picchu
When is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?
The best time to visit Machu Picchu is from June to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Machu Picchu?
October is the warmest month, with average highs of 19 °C and nights around 12 °C. June is the coolest month at 18 °C.
When does it rain most in Machu Picchu?
Rain is most frequent from September to May; the wettest month is January with 292 mm. The driest month is July with 43 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Machu Picchu get?
Machu Picchu gets around 1,720 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 6.0 hours a day; in February there are 3.1 hours a day.
What time zone is Machu Picchu in?
Machu Picchu uses the time zone America/Lima, at UTC−5 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Machu Picchu?
A nonstop flight from London to Machu Picchu takes about 12 h 30 min, for a straight-line distance of about 9,950 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 65) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 52). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 55, May half-term 59, Summer holidays 65, October half-term 56, Christmas holidays 52.
Near Machu Picchu
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Machu Picchu
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Machu Picchu's – good alternatives.