When to go to Cusco?
At more than 3,400 metres, Cusco makes you walk slowly, which suits streets where colonial arcades sit directly on Inca stonework. The vast fitted blocks of Sacsayhuamán stand above the town, and the Sacred Valley unrolls its terraces and market villages below. Machu Picchu is the day everyone plans for, but the city itself is what keeps people an extra week.
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The best time to go
For the best weather in Cusco, aim for May to October.
See also: Where to go in May? · Where to go in June? · Where to go in July? · Where to go in August?
Month-by-month weather in Cusco
| Month | ☀️ h/day | 🌧️ mm | 🌡️ °C | Score /100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.4 | 218 | 12 | 49 |
| February | 9.1 | 183 | 12 | 50 |
| March | 9.4 | 163 | 12 | 54 |
| April | 10.2 | 70 | 12 | 65 |
| May | 9.9 | 42 | 12 | 68 |
| June | 10.4 | 6 | 11 | 75 |
| July | 10.9 | 4 | 11 | 77 |
| August | 10.9 | 20 | 12 | 76 |
| September | 10.7 | 47 | 12 | 71 |
| October | 10.8 | 73 | 13 | 68 |
| November | 10.1 | 179 | 13 | 56 |
| December | 9.3 | 186 | 12 | 52 |
Estimated from 3 years of data. The score (0–100) combines sunshine, dry weather, clear skies and temperature.
The climate in brief
In Cusco, the sunniest month is August, and the driest is July (about 4 mm). Temperatures peak in October (about 13°C). Over the year, an average of 1,190 mm of rain falls, and 6 months in 12 offer ideal weather for a trip.
What to do in Cusco?
- Cusco historic centre (UNESCO)
- Machu Picchu (day trip)
- Sacsayhuamán
- Sacred Valley of the Incas
Practical info
- Country: Peru
- Airport: Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ)
- Station: Cusco Poroy
Destinations near Cusco
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