Best time to visit Peru: When to travel to Peru?

Peru is located in the west of the South American continent and stretches along the vast Pacific coast. But Peru has much more to offer than just an endless coastline. The impressive Andes region, the fascinating endless Atacama Desert as well as the dense rainforest are also part of the unique landscape of Peru.

But the climate in Peru also has a lot to offer. Due to the enormous differences in altitude within the country, the climatic conditions also vary greatly. Basically, the Peruvian seasons are also divided into rainy and dry seasons, which is why it can often be complicated to find the best time to travel.

Weather and climate

Due to the extraordinary differences in altitude within the country, the climatic conditions in the individual regions also differ greatly, which is why you will find different temperatures in the mountains, on the endless coast and in the tropical rainforest. The Peruvian seasons are divided into dry and rainy seasons. The dry season is between the months of May and September. In this time the precipitation is rather low and there is a lot of sunshine. In the rainy season, on the other hand, which lasts from December to March, there are many rain showers. The weather in the transition months of September, October, April and May is very changeable. Basically, Peru has an intertropical climate, which is why tropical climate can be expected mainly in the rainforest region, alpine climate in the Andean region and subtropical climate along the coast.

Travel in the rainy season

The rainy season is in the Peruvian summer, this corresponds to the German winter. Therefore, in the months from December to March there is very heavy rainfall. Many hiking trails are open during this time, but it is still not recommended to go on a hike.

Nevertheless, Peru is worth a trip even in the rainy season. The landscape shines in an even richer green and the sun shines again and again. It is also advantageous that at this time there are not so many tourists, and it is therefore also quieter in the country.

Travel in the dry season

The best time to travel to Peru is from June to September. This is comparable to the Peruvian winter, which is why there is a dry season at this time. Rain showers are rather rare in this period, which is why especially hiking vacations are recommended in these months.

Travel in the transition period

In the transition months of September, October, April and May, the weather is very changeable and therefore unpredictable. These months are comparable to the Peruvian autumn and spring and the temperatures are similar to German conditions. During this period, there are usually also fewer tourists in the country, which is why it is often a bit quieter and not quite as crowded.

Climate zones in Peru

Peru is divided into three different climatic zones due to the different altitudes: the coastal, Andean and rainforest regions.

Basically, the Pacific coast has a rather dry climate with an average of 23 °C. The water temperature averages between 16 and 21 °C and fog along the coast, especially around the capital Lima, is not uncommon. The reason for this climate is the ocean current "Humboldt Current", which carries icy water from the Antarctic to the north. Due to the dry climate, there is no real rainy season along the coast and the area is mainly spared from rainfall. The best time for a beach vacation on the Peruvian coast is between the months of December and April, with temperatures between 26 and 28 °C.

The Andean region has a subhumid climate, which leads to an average temperature of 20 ° C. The climate is very warm. You also have to expect more frequent rainfall in this region. Basically, there are also rainy and dry seasons in the Andean region, which is why a trip to this region is recommended especially in the months between May and September. The temperatures depend on the extreme altitude differences in this region. Below 1,000 meters you can still expect pleasant high temperatures of 25 °C, at over 3,500 meters the temperature already drops to 12 °C. Above 5,000 meters, there is already snow.

Basically, in the rainforest of Peru you have to expect rain showers all year round. However, these are usually rather short and heavy. Therefore, travel is recommended mainly in the dry season from May to September. At this time you have to expect temperatures of up to 35 °C and high humidity. However, if you visit the rainforest in the south of Peru, sometimes cool winds, the so-called "friaje", can occur. These lead to temperatures between 8 and 12 °C and mostly occur from May to August. During the rainy season in the rainforest, you can expect heavy rain showers at least once a day.

Conclusion

Basically, the best time to travel to Peru is during the dry season between the months of May and September. However, if you prefer a quieter vacation with fewer tourists, then a trip during the rainy season or in the transition months may be worthwhile.

Do you want to experience Peru together with us? Then come with us on our next Peru adventure. We are looking forward to you!

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