Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu in 2027: Month by Month

The best time to visit Machu Picchu is the dry season, from April to October. For the best balance, choose May or September: dry weather with fewer people than June to August, the high season. From November to March it rains more often, there are fewer visitors and the Inca Trail closes in February, but Machu Picchu is open all year.

We are local guides based in Cusco and we take travelers to Machu Picchu every month of the year. This guide helps you choose your dates: crowds, tickets, Inca Trail permits, festivals and the best month for each type of trip. For rain and temperatures in detail, read our Machu Picchu weather guide.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu?

At Machu Picchu people talk about two seasons, not four. This is how the year breaks down when you plan a trip:

Period	Months	In favor	Against
Dry season, high season	June, July and August	The driest months and clear skies; the Inca Trail is open; Inti Raymi in Cusco	The most visitors; tickets, Huayna Picchu and Inca Trail permits sell out first
Dry season, shoulder months	April, May, September and October	Mostly dry weather with fewer people than June to August; good for treks	Some showers in April and at the end of October
Rainy season	November to March	Fewer visitors and very green landscapes	Frequent rain (January and February are the wettest), clouds that hide the view at times, the Inca Trail closes in February

Machu Picchu Month by Month: Crowds, Inca Trail and Events

This table puts together what matters when you choose a month. The crowd levels are the ones we see as guides in Cusco and Machu Picchu; the 2027 dates come from our Cusco festivals guide.

Month	Season	Crowds	Inca Trail	Keep in mind
January	Rainy	Low	Open	One of the wettest months. Many trains sold “from Cusco” are bimodal (bus plus train), approximately from January to April
February	Rainy	Low	Closed for maintenance	Machu Picchu stays open by train. Carnival: February 7 to 9, 2027
March	Rain easing	Low	Reopens	Very green. Holy Week: March 21 to 28, 2027 (Easter Sunday, March 28)
April	Transition to dry	Moderate	Open	More sunny days, with some showers
May	Dry	Moderate	Open	A great balance of weather and crowds. Inca Trail permits for May to August are the first to sell out
June	Dry	High	Open	Inti Raymi in Cusco on Thursday, June 24, 2027. Huayna Picchu sells out early
July	Dry	High	Open	Clear skies. Fiestas Patrias, Peru’s national holiday, on July 28 and 29
August	Dry	High	Open	The last month of high season: book months ahead
September	Dry	Moderate	Open	Dry weather with fewer people than June to August
October	Dry, then transition	Moderate	Open	First rains toward the end of the month
November	Rains return	Low	Open	Afternoon rain; quieter days at the citadel
December	Rainy	Low to moderate	Open	Santurantikuy Christmas fair in Cusco on December 24

In the rainy season rain usually comes as showers rather than all-day downpours, and the morning mist often lifts by mid-morning. You will find the weather of each month in our Machu Picchu weather guide, and the rest of the region in our guide to the best time to visit Cusco.

Best Month to Visit Machu Picchu by Type of Trip

• Your first visit and the classic photo: May or September. Dry weather and fewer people than in June to August. Both the Machu Picchu Full Day and the 2-day tour work well.
• The Classic Inca Trail: May to September, with your permit booked months ahead. Avoid February, when the trail is closed. Details in our Inca Trail guide.
• Fewer people: November and January to March, if you don’t mind the rain. Bring a poncho: umbrellas are not allowed inside Machu Picchu.
• Climbing Huayna Picchu: the dry season, when the steps are dry. From June to August its tickets sell out first. More in our Huayna Picchu guide.
• Festivals: June, for Inti Raymi on June 24. Spend the festival day in Cusco and visit Machu Picchu on June 25. See our Inti Raymi 2027 guide.
• Combining it with Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake: April to October, when the high-mountain trails are drier. See our guides to Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake.

Crowds and Tickets: How Far Ahead to Book

Machu Picchu has a daily visitor limit. For 2027 it is between 4,500 and 5,600 people a day, depending on the date. The Ministry of Culture sets these limits and publishes the rules on the official Machu Picchu website. Each ticket is for one circuit and one route, with a fixed entry time, and circuit 2, the one with the classic view, is the most in demand. We explain them in our Machu Picchu tickets guide.

• Machu Picchu: book at least 1 to 2 months ahead, and earlier for June to August.
• Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain: spaces are few. Book months ahead, especially for the high season.
• Classic and Short Inca Trail: the permits are personal and limited, and May to August sells out first.
• Route 3C (Great Cavern and Temple of the Moon) only opens in the high season.

Best Time of Day at Machu Picchu

You don’t choose your hour freely: you enter at the time printed on your ticket. Early in the morning the citadel is often wrapped in mist that lifts by mid-morning; it is a tendency, not a guarantee. Later in the day it gets warmer. If you want Huayna Picchu, from 2027 the last entry is at 10:00, so it is always a morning climb.

If you want to visit without watching the clock for the return train, spend two days. We compare both options in Machu Picchu in 1 or 2 days.

Visiting Machu Picchu in the Rainy Season: What Changes

• The train: from about January to April, many departures “from Cusco” start with a bus to a station in the Sacred Valley. Check our train to Machu Picchu guide.
• The Inca Trail: it closes every February for maintenance. In the other rainy months it stays open, with muddier steps.
• The view: clouds can hide the mountains for a while, and then the sky opens again.
• What to bring: a poncho and shoes with good grip. The stone steps get slippery, especially on Huayna Picchu.

In return, there are fewer people and the landscape is at its greenest. If you value quiet over sunshine, it is a good trade-off.

Machu Picchu Tours by Season

Tour	Best for	Price	Pay online (40%)
Machu Picchu Full Day	All year, if you have one day	US$300	US$120
Machu Picchu 2 days	All year, at a relaxed pace	US$350	US$140
Short Inca Trail 2 days	March to January (closed in February)	US$450	US$180
Lares Trek 4 days	Dry season, with fewer people	US$450	US$180
Salkantay Trek 5 days	Dry season, if there are no Inca Trail permits	US$550	US$220
Classic Inca Trail 4 days	May to September, booked months ahead	US$650	US$260

Prices are per person. The balance is paid when you arrive in Peru; each tour page lists what is included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best month to visit Machu Picchu?

May and September combine dry weather with fewer people than the high season. June, July and August are the driest months, but also the busiest. April and October are also good, at the start and end of the dry season.

What is the worst month to visit Machu Picchu?

If you want dry weather, January and February, the wettest months. February is also the month when the Inca Trail is closed. Even so, Machu Picchu stays open and can be visited by train.

When is Machu Picchu least crowded?

In the rainy season: November and January to March. In the dry season, May and September have fewer people than June, July and August.

Is Machu Picchu open all year?

Yes. The citadel opens every month. What closes is the Inca Trail, every February. Some routes, such as 3C, only open in the high season.

How far in advance should I book Machu Picchu?

At least 1 to 2 months, and more for June to August. Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain and Inca Trail permits sell out earlier, so book them months ahead.

Can I visit Machu Picchu during Inti Raymi?

Yes. Inti Raymi takes place in Cusco on June 24, 2027. The best plan is to stay in Cusco for the festival and go to Machu Picchu on June 25. Book early, because it is high season.

Have you chosen your dates? Book your Machu Picchu tour by paying 40% online, or contact us and we will help you choose the best month for your trip.