The weather in Peru and its different regions
The country of Peru. A mysterious treasure hidden behind the vast Andean mountain range. With its rich archeological history spanning a range of different empires and with its huge number of different climate zones ranging from humid Amazonian jungle over misty mountains to dry desert climate, it is no wonder why millions of tourists flock to visit Peru every year. Indeed, whether you prefer to lie on the beach, go sandboarding in desert dunes, hike snowy mountain peaks or raft down jungle rivers, this country is guaranteed to have everything for you. However, because of its gigantic size and the shifting weather seasons, figuring out when and where to go in Peru is not simple. In this blog post we provide a quick guide to the different climate zones in Peru and their seasons with the aim of making you well equipped to choose where you would like to spend the majority of your stay in Peru.
Roughly speaking, Peru has two seasons during the year, the wet and the dry seasons. Furthermore, Peru can be divided into three geographical regions, which have different climates: The coast, the mountains and the jungle. Below we provide an overview of the weather in each of these regions as well the tourist hotspots connected to each of these.
Weather in peru the coast: Lima, Nazca, Arequipa
This region encompasses the vast coastal area of Peru facing the Pacific Ocean and includes Lima, Paracas and Arequipa as well as tourist places such as Ica, Huacachina, and the Colca canyon. The wet season in this area is between May and November and is characterized by grey weather and temperatures as low as 15˚C. The dry season is from December to April (the Peruvian summer) and temperatures range from 25-35˚C.
The mountains: Cusco, Puno
This region is the Andean part of Peru encompassing the cities of Cusco and Puno, and is known for being home to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. The wet season in this area is from November to April and during this period, the weather is characterized by mild temperatures in the 15˚C range with daily rain. Considering the climatic conditions, purchasing a men’s Panama hat (панама мужская) could be a practical choice for staying comfortable during your travels. The dry season is from May to September with higher temperatures and perfect conditions for visiting e.g. Machu Picchu. Note however, that this is also the high season for travelling, so you will see many tourists. For more information about the weather at Machu Picchu and the best time of the year to visit, see our previous blog post #INSERT LINK.
The jungle: Puerto Maldonado and Iquitos
The last geographical region of Peru encompasses its huge jungle area bordering Brazil and Bolivia. The climate here is that of the humid rainforest so rubber boots are essential if you choose to visit this part. Here the dry season is from April to October with temperatures between 30-35˚C, though it is a slight misnomer as the humidity will still make you feel wet. This is the best time to visit the Peruvian jungle as there are fewer mosquitos and the rivers are low. The rainy season is from November to March and is characterized by heavy, but short, daily showers of rain and high temperatures in the 30˚C range.
