Climate in Cusco — Annual Weather Overview
Cusco has a alpine climate — cool summers and cold winters at high altitude. The hottest month is October (average high 19.0°C) and the coolest is March (16.1°C). Temperatures are consistent year-round, with highs ranging only 2.9°C between the warmest and coolest months. Annual rainfall totals around 1143mm. January is the wettest month at 230.8mm, while June averages just 4.1mm. Average daily sunshine is 10.2 hours.
**Spring (September, October, November):** average highs 18.8°C, 238mm rain. **Summer (December, January, February):** average highs 16.7°C, 597mm rain. **Autumn (March, April, May):** average highs 16.5°C, 278mm rain. **Winter (June, July, August):** average highs 18.2°C, 30mm rain.
Cusco — Monthly Temperatures
Cusco — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Cusco stays reasonable all year.
Cusco weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16.4°C | 7.7°C | 230.8mm | 9.2h | 28 | 8/10 |
| February | 16.3°C | 8.4°C | 174.2mm | 8.8h | 26 | 9/10 |
| March | 16.1°C | 7.6°C | 164.8mm | 9.6h | 26 | 9/10 |
| April | 16.6°C | 6.7°C | 73.4mm | 10.1h | 15 | 10/10 |
| May | 16.7°C | 5.7°C | 39.9mm | 10.2h | 9 | 10/10 |
| June | 17.3°C | 4.6°C | 4.1mm | 10.6h | 1 | 10/10 |
| July | 18.5°C | 4.7°C | 7.4mm | 10.9h | 2 | 10/10 |
| August | 18.8°C | 5.3°C | 18.2mm | 11.1h | 6 | 10/10 |
| September | 18.7°C | 6.4°C | 36.8mm | 10.8h | 11 | 10/10 |
| October | 19.0°C | 7.4°C | 73.2mm | 10.9h | 19 | 10/10 |
| November | 18.7°C | 8.1°C | 128.0mm | 10.3h | 22 | 9/10 |
| December | 17.4°C | 8.3°C | 192.4mm | 9.3h | 27 | 9/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Cusco and the Cusco rainy season guide. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Cusco have?
Cusco has a alpine climate — cool summers and cold winters at high altitude. Average highs range from 16.1°C in March to 19.0°C in October.
What is the hottest month in Cusco?
October is the hottest month in Cusco, with average highs of 19.0°C and lows of 7.4°C.
What is the coldest month in Cusco?
March is the coolest month, with average highs of 16.1°C and lows of 4.6°C.
What is the wettest month in Cusco?
January is the wettest month, averaging 230.8mm of rainfall over around 28 rainy days.
When is rainy season in Cusco?
Rainy season in Cusco runs November to March, when rainfall is significantly higher than the rest of the year. Full rainy season guide →
How much rain does Cusco get per year?
Cusco receives around 1143mm of rain per year. The driest month is June (4.1mm).
When is the best time to visit Cusco?
The best time to visit Cusco is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
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For the packing side of things, our sister site has a ready-made checklist: Cusco packing list at 247PackingList. For currency, language and country facts see the Peru guide at 247CountryInfo. Some travellers fund a longer stay in Cusco by teaching English along the way — a TEFL certificate is usually all it takes.
Trip essentials for Cusco
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.