Machu Picchu Weather: Temperature, Rain, Humidity, Fog, UV Radiation and What to Wear

What is the weather like at Machu Picchu? It is mild and very humid: according to SERNANP, the temperature around the archaeological site ranges between 14.5 °C and 16.5 °C, and an INDECI study estimates about 2,003 mm of rain a year, with an average relative humidity of 92%. On top of that, UV radiation in the Cusco highlands reaches very high or extremely high levels. In this guide we explain the temperature, the rain, the humidity and fog, UV radiation, how the altitude affects you, the differences between the dry and the rainy season, what all this means for your visit and what clothes to bring.

The data comes from official sources: SERNANP, SENAMHI, INDECI, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Health. The month-by-month weather, with the rain and temperature for each month, is in our guide to the best time to go. When a fact does not come from an official source, or when it is our own advice, we say so.

In short: the weather at Machu Picchu

Temperature: mild by day and cool at night

• SERNANP: around the archaeological site, the temperature ranges between 14.5 °C and 16.5 °C. On the Inca Trail it varies between 5 °C and 18 °C.
• INDECI: a 2012 study of the town of Machupicchu, with data from the Machupicchu station from 2006 to 2009, gives an average temperature of 16.3 °C, with a maximum of 17.4 °C in October and a minimum of 15.3 °C in June. It describes the local climate as mild and humid, feeling warm during the day and cool at night.
• SENAMHI: those figures are averages, and it can be warmer during the day. SENAMHI's forecast for Machu Picchu from 29 September to 1 October 2026 gave highs of 18 °C to 23 °C and lows of 12 °C.

The big difference is in Cusco, where you will probably sleep: for those same days, SENAMHI forecast highs of 23 °C to 26 °C and lows of 0 °C to 4 °C. According to its averages, nights in Cusco drop below 0 °C in June and July. The temperature for each month is in our guide to the best time to visit Machu Picchu.

Rain: dry season and rainy season

• SERNANP: the rainy season runs from November to March, and the recommended season to visit the sanctuary from April to October.
• INDECI: its study places the rains from December to March and the dry season from April to November. With about 2,003 mm a year, average rainfall is 167 mm a month. January is the wettest month, with 372.5 mm, and June the driest, with 37.3 mm.

Two conclusions: the sources do not agree on the exact limits, so treat April, October and November as transition months, and not even the driest month is free of rain. At Machu Picchu it can rain on any day of the year.

Humidity and fog

• Humidity: according to the INDECI study, the average relative humidity is 92%, with a maximum of 95.3% in March and a minimum of 88.5% in September. The air is humid all year round.
• Cloud forest: the Master Plan of the Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu describes a cloud forest zone between 1,900 to 2,100 m and 2,700 to 2,900 m of altitude, with an almost continuous layer of clouds. The llaqta, at about 2,430 m, lies within that band.
• Morning fog: the early hours can be foggy, especially in the rainy season; sometimes it clears during the visit and sometimes it does not. This is our own observation, not official data.

Your ticket has an entry time and a limited length of stay, so you cannot stay and wait for it to clear. Check the time slots and closing time in our guide to Machu Picchu opening hours.

UV radiation

• Levels: in June 2026, SENAMHI reported maximum UV index values of roughly 8 to 12 in several highland departments, including Cusco. On its scale, 8 to 10 is "very high" and 11 or more "extremely high".
• Peak hours: SENAMHI recommends reducing sun exposure between 9:00 and 16:00, exactly the hours when most visits take place.
• Protection: it recommends a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved clothing and sunscreen. SERNANP also recommends using sunscreen and insect repellent in the sanctuary.
• Forecast: SENAMHI publishes the forecast maximum UV index for 195 provincial capitals. Machu Picchu is in the province of Urubamba, so you can check the one for Urubamba. That value assumes a cloudless sky.

Our advice: protect yourself even if the day is cloudy, because the clouds can open up during the visit.

Altitude and how it affects you

• Altitude: according to UNESCO, the llaqta is at about 2,430 m and Cusco at about 3,400 m. Machu Picchu is almost 1,000 m lower than Cusco.
• Altitude sickness: the Ministry of Health recommends taking precautions above 2,500 m, and explains that discomfort is normal during the first two or three days of acclimatisation.
• Ministry of Health recommendations: rest for the first few hours after arriving, avoid intense physical effort, drink plenty of fluids, eat light meals and do not take acetazolamide without a prescription. If nausea, a severe headache or shortness of breath do not go away with rest, go to the nearest health centre.
• Acclimatisation: PeruRail recommends acclimatising for 1 to 2 days in Cusco before travelling to Machu Picchu.

In practice, the altitude is usually felt more in Cusco than in the llaqta. Even so, the visit has many stone stairs, so walk at your own pace.

Dry season versus rainy season

How many visitors there are each month and when the high season is are covered in our guide to the best time to go.

What the weather means for your visit

• Slippery ground: in the rain, the stone steps and mountain trails get slippery. Wear shoes with good grip.
• No umbrellas: the llaqta's rules of conduct prohibit umbrellas and parasols, so your rain protection has to be a poncho or a waterproof jacket.
• Transport: the INDECI study records mudflows and floods in the area, such as those of February 2010, which destroyed several sections of the railway. In the rainy season, leave some slack in your itinerary in case of disruptions.
• Midday sun: if you go on the day trip from Cusco, you will enter around 9:00 and be in the llaqta during the hours of highest radiation. Read our guide to the Machu Picchu day trip from Cusco.

What to wear

• Layers: a light T-shirt, a thin warm layer and a jacket. It can be hot during the day, and nights in Cusco are cold.
• Poncho or waterproof jacket: essential in the rainy season and advisable all year round.
• Shoes with good grip: the llaqta's rules prohibit high heels and hard-soled shoes.
• Hat and sunglasses: because of the UV radiation.
• Sunscreen and repellent in cream or lotion form: aerosols are prohibited in the llaqta.
• Small backpack: no larger than 40 x 35 x 20 cm. Check everything you can bring in our guide to the entry requirements.

This list is our own advice based on the sources cited, not an official list.

Related guides

To choose when to go, first read our guide to the best time to visit Machu Picchu, with the month-by-month weather. To plan, see how many days you need for Machu Picchu and how much a trip to Machu Picchu costs. All the ways to get there are in our guides to getting there from Cusco, from Lima, on a budget and without the train, and the times for each leg in the guide to the distance from Cusco to Machu Picchu. When you arrive, follow our guide from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. To choose a train, see our guides to trains to Machu Picchu, the Vistadome train and the luxury trains, and if you are Peruvian, the difference between the local train and the tourist train.

To choose a route, see our guides to the Machu Picchu circuits, circuit 2A vs 2B and circuit 3 (Machu Picchu Realeza), and if you want to climb a mountain, the one on Huayna Picchu tickets. First of all, secure your Machu Picchu ticket. If you arrive without a ticket, read how to buy tickets in Machu Picchu Pueblo.

Frequently asked questions

What is the temperature at Machu Picchu?

According to SERNANP, the temperature around the archaeological site ranges between 14.5 °C and 16.5 °C. It can be warmer during the day, and nights are cool.

When does it rain at Machu Picchu?

The rainy season runs from November to March, according to SERNANP, and January is the wettest month. Even so, it can rain in any month.

Is it cold at Machu Picchu?

Not really: it is mild. The cold is in Cusco, where nights in June and July drop below 0 °C, according to SENAMHI's averages.

Why is there fog at Machu Picchu?

The llaqta lies in the cloud forest band, with a lot of humidity. In our experience, there is often fog in the mornings, which sometimes clears during the visit.

Can I bring an umbrella to Machu Picchu?

No. The llaqta's rules of conduct prohibit umbrellas and parasols. Bring a poncho or a waterproof jacket.

Does the altitude affect you at Machu Picchu?

Less than in Cusco: the llaqta is at about 2,430 m, and Cusco at about 3,400 m. Acclimatise in Cusco before the visit.

In summary

Machu Picchu has a mild and very humid climate, with temperatures between 14.5 °C and 16.5 °C around the llaqta, about 2,003 mm of rain a year and rain concentrated from November to March. UV radiation is very high, and fog is common in the morning. Bring layers, a poncho, shoes with good grip, a hat and sunscreen in cream form, acclimatise in Cusco and, to choose the month, see our guide to the best time to go.

Sources

1. SERNANP, Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu (recommended season, rainy season, temperature and recommendations): https://visitaareasnaturales.sernanp.gob.pe/anps/santuario-historico-de-machupicchu/
2. INDECI–UNDP, Hazard map and disaster mitigation measures for the town of Machupicchu (January 2012): https://sigrid.cenepred.gob.pe/sigridv3/storage/biblioteca/4295_mapa-de-peligros-y-medidas-de-mitigacion-ante-desastres-ciudad-de-machupicchu.pdf
3. SENAMHI, weather forecast for Machu Picchu: https://www.senamhi.gob.pe/?p=pronostico-detalle-turistico&localidad=0081
4. SENAMHI, weather forecast and average temperatures for Cusco: https://www.senamhi.gob.pe/?p=pronostico-detalle-turistico&localidad=0019
5. SENAMHI, "very high" and "extremely high" UV radiation in the central and southern highlands (11 June 2026): https://www.gob.pe/institucion/senamhi/noticias/1405129-sierra-central-y-sur-del-pais-registran-niveles-de-radiacion-uv-entre-muy-alta-y-extremadamente-alta
6. SENAMHI, ultraviolet solar radiation index forecast: https://www.gob.pe/institucion/senamhi/pages/9416-conocer-el-pronostico-del-indice-de-radiacion-solar-ultravioleta-uv
7. Master Plan of the Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu – Machupicchu National Archaeological Park 2026-2031 (cloud forest): https://transparencia.cultura.gob.pe/sites/default/files/transparencia/2026/03/resoluciones-ministeriales/resolucion-ministerial-ndeg-000075-2026-mc-anexo-plan-maestro-mcch.pdf
8. Ministry of Health, recommendations to prevent altitude sickness (4 April 2026): https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minsa/noticias/1374711-minsa-recomendaciones-para-prevenir-el-mal-de-altura-durante-los-viajes-por-semana-santa
9. Ministry of Culture, rules of conduct at Machupicchu: https://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/normas-de-conducta/
10. PeruRail, how to plan your trip to Machu Picchu on your own (acclimatisation): https://www.perurail.com/es/como-armar-tu-viaje-a-machu-picchu-por-tu-cuenta/
11. PeruRail, bimodal service: https://www.perurail.com/es/servicio-bimodal/
12. PeruRail, Hidroeléctrica route: https://www.perurail.com/es/destinos/hidroelectrica/
13. UNESCO, City of Cuzco (altitude): https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/273/
14. UNESCO, Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (altitude): https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/274/