Visiting Peru is a great trip any time of the year, but how about one of the most incredible places there? What is the best time to visit Machu Picchu? Let’s find out!
Picture by Eddie Kiszka on Unsplash
Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, so it’s easy to understand why it’s a bucket-list experience for so many travelers. It’s a magnificent place that can’t be denied, with an interesting history and even more cultural significance.
It attracts many, many travelers each year, all for different reasons and looking for unique aspects of the place. It’s a paradise for photographers, with dramatic perspectives and changing light; spiritual people might find a sense of awe and peace; and adventurers go looking for trekking opportunities on the multiple hiking routes.
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A bit of history
Machu Picchu is a fascinating place, with quite an interesting history. It was built by the Inca Emperor Pachacuti around the year 1450. Its actual purpose is still a mystery. The Incas didn’t have a written language or registers that we can read, so historians estimate it might be a royal estate, a ceremonial center, or a religious retreat.
It was so remote and hidden that the Spanish invaders never got there, and it was abandoned in the 16th century. It faded into obscurity, known only by locals, practically untouched until it was “rediscovered” in 1911. And now it is Peru’s top tourist attraction! A Wonder of the World and a UNESCO Heritage Site.
Best Season to Visit Machu Picchu
Let’s get a bit more creative and divide the year into two unique seasons based on experience instead of the traditional summer or spring. This way you’ll have a better time choosing what kind of experience you want to have, and go on the suggested months.
A Visual Season
This is the favorite season for photographers and artists. From the months of May to September it’s the dry season in Peru, so the views are clear and dramatic. The air is crisp, and the sky is a vivid blue, with the sun illuminating the whole land, from Machu Picchu to Huayna Picchu.
This coincides with the high tourist season, which is usually from June to August, so you’ll have to book entrance tickets, trains, and accommodations well in advance if you don’t want to miss the experience.
A Spiritual Season
The next season is popularly known as the spiritual season, and goes from January to March, which is also the wet season. It’s a very unique time to visit Machu Picchu, as opposed to the clear skies from the last season, the weather is more moody, and a bit mystical. You can admire the fog rolling over the peaks, and the rainfall feeding the jungle. The air is humid and warm, and while the sky is gray, the vegetation is greener than ever.
There are fewer tourists, as many don’t appreciate the rainy weather, so you can enjoy a more intimate experience in the place. And the views are incredible, more varied and unique than any other season. Just be prepared for unexpected showers and you’re good to go.
Photo by Gabriel Rojas on Unsplash
Machu Picchu: A paradise for all travelers
The best time to visit Machu Picchu for photographers
Let’s say you’re looking for the perfect light over the perfect landscape. If you want to capture the vegetation at its greenest, go in April, just after the rainy season has ended. The skies are clear, but there’s still a bit of that mystic mist that makes the mountains look like they’re floating on a cloudy sea.
To enjoy the most sunlight with fewer crowds, try September or October, when you can hike Huayna Picchu. From the trail, you can get the perfect “postcard shot” of Machu Picchu, and also visit lesser-known places like the Temple of the Moon.
The best time to visit Machu Picchu for solo travelers
You want to avoid crowds and enjoy Machu Picchu at your own pace, and we respect that. The best months for it are from mid-January to March, and from October to early December. This is when fewer tourists visit Machu Picchu, so you can explore peacefully and take your time to observe and reflect.
The best activity to enjoy these peaceful moments on your own is walking the Sun Gate Trail. It’s a quiet and meditative hike that will take you above the ruins, offering incredible views of the citadel surrounded by mountains. Even more spiritual when you learn that this was the main entrance for Inca pilgrims.
The best time to visit Machu Picchu for greenery lovers
You can’t take the plants with you, but you can enjoy them during your trip, and the best moment to get the most green on Machu Picchu is from late-March to June. This is right after the rainy season ended, so everything is brilliantly green, and the weather is perfect for long walks.
If you love the greenery, you have to visit the Machu Picchu Botanical Garden in Aguas Calientes. It’s a quick walk from the town and close to the Manuel Chavez Ballon Museum. There you can see beautiful native orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and plenty of medicinal plants that were used by the Incas. It’s quiet, as many people overlooked it, but is worth a visit.
Photo by Junior Moran on Unsplash
The best time to visit Machu Picchu for hikers
Hikers love clear skies and dry weather, as the rains usually mean dangerous or closed trails. If your main goal while visiting Machu Picchu is walk and hike as much as you can, go from May to September. If you start early you can see a bit of mist and get some distance done in the cold morning.
A good challenge for the experimented hikers is the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It’s a 4-day trip that will take you through Andean passes, cloud forests, and ancient ruins, just like the ancient Incas did. You do have to book it months in advance, as only 500 permits are granted per day.
The best time to visit Machu Picchu for families
Traveling with kids means less flexibility, as you can’t just take off at any time. Unless your kids are home-schooled, you’ll likely be traveling during school holidays, so in summer, April or October. And those times are excellent for clear weather and sunny days.
A great activity for families is to explore the Sacred Valley with a day trip to Ollantaytambo. It’s a light but fulfilling adventure, great to teach kids about the history and culture of the place. Plus, the kids love climbing the terraces and exploring the stone structures.
Photo by Meg von Haartman on Unsplash
The best time to visit Machu Picchu for budget travelers
Since the most popular time is during the summer, budget travelers prefer to travel to Machu Picchu from February to early April, or from October to December. On the rainy season there are few travelers, so the flights, trains, and hotels are cheaper, and you can get off-season discounts! While after October there’s a mini low season, but the weather is still good.
To save some money on activities, you can skip the expensive train and go by bus. You can also try to eat at the local markets, and stay in hostels or guesthouses in Cusco or Aguas Calientes. This is also a great way to have a more authentic experience and get to know the city and its people better.
Final Thoughts
Machu Picchu is a great destination for all kinds of travelers. No matter what your interests are, you’ll find something unique to do in the season of your choice! Prepare your packs and head to the beautiful Peru to enjoy one of the most incredible places in the world.