When to go · Peru
Peru in January
Mixed month. Andes rainy season: afternoon storms, landslide risk on the Machu Picchu line; Lima sunny.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Medium
- Peru
- Prices
- Medium
- Peru
Verdict
Andes rainy season: afternoon storms, landslide risk on the Machu Picchu line; Lima sunny.
Weather in January
- Southern Andes · Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Punorainy
Dry, sunny days and frosty nights May–Sep; rain most afternoons Dec–Mar, with landslides. Machu Picchu is lower and more humid than Cusco.
- Arequipa and Colca · Arequipa, Colca Canyonrainy
Sunny most of the year; short summer rains Jan–Feb.
- Central coast · Lima, Paracas, Nazcabest weather
Almost no rain. Sunny summer Dec–Apr; grey mist (garúa) and 15–18 °C Jun–Oct in Lima.
- Amazon · Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, Manurainy
Hot and humid; drier Jun–Sep with better trails; river levels high Jan–May (good for boats around Iquitos).
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
New Year
1 Jan
Public holiday.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Peru
- Medium
- Prices · Peru
- Medium
What to pack
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
Where to go in January
Rated best or good this month
Central coast
Best weather of the year (Lima, Paracas, Nazca)
Warm, sunny; beaches busy.