Visiting Peru in December

One of the best times for a holiday in Peru if you’re hoping to visit Lima, the capital is enjoying increasingly warm days – although it’s often humid – and plenty of festive fun leading up to Christmas. It’s also a perfect time to hit the beach all along the Pacific coast, with some great surfing and sunbathing right from Máncora right down to the south of Lima.

Save time for a day trip to the Islas Ballestas, where fur seals are breeding and calving in the protected reserve, or continue on to the colonial architecture and cultural sites of Arequipa, via the mysterious Nazca Lines archaeological site.

Elsewhere, rain is hitting the Amazon, Lake Titicaca, the Incan sites in the Sacred Valley and at Machu Picchu, as well as across the Andes, so it’s not the best month for hiking, trekking or seeing the country’s historic highlights.

Festivals: Peru’s Christmas celebrations begin well before December 25, starting with the Fiesta de la Purisima Concepción (or Inmaculada Concepción), with processions and religious ceremonies. In Cusco, a huge open-air market known as the Santurantikuy takes place on December 23 and 24, while Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) is a popular time for Peruvians to celebrate with family.

Best for: Lima, spotting wildlife, surfing and beaches

January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December

Region	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Coastal	● 26°C ☀️	● 27°C ☀️	● 27°C ☀️	● 24°C 🌤️	● 22°C 🌤️	● 20°C 🌥️	● 19°C 🌥️	● 19°C 🌥️	● 20°C 🌤️	● 21°C 🌤️	● 23°C ☀️	● 25°C ☀️
Machu Picchu	● 17°C 🌧️	● 17°C 🌧️	● 18°C 🌧️	● 18°C 🌦️	● 17°C ☀️	● 16°C ☀️	● 16°C ☀️	● 17°C ☀️	● 18°C 🌦️	● 19°C 🌦️	● 18°C 🌧️	● 17°C 🌧️
Amazon	● 28°C 🌧️	● 28°C 🌧️	● 28°C 🌧️	● 27°C 🌦️	● 27°C ☀️	● 26°C ☀️	● 26°C ☀️	● 27°C ☀️	● 28°C 🌦️	● 28°C 🌦️	● 28°C 🌧️	● 28°C 🌧️

Legend:
● Good weather
● Average weather
● Poor weather