Visiting Peru in November

Summer is approaching in the southern hemisphere, with the dry season firmly at an end across much of Peru, and the rains sweeping back in again. A lot of the outdoor attractions are off the cards: not only the more remote and more challenging trails in the Andes, but also Lake Titicaca which isn’t at its best in the rainy months, and the Amazon as it’s harder to spot the wildlife from the river through the thicker vegetation.

It’s not impossible to hike to Machu Picchu – and the ancient city itself is still open to visitors – but the trails are now muddier and less pleasant to walk. If you’re determined to visit, consider exploring the Sacred Valley by train or sightseeing by car to avoid the worst of the weather. The Incan sites will be quieter this month, but you’re unlikely to enjoy those classic clear blue skies.

The temperatures are rising again in Lima where the winter mist has started to vanish but before the worst heat of the summer. Combine a visit with a trip to the coast, where surf season is underway – or consider a flight north to Máncora where it’s less busy than the beaches close to the capital, with gentler waves for beginners.

If you’re sticking around Lima, fur seals are breeding and calving this month again at the protected reserve of Islas Ballestas, where you can also spot penguins and other bird and marine life on boat trips. It’s easy to make a longer trip onwards to Arequipa, where it’s also pleasantly warm, for its cultural sites and colonial architecture, stopping at the Nazca Lines along the way.

Festivals: Head to Puno on Lake Titicaca for Puno Week, from November 5, celebrating the legendary emergence from the lake of Manco Capac, the first Inca. Expect street dancing and locals dressing up in costumes.

Best for: Lima, spotting wildlife, surfing

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