South America

Peru in April

A superb shoulder: green valleys under increasingly dry skies, moderate crowds. Semana Santa processions in Cusco and Ayacucho are unforgettable, and busy.

BestDrying and clearing, Cusco highs near 68F (20C), cold nights returning

Machu Picchu, Peru — PeruPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

April is one of the best months of the year to visit Peru. A superb shoulder: green valleys under increasingly dry skies, moderate crowds. Semana Santa processions in Cusco and Ayacucho are unforgettable, and busy.

Weather: Drying and clearing, Cusco highs near 68F (20C), cold nights returning
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What April is like in Peru

April is a superb shoulder month. Skies dry and clear, Cusco highs sit near 68F (20C), and cold nights return. The valleys stay green from the rains, crowds are moderate and prices are fair. When Semana Santa falls in April, processions in Cusco and Ayacucho are a moving sight, and that week gets busy with domestic travelers.

It suits hikers, photographers and families who want good weather without peak crowds. Book the Inca Trail a few months ahead. If you are traveling during Holy Week, reserve Cusco lodging early. It is one of the best months of the year.

Make the most of April

What is especially good about Peru this month.

Green and dry together

You get the lush green of the wet season with increasingly dry skies, perfect for the Sacred Valley.

Semana Santa in Cusco

Holy Week processions fill Cusco and Ayacucho with music and devotion. The dates follow Easter, so they move each year.

Good trekking returns

Trails firm up and views open for Salkantay, Lares and the Inca Trail.

What to pack for April

Warm layers for cold nights
A light rain jacket for late showers
Sturdy hiking boots
Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat

Our timing tip

Spend your first two days in the lower Sacred Valley to adjust to the altitude before Cusco or any trek.

Book Peru for April.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Peru
Opens a hotel search for Peru in April, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for April
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Peru
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Peru
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Peru for April. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in April

Semana Santa

The week before Easter, dates vary year to year

Holy Week processions fill Cusco and, most famously, Ayacucho. Moving to witness, and a peak domestic travel week.

Things to do in Peru

Full guide

Machu Picchu

Entry runs on timed tickets and fixed circuits, with daily caps; buy weeks or months ahead in high season. First-slot mornings and late afternoons are the calm ends of the day.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The Inca Trail

The classic four-day approach through cloud forest and ruins to the Sun Gate. Permits are capped and sell out months ahead for May through September, and the trail closes every February.

Tickets and tours →

Cusco

The Inca capital wearing a baroque colonial shell: Qorikancha, the San Pedro market, and stone alleys at 11,150 feet. Arrive two days before any trek to acclimatize.

Tickets and tours →

The Sacred Valley

Pisac's market and ruins, Moray's crop-circle terraces, the Maras salt pans, and Ollantaytambo's fortress. Sleeping in the valley beats commuting from Cusco.

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A Salkantay or Lares trek

The great Inca Trail alternatives: higher and wilder on Salkantay, more village-based on Lares, with far easier booking and the same dry-season calendar.

Tickets and tours →

The Peruvian Amazon

Fly from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado for accessible lodges, or deeper via Iquitos. Warm and wet all year; dry-season months bring lower rivers and easier wildlife trails.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Aim for May or September: both sit inside the dry-weather window while dodging the June-through-August permit scramble and price peak.
At Machu Picchu, book the first morning entry or the final afternoon slots: the site breathes at the ends of the day, while late morning belongs to the train-tour wave.
Sleep in Aguas Calientes or Ollantaytambo the night before your visit rather than day-tripping from Cusco: you gain the quiet hours and lose the 4am bus panic.
Choose the Salkantay or Lares treks over the Inca Trail if permits are gone: comparable scenery, a fraction of the booking stress, and quieter campsites.

Know before you go

The Inca Trail closes for all of February, every year, for maintenance during the rains. Machu Picchu itself stays open year-round, reachable by train and bus, and alternative treks like Salkantay continue operating, weather permitting.
Machu Picchu runs on strict daily caps, timed entries, and defined walking circuits, with add-on peaks like Huayna Picchu capped even tighter: in high season, tickets must be secured weeks to months ahead, not at the gate.
Wet-season disruption is real but manageable: January through March can bring landslides that occasionally interrupt the rail line and close trails; build slack days around any rainy-season Machu Picchu visit.
Altitude is the invisible gatekeeper: Cusco sits at about 11,150 feet, higher than most visitors have ever slept. Plan two easy days before trekking, hydrate, and consider starting in the lower Sacred Valley.