Peru in December
December is a month of real tradeoffs in Peru. Holiday travel bumps crowds despite the rain. Fine for a Cusco-plus-train trip with flexible days; less fine for multi-day treks.
Weather
Wet season proper, Cusco highs near 68F (20C); Lima brightening into summer
Crowds
Prices
Things to do in Peru
- 1
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 ↗
- 2
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.
- 3
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.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
Lake Titicaca. The world's highest large lake, shared with Bolivia, with island homestays that are the antidote to checklist travel. Even higher than Cusco: acclimatize first.
- 8
Lima's food scene. Build in a full day and two serious meals, ceviche at lunch like a local. From June to October expect the coastal garua mist, gray skies with almost no actual rain.
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.
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.
Peru in December: quick answers
Is December a good time to visit Peru?
December is a month of real tradeoffs in Peru. Holiday travel bumps crowds despite the rain. Fine for a Cusco-plus-train trip with flexible days; less fine for multi-day treks.
What is the weather like in Peru in December?
Wet season proper, Cusco highs near 68F (20C); Lima brightening into summer.
Is Peru crowded in December?
Crowds in Peru are moderate in December; timed bookings still help at the biggest sights.