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Climate in Peru


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

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Map - Peru

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In Peru, the climate is subtropical desert on the coast (called la Costa), cloudy and foggy in winter and pleasantly warm in summer, while it's tropical with abundant rainfall in the Amazon forest (la Selva). In the Andes (la Sierra), the climate is temperate with rainy summers and dry winters up to high altitudes, while it is cold on the mountain peaks.
Peru is a South American country, located just south of the Equator and bordering the Pacific Ocean.

The climate in detail


  • The coast - Lima, Tumbes
  • The Andes - Arequipa, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Cajamarca
  • The forest - Iquitos
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The coast



Peru, climate of the coast
Along the Peruvian coast, the climate is very peculiar. The temperature varies little during the year and is almost always spring-like, but it almost never rains and therefore the landscape is desert.
The reason why along the coast there is a desert, is found in the Humboldt Current, which flows in the ocean and cools the lowest layers of the atmosphere, thereby inhibiting the formation of vertical air currents, which are necessary for rain cloud formation.
However, there's no shortage of fog and low clouds, which occur often, especially in the cold season, while sunshine prevails above 500 meters (1,600 feet), as happens in the Andean area lying above the fog layer.
In the north (see El Alto), the daily average temperature ranges from 18 °C (64 °F) in the coldest month (August) to 24 °C (75 °F) in the warmest month (February); in the center (see Lima and Trujillo), it ranges from 17 °C to 23 °C (63 to 73 °F); while in the south, near the border with Chile (see Ilo), it ranges from 15 °C to 22 °C (59 to 72 °F).

Lima

Climate chart - Lima
In Lima, the capital, located in the central part of the coast, basically it never rains.
During winter, from June to September, the sky is almost always overcast, and even if it doesn't rain there is a mist, the Garúa, which can deposit moisture on the ground. Temperatures are mild, with highs around 19/20 °C (66/68 °F) and lows only a few degrees below, but owing to the lack of sunshine and the high humidity, the capital's residents are cold, also because they often live in unheated houses. Temperature inversion favors the accumulation of pollutants, despite the proximity of the sea.

Fog in Lima

During summer, from December to April, the sun often shines, at least at noon and in the afternoon, especially in February and March, while in the early hours of the day, fog can still occur. Sometimes, banks of low clouds can form in this season as well, albeit more rarely. The temperature is warm but without excess, with highs around 27/28 °C (81/82 °F) from January to March.
In Lima, the sea is never very warm, even though it becomes acceptable for swimming from January to March.

Tumbes

Climate chart - Tumbes
In the northernmost part of the coast (in the regions of Tumbes and Piura, see Tumbes, Máncora, El Alto, Talara, Paita), temperatures are higher, however, here too they decrease a bit from June to November.
Furthermore, this area may experience a bit of rain from January to May, around 50/100 millimeters (2/4 inches) per year (but even more in the far north, see Tumbes).
In the northern part of the coast, the sea is warmer, in fact the water temperature ranges from 25 °C (77 °F) in February and March to 21 °C (70 °F) between August and October.

The phenomenon known as El Niño, which is an abnormal warming of the ocean waters, can influence this part of the coast (even a little further to the south, up to the region of Lambayeque, see Chiclayo), bringing warmer weather conditions and unusual rainfall in the years when it occurs.
During the most intense El Niño years (such as in 1983, 1998 and in 2016), the climate of this area can be transformed in the first months of the year (from January to May, but sometimes also in the previous December and in June), becoming tropical, ie hot and humid, with almost monsoon-like rains, especially in the northernmost part.
In Lima, usually it does not rain even during these periods, but the torrents that descend from inland can swell, causing floods and landslides. Furthermore, the air temperature can exceed 30 °C (86 °F) in summer, and sea temperature can exceed 25 °C (77 °F).

The Andes



Peru, climate of the Andes
The Andean Mountains cross Peru from north to south, clearly separating the coast from the Amazon forest. Here the climate varies with altitude and slope exposure.
There are several high peaks, among which Huascaran, the highest with its 6,768 meters (22,205 feet), Yerupajá, 6,617 mt (21,709 feet), and Coropuna, 6,425 mt (21,079 ft). Eternal snows are found at about 5,000 meters (16,500 ft).
In the Andean Plateau, which hosts several modern cities but also the ruins of pre-Columbian civilizations, there is a rainy season from September to May (but in the far south, the rainy season is shorter, and the rains are poor also in September and May).
In contrast with the coast, on the plateau, the dry season, from June to August, is sunny. The tropical sun's rays are very strong, especially at high altitude, hence they raise the temperature during the day by many degrees, but at night with clear skies it can get cold, even with possible frosts, especially in the south, which lies farther from the Equator and thus has a cooler winter.
In the Andean region, rainfall varies depending on slope exposure.
The western side, where it rains very rarely, is desert.

Arequipa

Climate chart - Arequipa
In Arequipa, located in the south at 2,500 meters (8,200 ft) above sea level, on the western slope of the Andes, ie the driest one, only 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain fall on average each year.
The temperature in Arequipa is mild throughout the year, with quite cold nights especially from May to September, that is, in the austral winter.
In Arequipa, the sun shines regularly for many months a year, in the long dry season; in the months when sometimes it can rain, from January to March, the sun shines a little less often.

Nazca

Climate chart - Nazca
The Nazca area, where the famous and mysterious Nazca Lines are found, is desert as well, but it's located around 500 meters (1,600 feet) above sea level, halfway between the Andes and the coast, in an area where you can find hot weather during the day, especially from December to March.

Nazca Lines Observation Tower

The plateau is generally arid, or at most moderately rainy: on average, from 350 to 800 millimeters (14 to 31.5 inches) of rain fall per year; rainfall is a bit more abundant in the north, where the rainy season is longer.

The eastern mountain range, called Cordillera Oriental, is rainier than the western one.
Daytime temperatures in the Andean area do not vary by much during the year, while nights are colder in the winter months, especially in the south. At night, the temperature can drop below freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) above 3,000 meters (9,800 ft), from May to August.

Cuzco

Climate chart - Cusco
In Cusco (or Cuzco), the ancient capital of the Inca empire, located at 3,400 meters (11,100 feet) above sea level, the maximum temperatures vary little throughout the year, from 20 °C (68 °F) between January and July to 22 °C (71.5 °F) in October and November (in fact, the spring months, before the rainy season, are the warmest). The minimum temperatures fluctuate more, and range from 8 °C (46.5 °F) in the December-March period (that is, the austral summer) to only 1 °C (34 °F) in July.
In Cusco, about 700 millimeters (27.5 in) of rain fall per year, almost all in the period from October to April, with a maximum from December to March, when rainfall is more frequent and abundant, while from May to August it almost never rains.

Cusco

The famous archaeological site of Machu Picchu, located at about 2,500 meters (8,200 ft) above sea level, is a little milder.

Machu Picchu

Lake Titicaca

On the shores of Lake Titicaca, shared between Peru and Bolivia, at 3,800 meters (12,500 ft) above sea level, the climate is colder than in Cusco, so much so that from May to September there are frequent night frosts.
Climate chart - Juliaca
However, in winter, with the sky usually clear, the temperature range between night and day is remarkable, to the point that during the day the temperature is similar to that of the summer months.
In Juliaca, 665 mm (26 in) fall per year, with a pattern similar to that of Cuzco.

Cajamarca

Climate chart - Cajamarca
In the north, in Cajamarca, at 2,600 meters (8,500 ft), the temperature is milder, and the daily average is around 13/15 °C (55/59 °F) throughout the year. However, there is a high diurnal range: lows are a few degrees above freezing in winter and around 6/7 °C (43/45 °F) in summer, while highs are around 21/22 °C (70/72 °F) all year round.
As mentioned, the rainy period in the north lasts longer than in the south; in Cajamarca, the rainiest period runs from October to April, but there are 7/8 days per month with some rain also in May and September.
The sun in Cajamarca does not shine very often; however, there is a maximum in the austral winter, that is, in the dry season.

The forest



Peru, climate of the Amazon rainforest
In the vast area of eastern Peru occupied by plains and hills and belonging to the Amazon Basin, there is a impenetrable rainforest, almost completely uninhabited. The northern region has an equatorial climate, hot and humid all year round, with frequent rainfall, while in the south the climate is tropical, with a relatively dry season in winter.

Iquitos

Climate chart - Iquitos
In Iquitos, in the north, 2,850 mm (112 in) of rain fall per year; the only months when the rainfall decreases a bit, to around 150 mm (6 in) per month, are July and August. The tropical rains usually occur in the form of downpours or thunderstorms in the afternoon.
The temperatures in this northern part of the Amazon are steadily high all year round.
The sun in Iquitos does not shine very often, however, it becomes a bit more frequent in the least rainy months, which as mentioned are July and August.

Amazon rainforest in the Iquitos area

Moving south, the relatively dry season in the Southern Hemisphere winter becomes more evident: in Pucallpa, in the central area, just 50/60 mm (2/2.4 in) of rain fall per month in the period from June to August, while in the southernmost part, in Puerto Maldonado, the least rainy season goes from May to September. Here, during winter there is also a decrease in temperature, in fact the average minimum temperature goes down to about 15 °C (59 °F).

The highest amount of rainfall is recorded in the eastern slope of the Andes, where the mountains descend towards the Amazon rainforest. Quince Mil, at 650 meters (2,100 ft) above sea level, on the north side of the Cordillera Oriental, receives 6 meters and a half (21 feet) of rain per year! Here the "best" period is from May to September, when "only" 300 to 350 mm (12/14 in) of rain fall per month.

When to go



It's not possible to find a single period when the entire Peru offers its best weather, in fact the best time in the Andean areas and in the Amazon is the Southern Hemisphere winter (June to August), while along the coast during this period the weather is cool, cloudy and foggy.
To find warm and sunny weather along the coast and in Lima, the best time is from December to April, and in particular the best period for swimming is from January to March.

What to pack



In winter (June to August): for Lima and the coast, bring clothes for spring and autumn, with a sweatshirt or sweater and a jacket. For the Amazon, bring loose-fitting, light clothing, possibly with long sleeves against mosquitoes, and a sweatshirt for the evening; in the southernmost part (see Puerto Maldonado), and also in the part of the Amazon located at an altitude higher than sea level, you can bring a sweater and a jacket for the evening. For the Andes, at around 2,500/4,000 meters (8,000/13,000 feet), for example in Cuzco, Arequipa and Lake Titicaca, bring clothes for spring and autumn for the day, but also a sweater, a warm jacket and a hat for the evening; a sun hat, sunscreen, hiking shoes. For the highest peaks, bring a down jacket, a scarf, gloves, warm boots.

In summer (December to February): for Lima and the coast, bring light clothing, a sweatshirt for the evening, an umbrella or a light raincoat north of Lima during El Niño years, a light jacket for the southern part of the coast. For the Amazon, bring tropics-friendly, loose-fitting clothing of natural fibers (cotton, linen) or synthetics that breathe, maybe with long sleeves against mosquitoes; in the part of the Amazon located at an altitude higher than sea level, you can add a sweatshirt or a light jacket for the evening. For the Andes, at around 2,500/4,000 meters (8,000/13,000 feet), for example in Cuzco, Arequipa and Lake Titicaca, bring clothes for spring and autumn (light for the day), and a sweater, a jacket and a hat for the evening; a sun hat, sunscreen, an umbrella or raincoat, hiking shoes. For the highest peaks, bring a down jacket, a scarf, gloves, warm boots.

Climate data - Peru


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Arequipa (2.300 meters)
Arequipa, location on the map
Arequipa, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.10101010887899910
Max temp.212121222222222222222222
Precip.303520000000005
Prec. days896000000001
Humidity64%69%65%51%33%25%24%24%26%29%35%47%
Day length130126122117113112113116120125129131
Sun hours778109109101010109

Ayacucho (2.700 meters)
Ayacucho, location on the map
Ayacucho, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.11101110977810111111
Max temp.242323242423232424252624
Precip.105125902515551035454565
Prec. days162014106223891014
Humidity60%63%62%57%52%48%48%46%48%49%48%54%
Day length128125121118115114114117120124127129
Sun hours666788887887

Cajamarca (2.700 meters)
Cajamarca, location on the map
Cajamarca, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.999875446878
Max temp.212121212121212222212121
Precip.10095135954520151540958075
Prec. days12151512843279811
Humidity69%71%74%70%68%60%57%56%58%63%64%67%
Day length125123121119118117118119121123124125
Sun hours555577876676

Chiclayo
Chiclayo, location on the map
Chiclayo, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.212222201918171616161719
Max temp.303232302826252425252628
Precip.5010500000000
Prec. days243100000000
Humidity73%72%72%73%75%77%78%78%77%76%75%74%
Day length125123121119118117118119121123124125
Sun hours887886667787
Sea temp222323212020191818181920

Cusco (3.300 meters)
Cusco, location on the map
Cusco, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.888642135788
Max temp.202020212121202122222221
Precip.16013511045100510204580120
Prec. days19151392112591316
Humidity64%66%65%60%54%50%48%47%50%53%54%61%
Day length128125121118115113114117120124128129
Sun hours545788886665

Ica (400 meters)
Ica, location on the map
Ica, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.181918161211101011121316
Max temp.323333322926252628293031
Precip.500000000000

Iquitos
Iquitos, location on the map
Iquitos, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.222222222222212122222222
Max temp.323232323231313233333332
Precip.255275350305270200165155190215245255
Prec. days171820191815141214161716
Humidity84%84%85%85%85%86%84%82%82%82%84%85%
Day length123122121120119119119120121122123123
Sun hours555566777665

Juanjui (300 meters)
Juanjui, location on the map
Juanjui, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.232323232222222223232324
Max temp.323231313131323333333232
Precip.110150180180130807070105170160125
Prec. days151515131299710131214
Humidity75%77%79%77%77%76%74%72%70%74%74%74%
Day length125123121119118117118119121123124125
Sun hours554456676555

Juliaca (3.800 meters)
Juliaca, location on the map
Juliaca, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.5442-2-4-4-2-1234
Max temp.181818181818181818192019
Precip.135110100451050520405585
Prec. days131085101145510
Humidity58%62%59%55%48%45%42%40%45%45%42%51%
Day length129126122117114112113116120125128130
Sun hours666991010109987

Lima
Lima, location on the map
Lima, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.202120191716161515161719
Max temp.272827252321201920212224
Precip.000000000000
Prec. days111012343101
Humidity79%79%79%82%83%83%82%83%83%82%80%80%
Day length127125121118115114115117120124127128
Sun hours888982111236
Sea temp222322201918181717171820

Marcona
Marcona, location on the map
Marcona, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.181818161614131313141617
Max temp.262727252321191920212224
Precip.000000000000
Prec. days000000000000
Humidity74%73%73%73%76%76%79%79%80%78%79%76%
Day length129126122117114112113116120125128130
Sea temp222322201918161616171820

Nazca (565 meters)
Nazca, location on the map
Nazca, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.181919171412101112131516
Max temp.343334323027262830313232
Precip.000000000000
Prec. days000000000000

Pisco
Pisco, location on the map
Pisco, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.192020181614141314151517
Max temp.282929272422212122232426
Precip.000000000000
Prec. days000000000000
Humidity77%76%76%79%82%82%82%82%81%80%79%79%
Day length128125121118115113114117120124128129
Sun hours667753233456
Sea temp222222201818171616171820

Piura
Piura, location on the map
Piura, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.222323222019181717181820
Max temp.343434333129282829303032
Precip.15203025155000000
Prec. days224300000001
Humidity66%66%67%68%71%73%75%74%73%72%70%68%
Day length124123121120119118119120121122124124
Sun hours787896788898
Sea temp222424222120191918192021

Pucallpa
Pucallpa, location on the map
Pucallpa, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.232223232221212122232323
Max temp.333232323232323334333333
Precip.14516519016510565505590170185180
Prec. days1411121296567111011
Humidity82%83%84%82%82%81%79%76%77%79%80%81%
Day length125124121119117116117119121123125126
Sun hours433455676644

Puerto Maldonado (200 meters)
Puerto Maldonado, location on the map
Puerto Maldonado, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.222222222019191921222323
Max temp.313132313030303233333232
Precip.345335275155105605565100165235280
Prec. days18181713128669131517
Humidity81%82%80%79%80%79%74%69%71%74%77%80%
Day length128125121118115114115117120124127129
Sun hours666677887776

Rioja (800 meters)
Rioja, location on the map
Rioja, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.191919191817171718181919
Max temp.282929302929292930302929
Precip.135135180145105807075105155145125
Prec. days14141514121010811131313
Humidity82%82%81%80%79%79%77%79%76%78%80%80%
Day length124123121120118118118119121122124125
Sun hours665666776566

Tacna (470 meters)
Tacna, location on the map
Tacna, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.181817151312111112131416
Max temp.282928262321202021232526
Precip.0000005510500
Prec. days000000110000
Humidity63%64%66%71%76%79%80%80%78%73%70%66%
Day length131127122117113111112115120125130132
Sun hours777765665888

Talara
Talara, location on the map
Talara, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.232424232220191818181921
Max temp.313232313028262526262729
Precip.10102510105000000
Prec. days123100000001
Humidity66%65%67%66%68%71%73%73%72%71%69%67%
Day length124122121120119119119120121122123124
Sun hours676885677777
Sea temp232424232221201919202021

Tarapoto (300 meters)
Tarapoto, location on the map
Tarapoto, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.222222222121202021222222
Max temp.343333333333333434343433
Precip.10511014512590706065851159580
Prec. days16161614131111912141415
Humidity72%75%77%76%75%76%74%72%72%73%72%72%
Day length124123121120118118118119121123124125
Sun hours554456666555

Tingo Maria (650 meters)
Tingo Maria, location on the map
Tingo Maria, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.212121212121202121212121
Max temp.302930303030303031313129
Precip.37536031526019512512095150255310325
Prec. days1918161413910811151417
Humidity78%78%76%75%73%73%71%69%69%71%74%77%
Day length126124121119117116116118121123125127
Sun hours444566676554

Trujillo
Trujillo, location on the map
Trujillo, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.192020181716161515151617
Max temp.252626242322212121212223
Precip.000000000000
Prec. days111100000000
Humidity81%81%81%84%84%84%84%84%85%84%82%82%
Day length125124121119117117117119121123125126
Sun hours776665545667
Sea temp222323222020191818181920

Tumbes
Tumbes, location on the map
Tumbes, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.232323232221202020202122
Max temp.313132323129282727282830
Precip.601301057535105000535
Prec. days81513830000002
Humidity74%74%75%73%76%77%79%79%80%79%78%75%
Day length123122121120120119119120121122123123
Sun hours556665544567
Sea temp242525242423222121222223

Yurimaguas
Yurimaguas, location on the map
Yurimaguas, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.232323222222212223232323
Max temp.313131323131323333323231
Precip.21020024021017511095105150185210195
Prec. days161617151412121113151515
Humidity79%81%81%79%78%77%75%72%73%75%77%79%
Day length124123121120118118118119121122124125
Sun hours554456666555



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 See also (cities or regions):
 Arequipa
 Ayacucho
 Cajamarca
 Chiclayo
 Cusco
 Iquitos
 Juanjui
 Juliaca
 Lima
 Others (expand)
 Marcona
 Pisco
 Piura
 Pucallpa
 Puerto Maldonado
 Rioja
 Tacna
 Talara
 Tarapoto
 Tingo Maria
 Trujillo
 Tumbes
 Yurimaguas

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