Climate in Cusco (Peru)

In Cusco (or Cuzco), the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, located at 3,300 meters (10,800 ft) above sea level in the Peruvian Andes, the climate is temperate, spring-like during the day all year round, but with cold nights in winter, from May to August, when the minimum temperatures are near freezing (0 °C or 32 °F); on the contrary, in summer, from November to March, which is also the rainiest period, night temperatures are milder, around 8 °C (46 °F).
As mentioned, during the day, the temperatures are uniform throughout the year, and reach 20/22 °C (68/72 °F) when the sky is clear. This happens even in winter because of the big increase in temperature caused by the mountain sun. In contrast, in winter, a cold mountain breeze starts to blow at sunset, and on winter nights, there may be slight frosts.
The coldest record is -7 °C (19.5 °F), recorded in July 1979.
During the day, the temperature practically never reaches 30 °C (86 °F), but the mountain sun at tropical latitudes is very strong and requires appropriate protection.

Rainfall is moderate, since it amounts to 710 millimeters (28 inches) per year; it is concentrated in the summer months, in particular, it is equal to or higher than 100 mm (4 in) per month from December to March. In these months, showers occur almost daily, although they are often short-lived. In the winter season, from May to August, it rains very rarely. The rains begin to fall in September, although they are initially rare and brief.



The amount of sunshine in Cuzco is good in the dry season, from May to August, when blue skies prevail, it is decent in the intermediate periods, when the rains are frequent but short-lived, while from December to March, there is not much sun because of the frequent cloudiness, which can lead to rain showers.

Best Time

The best time to visit Cuzco is from May to October, since it is the driest and sunniest time of the year. However, it is winter, so you should be equipped for the cold at night, and be ready to uncover (but at the same time to protect yourself from the sun) during the day, when the air becomes mild.
In April and September, there are some showers, but generally of short duration and not heavy.

Cusco - Climate data

In Cusco, the average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 10.8 °C (51.5 °F), that of the warmest month (November) is of 14.9 °C (58.8 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 735 millimeters (28.9 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 2.4 mm (0.1 in) in the driest month (June) to 160 mm (6.3 in) in the wettest one (January). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2350 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Cusco - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 14.2 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 8.1 °C (46.5 °F) and a maximum of 20.3 °C (68.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) in January 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74 °F). However, it reached 26.5 °C (79.7 °F) in January 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 160 mm (6.3 in), distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (3 mph).

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February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 14.1 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 8.1 °C (46.5 °F) and a maximum of 20.1 °C (68.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) in February 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) in February 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 135 mm (5.3 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 14.1 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 7.9 °C (46.2 °F) and a maximum of 20.3 °C (68.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) in March 1991.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) in March 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (3 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 13.6 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 6.3 °C (43.3 °F) and a maximum of 20.9 °C (69.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.8 °C (33.4 °F) in April 2013.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 26.9 °C (80.4 °F) in April 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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May is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12.4 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 3.7 °C (38.7 °F) and a maximum of 21.1 °C (70.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33 °F). However, it dropped to -3 °C (26.6 °F) in May 2006.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74 °F). However, it reached 25.4 °C (77.7 °F) in May 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only 8.6 mm (0.3 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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June is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 11.3 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 2 °C (35.5 °F) and a maximum of 20.6 °C (69.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30 °F). However, it dropped to -4 °C (24.8 °F) in June 1993.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 24.2 °C (75.6 °F) in June 1994.
Precipitation amounts to only 2.4 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 10.8 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 1.2 °C (34.2 °F) and a maximum of 20.4 °C (68.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.3 °C (20.7 °F) in July 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 26 °C (78.8 °F) in July 2020.
Precipitation amounts to only 3.9 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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August is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 2.8 °C (37.1 °F) and a maximum of 21.2 °C (70.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30 °F). However, it dropped to -5.2 °C (22.6 °F) in August 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 25.8 °C (78.4 °F) in August 2014.
Precipitation amounts to only 8 mm (0.3 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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September is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 13.3 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 5.1 °C (41.2 °F) and a maximum of 21.6 °C (70.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -1.5 °C (29.3 °F) in September 2019.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76 °F). However, it reached 26 °C (78.8 °F) in September 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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October is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.4 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 7 °C (44.5 °F) and a maximum of 21.8 °C (71.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.4 °C (32.7 °F) in October 2007.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in October 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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November, the warmest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.9 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 7.6 °C (45.7 °F) and a maximum of 22.2 °C (71.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 2.9 °C (37.2 °F) in November 2020.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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December, the warmest month of the year, is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.5 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 7.9 °C (46.3 °F) and a maximum of 21 °C (69.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3 °C (37.4 °F) in December 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76 °F). However, it reached 29.9 °C (85.8 °F) in December 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).