Essential Peru - Inti Raymi Festival Departure

The diverse geography of Peru results in a very varied climate between different regions. Lima and Paracas fall within the coastal desert region of Peru, with a mild climate and very little rain all year. From April to November, the sky is almost always grey and cloudy and the air is humid. Average daytime temperatures in Lima remain between about 18C-24C (64F-75F) during this period, with July and August typically being the coolest. Nights are also mild – typically 15C-18C (59F-64F). From December to March, the skies in Lima are clear and temperatures at their warmest, but elsewhere in the country this is the rainy season.

Cuzco and the Andes have a temperate climate. December to March is the rainy season in Cuzco/the Andes and April to November is the dry season, characterised by clear skies and strong sunshine in the mornings, sometimes clouding over as the day progresses. Daytime temperatures are usually pleasant (around 20C/68F on average) but night times only 5C-10C (41F-50F), except for May, June, July and August when days are cooler and nights are often close to, or a few degrees below, freezing. In the Andes, anything is possible at any time of year, including cloud, rain or even snow, and rapid, unexpected changes.

Lake Titicaca and Colca Canyon are high (12,460ft/3,800m and 11,810ft/3,600m above sea level respectively). The sun is strong but the air can be cold, and nights can be close to freezing. You need to bring warm layers and a waterproof or windstopper. Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are in the cloud forest with large amounts of precipitation year-round as clouds move up from the Amazon Basin. Rain here can be heavy but is seldom prolonged. Cold fronts sometimes occur from July to August.

Peru is affected by El Niño, a weather phenomenon where warming of Pacific Ocean surface water off South America drives a shift in the atmospheric circulation resulting in abnormally high levels of rainfall over parts of South America. These events occur at irregular intervals of two to seven years, and last nine months to two years. In El Niño years, temperatures in Lima can be much warmer than described above but it still rarely rains in Lima.

This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

These departures have been scheduled to coincide with Inti Raymi in Cuzco. Translated as the Festival of the Sun, it is the most important of all Andean festivals. During this time, Cuzco is filled with colourful processions and other festivities including traditional dances and even animal sacrifice. Cuzco itself will be very busy during the festival season.

Suitability: This is a busy itinerary encompassing the highlights of southern Peru. Although it is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate), the altitude can make physical activity more tiring than at sea level. Cuzco, Arequipa and many of the Inca sites (including Machu Picchu) are built on hillsides and sightseeing often involves walking up and down steep streets or on uneven steps or terraces. As such, you should have a good level of mobility and a reasonable level of fitness.

Altitude: This trip spends time above 9,842ft (3,000m); please refer to the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for more information and advice on how to limit the effects of altitude sickness. The tour allows for gradual acclimatisation, visiting Abancay (7,874ft/2,400m) before moving onto Cuzco (11,155ft/3,400m), then Lake Titicaca (12,467ft/3,800m) and Colca Canyon (11,926ft/3,635m). Although we do not linger there, the maximum altitude visited on this trip is at the Patapampa Pass (16,109ft/4,910m), which we drive over near Chivay, Colca Canyon. Please ensure your travel insurance covers you up to this altitude. It can be cold at these altitudes, particularly from May to August (although these months benefit from lower rainfall), so bring appropriate clothing.

Maximum altitude: 16,109ft (4,910m)

Maximum sleeping altitude: 14,436ft (4,400m)

Journeys: You should be aware that the size of Peru means this trip involves some long drives and early starts. The longest is between Nazca and Abancay and takes around nine to 10 hours. The private buses used are comfortable and the scenery is outstanding. There are several stops to break up long journeys. The road between Nazca and Cuzco becomes increasingly winding as we climb higher into the mountains, and this (combined with the increase in altitude) may affect you if you are prone to travel sickness.

Delays: Strikes are not uncommon in Peru and, while these are generally peaceful protests, they can result in roadblocks and disruption to travel. In this event, your leader will amend your itinerary if necessary to minimise the impact.

Machu Picchu ticket availability: Access to Machu Picchu is strictly limited, and we purchase the requisite Machu Picchu ticket on your behalf. Tickets are issued on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis; to avoid stockpiling, individual traveller passport details are required at the time of booking, so we can only apply for these once you book with us. For these reasons, we highly recommend you book your trip as far in advance as possible.

Therefore, while a specific departure date may show as ‘Guaranteed’ on our website, Machu Picchu remains subject to availability, and we cannot guarantee the tickets will be available on any given date. Machu Picchu tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable, at a cost of US$55.

In the event tickets are sold out for the departure you are looking at, we will discuss alternative options such as a different travel date, alternative circuits or a refund of any monies paid. We highly recommend you do not book any non-refundable flights until your place and tickets are secured.

Booking your flights through us means we take care of all of this for you, giving you full peace of mind over your travel arrangements. For more details on booking flights with us, see our flights page.

Visiting Machu Picchu a second time: If you wish to visit Machu Picchu twice, you need to purchase a second entrance ticket. Tickets are sold out months in advance, so please let us know upon booking whether you would like a second ticket and we will do our best to secure one for you. You need to provide us with your preferred entry time (6am, 7am, 8am or 9am). The second visit takes place on the morning of Day 9 and we aim to secure the same circuit, which allows you explore unguided. If the same circuit isn't available, it may be possible to explore a different circuit, but this incurs an additional cost to hire a guide (US$130).

Please note, it is essential you read the Machu Picchu regulations in the Important Information section of the Trip Notes before you book this trip.