We suggest you keep two things in mind when planning your trip to Peru: climate and culture.

The coast tends to be mild year round, only really having two distinct seasons: warm and cool. It is sunnier in summer (from mid-November to late-March) and can be overcast or even foggy in winter (from April to mid-November), depending on your proximity to the ocean. It almost never rains on the coast. A fine misty drizzle is the most precipitation you may experience. So, bring a swimsuit if you are coming in the summer, and a light jacket if you are coming in the winter.

The mountains will vary in temperature and weather patterns according to the terrain, the latitude and the altitude. The higher you go, the colder it is. Also, the higher you go, the "thinner" the atmosphere, as pressure drops, so when you stand in the sun you can feel really warm, or if you stand in the shade, you can feel really cold. The air tends to be really dry and heat from the sun travels easily through the atmosphere. It can get hot or cold just as easily. Because of the altitude, the seasons are inverted in the mountains. When it is summer on the coast, it is "winter" in the mountains, meaning, it is the rainy season. This is from mid-November to late March. It is also the warmer time of year in the mountains. From April to mid-November you get the dry and colder season in the mountains.

When you travel will depend on what you prefer to experience: the rainy season may be sometimes overcast or rainy, but the mountains and valleys are covered in a spectacular green and speckled with flowers of all colors. The land explodes with life and both flora and fauna show their true colors. Major festivals take place as water is still seen as a bringer of life and in some places worshipped. Agricultural practices are in full swing so you get to experience part of life and culture as it is truly lived in the Andes.

In the dry season, the sky is clear and the sun shines intensely. The wild grasses that cover the mountainsides dry out and turn into a wonderful golden yellow. The bright blue sky contrasting with the yellow hues of the hillsides is a sight you must not miss. The skies at night will amaze you with their profusion of stars. Major festivals also take place at this time of year, as the sun is also valued as a bringer of warmth and thus life. Harvest-time is a wonderful time to have access to the fresh produce that comes from the farms. Heavenly flavors and aromas abound. There really is no best time to come to Peru. Anytime is a good time. Whenever you come, you will find that your travel experience will be unforgettable.

Bring a warm coat year round. Layers are best as you can adjust your body temperature by peeling off items of clothing according to whether you feel warm or cold.

The rainforest is hot and humid and is rainy year round, but it is especially rainy in the wet season (mid-November to late March). Bring a folding umbrella or lightweight breathable raincoat. Quick drying fabrics and shoes are best.

Here are some average temperatures and altitudes for several cities around Peru.

Culture
Peruvians like to celebrate life and there is no time of year where somewhere some community is not having a festival of some sort. You can spend the entire calendar year traveling from festivity to festivity; there are some 3,000 festivals celebrated every year. Intense Peru has elaborated a festivity list with the most important events around the country (go to Resources on the Main Menu).

Festivals can be organized for various reasons: religious festivals, festivals related to agricultural cycles, civic and governmental festivals and holidays, community celebrations to tighten ties between community members, festivals to commemorate important dates or events, festivals to keep traditions alive, such as music, dance, games or food, festivals designed to reinforce or redesign history, festivals of courtship, the list goes on and on.

What is common to most major festivals is that these events are an explosion of sounds, colors, textures, tastes and scents. Some festivals may be respectfully deferential in tone, some may be sad in tone, and some may be just plain wild, but all reflect a spirit full of faith and devotion, and are carried out in a way that impacts all the senses.

A great part of the religious festivals in Peru stem from the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. Celebrations of important dates in the calendar as well as important dates in the lives of saints are commemorated. Christianity came to Peru with the Spanish conquistadors so this belief system has been around about 500 years. Traditional systems of belief, some dating back far longer than that are still alive in many parts of the country, particularly in the rainforest areas. And in many other parts of the country there has been a fusion of both worlds. A great example is the grand parade of the Virgen de la Candelaria in Puno. During this Carnival-time parade (February) you see thousands of people dancing down the streets, marching bands, troupes of dancers wearing costumes representing different characters, such as angels dancing together with nature spirits. A perfect example of what can be seen around the country: a fusion of the new and the old, a looking forward and back in time at the same time, a marriage of the heavenly father figure with the earthly mother goddess, the Pachamama.

Wherever you may be do not miss an opportunity to participate in these festivals, they will be an important part of the memorable experiences you will live in Peru. You can refer to Resources on our main menu for further Festivities’ detail.

Some examples
January:     Festival de la Marinera in La Libertad, a courtship dance.
February:   Carnival in most regions, and the celebration of the Candelaria Virgin in Puno (one of the biggest                   religious parades in the world).
March:       Wine Grape Harvest Festival in Ica
May:          Festivals in the central and southern highlands, Star of Snow Festival (Qoyllor Riti)
June:         Inti Raymi (traditional Inca celebration), San Juan (all over the rainforest region)