January is the height of the Andean wet season and the height of the Peruvian summer – two statements that sound contradictory until you understand that Peru is three countries stacked side by side. Cusco takes about 146 mm of rain, Lima is at its sunniest and warmest of the year at 24°C, and the Amazon is hot and flooded.
The weather, precisely
Peru sits in the southern hemisphere, so January is midsummer. But altitude, not latitude, runs this country:
- The coast (Lima, Paracas, Nazca) – January is the best month. The garúa, the grey coastal fog that smothers Lima from roughly May to November, has lifted. The city is sunny, 24°C and at the beach.
- The Andes (Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu) – the worst month, or close to it. Daytime temperatures barely move all year at about 16°C, but this is peak rain: heavy afternoon downpours, low cloud, mud.
- The Amazon (Puerto Maldonado, Iquitos) – hot at about 31°C, humid and in high water. Rivers are at their fullest, which opens up creeks and flooded forest to boats but makes trails impassable.
That inversion is the single most useful thing to know about Peru: the best month for Lima is the worst month for Cusco, and vice versa.
The Inca Trail in January
The classic Inca Trail is open in January but at its wettest, and operators run far fewer departures. Expect mud, leeches in the cloud forest and views lost to cloud. Landslides occasionally close sections at short notice.
More important: the Inca Trail closes for the whole of February every year for maintenance and recovery. If your dates run into February, that decision is made for you – see Peru in February.
Machu Picchu itself stays open all year. Alternative treks – Salkantay, Lares, Choquequirao – also run in January, in the same wet conditions.
What January is genuinely good for
Continue planning your Peru trip
- Lima. The capital is at its best – sunny, warm, with the cliff-top parks of Miraflores and Barranco actually pleasant. Peru’s food scene is world-class and Lima is where it is.
- The southern coast – Paracas, the Ballestas islands, the Huacachina oasis and the Nazca lines are all at their sunniest.
- Green Andes. The Sacred Valley in the wet season is lush and spectacular; it is brown by July.
- Far fewer people and lower prices at Machu Picchu and in Cusco – if you accept the weather, you get the site without the peak-season crush.
- The Amazon at high water, which is the better season for wildlife viewing by boat.
Altitude, which matters more than weather
Cusco sits at about 3,400 m and altitude sickness is common there regardless of season or fitness. The standard practical advice is to arrive gently, spend the first day doing very little, drink plenty of water, go easy on alcohol, and consider sleeping lower in the Sacred Valley (around 2,800 m) before going up to Cusco.
Symptoms that do not settle, or that worsen, mean descending. This is a medical matter rather than a travel one – talk to a doctor or a travel clinic before you go, particularly if you have any heart or lung condition or are pregnant.
Prices and crowds
Low season in the Andes and the cheapest time to see Machu Picchu, with the caveat that you may see it through cloud. High season on the coast, where Peruvians take their summer holidays – Lima beaches and Paracas are busy. See what a trip to Peru costs.
What to pack
A genuine waterproof and quick-drying layers for the Andes. Warm layers for Cusco nights, which are cold year-round at altitude. Sun protection everywhere – UV at 3,400 m is severe even under cloud. Insect repellent for the Amazon and the lower valleys. Broken-in boots with grip if you are trekking in mud.
The January 2027 calendar
- Friday 1 January – New Year’s Day, a national public holiday.
- Through January – peak Andean wet season; about 146 mm at Cusco.
- Through January – the garúa has lifted; Lima and the southern coast at their sunniest.
- Through January – Inca Trail open but wet, with reduced departures. It closes entirely for February.
- Through January – Amazon at high water; boat-based wildlife viewing at its best.
- Through January – Peruvian summer holidays; the coast is busy, the Andes are not.
Read alongside
- Peru in February – and the Inca Trail closure.
- Peru in May – the dry season begins.
- Best time to visit Peru – all twelve months compared.
- Peru in 10 days – how the three zones connect.
- Cusco itinerary – including acclimatisation days.
- Peru travel guide – coast, Andes and Amazon.
- Trip to Peru cost – low-season Andean numbers.
Frequently asked
Is January a bad time to visit Peru?
It is the worst month for the Andes and the best for the coast. If Machu Picchu is the priority, January is a wet gamble; if Lima, Paracas and Nazca are, it is the peak.
Is the Inca Trail open in January?
Yes, but at its wettest, with fewer departures, mud and cloud. Note that it closes completely for the whole of February every year.
Is Machu Picchu open in January?
Yes, all year. You may well see it through cloud, but it is also the cheapest and least crowded time to go.
What is the garúa?
The persistent grey coastal fog that sits over Lima from roughly May to November. In January it has gone, which is why the capital is sunny and warm in the southern summer.
How high is Cusco?
About 3,400 m. Altitude sickness is common there whatever your fitness. Arrive gently, rest on the first day, and consider sleeping lower in the Sacred Valley first. Speak to a doctor or travel clinic before travelling, especially with any heart or lung condition.
Is the Amazon good in January?
It is high-water season – hot, humid and flooded. Boats reach creeks and flooded forest that are inaccessible later, which makes it strong for wildlife viewing, but forest trails are not walkable.
Is Peru cheap in January?
In the Andes, yes – it is the low season for Cusco and Machu Picchu. On the coast it is Peruvian summer holiday season and prices rise.
How cold is Cusco in January?
Daytime highs sit around 16°C all year; what changes is rain, not temperature. Nights are cold at altitude in every month.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
