March is the turn. The Inca Trail reopens on 1 March, Cusco’s rainfall drops by a quarter to about 97 mm, and the Andes are as green as they get. Semana Santa falls at the end of the month in 2027, with Easter on 28 March – one of the most striking weeks in the Peruvian year.
The weather, precisely
March is still wet in the Andes, but it is wet in a different way from January: showers rather than sustained rain, more clear mornings, and the landscape at maximum green. The coast holds its summer through March before the garúa returns in April and May.
The Inca Trail reopens
The classic four-day trail reopens on 1 March after its February closure. What to know:
- Early March is muddy. The trail has just come through the wet season and the first departures walk on soft ground.
- Permits are capped daily and are released well in advance. March permits are easier to get than June to August, which sell out months ahead.
- You cannot walk it independently – a licensed operator and guide are required.
- Alternative treks – Salkantay, Lares, Choquequirao – run all month and are less regulated.
Semana Santa, 22 to 29 March 2027
Continue planning your Peru trip
Holy Week is one of the largest religious observances in Peru and it varies enormously by city.
- Ayacucho holds the most famous Semana Santa in the country – ten days of processions, night vigils, flower carpets and a city that fills to several times its normal population. Accommodation books out far in advance.
- Cusco’s Señor de los Temblores – the Lord of the Earthquakes – is carried through the streets on Holy Monday, 22 March, showered with red ñucchu flowers. It commemorates the 1650 earthquake and it is the most important religious day in the Cusco calendar.
- Thursday 25 and Friday 26 March are national public holidays. Banks, offices and many shops close; long-distance buses fill.
- Traditional Holy Week food appears everywhere – fish dishes and the twelve-dish Good Friday meal.
Semana Santa is a domestic travel peak. Book internal flights, trains and Machu Picchu entry well ahead of it.
What March is good for
- Green Andes without February’s rain. The Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain and the Cusco ruins are at their most photogenic.
- Cheap Machu Picchu, outside Semana Santa week.
- The coast, still in summer – Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca all good.
- The Amazon, still at high water.
Altitude
Cusco is about 3,400 m. Altitude sickness is common and unrelated to fitness. Arrive gently, rest the first day, drink water, go easy on alcohol, and consider sleeping lower in the Sacred Valley first. Worsening symptoms mean descending. Consult a doctor or travel clinic before the trip, particularly with any heart or lung condition or if pregnant.
Prices and crowds
Low season for most of the month, then a sharp Semana Santa spike. The first three weeks of March are among the best value of the Peruvian year for the Andes. See what a trip to Peru costs.
What to pack
A waterproof and quick-drying layers. Warm clothing for Cusco nights. Strong sun protection at altitude. Broken-in boots with grip for a muddy trail. Insect repellent for the Amazon and lower valleys.
The March 2027 calendar
- Monday 1 March – the classic Inca Trail reopens after its February closure.
- Through March – Andean rain easing to about 97 mm; landscape at maximum green.
- Monday 22 March – the Señor de los Temblores procession in Cusco, the city’s most important religious day.
- 22 to 29 March – Semana Santa; Ayacucho holds the country’s largest observance. Domestic travel peak.
- Thursday 25 and Friday 26 March – national public holidays.
- Sunday 28 March – Easter Sunday.
Read alongside
- Peru in February – and the Inca Trail closure.
- Peru in April – the shoulder month before the dry season.
- Peru in May – the dry season proper.
- Best time to visit Peru – all twelve months compared.
- Peru in 10 days – how the three zones connect.
- Cusco itinerary – including acclimatisation days.
- Trip to Peru cost – shoulder-season numbers.
Frequently asked
When does the Inca Trail reopen?
1 March, after closing for the whole of February. Early March is muddy, and permits are capped daily – though March is far easier to book than the June-to-August peak.
Can you hike the Inca Trail independently?
No. A licensed operator and guide are required, and permits are limited and dated. Alternative treks such as Salkantay and Lares are less regulated.
When is Semana Santa in Peru in 2027?
22 to 29 March, with Easter Sunday on the 28th. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday – 25 and 26 March – are national public holidays.
Where is the best Semana Santa in Peru?
Ayacucho, by common agreement – ten days of processions and flower carpets, with the city filling to several times its usual size. Book far ahead.
What is the Señor de los Temblores?
The Lord of the Earthquakes, carried through Cusco on Holy Monday and showered with red ñucchu flowers. It commemorates the 1650 earthquake and is Cusco’s most important religious day.
How wet is Cusco in March?
About 97 mm, down a quarter from February. Showers rather than sustained rain, with more clear mornings and the greenest landscape of the year.
Is March a good time for Machu Picchu?
Yes, outside Semana Santa week – green, cheap and far less crowded than mid-year, with rain easing.
Is the coast still good in March?
Yes. Lima holds its summer through March at about 25°C before the garúa fog returns in April and May.
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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.
