November is the handover. The Andean rains return in earnest – about 71 mm at Cusco – while Lima finally throws off the garúa and starts its summer. It is a cheap, quiet month in the mountains and the beginning of the best season on the coast.
The weather, precisely
Cusco’s rainfall roughly doubles from October and keeps climbing through to January. Rain comes as heavy afternoon showers with clear mornings, so November trekking is possible but unreliable, and views cannot be counted on.
The coastal story is the opposite and it is the reason to look at November seriously: the grey season ends. Lima brightens through the month and is properly sunny by December.
The Andes: cheap, green, unreliable
- Machu Picchu is at its cheapest and quietest alongside January and February, with a real chance of cloud.
- The Inca Trail is open and permits are easy, but trails are wet and the cloud forest section is muddy.
- The landscape greens again after the dry season browning – the Sacred Valley starts looking like January rather than August.
- High-altitude day trips such as Rainbow Mountain become less reliable; snow and cloud can close the view entirely.
The coast comes into season
Continue planning your Peru trip
Worth understanding why Lima is grey for half the year at all. The Humboldt Current runs cold water up the Peruvian coast from the south, chilling the air above it and producing the garúa – a low marine fog that sits over Lima from roughly May to November without ever really raining. The same current makes these among the most productive fishing waters on earth, and is why Humboldt penguins and sea lions live at a tropical latitude at the Ballestas islands.
From November the pattern breaks down and the coast turns sunny. Paracas, the Ballestas, Huacachina and the Nazca lines are all good now, and Lima’s restaurant terraces reopen to actual sunshine.
Two dates
- Monday 1 November – All Saints’ Day, a national public holiday. Families visit cemeteries; in the Andes the observance on the 2nd involves bringing food and drink to the graves, and it is a significant day in Andean tradition rather than a quiet one.
- Early November – Puno Week. Puno marks its founding with a reenactment of Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo emerging from Lake Titicaca to found the Inca empire, plus days of parades. Puno is at 3,800 m, so acclimatise first.
The Amazon
Water levels are rising again and the heat is constant at about 32°C. It is a transitional month – neither the walkable trails of the low season nor the full flooded-forest access of high water.
Altitude
Cusco about 3,400 m, Puno about 3,800 m. Altitude sickness is common and unrelated to fitness. Arrive gently, rest the first day, drink plenty of water, moderate alcohol, and consider sleeping lower in the Sacred Valley first. Symptoms that worsen mean descending. Consult a doctor or travel clinic before travelling, particularly with a heart or lung condition or if pregnant.
Prices and crowds
Low season in the Andes and cheap. Rising on the coast as Peruvian summer approaches. See what a trip to Peru costs.
What to pack
A waterproof and quick-drying layers for the Andes. Warm clothing for cold nights at altitude. Strong sun protection everywhere. Insect repellent for the Amazon and the coast’s wetlands.
The November 2027 calendar
- Monday 1 November – All Saints’ Day, a national public holiday; Andean observances continue on the 2nd.
- Early November – Puno Week, with the Manco Cápac reenactment on Lake Titicaca.
- Through November – Cusco rain roughly doubling to about 71 mm; trekking possible but unreliable.
- Through November – the garúa breaks up; Lima and the southern coast brighten.
- Through November – Amazon water rising again.
Read alongside
- Peru in October – drier Andes, and Lima in purple.
- Peru in December – coastal summer and the Cusco Christmas market.
- Peru in September – the dry season, for comparison.
- 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 – low-season Andean numbers.
Frequently asked
Is November a good time to visit Peru?
It depends which Peru. It is cheap and quiet but increasingly wet in the Andes, and it is the start of the good season on the coast.
What is the garúa?
The low marine fog that sits over Lima from roughly May to November, caused by the cold Humboldt Current chilling the air above it. It rarely rains but it rarely clears either. November is when it breaks up.
Why are there penguins in Peru?
The Humboldt Current carries cold water north along the coast, making these waters exceptionally productive. Humboldt penguins and sea lions live at the Ballestas islands at a tropical latitude because of it.
How wet is Cusco in November?
About 71 mm, roughly double October, rising through to the January peak. Rain falls mainly as heavy afternoon showers.
Can you hike the Inca Trail in November?
Yes, and permits are easy to get, but the trail is wet, the cloud forest is muddy and views are unreliable.
Is 1 November a holiday in Peru?
Yes, All Saints’ Day is a national public holiday. In the Andes the observance continues on 2 November with food and drink brought to family graves.
What is Puno Week?
Puno’s founding celebration in early November, including a reenactment of Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo emerging from Lake Titicaca. Puno sits at 3,800 m – acclimatise before going.
Is Lima sunny in November?
Increasingly. The grey season breaks up through the month, and Lima is properly sunny by December.
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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.
