Cusco · Month comparison

April vs May

May ranks #1 overall vs April at #4. The dry season arrives — clear skies, the Inca Trail fully open, and Machu Picchu at its most reliably beautiful.

Cusco April — steep cobblestone street in the historic centre with the terracotta rooftops and Andean mountains beyond

April

#4 of 12 months

Strong option

The shoulder season sweet spot — rainfall drops sharply, sunshine returns, and Easter brings real ceremony.

  • ↑Rainfall falls dramatically to 79mm — still possible but not the daily certainty of January–March; morning weather is reliably clear and afternoons are manageable
  • ↑Sunshine hours recover to 6.2 daily, making outdoor sites genuinely rewarding: Machu Picchu views clear, Sacred Valley walks viable, Inca Trail conditions improving significantly
Cusco May — Plaza de Armas with the cathedral and dramatic clouds over the ancient colonial square

May

#1 of 12 months

Best match

The dry season arrives — clear skies, the Inca Trail fully open, and Machu Picchu at its most reliably beautiful.

  • ↑Dry season proper begins: 44mm of rain is minimal, skies are consistently clear, and the mountain views from Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley are sharp and unobscured
  • ↑Inca Trail permits are still available in May (unlike the July–August peak when they sell out months ahead) — the optimal window for hiking with full conditions and manageable crowds
FactorAprilMay
Weather score
6
9
Value score
7
6
Crowd score
7
6
Events score
6
7
Atmosphere
6
8
Avg high temp20°C20°C
Monthly rain79mm44mm
Daily sunshine6.2hrs7.8hrs

April trade-offs

  • ↓Still a transitional month: some afternoons bring rain, and the drier second half of April is more reliable than the first
  • ↓Easter week itself (dates vary annually) drives hotel prices up and draws more visitors — book ahead if your dates coincide
  • ↓Nights remain cold at 6°C; altitude acclimatisation typically takes 1–2 full days regardless of how fit you are

May trade-offs

  • ↓Nights are cold (4°C) and can catch visitors off guard; altitude at 3,400m intensifies the chill — warm layers are non-negotiable
  • ↓Prices begin rising as the dry season is recognised; May is still moderate but more expensive than the wet-season months
  • ↓Inca Trail permits for the popular Classic Trail sell out in advance — book at least two to three months ahead for May departures
See all 12 months for Cusco →April in detail →May in detail →
Scores compare months within Cusco. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →