Cusco · Peru
December
Wet season in full effect — Christmas brings brief visitor uptick but rain is heavy and sunshine limited.
Worth considering
#12 of 12 months
There are better months for Cusco — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
20°C
Low
7°C
Rain
123mm
Sun
4.8hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How December scores in Cusco
Weather
Average
Value
Above average
Crowds
Above average
Events
Above average
Atmosphere
Above average
What you gain in December
- ↑Christmas in Cusco is celebrated with genuine warmth — the Plaza de Armas is decorated, midnight Mass at the cathedral is atmospheric, and the city has a festive energy distinct from tourist performance
- ↑Machu Picchu is accessible by train and less crowded than the dry-season peak; the wet-season mist around the ruins creates a mysterious photographic atmosphere
- ↑Accommodation rates are mid-range rather than peak — December visitors pay less than the July–August crowd for a city that is genuinely beautiful even in rain
What you sacrifice
- ↓Heavy rainfall at 123mm; afternoon and evening rain is the norm, and the famous mountain views are frequently obscured by cloud
- ↓Sunshine averages only 4.8 hours daily — outdoor time is best maximised with early-morning starts before the clouds build
- ↓The Inca Trail is open but wet-season conditions make it uncomfortable; most serious trekkers choose the dry season for any multi-day hike
How December compares to May (best month)
| Factor | December | May ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 4 | 9 |
| Value | 5 | 6 |
| Crowds | 5 | 6 |
December in other destinations
Lisbon (14.4°C)Barcelona (13.8°C)Tokyo (12°C)Bali (30.3°C)Santorini (14.5°C)Paris (6.9°C)New York (5.1°C)Marrakech (18.1°C)Amsterdam (6.4°C)Maldives (30°C)Rome (11.7°C)Bangkok (30.4°C)Istanbul (9.4°C)Vienna (3°C)Seoul (3.7°C)Dubrovnik (11.6°C)Rio de Janeiro (29.5°C)Kyoto (11.3°C)Phuket (31.8°C)Cape Town (25.6°C)Prague (3°C)Amalfi Coast (13°C)Mexico City (21°C)Medellín (28°C)Fiji (30°C)London (8°C)Sydney (26°C)Iceland (2°C)Tulum (28°C)Dubai (25°C)Singapore (30°C)Hoi An (24°C)Chiang Mai (27.5°C)Miami (25.6°C)Florence (9.8°C)Queenstown (21°C)Madrid (9.5°C)Porto (14°C)Edinburgh (7°C)Copenhagen (5°C)Budapest (5°C)Kraków (2°C)Tbilisi (7°C)Palawan (29°C)Hanoi (20°C)Osaka (11°C)Goa (32°C)Buenos Aires (29°C)Mykonos (14°C)Zanzibar (31°C)Sri Lanka (30°C)Costa Rica (25°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Cusco, not across destinations. Methodology →