Cusco · Peru
January
Peak rainy season: afternoon downpours daily, trails muddy, but Machu Picchu via train remains open.
Worth considering
#10 of 12 months
There are better months for Cusco — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
19°C
Low
7°C
Rain
147mm
Sun
4.5hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How January scores in Cusco
Weather
Below average
Value
Very good
Crowds
Very good
Events
Above average
Atmosphere
Above average
What you gain in January
- ↑Machu Picchu is still accessible by train from Aguas Calientes — the ruins do not close and the site is significantly less crowded than the July–August peak
- ↑Hotel prices in Cusco are at their most affordable; budget and mid-range options represent genuine value compared to the May–September premium
- ↑The altiplano landscape is lush and dramatically green in the wet season — a very different and photogenic version of the Andes compared to the dry brown months
What you sacrifice
- ↓Heavy afternoon rain is reliable daily — 147mm across the month; outdoor itineraries need to finish by early afternoon or include indoor contingencies
- ↓The Inca Trail (classic 4-day hike to Machu Picchu) is open but conditions are muddy and slippery; serious hikers generally avoid January
- ↓Sunshine drops to 4.5 hours daily; the mountains are frequently shrouded in cloud, and conditions for photography and high-altitude walks are challenging
How January compares to May (best month)
| Factor | January | May ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 3 | 9 |
| Value | 7 | 6 |
| Crowds | 7 | 6 |
January in other destinations
Lisbon (13.6°C)Barcelona (13.2°C)Tokyo (9.8°C)Bali (30.2°C)Santorini (13.4°C)Paris (7°C)New York (3.3°C)Marrakech (17.3°C)Amsterdam (5.6°C)Maldives (30.1°C)Rome (11.6°C)Bangkok (31.1°C)Istanbul (8.7°C)Vienna (3.2°C)Seoul (1.1°C)Dubrovnik (11.1°C)Rio de Janeiro (30.9°C)Kyoto (9.2°C)Phuket (31.5°C)Cape Town (26.1°C)Prague (2°C)Amalfi Coast (12°C)Mexico City (21°C)Medellín (28°C)Fiji (31°C)London (8°C)Sydney (26°C)Iceland (2°C)Tulum (28°C)Dubai (24°C)Singapore (30°C)Hoi An (24°C)Chiang Mai (29°C)Miami (24.1°C)Florence (9.2°C)Queenstown (22°C)Madrid (9.4°C)Porto (14°C)Edinburgh (7°C)Copenhagen (4°C)Budapest (4°C)Kraków (2°C)Tbilisi (6°C)Palawan (29°C)Hanoi (18°C)Osaka (9°C)Goa (32°C)Buenos Aires (30°C)Mykonos (13°C)Zanzibar (32°C)Sri Lanka (31°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 →