Cusco in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Cusco sees average daytime highs around 14°C and overnight lows near 6°C, with 640 mm of precipitation over about 82 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the wettest season of the year.
Across summer, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 14°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 0% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels dry.
Summer is Cusco's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Cusco's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 14°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 6°C
- Precipitation
- 640 mm
- 82 wet days
- Avg wind
- 3 km/h
- Travel score
- 2.3
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Cusco in Summer
Across summer, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 14°C.
A typical summer day in Cusco reaches about 14°C and drops to 6°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest January.
Cusco weather by month
How the three summer months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14° / 6° | 229 | 28.8 | 0.7 | 12.7 | 2.3 |
| Feb | 14° / 6° | 214 | 26.1 | 0.3 | 12.5 | 2.2 |
| Mar | 14° / 5° | 170 | 27.4 | 0.3 | 12.1 | 2.4 |
| Apr | 14° / 5° | 76 | 18.6 | 0 | 11.7 | 3.2 |
| May | 14° / 3° | 24 | 8.1 | 0 | 11.4 | 4.5 |
| Jun | 14° / 2° | 12 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 11.2 | 4.9 |
| Jul | 14° / 2° | 11 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 11.3 | 5.0 |
| Aug | 15° / 2° | 22 | 6.5 | 0.5 | 11.6 | 4.9 |
| Sep | 15° / 4° | 37 | 13.1 | 0 | 11.9 | 4.3 |
| Oct | 16° / 5° | 84 | 20.3 | 0.1 | 12.3 | 3.5 |
| Nov | 16° / 6° | 116 | 22.8 | 0.3 | 12.6 | 3.1 |
| Dec | 15° / 6° | 197 | 27.5 | 0.5 | 12.8 | 2.5 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 0% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Cusco gets around 640 mm of rain and snow over 82 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 3 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 12 h 42 min in early December to 12 h 18 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 5.3 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Cusco
In summer, Cusco overlaps its monsoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Cusco's monsoon runs November–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Cusco?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Cusco.
What to pack for Cusco in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Cusco sees daytime highs around 14°C and nights near 6°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: a warm layer and sun protection. About 82 days see rain.
UV index in Cusco in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 18 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Cusco peaks around February 10 at about 19 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 23 at about 10 (extreme).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 19 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19 | Extreme |
| Feb | 19 | Extreme |
| Mar | 17 | Extreme |
| Apr | 15 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 10 | Very high |
| Jul | 10 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 14 | Extreme |
| Oct | 16 | Extreme |
| Nov | 17 | Extreme |
| Dec | 16 | Extreme |
Air quality in Cusco in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Cusco is worst in September — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.7× the cleanest month (January, 6 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 | Good |
| Feb | 7 | Good |
| Mar | 8 | Good |
| Apr | 8 | Good |
| May | 8 | Good |
| Jun | 8 | Good |
| Jul | 8 | Good |
| Aug | 13 | Moderate |
| Sep | 16 | Moderate |
| Oct | 10 | Good |
| Nov | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 6 | Good |
Where is Cusco?
Cusco sits at 13.5°S, 72.0°W, 3,312 m above sea level, in Peru. The nearest listed city is Wanchaq, 1.0 km away.
Topography around Cusco
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Cusco.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Cusco has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 503 m around an average of 3,446 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,566 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,473 m.
The land around Cusco is covered by artificial surfaces (59%) and grassland (22%) within 3 km, grassland (74%) within 16 km, and grassland (77%) within 80 km.
Peru travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type A / B / C
- 220 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 51% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $9,684
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.0 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 49%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 8.6
- per 100k, 2021
- Road deaths
- 13.6
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Moderate
- EF EPI 519
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Cusco (-13.5319°, -71.967°, elevation 3,312 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.