Machu Picchu in Fall
In fall (March, April and May), Machu Picchu sees average daytime highs around 14°C and overnight lows near 5°C, with 442 mm of rain over about 79 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 2nd-wettest season.
Across fall, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 14°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 5% of the time across fall, and the air most often feels dry.
Fall is Machu Picchu's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Machu Picchu's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 14°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 5°C
- Rainfall
- 442 mm
- 79 wet days
- Avg wind
- 3 km/h
- Travel score
- 2.4
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in Machu Picchu in Fall
Across fall, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 14°C.
A typical fall day in Machu Picchu reaches about 14°C and drops to 5°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is April, the coolest May.
Machu Picchu weather by month
How the three fall months (March, April and May) 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° | 268 | 30.9 | 0.1 | 12.7 | 1.9 |
| Feb | 13° / 6° | 246 | 27.9 | 0.1 | 12.4 | 1.9 |
| Mar | 14° / 6° | 239 | 30.9 | 0 | 12.1 | 1.9 |
| Apr | 14° / 5° | 142 | 28.1 | 0 | 11.7 | 2.2 |
| May | 13° / 4° | 61 | 19.5 | 0 | 11.4 | 3.0 |
| Jun | 13° / 3° | 37 | 13.2 | 0 | 11.2 | 3.3 |
| Jul | 12° / 2° | 39 | 13.2 | 0.5 | 11.3 | 3.2 |
| Aug | 13° / 2° | 57 | 19.3 | 0.4 | 11.6 | 2.8 |
| Sep | 13° / 4° | 89 | 26.1 | 0 | 11.9 | 2.2 |
| Oct | 14° / 5° | 149 | 30.3 | 0 | 12.3 | 2.1 |
| Nov | 14° / 6° | 174 | 29.2 | 0.1 | 12.6 | 2.1 |
| Dec | 14° / 6° | 240 | 30.7 | 0.1 | 12.8 | 2.0 |
Cloud cover in Fall
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 5% of the time across fall.
Chance of precipitation in Fall
Machu Picchu gets around 442 mm of rain over 79 wet days across fall. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Fall
Most of fall feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Fall
Winds average 3 km/h across fall.
Sunrise & sunset in Fall
Daylight runs from about 12 h 18 min in early March to 11 h 18 min by late May. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Fall
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across fall, about 4.7 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Machu Picchu
In fall, Machu Picchu overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Machu Picchu's rainy season runs October–April, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is fall a good time to visit Machu Picchu?
Our two travel scores rate fall for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
fall is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Machu Picchu.
What to pack for Machu Picchu in Fall
From fall's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In fall, Machu Picchu sees daytime highs around 14°C and nights near 5°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: a warm layer and sun protection. About 79 days see rain.
UV index in Machu Picchu in Fall
Clear-sky midday UV across fall averages around 15 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Machu Picchu peaks around January 23 at about 18 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near July 9 at about 10 (very high).
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 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19 | Extreme |
| Feb | 18 | Extreme |
| Mar | 17 | Extreme |
| Apr | 15 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 10 | Very high |
| Jul | 10 | Very high |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 16 | Extreme |
| Nov | 16 | Extreme |
| Dec | 16 | Extreme |
Air quality in Machu Picchu in Fall
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where fall falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Machu Picchu is worst in September — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.8× 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 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 6 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 | Good |
| Feb | 7 | Good |
| Mar | 8 | Good |
| Apr | 7 | Good |
| May | 7 | Good |
| Jun | 6 | Good |
| Jul | 8 | Good |
| Aug | 13 | Moderate |
| Sep | 16 | Moderate |
| Oct | 13 | Moderate |
| Nov | 11 | Good |
| Dec | 6 | Good |
Where is Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu sits at 13.2°S, 72.5°W, 0 m above sea level, in Peru. The nearest listed city is Aguas Calientes, 0.0 km away.
Topography around Machu Picchu
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Machu Picchu.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Machu Picchu has very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,986 m around an average of 2,576 m above sea level; within 16 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,049 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,619 m.
The land around Machu Picchu is covered by trees (93%) within 3 km, trees (61%) and grassland (31%) within 16 km, and grassland (50%) and trees (44%) 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 Machu Picchu (-13.1555°, -72.5242°, elevation 0 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.