Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is an archaeological site, path, and cultural property located in the Cusco Department of Peru, forming part of the Inca road system. It is one of the most looked-up sights in Peru, ranking 6th among the country's sights on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The months from May through August offer the driest conditions for a visit, with rain totals between 14 mm and 23 mm and only 2 to 3 rainy days per month. Temperatures during this period range from daily highs of 14 °C to lows of 5 °C to 6 °C. Conversely, January through March experience heavy rainfall, with precipitation between 189 mm and 235 mm spanning 19 to 22 rainy days each month, alongside daily highs of 15 °C and lows of 8 °C.
To reach the site, travelers can fly into the nearest airport, Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco, located 47 km away. The capital, Lima, is 535 km away. Nearby sights to combine with a trip include Machu Picchu at 32.3 km, Sacsayhuamán at 41.2 km, Cusco Cathedral at 42.1 km, the Twelve-angled stone at 42.3 km, and Coricancha at 42.6 km.
Weather by month
The warmest month is November, with an average high of 15 °C. The wettest is January, with about 235 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Average low, °C | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| Rainfall, mm | 235 | 209 | 189 | 78 | 23 | 14 | 16 | 22 | 37 | 92 | 121 | 186 |
| Rainy days | 21 | 22 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 20 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
