Travelers planning on visiting Machu Picchu should spend at least a few days acclimating to the sky-high altitude of the Andes Mountains. Cuzco City is at a staggering elevation of 11,152 feet, whereas, Machu Picchu sits at an elevation just shy of 8,000 feet.

The altitude of Cusco and the surrounding valleys (like the unmissable Sacred Valley and Lares Valley) is no joke, and the symptoms of altitude sickness can be extremely unpleasant and even deadly.

So, don’t push it or worry one bit! There are plenty of unique things to do in Cusco while acclimating. In fact, there are so many Cusco tourist attractions, it’s recommended to spend at least 4 days in Cusco. (But honestly, the more the better!)

Best time to visit Cusco
Weather-wise, there are many ‘best times to visit Cusco.’

Every season adds something different to Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu’s appeal. You’ll have a warm welcome whenever you visit — with good clothes planning you’ll be comfortable at all times.

And if you ever do feel a slight chill in the Andes, you can buy yourself some cozy, high-quality alpaca jumpers, hats, and gloves.

June-September: However, most people travel to the region between June and mid-September, Cusco’s winter and its driest season. You’ll enjoy many clear days and nights, offering spectacular mountain views and stargazing.

Average daytime temperatures hover around 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit (15-18 degrees Celsius) and nighttime around freezing. Rainfall is less than half an inch for the entire month.

Make sure you plan well ahead for these months to ensure hotel and tour reservations. Festivals like the Festival of the Sun (June) and Pachamama Raymi (August 1) swell numbers.

April, May, and October: ‘Shoulder’ months of May and October help you avoid the busiest season and enjoy great weather.

It hardly rains in May, and April and October each receive around 1.5 inches of rain in the whole month. Daytime temperatures can touch 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) with average night times around 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius).

This is a great time to see a bit of every weather type Cusco has to offer!

November-April: Spring turns into summer, bringing warmer daytime temperatures but a greater risk of rain. There are far fewer tourists so that you can enjoy the attractions away from any crowd. The Inca Trail is closed in February.

There are many colorful festivals in these months, including the Fiesta da Ollantaytambo (January 6), Fiesta da San Sebastian (January 20), and Carnaval and La Virgin de la Candelaria in February.

Afternoon showers are much more frequent from December to March, which receive 4-5 inches of rain monthly.

Absolutely!

Peru trek staff and guides love children.

There are hidden spots that we know that kids love that can be added to any trip.

For example, we can visit a llama and alpaca farm on the way to the Sacred Valley and there are secret stone slides hidden behind the ruins of Sacsayhuaman.

We can vary the pace to suit your children’s age, needs, and interests.

Yes. You’ll need to make sure you take enough water for the first morning of your trek, but after this, we’ll provide you with boiled water to fill your bottle or pouch with at every meal and campsite. The water is clean and perfectly safe for you to drink, so you don’t need to worry in that respect.
Make sure you take a reusable bottle or Camelbak to use the entire trek. We prefer not to use plastic bottles to help protect the environment and the routes.

Although everything is paid for in advance and included in the package, you definitely need to take some extra cash with you for the trek. Around 300 Peruvian soles are enough. Don’t take dollars, as these aren’t liable to tender in rural parts of the country.

You might not need to use any at all, but it’s always a good idea in case of emergencies or if you need to buy anything along the way. You might also find that you feel tired on a part of the route and would like to hire a horse for a small section.

Peru has been rated as having the best food in the world 2 years in a row. There is a great variety of food and it is different in different parts of the country. In the Andes Mountain areas, cuy (baked guinea pig) is eaten as a delicacy. International foods are popular and international food chains can be found in some cities.

The currency in Peru is the Nuevo Sol. You can use U.S. Dollars in many stores and restaurants especially in touristic areas, but not all. Therefore it is a good idea to have soles with you. You can exchange your money in many places including the airport, in banks, or in currency exchange companies.