CLIMATE: WHEN TO GO TO PERU PERU

The climate of Peru, because of its considerable size from north to south and the difference in height between the various areas of the country, is very different. The climate of the country is greatly influenced by the presence of the chain of the Andes and from the cold Humboldt current along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean. In general we can say that along the coast the climate is sub-tropical dry with very little precipitation. Along the Andes mountains, the climate has two seasons a rainy summer and a dry winter. The Amazon area has warm humid climate with rainfall throughout the year and a relatively short dry season between June and August. Lima: The climate of the capital Lima is mild, sub-tropical desertic climate, and is influenced by the cold Humboldt current, which ensures minimum average temperatures ranging between 12°C-20°C and average maximum of 25°C-30°C. The rains are virtually absent with an annual average of 70 mm, while the humidity is very high, this causes the presence of fairly continuous fog especially between May and November.

 

Lima Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Rain (mm) 1 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 Min Temp (°C) 19 19 19 17 16 15 15 14 14 15 16 17 Max Temp (°C) 25 26 26 24 21 19 18 18 18 19 21 23

 

The Coast: The climate along the Peruvian coast is hot and semi-arid in the extreme north, and arid and cold throughout the rest of the coastline going south. The extreme north coast presents summer temperatures ranging between 28°C and 38°C during the day and 20°C-23°C overnight. The rains are concentrated during the summer months between December and March and reached an annual average of 200 mm. The winter has temperatures ranging between 14°C-18°C at night and 22°C-29°C during the day.

The central and southern coasts have a mild climate with annual rainfall between 10 and 150 mm. The months between December and March are hot and sunny with average minimum temperatures ranging between 18°C and 22°C, while the average maximum range between 24°C and 30°C. The winters are cold and wet, with frequent mists, the average maximum winter temperatures vary between 15°C and 23°C, while the average minimum varies between 15°C and 8°C. The so called rainy season is between June and October.

 

Trujillo Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Rain (mm) 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Min Temp (°C) 17 18 18 17 16 15 15 14 14 14 15 16 Max Temp (°C) 25 26 26 24 23 22 21 20 20 20 22 23

 

The Andes: The Andes climate is varied greatly influenced by altitude. In general the rainy season is between December and April, but their intensity varies greatly from area to area, for example along the south-western Andes fall between 200 and 500 mm of rain a year, while on the eastern side rainfall exceeding 1000 mm annually. Snow is frequent between 4000 and 5000 meters. Temperatures vary considerably with the height. Between June and September, the Andean area has sunny days, but with strong temperature ranges between day and night, temperatures vary more between day and night that between season to season.

 

Cuzco Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Rain (mm) 145 133 107 43 8 1 4 8 21 39 71 122 Min Temp (°C) 6 6 6 4 2 0 0 1 3 5 6 6 Max Temp (°C) 18 18 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 19

 

The Peruvian Amazon: The low lands of Peruvian Amazon have a rainy and humid climate throughout the year, temperatures vary between 18°C and 36°C, while the amount of rainfall varies between 2000 and 4000 mm per year. In some southern regions there is also a relatively short dry season between June and August.

 

Iquitos Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Rain (mm) 266 210 316 292 292 189 187 173 209 254 286 301 Min Temp (°C) 21 22 22 22 21 21 20 21 21 21 22 22 Max Temp (°C) 31 31 30 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 31 31

 

The best time to travel to Peru are the months from July to September, that is the dry season along the Andean cordillera. For the coast instead the best period are the sunny and humid months between December and March, when the coast is free from cold fog which covers it for the rest of the year.