Month guide · Cusco · Peru
Cusco in March
What March is really like in Cusco: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pavel Špindler, CC BY 3.0
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Quick answer
March is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 19°C (66°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 14 rainy days and roughly 12.2 hours of daylight. Rain begins to ease late in the month and the valleys are very green.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 19°C (66°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 14
- Daylight
- About 12.2 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in March
March is the 10th-warmest month in Cusco: days average 19°C (66°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 14 of its 31 days. Compared with February (19°C (66°F)), March is about as warm; by April highs stay near 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 05:52
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 18:03
- Daylight
- About 12.2 hours
Wet season (November–January). Frequent afternoon rain, green valleys and lower prices; mornings are often clear.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 2 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes March one of the better-value months to book.
Events in March
- Señor de los Temblores procession (Holy Monday, March or April)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Market · San Pedro
San Pedro Market
Grab a fruit juice blended to order at the juice stalls, and keep your bag in front of you.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Historic site · Cusco hills
Q'enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay
A string of smaller Inca sites in the hills above Cusco: Q'enqo, a carved limestone shrine with a cave altar; Puka Pukara, a reddish stone outpost; and Tambomachay, where Inca water channels still feed fountains.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Outdoors
- Active
Viewpoint · San Cristóbal
Cristo Blanco
Visit at sunset, then walk down through San Cristóbal while it is still light.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Historic site · Pisac
Pisac archaeological site
High above the town of Pisac, a sweep of agricultural terraces climbs the mountainside to Inca temples, baths and residential quarters, with one of the largest known Inca cemeteries carved into the cliffs opposite.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 19°C, lows near 6°C and 14 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Cusco?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Cusco in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Cusco?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Rain begins to ease late in the month and the valleys are very green.
+How warm is Cusco in March?
Average highs are around 19°C (66°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cusco in March?
Expect rain on about 14 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.