Best time to visit · Lima · Peru
The best time to visit Lima
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
Lima can be visited year-round, but the sunniest months are December to April, when the city enjoys warm summer weather. From June to October the sky is usually grey and misty, though it rarely rains and this is the best time to combine Lima with dry-season Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Key facts
- Best months
- December–April
- Shoulder season
- May and October–November
- Warmest month
- February (avg high 27°C (81°F))
- Coldest month
- August (avg high 18°C (64°F))
- Rainiest month
- July (~2 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- March–May and August–November
Seasons
Lima has a desert climate with almost no rain. Summer (December–April) is warm and sunny, with highs around 26–27°C; winter (June–October) is mild but damp and grey under the garúa sea mist, with highs around 18–20°C.
December–April
Summer
Warm, sunny and humid with highs of 24–27°C; beaches south of Lima are busy at weekends.
May
Autumn
Cooler and increasingly grey, with fewer visitors.
June–September
Winter
Cool, damp and overcast under the garúa mist, with drizzle but almost no real rain; peak season for Cusco travellers passing through.
October–November
Spring
Grey skies slowly clear and temperatures rise; the purple Señor de los Milagros processions fill October.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°C | 20°C | 0 | 20°C | 12.8 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| February | 27°C | 21°C | 0 | 21°C | 12.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 26°C | 20°C | 0 | 20°C | 12.2 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 24°C | 18°C | 0 | 19°C | 11.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 22°C | 17°C | 1 | 18°C | 11.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 20°C | 16°C | 1 | 17°C | 11.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 19°C | 15°C | 2 | 16°C | 11.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 18°C | 15°C | 2 | 15°C | 11.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| September | 19°C | 15°C | 1 | 15°C | 12.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 20°C | 16°C | 0 | 16°C | 12.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 22°C | 17°C | 0 | 17°C | 12.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 24°C | 19°C | 0 | 19°C | 12.8 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Lima's founding anniversary (18 January) |
| February | Carnival celebrations (February) |
| March | Semana Santa (March or April) |
| July | Fiestas Patrias — Independence Day celebrations (28–29 July) |
| August | Santa Rosa de Lima feast day (30 August); Lima Film Festival (usually August) |
| October | Señor de los Milagros processions (October, especially around 18 and 28 October); Día de la Canción Criolla (31 October) |
| December | Christmas and New Year celebrations |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in March–May and August–November, and the sights are quietest in March–May and August–November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Lima?
Lima can be visited year-round, but the sunniest months are December to April, when the city enjoys warm summer weather. From June to October the sky is usually grey and misty, though it rarely rains and this is the best time to combine Lima with dry-season Cusco and Machu Picchu.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Lima?
Usually in March–May and August–November. Still warm and sunny, with fewer local holidaymakers once schools reopen.
+What is the rainiest month in Lima?
July, with about 2 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Lima get?
The warmest month, February, averages highs of 27°C (81°F) and lows of 21°C (70°F).