The best time to visit Ollantaytambo

Two seasons, and they are very different. Here is what each month actually feels like, when the crowds arrive, and the weeks we would book if the choice were ours.

The short answer

  • April to May and September to October are the best months: dry, green after the rains, and without the June–August peak.
  • June to August is the driest and sunniest, and also the busiest and most expensive. Nights drop close to freezing.
  • November to March is the wet season — afternoon downpours, low cloud, lush landscapes and far fewer visitors.
  • February is the one month to avoid if you can: the heaviest rain, the highest landslide risk, and the Inca Trail closed for maintenance.

The two seasons

Dry season — May to September

Clear mornings, strong sun, almost no rain and cold nights that can touch zero in June and July. This is the postcard weather, and everyone knows it: expect full trains, booked-out hotels and higher prices from mid-June through August.

Wet season — November to March

Mornings are frequently clear and the rain tends to arrive in the afternoon. The valley turns brilliantly green, the sites are quiet and prices soften. The trade-offs are mud, occasional landslides on the railway, and cloud that can hide Machu Picchu entirely.

Shoulder — April and October

The sweet spot. April has the green of the wet season with most of the rain gone; October is dry, warm and still uncrowded before the year-end rush. Both give you the best light of the year for photography.

Month by month

Daytime highs are remarkably stable year-round at this latitude — it is rainfall and night-time cold that change. Temperatures are typical values for the town at 2,792 m.

 °C☔👥 
January 20 °C / 8 °C Very wet Very quiet Green and dramatic; Bajada de Reyes on the 6th.
February 20 °C / 8 °C Wettest Quietest Inca Trail closed all month; highest landslide risk.
March 20 °C / 8 °C Wet Quiet Rain easing by month end; landscapes at their greenest.
April 21 °C / 6 °C Occasional Moderate Excellent — green valley, mostly dry, few crowds.
May 21 °C / 3 °C Dry Moderate Arguably the best month of the year. Nights turn cold.
June 20 °C / 1 °C Dry Busy Cold nights, brilliant days; Inti Raymi on the 24th.
July 20 °C / 0 °C Driest Busiest Peak season. Book everything well ahead.
August 21 °C / 2 °C Dry Busiest Still peak; windy on the plateau at Moray and Chinchero.
September 21 °C / 5 °C Dry Moderate Crowds thin out, weather still reliable. Very good value.
October 22 °C / 7 °C Occasional Moderate Warm, clear mornings and the first green returning.
November 21 °C / 7 °C Showers Quiet Rains beginning; still plenty of usable dry days.
December 20 °C / 8 °C Wet Busy at Christmas Wet but festive; prices spike over the holidays.
Alpacas grazing on high Andean pasture

Crowds and how to dodge them

  • The archaeological site is emptiest at opening (07:00) and after 16:00. Cusco coach tours arrive between 10:00 and 14:00 without fail.
  • Machu Picchu entry slots for June to August sell out two to three months ahead; outside those months a few weeks is usually enough.
  • Sunday is Chinchero market day and busier there; Monday is quieter valley-wide.
  • Sleeping in Ollantaytambo rather than Cusco is the single most effective crowd-avoidance tactic available.
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Timing FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month to visit Ollantaytambo?

May or September. Both give you dry, clear weather without the June–August peak in prices and crowds, and May in particular still has the green left over from the rains.

Is the rainy season a bad time to visit?

Not at all, with one caveat. November, December and March are perfectly workable — mornings are often clear and the valley is beautiful. February is the month to avoid: heaviest rain, real landslide risk on the railway, and the Inca Trail closed.

How cold does it get in Ollantaytambo?

Daytime highs sit around 20–22 °C all year. Nights are the variable: 7–8 °C in the wet season, and close to freezing in June and July. Very few hotels have heating, so pack accordingly.

When is the Inca Trail closed?

The classic four-day trail closes every February for maintenance. The alternative treks — Salkantay, Lares, Inca Jungle — and the two-day Short Inca Trail routes run year-round, weather permitting.