Why we often recommend May
May is a month our team often recommends, but the best choice depends on your dates and priorities. We’ll explain how the seasons affect a visit and help you weigh the weather, popular travel periods and ticket availability.
The Andes generally have a drier season from April to October and a wetter season from November to March. Bring layers and a rain jacket; the weather changes quickly in the Andes. PROMPERÚ climate guide.
Choose around your priorities
| Your priority | Our planning approach |
|---|---|
| Flexible dates | Begin by looking at May, then compare actual hotel, rail and admission availability. |
| School holidays | Build the route around the dates your family can travel. Protect the nights and open days that make the pace workable. |
| A particular celebration | Anchor the journey to the anniversary or birthday. A private dinner can be arranged where availability allows. |
| A particular train | If you request the Hiram Bingham return, we confirm its operating days before fixing hotel nights and flights, then arrange the private Cusco tour around the train arrival. |
June through August is a popular travel window in our planning calendar. If those dates suit you, book with enough flexibility to choose among the admission times and room categories actually available. We plan the day around your confirmed entry time and chosen route.
The time of day matters too
Neither morning nor afternoon is best for every visit. The right entry time depends on your circuit, the season, any mountain hike and the tickets available; we’ll help you compare the options.
We choose the route for what you want to see, then arrange the entry and the transfers around it. Our ticket and circuit guide explains that decision.
Consider two nights around the visit
Our four sample itineraries include two nights in Aguas Calientes: arrive by train, visit the following day and continue toward Cusco the day after. It gives the visit a place of its own within the itinerary. With less time, we’ll discuss the options.
We can personalize your journey with a private celebration dinner or the Hiram Bingham return toward Cusco. Tell us at the start so we can build the dates around the train’s operating days, confirm the dinner venue and allow time for your private Cusco tour.
Pack for change, plan for flexibility
- Bring layers for changing temperatures and a practical rain layer.
- Choose footwear you have already worn and feel comfortable walking in.
- Keep the day’s plan realistic: your admission route, lunch and hotel time need to fit together.
- Use the Sacred Valley and Cusco days to balance guided visits with time of your own.
A good visit starts with a well-paced itinerary. Whether you travel in May or during a fixed school break, we give you the right overnight stays and time with your guide. Tell us your non-negotiable dates and what matters most; we will work from there.
Sources and further reading
- PROMPERÚ: climate in Peru
Checked September 25, 2026.