January and February are the wettest months of the year in Cusco and the ones with the fewest travellers. That does not mean it rains all day: showers come mostly in the afternoon and at night, mornings tend to start clear and tours run normally. In exchange for the rain you get the greenest landscape of the year, sites with few people and tickets that are easier to get at short notice. Two things do change: in February the Inca Trail closes and, from January to April, the train to Machu Picchu from Cusco does its first leg by bus. Here are the weather, which tours work, Carnival and how to plan the trip.
The weather in January and February
| Month | Day / night | Rainy days | Monthly rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21 °C / 8 °C | 20 | About 150 mm |
| February | 20 °C / 8 °C | 17 | About 130 mm |
These are averages for Cusco airport (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Nights are among the least cold of the year, and in the mountains above 4,500 metres it can snow before dawn. Bring layers, a proper waterproof jacket, a poncho and shoes that do not soak through; the full list is in what to pack for Cusco and Machu Picchu. The other months are in the best time to visit Cusco guide.
Is January or February a good time to visit Cusco?
- For: it is low season, with far fewer visitors than from June to August; the Sacred Valley and the area around Cusco are at their greenest, and tickets and trains are easier to get at short notice.
- Against: these are the wettest months, hiking trails are slippery, the mountains can dawn with snow or cloud and the Inca Trail closes in February.
- Best for: flexible travellers who prioritise the city, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, and do not mind changing the order of the days depending on the weather.
Machu Picchu in January and February
Machu Picchu does not close in any month. What changes at this time of year:
- Train: from January to April, the leg from Cusco to Ollantaytambo is done by bus, continuing by train from Ollantaytambo. If you leave from Ollantaytambo, nothing changes. We explain it in the Machu Picchu train guide.
- Mist: early in the morning there is often mist that clears by mid-morning; a ticket from that time is a good idea. Month by month, in the best time to visit Machu Picchu.
- Hydroelectric route: with rain, the road can close because of landslides; in January 2026 a mudslide at Mandor closed the footpath between Hidroeléctrica and Aguas Calientes. It is the route we least recommend in these months. The alternatives, in how to get to Machu Picchu.
- Inca Trail: the Cusco culture authority (DDC Cusco) and SERNANP close it for all of February for maintenance, and in some years the closure has been extended because of the rains. If you want to hike it, choose another month.
Which tours to do in January and February
| Tour | In January and February |
|---|---|
| City Tour | Runs as normal. Best in the morning: rain usually arrives in the afternoon. |
| Sacred Valley | Its best colour of the year and fewer people. Bring a waterproof. |
| Machu Picchu | Open. A ticket from mid-morning, when the mist clears. |
| Rainbow Mountain | It can dawn with snow covering part of the stripes. Tours still go and the colours appear once the sun clears it. |
| Humantay Lake | The lake is still turquoise, but the trail is slippery and clouds can hide Salkantay. |
| Huchuy Qosqo | The trail gets muddy and the descent to Lamay is slippery: better kept for another season. |
| Coffee Route | Runs, but road conditions may require adjusting the itinerary. |
An order that works: city and valley in the morning, afternoons for museums, markets and the food tour, and the mountains on the day with the best forecast, after two or three days of acclimatisation.
Cusco Carnival, in February
Carnival has no fixed date: it depends on the church calendar and falls in February or early March. In 2027, Carnival Sunday is 7 February. On those days people in Cusco play with water, talc and streamers in the street, so if you are visiting, expect to get wet and keep your phone and camera in a closed pocket. The Carnival dish is puchero or timpu, served in two parts: the meat and vegetables on one side and the broth separately.
Candelaria in Puno, in early February
If your trip continues to Lake Titicaca, the Festivity of the Virgen de la Candelaria fills Puno with dances for weeks, with its main day on 2 February. UNESCO inscribed it in 2014 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. You can travel from Cusco to Puno in a day on the Route of the Sun; we cover it in the Route of the Sun guide. On those dates, book your hotel in Puno well in advance.
Tips for travelling in January and February
- Start early: mornings are the best part of the day. Keep afternoons for indoor plans.
- Leave a spare day for the mountain or Humantay and pick the one with the best forecast.
- Check the train timetable: the bus leg from Cusco adds time to your departure.
- Do not plan the Inca Trail in February: it is closed. In January, check that year’s closing date.
Frequently asked questions
Is January a good time to visit Cusco?
Yes, if you are flexible: it rains on about 20 days of the month, mostly in the afternoon, but there are few visitors, the landscape is very green and tours run normally.
And February?
Also, with two things in mind: it is one of the wettest months and the Inca Trail is closed. Machu Picchu, the city and the Sacred Valley can be visited without problems.
Is Machu Picchu open in February?
Yes. Machu Picchu does not close in any month; what closes in February is the Inca Trail.
Why does the Inca Trail close in February?
For maintenance and conservation, in the middle of the rainy season. The closure is announced each year by the DDC Cusco and SERNANP.
When is Cusco Carnival in 2027?
Carnival Sunday in 2027 is 7 February. The date changes every year because it depends on Easter.
Can you visit Rainbow Mountain in January or February?
Yes. There may be snow on the summit, but tours still go and the colours appear once the sun clears it. Bring a waterproof, hat and gloves.
Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and we will put together a plan that makes the most of the mornings and leaves room for the rain.
