Peru in November: Weather, Crowds and Festivals

You walk through the gate at Machu Picchu and see nothing but white. The cloud sits on the terraces, the stone walls drip, and the people around you go quiet. Then, a little before mid-morning, the cloud starts to lift off Huayna Picchu, and the whole green city appears in front of you, wet and shining.

Short answer: Yes, for value. November is the early rainy season: Cusco gets 2.8 in (71 mm) of rain over about 10 days, mostly in the afternoon, with highs near 72°F (22.2°C). Machu Picchu leaves high season on 2 November, so the daily cap drops to 4,500. Lima turns sunny. Prices and crowds are low.

November is the month we suggest to travelers who care more about space than about perfect skies. The hills around Cusco turn green, the citadel is half as busy as in July, and the coast starts its summer. The price you pay is a shower most afternoons in the mountains. Below are the numbers for each region, the November dates worth knowing and a route built from our packages. To compare the whole year, read the best time to visit Peru, and for the citadel month by month our guide to the best time to visit Machu Picchu.

Peru weather in November, region by region

In November the Andes and the coast trade places. The mountains slide into the wet season just as Lima's winter cloud breaks up. The table below uses the SENAMHI 1991 to 2020 climate normals, Peru's official averages.

Cusco and the Sacred Valley in November

Cusco in November has the warmest days of the year on average, 72°F (22.2°C), with nights of 43°F (6.3°C) and 2.8 in (71 mm) of rain spread over about 10 days. A typical November day starts bright. By early afternoon clouds build over the valley, and by 4 p.m. a hard shower has come and gone. More often than not, the evening is cool and dry.

Plan the Sacred Valley, Pisac and Ollantaytambo for the morning. From November on, Rainbow Mountain is a gamble, because cloud often sits on the ridge and hides the stripes. When the forecast is mixed, Palccoyo or Humantay Lake make the better day hike.

Machu Picchu in November

Machu Picchu in November averages 73°F (22.8°C) by day, 54°F (12°C) at night and 6.8 in (172 mm) of rain. High season ends on 2 November and the daily limit drops from 5,600 to 4,500 visitors (as of the 2026 calendar, Ministerio de Cultura). Mornings often start inside the cloud, which lifts off Huayna Picchu by mid-morning. That moment is the classic green-season photo.

November is also when next year's sales usually open. For the current season, the Ministerio de Cultura opened Machu Picchu and Inca Trail sales on 17 November 2025. If you are planning a June to August trip, this is the month to send us your dates. Our Machu Picchu tickets guide has the steps.

The Inca Trail in November

The Inca Trail is open in November, greener and wetter than in the dry months, and the stone steps get muddy after a shower. Permits are easier to get than for May to August. Read the Inca Trail permits guide for the rules. Salkantay and Lares run too. Carry rain gear every single day.

Lake Titicaca in November

Puno averages a high of 64°F (17.7°C), a low of 40°F (4.7°C) and 1.6 in (40 mm) of rain in November, less rain than Cusco. Nights are milder than in winter, the lake is calm in the morning, and the first storms tend to arrive late in the day. It is a good month for an overnight on Amantaní, since the homestay nights no longer drop below freezing.

Puno week and the legend of Manco Cápac

Puno celebrates its anniversary in the first week of November. The central day is 4 November. On 5 November, actors playing Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo, the founders of the Inca dynasty in the legend, sail across the lake to the Huaje esplanade on the edge of town, a trip of about two hours, as Andina has reported for past editions. The shore fills with people waiting for the boats. Hotels in Puno fill that week too, so book early if you want to be there.

Lima and the coast in November

Lima warms to 70°F (21.2°C) by day and 62°F (16.7°C) at night, with almost no rain. Each week the gray sky clears on more days, and beach season is close. Ica and Huacachina reach 86°F (30°C), sunny and dry, which makes the Nazca, Paracas and Huacachina trip a strong add-on before you fly to Cusco.

Festivals and holidays in November

All Saints' Day, 1 November

1 November is a national holiday. The next day, the Day of the Dead, families visit cemeteries with food and music. In Cusco and Puno, bakeries sell tanta wawa, a sweet bread shaped like a baby, for these days. The last procession of the Señor de los Milagros in Lima also falls on 1 November for the current year (El Peruano).

Puno anniversary week

See the Lake Titicaca section above. It is the one November festival worth building a trip around.

Crowds and prices in November

After February, November is one of the quietest months at Machu Picchu. With the cap down to 4,500 a day and the North American holidays still weeks away, trains and hotels have space two or three weeks out. The exception is US Thanksgiving week, when we see more American travelers. Hotel rates in Cusco tend to sit below the dry months. The Machu Picchu ticket and train fares do not change with the season.

What to pack for Peru in November

• A rain shell and a pack cover, used most afternoons in the Andes.
• Quick-dry trousers and shoes with grip for wet stone steps.
• A fleece for Cusco and Puno nights near 40°F (4.7°C).
• Sunscreen and a hat, since the sun between showers is strong.
• Insect repellent for Aguas Calientes.

The full list is in our Peru packing list.

A 7 to 10 day Peru itinerary for November

Our pick for November is Peru in 10 days at an easier pace. You get two days on the coast as it turns sunny, then Cusco, Machu Picchu by train and day hikes you can shuffle around the weather. If you want the lake during Puno week, take Lima, Cusco and Lake Titicaca in 8 days, which ends with a night on Amantaní and the Uros islands. With only a week, Peru in 7 days covers Lima, the Nazca Lines, Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Tell us your November dates through the Get my free quote form, and a planner on our team in Cusco confirms trains and tickets before you pay.

Planning around a different month? Read our guides to Peru in October and Peru in December, or compare every month at once in the best time to visit Peru.