Cusco in June: Weather, Festivals and Tips
June is one of the best months to visit Cusco, and the busiest. It sits in the middle of the dry season, so the skies are clear over Machu Picchu and the high mountains, and the city is in full festival mode, with Inti Raymi on 24 June. The price is cold nights, crowds and bookings that sell out early.
June weather
| June in Cusco (3,400 m) | |
|---|---|
| Days | Sunny, around 19 °C |
| Nights | Around 0 °C, often below freezing at dawn |
| Rain | Rare |
| Views | The clearest of the year |
The big difference between day and night is what surprises most visitors. You can walk in a T-shirt at noon and need a down jacket at 6:00 pm. Excursions that start before dawn, such as Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake, are the coldest of all, with frost at the trailhead.
The festival month
June is Cusco’s jubilee month. The streets fill with parades, school dances and concerts, building up to Inti Raymi, the Inca Festival of the Sun, on 24 June. Corpus Christi and the Qoyllur Rit’i pilgrimage usually fall in late May or June, and in the highlands south of Cusco four communities rebuild the Q’eswachaka rope bridge by hand. Our guide to Inti Raymi and Cusco’s festivals has dates and tips.
Machu Picchu in June
The clearest month of the year at the citadel — train, bus, entrance and guide arranged. From US $375.
Best things to do in June
- Machu Picchu: the best visibility of the year; book tickets well ahead — see our Machu Picchu day tour guide.
- The Inca Trail and other treks: dry paths and clear passes; bring a warm sleeping bag for the camps.
- Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake: sharp colours and blue skies, but very cold at dawn.
- The Sacred Valley: pleasant and a little warmer than Cusco.
- The festivals, in Cusco and in the surrounding villages.
Crowds, prices and booking
June is high season, and the second half of the month around Inti Raymi is the busiest time of the year. Book in this order:
- Inca Trail permits, four to six months ahead — see permits and booking.
- Machu Picchu tickets, especially for Huayna Picchu; check availability.
- Hotels in Cusco, above all for 20–25 June.
- Day tours can usually be booked a few days ahead.
What to pack
- A down jacket or warm fleece, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings.
- Layers you can remove as the sun warms up.
- Sunscreen SPF 50+, sunglasses and a hat: the sun is intense and the air is dry.
- Lip balm and moisturiser for the dry air.
Full list in our Cusco packing list.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. It is the heart of the dry season, with sunny days and clear views, and the festival month. The downsides are cold nights, crowds and higher prices.
Days are around 19 °C, but nights drop to about 0 °C and often below freezing at dawn.
Very rarely. June is one of the driest months of the year.
Every year on 24 June, with the main ceremony at Sacsayhuamán.
Inca Trail permits four to six months ahead, Machu Picchu tickets and hotels for late June several months ahead.
