Will you see Machu Picchu? Clear-view odds by month
Short answer: Machu Picchu is most likely to be visible in July, when 35% of mornings are mostly clear, and least likely in February (0%). Mornings are usually clearer than afternoons.
Morning mist often fills the valley and lifts by mid-morning. The rainy season runs from November to March.
How often the view from the Guardhouse viewpoint is clear
| Month | Clear mornings (7–9 am) | Clear afternoons (2–4 pm) | Overcast mornings |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2% | 0% | 79% |
| February | 0% | 0% | 85% |
| March | 2% | 0% | 79% |
| April | 4% | 1% | 63% |
| May | 14% | 6% | 39% |
| June | 23% | 17% | 28% |
| July | 35% | 23% | 19% |
| August | 26% | 12% | 23% |
| September | 13% | 3% | 39% |
| October | 7% | 0% | 55% |
| November | 2% | 0% | 76% |
| December | 1% | 0% | 80% |
Tours
Questions
What is the best month to see Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu is most likely to be visible in July, when 35% of mornings are mostly clear, and least likely in February (0%). Mornings are usually clearer than afternoons.
Is Machu Picchu clearer in the morning or the afternoon?
Mornings: in 6 of 12 months the sky over the Guardhouse viewpoint is clear more often between 7 and 9 am than between 2 and 4 pm. Clouds tend to build during the day.
How often is Machu Picchu hidden by cloud?
In February, 85% of mornings are overcast; in July only 19%. Morning mist often fills the valley and lifts by mid-morning. The rainy season runs from November to March.
Share of days from 2016-2025 when total cloud cover averaged under 30% in the given hours, from ERA5 reanalysis (Copernicus) via Open-Meteo, on a ~25 km grid around Cusco region, Peru. Peaks can make their own cloud that the grid misses; check a webcam on the day.