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Peru Weather
The Coast
Due to the effect of the cold Humboldt Current in the Pacific Ocean, and the presence of the Andes to the east, the coast from Ecuador to Chile is mostly barren and desolate. The southern region is part of the Atacama Desert, the driest area on the planet – some of which hasn’t seen rain in over 200 years.
In Lima during the months from May through to September, the city experiences what is known as the garúa, a thick layer of cloud which blankets the city. Accompanied by a light mist and low temperatures the garúa is a typical characteristic of Lima. The costal areas north and south occasionally suffer from the garúa as well – but too a far lesser extent. The further north and further south one goes the more the sun shines during these months and in the north of the country close to Ecuador temperature can reach over 30ºC on the average day.
Summer usually kicks in to full swing in October and lasts until the beginning of April. During these months the sun can shine brightly in Lima and the city develops a humid slow paced tropical feel to it. In the regions to the north and south of Lima the summer sun is shines as brightly as ever and if traveling to the coast during this season it is advisable to bring some sun cream.
The Highlands
The Andean Highlands have two typical seasons: wet and dry. From May to October rain is sporadic and sunshine fills the sky daily. It is often very pleasant in the Andes during this season and is the opportune time to undertake a trek or a trail in the region. It gets chilly at night regardless of the season owing to the high altitude so make sure you pack some warm clothes if traveling to this region.
During the months of November through to April, rainfall is heavy and temperatures can plunge drastically after the sun sets. Nonetheless – traveling through the region during this period is still recommendable – it simply boils down to a question of being lucky with the weather.
The Jungle
The jungle is divided into the cloud forest (above 700m) and lowland jungle (below 700m). The cloud forest features a subtropical, balmy climate, with heavy rainfall between November and March, and sunshine from April to October. It is always cool at night.
The lowland jungle region is very tropical and has a warm and humid climate throughout the year with abundant rainfall between November and April. The average temperature at this time is 26°C, although it can reach 36°C. During this period it is advised that you bring a pair of Wellington boots as some of the jungle trails become small rivers.
The dry season runs from April through to October and daily temperatures can reach as high as 35°C. From time to time however, there are cold fronts that extend from the South Atlantic and drop temperatures to as much as 15°C during the day and 13°C at night. It is often thought that the dry season is the best season to visit the rain forest as the rivers are lower exposing the beaches, and the jungle routes are more accessible. |
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