The Peruvian Andes have two clearly defined seasons, the dry season and the wet season, and the difference is dramatic and crucial for an elopement. As a high-mountain destination near the equator, the temperature is fairly stable year-round, but the rain, the cloud, the views, and the accessibility shift enormously. Choosing the right window is the single most important seasonal decision for a Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley elopement.

Dry Season: May to September

The dry season, May through September, is the prime window for a Peru elopement. The days are sunny, clear, and stable, with brilliant blue skies, crisp mountain air, and the best, most reliable views of Machu Picchu and the snow-capped peaks. This is peak season for good reason: the weather is dependable, the trails and sites are at their best, and the iconic clear-sky photographs of the citadel are most achievable. The nights are cold at altitude, but the days are glorious.

Machu Picchu citadel under clear skies with green peaks behind — The dry season, May through September, is the prime window: sunny, clear, and stable, with brilliant blue skies, crisp air, and the best, most reliable views of Machu Picchu and the snow-capped peaks. This is peak season for good reason, the weather dependable and the iconic clear-sky photographs of the citadel most achievable, though the nights are cold at altitude

The Shoulder Months

The shoulder months of April and October sit on the edges of the dry season and can be wonderful: April brings the freshest green landscapes after the rains, while October offers fine weather before the wet season sets in, both with fewer crowds than the July and August peak. These months balance good conditions, lush or clear scenery, and quieter sites, an excellent choice for couples who want fine weather without the height of the tourist season.

An Inca stone path through green Andean terraces — The shoulder months of April and October sit on the edges of the dry season: April brings the freshest green landscapes after the rains, while October offers fine weather before the wet season, both with fewer crowds than the July and August peak. These months balance good conditions, lush or clear scenery, and quieter sites, an excellent choice

Wet Season: November to March

The wet season, November through March, brings frequent rain, cloud, and mist to the Andes, along with the lushest, greenest landscapes and the fewest crowds. The views of Machu Picchu can be obscured by cloud, and the famous Inca Trail closes for maintenance in February, so it is the least reliable time for the iconic clear photographs. That said, the misty, dramatic, emerald-green mountains have an atmospheric beauty of their own for couples who embrace them.

Couple sharing a kiss with misty green mountains in the background — The wet season, November through March, brings frequent rain, cloud, and mist along with the lushest green landscapes and fewest crowds. The views of Machu Picchu can be obscured, and the Inca Trail closes in February, so it is the least reliable time for iconic clear photographs, though the misty, emerald mountains have an atmospheric beauty of their own

The Best Window

For most couples, the clear choice is the dry season, with the shoulder months of late April, May, and October offering the best balance of dependable weather, clear mountain views, and manageable crowds. For the iconic blue-sky photographs of Machu Picchu and the snow-capped Andes, the dry months are essential. Whatever the window, plan to arrive several days early to acclimatise to the altitude before the day itself.