The Salkantay Trek, one of the most famous and beautiful routes to Machu Picchu, changes completely depending on the weather and time of year. This trek takes you through glaciers, Andean valleys, cloud forest, and high jungle, so the weather varies dramatically each day.
Choosing when to go not only affects your photos but also safety, the level of difficulty, comfort, visibility of the snow-capped peaks, and even tour availability.
That’s why we’ve put together the most complete, detailed, and informative guide to help you decide the best time of year to do the Salkantay Trek.
🌤️ 1. Salkantay Trek Seasons: How is the year divided?
The climate in the Vilcabamba Mountain Range is divided into two main seasons:
☀️ Dry Season (April – October)
The best time to do the Salkantay Trek.
Stable weather, sunny days, dry trails.
🌧️ Rainy Season (November – March)
More humidity, slippery trails, risk of fog, and reduced visibility of the snow-capped peak.
Both seasons have advantages and disadvantages, but if you want the ideal weather, the dry season is your best bet.
☀️ 2. Dry Season: The Absolute Best Time (April to October)
🌈 Why is it the best?
- Sunny days
- Stable weather
- Safe trails
- Excellent visibility
- Perfect photos of Apu Salkantay
- Less rain at the pass
- Greater safety on bridges and descents
🌡️ Temperatures:
- Daytime: 12°C – 18°C
- Nighttime in Soraypampa: -5°C to 3°C
- Nighttime in Chaullay/Lucmabamba: Mild (8°C – 14°C)
⭐ Key advantages:
- Ideal for seeing turquoise Humantay Lagoon
- Perfect visibility of Nevado Salkantay
- Almost no rain at the pass (4,630 m)
- Less risk of closures due to landslides
- Perfect for photography tours
⚠️ Disadvantages:
- More tourists
- Higher prices
- Very cold nights (especially in May and July)
- You need to book in advance
Even so, 85% of tourists choose the dry season.
🌧️ 3. Rainy Season (November to March): What to Expect?
The rainy season brings a lush, green landscape, but also challenges.
🌦️ Typical Weather:
- Intermittent rain
- Dense fog at higher elevations
- Muddy trails
- Lower nighttime temperatures (but warmer than in the dry season)
🌡️ Temperatures:
- Day: 14°C – 20°C
- Night: 2°C – 8°C
⭐ Advantages:
- Incredibly lush vegetation
- Fuller waterfalls
- Fewer tourists
- Lower prices
- Photos with “mystical” mist
⚠️ Disadvantages:
- Reduced visibility of Salkantay
- Increased risk of landslides
- Unexpected rain showers almost all day
- Agencies may cancel for safety reasons
❗ January and February → not recommended
These are the most critical months for heavy rainfall.
🌟 4. Which is the best month of ALL?
🥇 June and September are the perfect months.
✔ June
- Super clear days
- Cold but manageable temperatures
- Clean and dry landscapes
- The snow-capped peaks look spectacular
✔ September
- Mild weather
- Little rain
- Worse nights
- Fewer tourists than August
Both months offer optimal conditions for trekking, photography, and safety.
🗓️ 5. Salkantay Trek Weather Month by Month (Ultra-Detailed Guide)
Here’s a complete and accurate breakdown for each month.
🌧️ January
- The rainiest month of the year
- Very slippery trails
- Swollen waterfalls and rivers
- Very poor visibility of Salkantay
- Not recommended
- Some agencies do NOT operate
🌧️ February
- Just as rainy or wetter than January
- Dense fog
- Abundant icefalls
- Dangerous trails
- Occasional temporary closures
- Not recommended
🌱 March
- Rainfall decreases
- Lush green landscape
- Great month for travelers who love hiking without crowds
- Still high humidity at the pass
🌤️ April
- Perfect transition
- The dry season begins
- Cool and stable weather
- Excellent combination of lush greenery and clear skies
- Highly recommended
☀️ May
- Stargazing season begins
- Clear skies
- Intense cold in Soraypampa
- Spectacular visibility
- Humantay Lagoon is stunning Blue
- Highly Recommended
🌞 June
- One of the best months
- Almost no rain
- Completely clear skies
- Ideal for photos
- Excellent time for professional trekkers
🔥 July
- Dry but freezing month
- Very cold nights
- Perfect days
- Ideal if you love dry weather, but be prepared to sleep below
- freezing
🔥 August
- Similar to July
- Lots of international tourists
- Dry and stable weather
- Excellent visibility
🍁 September
- Best weather of the year
- Mild nights
- Dry trails
- Perfect balance of weather, visibility, and comfort
- Highly Recommended
🍂 October
- Last dry month
- The rains begin to return
- Ideal if you want to avoid crowds
- Good weather, but with light rain at the end of the month
☔ November
- Moderate rain
- Green landscape
- Warm weather in the high jungle
- Good month for photographers
☔ December
- Frequent rain
- Cloudy days
- Slippery trails
- Moderate for trekking
🏔️ 6. How does the weather affect each day of the trek?
🥶 Day 1 – Soraypampa + Humantay Lagoon
- Dry: Blue lagoon, perfect sky
- Rain: Lagoon becomes murky, dangerous climb
❄️ Day 2 – Salkantay Pass (highest point)
- Dry: The most majestic experience
- Rain: Risk of snow, extreme cold, reduced visibility
🏕️Day 3 – Cloud Forest
- Green and humid year-round
- During the rainy season: more insects and mud
☀️Day 4 – High Jungle
- Hot and tropical almost always
- Rain brings more mosquitoes and mud
❄️Day 5 – Machu Picchu
- Dry: perfect photos
- Rain: mystical sunrise with mist
7. Professional Tips Depending on the Season
If you go during the dry season:
- Bring a thermal jacket for very cold nights
- Strong sunscreen (the high Andean sun is intense)
- Book your train and Machu Picchu entrance in advance
- Bring moisturizing lip balm
If you go during the rainy season:
- Waterproof boots
- Quality rain poncho
- Backpack with a rain cover
- Trekking poles are essential
- Change of clothes
- Avoid cotton clothing
8. What to Expect Based on Your Travel Style
👣 If you’re a backpacker:
- Dry season is more expensive, but safer.
- March, April, and November offer the perfect balance.
📸 If you’re a photographer:
- June–September for epic photos.
- March and November for photos with artistic mist.
🌧️ If you prefer tranquility:
- Avoid July and August.
- Choose April, September, or October.
👫 If you’re traveling as a couple:
- Perfect weather: May or September.
- Photos + romance + ideal weather.
🌟 Final Conclusion
The best time to do the Salkantay Trek is from May to September, when the days are dry, the landscapes are clear, and the route is safer. However, each month has its charm: March and November showcase spectacular green landscapes, while June and July are perfect months for those who love cool weather and clear blue skies.
The important thing is to choose the date according to your travel style, your tolerance for the weather, and the type of experience you want to have.
With this comprehensive guide, you can now choose the perfect month for your next adventure to the majestic Apu Salkantay.