Salkantay Trek Weather
Salkantay Trek Weather varies with its topography and altitude. It ranges from the tropical to the arctic. The low-land Santa Teresa region with its maximum altitude to approximately 1,500m, which lies in the tropical part of the Machu Picchu National park, for instance, has a hot and humid climate that can rise above 39 Degree Celsius during summer. The mid-land regions are pleasant almost all the year round, although winter nights are cool. The northern mountain region, around an altitude above 3,500m has an alpine climate with considerably lower temperature in winter as can be expected.
There are two major factors to weigh as you decide when to go to Peru: crowds and weather. As a general rule, the better the weather, the more people come to Peru to go on Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. During the high tourist season from May to November, flights and hotels are fully booked and hotels and trails in the hills can be very busy.
The temperature varies along the length of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. Salkantay Mt. is the highest peak of the Cordillera Vilcabamba mountain range in Southern Peru, located about 60 Km’s (40 miles) north-west of Cusco. Salkantay is the 38thhighest peak in the Andes and the 12th highest in Peru, and has an elevation of 6,271 meters (20,574 ft).
The Salkantay Trek Weather in Peru
Day Time Temperatures on Salkantay Trek
The weather on Salkantay Trek varies throughout the year from sunny and dry to wet and cold. The conditions that you will experience depend largely on the time of year that you trek the Salkantay Trail. Temperatures rise slightly during the wet season, as this is actually summer in the southern hemisphere. Days are usually bright and sunny with temperatures around the 20 °C (70 °F) mark. If rain falls then often the temperature will drop quite significantly, and combined with the wind chill factor it can actually feel quite cold.
Night Time Temperatures on Salkantay Trek
Night time on the Salkantay Trek is actually quite cold, with temperatures often falling below freezing point. When the sun sets the temperature drops quickly, and you will need to be prepared with warm clothing. We advise that you take thick dry socks, gloves, hats and warm clothing for the the evening and for sleeping.
Rainy Season on Salkantay Trek
The rainy season from Mid-October Mid April is less popular with trekkers, as there is more chance of rain. The dry season which runs throughout the rest of the year has a good climate for trekking with little or no rain at all. However, during the rainy season with the increased amount of rain fall you will find that the mountains are more lush and green, compared to the other months of the year. Also, during the wet months Machu Picchu is less crowed.
Cusco City Weather
From May to September, it is sunny and a little cold during the day and very cold at night with temperatures between 29ºF and 69ºF. This period of time is usually semidry. From October to April, it sometimes rains with temperatures between 42ºF and 72ºF. January is usually the month with more rain with about 17 days of rain. During this period of time air flights might be delayed and sometimes cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
Inca Trail Weather
From May to September, it is sunny and a little cold during the day and very cold during the night with temperatures between 29ºF and 72ºF. The second day will be cold and windy at the Dead Women’s Pass. From October to April, it sometimes rains with temperatures between 40ºF and 73ºF. January is usually the month with more rain with about 17 days of rain.
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