This is it! Now is the perfect time of year to visit one of the 7 Man-Made Wonders of the World – the one and only magical Machu Picchu! Being one of the 7 man-made wonders is already a huge deal and now Machu Picchu has been named Trip Advisor’s 2016 top landmark destination. This beautiful and mysterious Inca city plays host to several thousand tourists a day and over 1.2 million a year! Five hundred people hike the famous Inca pilgrimage daily, the Classic Inca Trail (except February when it is closed).
Why go this time of year? Weather, festivals, and timing (it’s summer in the northern hemisphere so it’s break time for many, and it’s winter in the southern hemisphere so it’s a great excuse to escape the gloom!). March to October is beautiful in Peru with May through September being the absolute best. While it’s winter in the Andes during these months, it is also the dry season which makes for perfect trekking weather – clear sunny skies and crisp cool nights with little chance of rainfall (though remember mountains are unpredictable and seasonal fluctuations do occur…read: El Niño).
Festivals! June kicks off the myriad of festivals in Peru and Cusco hosts most of them. They are as follows: Jun 21st is Winter Solstice, Jun 24th is the Festival of the Sun (Inti Raymi), Jul 15-16 is the Festival of the Virgin in Paucartambo, Jul 28th is Peru’s Independence Day & Aug 1st is Mother Earth Day (Pachamama). Ubiquitous parades, markets, festivals and other celebrations begin around June 14th and last through August with June 24th being the biggest, most choreographed event of all. Be aware that if you plan to travel to Peru during these times that it will be very crowded so we recommend booking your flights, treks, tours, hotels and so on well in advance to ensure you don’t miss out. See you in the Apus (mountains)!
If you found this information helpful, please refer to our future blog posts about each individual festival. Killa Expeditions is passionate about providing exceptional & sustainable adventure eco-travel experiences, encouraging people to explore off the beaten path, and inspiring others to give back. To book an adventure of a lifetime, contact us today!
