Shoulder months win for most families—April–May and September–October balance clearer weather with lighter crowds. Book timed-entry tickets first, then plan trains, buses, and naps around your entry slot.
Quick family summary by age
Toddlers (0–4): October–November or March–April. Warm, greener, more flexible last-minute availability. Expect misty mornings and showers.
School-age (5–11): April–May and late August–September. Best balance of weather and crowds. Choose 6:00–8:00 or 14:00–15:00 entries.
Teens (12–17): May–June and September. Drier trails and big-view photos. Reserve early.
My take after repeat trips in both low and high season: in the rainy/low season you often find last-minute tickets, but it rains most days and many mornings start cloudy. Hourly entries run all year; you select a slot and stick to it.
Month-by-month: weather, crowds, and trade-offs
Month | Weather | Crowd level | Family upside | Pro Trip | Best Entry |
January | Warm,wet | Low-Medium | More space,stable prices | Keep an indoor Plan B in Aguas Calientes | 6:00–8:00 or 14:00–15:00 |
February | Peak rains | Low | Quiet paths | Inca Trail usually closed all month; citadel open | 6:00–8:00 |
March | Rains taper | Medium–Low | Balanced days | Wait 15–30 min for fog to lift | 6:00–8:00 or 14:00–15:00 |
April | Transition to dry | Medium | Family sweet spot | Lock preferred slot early | 6:00–8:00 |
May | Drier, stable | Rising | Teens and photo days | Reserve trains and tickets early | 6:00 |
June | Dry, chilly mornings | High | Clear views | Avoid 10:00–14:00 with toddlers | 6:00 |
July | Dry, festive | High | Works for school holidays | Arrive early for buses and bathrooms | 6:00 |
August | Dry, some haze | High | Typical vacation window | Catch first buses for 6:00 slot | 6:00 |
September | Still dry | Medium–Low | All ages | Often the clearest viewpoints | 6:00–8:00 |
October | Rains return | Low | Flexible planning, better prices | Last-minute tickets more feasible | 6:00–8:00 or 14:00–15:00 |
November | Regular showers | Low | Great for ages 0–7 | Easy ticket/train availability | 14:00–15:00 or 6:00–8:00 |
December | Warm, humid | Low–Medium | Less on-site saturation | Start early or go late afternoon | 6:00–8:00 or 14:00–15:00 |
Add new comment