1.- OVERVIEW OF CUSCO’S CLIMATE
One of the aspects that are essential to understand how the Weather in Cusco in December works is to know more about the city of Cusco starting from where it is located, located on the south side of Peru this city is one of the places that best preserves the historical and cultural wealth in addition to containing one of the natural beauty as there is nowhere else in the world. It is known worldwide as the ancient capital of the Inca culture and is surrounded by a chain of mountains giving it a privileged location in historical as well as geographical aspects.
At more than 3400 meters above sea level, the city of Cusco becomes one of the destinations with the highest elevation in all of South America, it is for this reason that the December weather in Cusco Peru becomes so extreme and changing to the point of having a feeling of warm temperature almost all the time, plus this can also be felt by the change of day and night, although not completely, a large percentage of travelers come to experience altitude sickness almost immediately upon arriving in the city for the first time, so it is always recommended to take precautions for this.
2.- CUSCO’S DISTINCT SEASONS
The altitude is one of the main reasons why the Weather in Cusco in December is different from other places in Peru and the world. It is common to see how a sunny day turns into a rainy one in a matter of minutes and vice versa, this is because the December weather in Cusco Peru only follows the rules of the Andes taking into consideration 2 marked seasons during the year.
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2.1.- Dry Season
This season occurs between April and October of each year, it is characterized mainly by having the weather quite stable during the days with sunny days and clear nights to take advantage of seeing the Andean sky. This season is essentially the one that is taken advantage of when it comes to enjoying outdoor activities such as extensive hikes and visits to archaeological sites, in fact it is also known as the high season since it is the favorite of travelers and is the time in which the city of Cusco has the largest presence of visitors, essentially the weather during this season is pleasant, clearly differentiating it from the Weather in Cusco in December which is part of the rainy season.
2.2.- Rainy Season
Considered as one of the most difficult and challenging seasons in the Andean region, the rainy season occurs from November to March having as the most difficult months in January and February, because they are the months in which there is a greater flow and presence of constant rains throughout the day. However the Weather in Cusco in December is very changeable because it is the transition season, also this is considered the low season because due to the sudden changes of the Weather in Cusco in December many people decide to omit it as their travel season.
3.- WEATHER IN CUSCO IN DECEMBER
One of the essential aspects that you should consider about the Weather in Cusco in December is the warm and humid sensation that is constantly felt throughout the day because this month belongs to the rainy season and therefore have significant variations and sudden changes having quite an influx of rainfall unlike other seasons of the year. Another aspect is that the temperature can vary constantly and is always related to the Weather in Cusco in December since you can essentially feel temperatures of 12 °C in the morning, about 22 °C during the day and 10 °C at night.
It is also important to know that the December weather in Cusco Peru depends a lot on the meteorological events since a mild day can easily become hot with the presence of the sun as the hours go by and in the opposite direction it can drop rapidly as the afternoon progresses and the sun goes down. This month is quite particular as it marks not only a significant change in the balance of rains which are useful and productive for crops and agricultural production, although the weather is always changing it is noticeable how the presence of rains can be felt more frequently in the afternoon or evening although occasionally during the day small showers.
You should take into account that during the month of December the probability of rainfall during the day is between 70% to 80% and the intensity can vary from a slight to a very intense and even in some cases there are thunderstorms with electrical discharges that last for several hours, for this reason most of the day the skies can be cloudy so the presence of the sun is often scarce and limited, also the Weather in Cusco in December is accompanied by intense winds that frequently hit the entire city during the afternoon hours, registering speeds from 15 to 20 km / h that frequently are oriented from east to north west, this wind sensation can be felt mainly during the early morning and afternoon.
4.- SOMETHING THAT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE A YEAR
“The traditional craft market of Santurantikuy is a cultural and social event that occurs only during the last month of the year, despite the challenging Weather in Cusco in December have the opportunity to visit and meet each of the traditional stalls where the best artisans of the city expose their works of art with religious aspects is something you can not miss, this will certainly be the best complement you will find for your activities in the city such as visiting the archaeological sites or stroll through the streets.”
5.- PACKING AND PREPARING FOR CUSCO IN DECEMBER
The Weather in Cusco in December should not be an impediment for you to enjoy your trip in the right way in fact this month is quite suitable for visiting the city because there is not much presence of visitors so the archaeological sites and tourist sites are at a more complete disposal for you, there are even other unique benefits such as being able to visit the famous fair of Santuranticuy which is one of the oldest Andean markets that exists and that only occurs during this month, anyway traveling in December to Cusco has its benefits you just have to prepare properly for this.
6.- Recommended luggage
- Being a transitional season to the rainy season it is essential that to enjoy the city comfortably you should know how to deal with the rains, humidity, the frequent possibility of getting wet and even the constant variation of temperature, for this reason a tip that will help you in this is the correct preparation of your luggage.
- During the day the temperature can reach between 20 to 22 °C and most likely you will feel fatigue for this reason it is ideal that for this time of the day you can wear light and comfortable clothes to walk around the city and also explore the nearby places preferably cotton garments that are useful in case you perspire.
- It is essential that you always carry a jacket with you because during the night the average temperature is 10 ° C so a warm and light jacket will be very useful in addition to what will protect you against strong winds.
- With a presence of rains waterproof clothing will be one of your greatest allies however if you can not get that kind of clothing you can also buy a rain poncho on your arrival in the city, it is more economical and easy to use. It is also recommended that you always wear waterproof boots or shoes as the ground can become slippery.
- Light clothing will be very useful during your trip since it can dry more easily after an extensive day of activities. Try to look for clothes that do not retain moisture constantly and that can dry easily.
- Nowadays there are also multiple accessories that allow your electronic devices not to be exposed to water easily for this reason waterproof cases or plastic bags are suitable if you want to use cameras, phones or similar devices.
- A waterproof backpack will be of great help for your activities as it will allow you to transport your things safely without the worry of them getting wet or damaged.
There are more positive reasons than excuses to plan your next trip now and properly face the Weather in Cusco in December. From taking advantage of more free spaces to being able to appreciate the nature of the Andes at its best. Auri Peru can organize a suitable trip for you safely during the month of December, contact us now and find out how to take the first step.
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