Lima Weather Guide
Peru
Best Time to Visit
December, January, February, March
Avoid
June, July, August (grey and gloomy)
Climate
Desert — unique foggy grey winters, warm sunny summers, almost no rain
Annual Rainfall
Less than 0.5 inches (12 mm) — one of the driest capitals on Earth
Overview
Lima has the world's most paradoxical coastal desert climate. Despite being a tropical latitude, it rarely gets rain due to the cold Humboldt Current offshore. Summers (December–April) are sunny and warm; winters (June–October) are blanketed in garúa — a thick grey mist with drizzle that rarely lifts.
Seasonal Weather Breakdown
Summer (Sunny Season)
December–April
70–79°F
21–26°C
Lima's best weather. Warm, sunny, and the Pacific Ocean is swimable (relatively). Miraflores and Barranco beach clubs are packed.
- →Playa Asia beach resort area is the Lima coastal scene in summer
- →Surfing season along the Costa Verde
- →Machu Picchu visits are best in dry season (May–October, opposite of Lima)
Winter (Garúa Season)
June–October
57–66°F
14–19°C
Persistently grey, damp, and gloomy. The garúa mist is legendary among Limeños — it can last weeks without true rain. Psychologically challenging.
- →Indoor culture is essential: Larco Museum, Huaca Pucllana, Lima's incredible restaurant scene
- →Lima's food scene (voted among the world's best) makes winter bearable
- →Altitude trips to Cusco/Machu Picchu actually have better weather in July
What to Pack for Lima
- ✓Light jacket and jeans for garúa season
- ✓Sunscreen for summer
- ✓Layers for unpredictable coastal fog
- ✓Comfortable walking shoes
Lima Weather FAQ
Why is Lima so grey in winter?
The cold Humboldt Current brings cold Peruvian waters along the coast, cooling the air above it. When warm, humid air from inland meets this cold marine layer, it condenses into the garúa — a low-level fog that sits over Lima from June–October, rarely producing rain but creating persistent grey skies.
What is the best time to visit Lima?
December–April for Lima's sunny season and beach culture. However, if visiting Machu Picchu (likely reason to be in Peru), the dry season (May–September) for the highlands is opposite to Lima's summer. Many visitors accept Lima's grey winter for the highland dry season.
Neighborhoods in Lima
Each neighborhood in Lima has its own microclimate. Check real-time conditions below: