Huaraz (Cordillera Blanca) weather in December

December in Huaraz: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 28 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Huaraz🇵🇪 Peru · Peruvian Andes · Trekking84
  1. 81Jan
  2. 78Feb
  3. 75Mar
  4. 85Apr
  5. 89May
  6. 93Jun
  7. 94Jul
  8. 92Aug
  9. 88Sep
  10. 84Oct
  11. 86Nov
  12. 84Dec

#9 of 12 months in Huaraz · #330 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 84/100 (tier A)

Days
18°C
Nights
9°C
Wet days
28
Sun
10.1 h
Humidity
85%
Daylight
13 h
Huaraz, Peru
Photo: Nicky Manosalva · Pexels

Traveller notes on Huaraz in December

Other months in Huaraz

Huaraz-forum threads on a February visit describe reaching spots like Llanganuco or Laguna Churrup as genuinely still possible, posters warning real views are unlikely given the season's cloud cover. Regulars call February genuinely not a good time for the region's hiking-dependent appeal, one expert flatly stating this given how much the wet season limits visibility. Posters call bus service genuinely reduced this time of year, several regulars naming one morning departure per company as standard from October through April. Regulars call the Cordillera Blanca's famous mountain views genuinely the real casualty of a February visit, several threads naming this the honest tradeoff for anyone still choosing to come. Posters recommend real flexible expectations and backup plans, several regulars calling this standard given how weather-dependent the whole experience is. The record: 18.4C days, 10.2C nights, an extraordinarily high 218.6mm across nearly 28 days and 87 percent humidity.
HuarazFebruaryRegular · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Huaraz-forum threads on day hikes describe safety as genuinely better further from the city itself, posters recommending established trekking routes over casual walks in the immediate vicinity. Regulars call Laguna Churup and Laguna 69 both real August options, though both top out at serious elevation and altitude sickness is a genuine concern worth planning around. Posters recommend the Llanganuco Valley and a trip to Lake Paron as strong additions beyond the two main lagoon hikes. Regulars call bus travel considerably easier between April and October, more daytime departures running during this stretch than in the wetter months. Posters recommend real acclimatization time before any serious August hike, several regulars calling this the single most common mistake among first-time visitors to the region. The record: 19.1C days feeling like 19C, 8C nights, an extraordinarily high 73.2mm across over 19 days and 62 percent humidity.
HuarazAugustRegular · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Huaraz-forum threads on hiking the Huayhuash Circuit in April describe this as genuinely the tail end of the wetter season, posters calling conditions unpredictable but improving steadily through the month. Regulars call regular afternoon storms still a standing feature, mornings generally the more reliable window for hiking especially on lower day trips. Posters recommend waiting for May if a flexible schedule allows it, several regulars calling that month considerably more reliable for the full circuit. Regulars describe April as still doable for shorter routes, real planning around the afternoon pattern making it workable. Posters call real waterproof layers essential regardless of how clear the morning looks. Regulars recommend checking trail and weather conditions with a local guide before committing to a multi-day route this early. The record: 18.6C days feeling like 20C, 9.7C nights, an extraordinarily high 159.2mm across nearly 29 days and 85 percent humidity.
HuarazAprilRegular · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Huaraz-forum threads on an Alpamayo Circuit attempt in late March describe this as sitting well within the wet season, posters calling real caution warranted given how often the high peaks stay obscured in cloud. Regulars describe a passing shower on trek as genuinely common rather than exceptional, some estimating rain a real possibility most afternoons through the stretch. Posters recommend June through August as the genuinely favored window for serious high routes, March better suited to lower valley walks and acclimatization hikes. Regulars call real waterproof gear non-negotiable for anyone attempting a route this early. Posters describe river crossings and trail conditions as considerably harder to judge during the wetter months, current local reports worth checking first. Regulars call the mountain scenery worth the tradeoff for flexible visitors. The record: 18.1C days feeling like 20C, 10.1C nights, an extraordinarily high 247.5mm across over 30 days and 88 percent humidity.
HuarazMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Huaraz climate normals — December

Daytime high18°C / 65°F😎 nice
Nighttime low9°C / 49°F
Feels like (high)20°C / 68°F
Rainfall180 mm / 7.1 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days28 days
Humidity85%💦 very humid
Dew point11°C / 51°F
Sunshine10.1 h/day
Daylight12.7 h
Wind8 km/h / 5 mph
Snowfall1 cm / 0.4 in
Air quality (US AQI)23🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Huaraz in December

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

BusySummer / year-end holidays in Peru, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Huaraz's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Fair weatherHuaraz's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.

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What's on in Huaraz in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Rule

    Huascarán park ticket

    1 Jan – 31 Dec

    Almost everything worth walking to above the valley sits inside Huascarán national park, which charges a day or multi-day entry ticket bought before you go up and checked at the control posts on the way in. Source ↗

  • Season

    The wet months

    1 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallyMonsoonClosures

    Cloud sits on the Cordillera Blanca most afternoons, the passes turn to mud and the high roads to the lagoons wash out for days at a time. Agencies still run day trips; the multi-day treks largely stop.

What's on around the world in December →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Huaraz — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Huaraz?

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Huaraz in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Huaraz?
December in Huaraz: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 28 rainy days. It ranks #9 of 12 months for Huaraz on SeasonMap's comfort score (84/100).
What is the weather like in Huaraz in December?
In December, Huaraz averages a daily high of 18.4°C and a low of 9.4°C, with about 179.7 mm of rain over roughly 28 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Huaraz in December?
Huaraz has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 23 in December.
Does it snow in Huaraz in December?
Huaraz sees roughly 1 cm of snowfall in December.

Within 300 km: Lima's Christmas and New Year on 20 Dec – 2 Jan.