Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) weather in December

December in Ollantaytambo: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 30 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Ollantaytambo🇵🇪 Peru · Peruvian Andes · Trekking75
  1. 73Jan
  2. 71Feb
  3. 72Mar
  4. 84Apr
  5. 91May
  6. 95Jun
  7. 96Jul
  8. 93Aug
  9. 88Sep
  10. 83Oct
  11. 80Nov
  12. 75Dec

#9 of 12 months in Ollantaytambo · #604 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 75/100 (tier B)

Days
20°C
Nights
13°C
Wet days
30
Sun
9.3 h
Humidity
86%
Daylight
13 h
Ollantaytambo, Peru
Photo: Nando Freitas · Pexels

Traveller notes on Ollantaytambo in December

Notes from nearby Cusco (44 km away)

Ollantaytambo doesn't have its own notes for December yet — these are about Cusco, close enough to share the season.

Forum posters are consistent that December sits right at the start of the wet season (December through February are the wettest months), so a mostly-overcast, roughly 50%-chance-of-rain-on-any-given-day pattern is the norm rather than the exception. The typical shape of a December day: some rain for a couple of hours in the morning or afternoon, then clearing to sun, with an all-day washout called unlikely even if grey skies are close to guaranteed. Daytime highs run cool-ish (60sF) with lows dropping into the high 40sF, and a proper rain jacket plus shoes with good grip are treated as essential packing rather than optional given the regularly slick trail and cobblestone conditions this time of year.
Tripadvisor community · December · 1 month ago · about Cusco · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo-forum trip reports on an October visit describe the town's granaries and cafes as genuine highlights beyond the main ruins, posters calling a stay in the village itself considerably more atmospheric than a rushed day trip from Cusco. Regulars call the Pinkuylluna hike a real standout, views over the town and the Sacred Valley considered worth the climb. Posters recommend real layers regardless of the daytime warmth, October evenings here still capable of a genuine chill at this elevation. Regulars call the archaeological site itself worth dedicated time rather than a quick pass-through, several posters describing it as underrated compared with the bigger Sacred Valley names. Posters recommend colectivos or a bus for the connection to Cusco, both considered practical, budget-friendly options for onward travel. The record: 19.7C days feeling like 20C, 11.9C nights, an extraordinarily high 169.6mm across nearly 30 days and 62 percent humidity.
OllantaytamboOctoberRegular · October · 1 month ago · Read more on tripadvisor.co.nz ↗
Ollantaytambo-forum threads on February describe this as genuinely deep in the wet season, posters calling October through April the standing rain window with February often the wettest stretch within it. Regulars call the train running a real bimodal pattern during heavy rain, passengers sometimes switching bus and train partway through depending on tracks. Posters describe a typical wet day as rarely an all-day washout, showers here often lasting just a few minutes even during a genuinely rainy stretch. Regulars call one visitor's report of sunny conditions until boarding the train a fair example of how quickly things shift. Posters recommend real waterproof layers regardless of forecast, conditions capable of changing within the hour. Regulars call February a genuinely cheaper time to visit, hotel and taxi rates both typically lower than peak. The record: 19.2C days feeling like 21C, 12.8C nights, an extraordinarily high 263.2mm across over 28 days and 89 percent humidity.
OllantaytamboFebruaryRegular · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Ollantaytambo-forum threads on March conditions in the Sacred Valley describe this as sitting within the Andean wet season, February usually called the worst single month with March a touch more settled. Posters describe a typical system as brief, a steady spell of an hour or two followed by clearing skies rather than an all-day washout. Regulars call the ruins and surrounding valley worth visiting regardless, most reporting a mix of sun and a passing shower rather than continuous rain across a full trip. Posters recommend real waterproof layers, conditions here genuinely variable within the same day. Regulars describe the valley floor as noticeably greener this time of year, a real visual upside of the wetter stretch. Posters recommend flexible plans and a spare day given how often a shower reshuffles an itinerary. The record: 19.2C days feeling like 21C, 12.5C nights, an extraordinarily high 262.6mm across over 30 days and 88 percent humidity.
OllantaytamboMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Sacred Valley-forum threads covering late April into May describe this as a genuinely favorable stretch for Ollantaytambo and the surrounding valley, one traveler reporting comfortable daytime readings in the low 20s Celsius with cooler mornings and nights closer to 10 to 13 degrees. Posters describe the sky as often partly cloudy rather than fully clear, and recommend packing for a passing shower even though the heavier system that defines the earlier months has generally moved on by this point. Regulars call the archaeological site and its terraced granaries above town the standout reason to base here rather than just passing through en route to Machu Picchu, with fewer crowds than the more famous ruins nearby. Layering for a real swing between a cool morning and a comfortably warm midday is standing advice throughout the month. The record: 19C days feeling like 17C, 11.4C nights, an extraordinarily high 121mm across over 18 days and 81 percent humidity.
SacredValleyMayRegular · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Ollantaytambo's card on the map.

Ollantaytambo climate normals — December

Daytime high20°C / 67°F😎 nice
Nighttime low13°C / 55°F
Feels like (high)21°C / 70°F
Rainfall262 mm / 10.3 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days30 days
Humidity86%💦 very humid
Dew point13°C / 55°F
Sunshine9.3 h/day
Daylight12.9 h
Wind7 km/h / 4 mph
Snowfall2.2 cm / 0.9 in
Air quality (US AQI)22🍃 good

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

Crowds in Ollantaytambo 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)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Ollantaytambo'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 weatherOllantaytambo's weather peaks June–August, best around July.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Ollantaytambo in December

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

  • Season

    Sacred Valley rainy season

    1 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallyMonsoon

    Afternoon rain over the terraces from December, with the valley greener than at any other point and the guest houses half empty. Landslides shut the road or the rail line for a day or two.

  • Season

    Wet season

    MonsoonRisk

    30 rainy days and about 262 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in December →

Nearby, and something's on

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

Where is Ollantaytambo?

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Ollantaytambo in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Ollantaytambo?
December in Ollantaytambo: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 30 rainy days. It ranks #9 of 12 months for Ollantaytambo on SeasonMap's comfort score (75/100).
What is the weather like in Ollantaytambo in December?
In December, Ollantaytambo averages a daily high of 19.5°C and a low of 12.6°C, with about 262.1 mm of rain over roughly 30.2 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Ollantaytambo in December?
Ollantaytambo has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 22 in December.
Does it snow in Ollantaytambo in December?
Ollantaytambo sees roughly 2.2 cm of snowfall in December.

Within 300 km: Cusco's Santurantikuy on 24 Dec, and Aguas Calientes' Timed tickets and fixed circuits on 1 Jan – 31 Dec.