Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) weather in May
May in Ollantaytambo: nice, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take 18 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#4 of 12 months in Ollantaytambo · #131 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 91/100 (tier S)
- Days
- 19°C
- Nights
- 11°C
- Wet days
- 18
- Sun
- 10.2 h
- Humidity
- 81%
- Daylight
- 12 h

Traveller notes on Ollantaytambo in May
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.
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.
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.
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.
June is the dry season in the Sacred Valley and it reads as advertised: bright sun by day, cold at night, and the cold getting serious with altitude - one poster passes on figures near 15F for high hikes up around 15,000ft. The other June fact is a correction. Inti Raymi falls on 24 June but it happens at Sacsayhuaman above Cusco, not here, and between it and Corpus Christi the month fills Cusco's Plaza de Armas with locals and travellers together - so June crowding in the valley is largely Cusco's crowding spilling down it. The record for Ollantaytambo: 18.9C days, 10.5C nights, 7.2 precipitation days carrying 23mm, 10.1 hours of sun and AQI 22.
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Ollantaytambo climate normals — May
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Ollantaytambo in May
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.
Peak crowdsAndean dry season, Senor de Choquekillka, May break in Peru(estimated)
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.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Ollantaytambo in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Andean dry season
1 May – 30 Sep · usuallyCrowdedClear days, frost at night and dust on the terraces by August. The town works as the staging post for Machu Picchu in these months and the square is a car park of minibuses by nine.
- Festival
Senor de Choquekillka
23–26 MayReligious feastCrowdedThe town's own festival over Pentecost: four days of seventeen dance troupes, bullfights and fireworks in a village of a few thousand, with everyone home for it. The date moves with Easter. Source ↗
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?
Ollantaytambo in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Ollantaytambo?
- May in Ollantaytambo: nice, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take 18 rainy days. It ranks #4 of 12 months for Ollantaytambo on SeasonMap's comfort score (91/100).
- What is the weather like in Ollantaytambo in May?
- In May, Ollantaytambo averages a daily high of 19°C and a low of 11.4°C, with about 65.5 mm of rain over roughly 18.4 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Ollantaytambo in May?
- Ollantaytambo has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 21 in May.
Within 300 km: Cusco's Qoyllur Rit'i on 30 May – 4 Jun, and Aguas Calientes' Timed tickets and fixed circuits on 1 Jan – 31 Dec.