What's on in Trujillo, Peru through the year

Peak crowds — Summer at Huanchaco, Summer / year-end holidays in Peru

• Season

  Summer at Huanchaco

  1 Jan – 31 MarSchool holidaysCrowded

  Peru's summer school holidays send families from Trujillo and the highlands to Huanchaco, so the seafront restaurants, surf schools and guesthouses are busiest from January to March, especially at weekends.

• Hazard

  Rain floods from the ravines

  15 Jan – 15 Apr · usuallyFlood season

  In most years the coast stays dry, but warm-sea years bring heavy rains that activate the dry ravines above the city. In 2017, 2023 and 2025 floodwater and mud ran through the streets; watch weather alerts from January to April. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Summer at Huanchaco, Summer / year-end holidays in Peru

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Summer at Huanchaco (1 Jan – 31 Mar), Rain floods from the ravines (15 Jan – 15 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Summer at Huanchaco, Summer / year-end holidays in Peru

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Summer at Huanchaco (1 Jan – 31 Mar), Rain floods from the ravines (15 Jan – 15 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Season

  Swell season at Huanchaco

  1 Apr – 31 Oct · usuallySurf season

  The long left at Huanchaco works best on the southern-winter swells, when the fishermen's reed caballitos share the break with a line-up of boards. Cold water and a grey sky come with it.

Still on: Rain floods from the ravines (15 Jan – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — May break in Peru

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Swell season at Huanchaco (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Grey coastal months

  1 Jun – 15 Oct · usuallyFog season

  The cold current holds low cloud over this coast through the southern winter, so mornings at Chan Chan and the huacas are flat and grey and the sun often only turns up after lunch.

Still on: Swell season at Huanchaco (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — Fiestas Patrias, Mid-year break (Fiestas Patrias) in Peru

• Holiday

  Fiestas Patrias

  28–29 JulNational holidayCrowdedClosuresBook early

  Peru takes two days at the end of July and turns them into a week of travel. Buses out of Lima sell out well ahead and the ruins run at capacity; offices and banks are shut. Source ↗

Still on: Swell season at Huanchaco (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Grey coastal months (1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Mid-year break (Fiestas Patrias) in Peru

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Swell season at Huanchaco (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Grey coastal months (1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Festival de la Primavera, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Festival de la Primavera

  20 Sep – 5 Oct · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  The spring festival closes the main avenues for a corso of floats, marinera dancers and paso horses over the turn of the month. It is the week the city is worth planning around. Source ↗

Still on: Swell season at Huanchaco (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Grey coastal months (1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — Festival de la Primavera, October break in Peru

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Swell season at Huanchaco (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), Grey coastal months (1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)), Festival de la Primavera (20 Sep – 5 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Busy — Summer / year-end holidays in Peru, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.