Rental vehicle equipment for winter mountain driving in Peru
FR

Translated into English.

Original post
ER
Hi there,

We’re heading to Peru from February 3 to 27, 2025. From the 12th to the 23rd, we’ll be traveling through high-altitude areas above 4,000 meters between Arequipa and Puno, Puno and Cuzco, and then Cuzco and Nazca. My question is whether we might encounter snowy roads, and if so, whether rental vehicles (a standard tourist car rented at Lima airport) come equipped with chains or anything similar. Thanks in advance! Eric
kcire ergiam
DJ Djalma Globetrotter ·
From the 12th to the 23rd, we're crossing summits over 4,000 meters between Arequipa and Puno, between Puno and Cusco, then between Cusco and Nazca.

Hi there, Those won’t be summits! Snow is rare on Peruvian roads, but there are exceptions in August around Lake Titicaca (Puno) or near Arequipa since it’s the southern hemisphere winter then. Anyway, no chance of finding any in February—it’s the southern hemisphere summer! Same as how you’re unlikely to see snow in Marseille or Nice in August!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCOyB7WStI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2eI67iCbKY
ER Ergiam ·
Hi again Djalma,

Thanks for your reply about driving in the mountains.

Eric
kcire ergiam
DJ Djalma Globetrotter ·
Yes, the two months when you might encounter occasional snow (though it's rare) on the Arequipa–Puno and Puno–Cusco roads are the two winter months: July and August. For info, between Puno/Juliaca and Cusco, you're not on "summits" but on the altiplano—it's flat as a pancake but still around 3,700m above sea level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCOyB7WStI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2eI67iCbKY
IV Ivert Veteran ·
In Peru, it has never snowed below 3,300 m in altitude. In Cusco [3,400 m], it snowed in July 1911 and 1968. In the mountains, the rain-snow line never drops below 3,600 m. At 4,000 m, snow is rare and, when it does fall, it’s usually in small amounts. In February, and in the areas you mentioned, there’s no chance of finding a snow-covered road.
Mon blog de voyage : http://xn--duncontinentlautre-qrb.com
CA Cassius Veteran ·
Hi there. I completely agree with you. There are two seasons in Peru. Snow is found at high altitudes.
gerard
DJ Djalma Globetrotter ·
the snow is at high altitude.

That’s often the case, but not just in Peru! ;) After that, it depends on the altitude depending on the country..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCOyB7WStI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2eI67iCbKY
CA Cassius Veteran ·
In Peru, this is often the case. In Ecuador, it's completely different. I've been hiking in the Andes for over 30 years and have quite a few summits under my belt. Best regards.
gerard
IV Ivert Veteran ·
Hello,

Hello. I completely agree with you. There are 2 seasons in Peru. Snow is at high altitude.

It's nice of you to agree with me, but these are mainly facts, not "hearsay." Climatology is kind of my specialty. 😉
Mon blog de voyage : http://xn--duncontinentlautre-qrb.com
CA Cassius Veteran ·
hi again. sorry, but I know what I'm talking about; there are two seasons in Peru; for me, this isn't just "hearsay". snow is at high altitude. during my trip in June, it was around 5,500m.
gerard
TO TomPeru Regular ·
I think it’s more useful to point out that Peru is a tropical country. It rarely snows, and the sunshine and strong radiation mean snow usually doesn’t last more than a morning.

It doesn’t seem relevant to talk about winter or summer—between December and March, it’s the wet season, with risks of heavy precipitation and thus snow in high-altitude areas (above 4,000 m). In Peru, snow removal or chains don’t exist.

On the contrary, during the winter from June to September, precipitation is rare, and although it gets very cold, it rarely snows. However, in the cordilleras on the eastern side of the Andes, snow isn’t uncommon in July-August, though it’s rare to venture onto those roads by car...

In short, snow isn’t really a concern for those who want to drive on the tourist routes in southern Peru. On the other hand, it’s not recommended to explore remote areas of Peru during the rainy season due to risks of landslides, rockfalls, and snow at high altitudes.

Thomas
DJ Djalma Globetrotter ·
hi, You say:

It doesn’t seem relevant to talk about winter or summer,

And I totally agree. But then you say:

On the contrary, during the winter between June and September, precipitation is rare

That seems a bit contradictory to me...[;]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCOyB7WStI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2eI67iCbKY
TO TomPeru Regular ·
Yeah, it's still the southern hemisphere winter after all! 😏
CA Cassius Veteran ·
Yes, it's the southern hemisphere winter starting in July-August. Nothing has changed.
gerard
IV Ivert Veteran ·
In many countries in the tropical belt, the concept of winter doesn’t really apply. Instead, we talk about the dry season. Just like summer isn’t necessarily the hottest time of the year...
Mon blog de voyage : http://xn--duncontinentlautre-qrb.com
CA Cassius Veteran ·
Hello. Maybe, but the definition is: Southern hemisphere summer and southern hemisphere winter.
gerard
IV Ivert Veteran ·
No kidding? Look, this is my area of expertise—I’ve been studying it for 30 years, so...
Mon blog de voyage : http://xn--duncontinentlautre-qrb.com
CA Cassius Veteran ·
No joke, I stand by what I said.
gerard

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