Cusco (population 300,000) is considered the Inca capital of Peru. It is located in the department of Cusco, along the Andean mountain line. The Spaniards conquered it in the 16th century, preserving the basic structure, but building Baroque churches and palaces over the ruins.

The annual average temperature in the city goes from 10.3° to 11.3° C (50.54° to 52.34° F). The temperature is relatively stable during the summer and winter. Usually, it is cold at night and during the first morning hours. May through July is the cold season, when the temperature can decrease below 0° C.

Be expected to pack a range of clothes, as during the day it's warm and sunny and in the mornings and at night, it's cold.

Also, there are two well-define seasons: the rainy season is from November to March and the dry season is from April to October. Cusco has a special weather due to the height at which it's located as well as its closeness to the equator.

Average monthly highs and lows (degrees in Fahrenheit) and rainfall (in inches) in Cusco:

Type	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Highs	68	69.8	69.8	71.6	69.8	69.8	69.8	69.8	71.6	71.6	73.4	71.6
Lows	44.6	44.6	44.6	39.2	35.6	33.8	30.2	33.8	39.2	42.8	42.8	44.6
Avg. Rainfall	9.95	9.15	6.65	3.11	0.92	0.31	0.31	0.61	1.53	4.03	4.64	8.36