Pucallpa: When to Go

Situated in the tropical lowlands of the Peruvian Amazon Basin, Pucallpa is hot and wet. Temperatures are remarkably constant throughout the year, sitting around 30°C (86°F) during the day, while rainfall is highest from October to April (wet season). May to September (dry season) still sees average monthly precipitation between 50mm (2in) and 105mm (4in), but it's the optimum time to visit, weather-wise. Unfortunately, this is also the busiest and priciest period - it's when North Americans, for whom Peru is an increasingly popular destination, take their holidays.

While Pucallpa is mostly seen as a base to explore the Amazon, it does have a reasonably full festival calendar. Carnaval usually falls in February, timed to end as Lent begins. As with other parts of Catholic Latin America, Peru celebrates religious holidays with fervor. Local variations include water fights and the tradition of Yunza, in which couples dance around a tree laden with gifts, cutting them down with machetes. In June, the Hogueras San Juan (Festival of St John), yet another Catholic celebration with pagan roots, comes to town. For those with a hankering to get close to Peru's thriving indigenous culture, there's the annual Festival of Indigenous Dances, held in Atayala (a small town near Pucallpa) at the same time as St John's. September brings Ucayali Tourist Week, while October witnesses week-long celebrations marking the foundation of the town.

Weather

Peru experiences a broad spectrum of climatic conditions for a relatively small country, a consequence of its geographic variety. Pucallpa, in the lush interior, is tropical, with perennial warmth and precipitation - temperatures hover around 30°C (86°F) all year. There is, however, a dry season, from June to September, when humidity and precipitation drop significantly. But don't think about leaving your umbrella at home: 'dry' means a monthly average of 70mm (2.8in).

Temperature (average ° C)

Rainfall (average mm)