Vitamin D in Peru in August: sun, UV and what to expect
Too cold Too cold here in August: afternoon highs average only 18.5°C, which is too chilly for sunbathing in light clothing. Try another month or a warmer destination.
8.0 hsun window (UV 2.5+)
8.1peak UV Index
7 minto a full dose
19°Cafternoon high
0/30rainy days
30/30sunny days
The country rating is for a typical beach, but some places in Peru still work in August: Máncora (excellent).
How long in the sun in August?
- If you travel anyway, plan your sun session around midday (roughly 11:00 to 15:00), when the UV Index peaks at about 8.1. With about a quarter of your skin bare, a full dose takes around 7 minutes for skin type III at age 30, and about 12 minutes at age 65.
- Stop well before your skin turns pink. At this UV level skin type III can start to burn after about 25 minutes of midday sun, so cover up, find shade and use SPF 30+ on skin that stays out.
- On clear days the UV Index reaches about 8.4, which is very strong. Keep sessions short and protect the rest of the day.
- Water, sand and light surfaces reflect UV, so at the beach you get a little more sun than the number suggests, for the good and the bad.
| Skin type | Full dose, age 30 | Full dose, age 65 | Time to burn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type I | 4 min | 8 min | 16 min |
| Type II | 5 min | 10 min | 21 min |
| Type III | 7 min | 12 min | 25 min |
| Type IV | 10 min | 19 min | 37 min |
| Type V | 13 min | 25 min | 49 min |
| Type VI | 22 min | 41 min | 82 min |
Minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, at Lima, the median coastal place. Time to burn is the time to reach one minimal erythemal dose and does not depend on age. A rough planning guide, not medical advice.
Places in Peru in August
| Place | Rating | Sun window | Full dose | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Máncora | Excellent | 8.3 h | 6 min | 28°C | 0/30 |
| Cusco | Too cold | 8.0 h | 6 min | 20°C | 1/30 |
| Lima | Too cold | 8.0 h | 7 min | 19°C | 0/30 |
| Paracas | Too cold | 8.0 h | 7 min | 22°C | 0/30 |
| Machu Picchu | Too cold | 7.6 h | 7 min | 21°C | 7/30 |
Other months in Peru
- Jan Excellent
- Feb Excellent
- Mar Excellent
- Apr Excellent
- May Excellent
- Jun Too cold
- Jul Too cold
- Aug Too cold
- Sep Excellent
- Oct Excellent
- Nov Excellent
- Dec Excellent
Best months: September to May. Full Peru guide