We are looking at a multi-day hiking trip to Machu Picchu from Cusco. When is the best time to visit to avoid large crowds but the weather is not rainy?

There will always be crowds in the dry/peak season which is roughly from May to September. It will be less crowded in the rainy season as visitor numbers are obviously lower but you will Riley miss the clear blue skies etc. Avoid the height or the rainy season around Feb when it is very wet, landslides are not uncommon and some parts of the trail are closed.

"multi-day hiking trip to Machu Picchu from Cusco" If you are looking at the standard Inca Trail then your arrival at MP will be determined by the trek operator, usually soon after dawn. If you head there by train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and by bus to MP you will need to book your entrance tickets for a particular time slot and route.

Probably late April to early June or September to early November.

These months fall just outside the peak season (June to August), so you'll encounter fewer tourists. Weather is generally dry and pleasant, unlike the rainy season from December to March. Just be prepared for cooler mornings and evenings during these shoulder months.

Weatherspark is a good resource for temperatures, rain and cloud cover. The weather information posted by cdtravel above is incorrect. Typical overnight lows are lowest in the peak season.

May can vary, some years it is dry, others more rain especially the first part of the month.

You are not the only person trying to hike the Inca Trail when it is dry. The trail is capacity limited by the government, as is Machu Picchu, so "crowds" will depend on how many permits are issued.

I disagree with post #3 . I have been in Cusco at several different times of the year and can remember once arriving late April and it rained quite heavily until the first week of May. Travelling on the cups of the seasons is always going to be risky, especially in El Niņo years.

Welcome to cdtravel. It's always good to see new posters but your posts read like they are Chat-bot sourced.

Curious if you have ever been to Peru?

An ever increasing problem mlgb. It is getting to be a real PITA in the Asia forum.