The weather in Chile: When to travel?

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You already have in mind all the interesting information about Chile, you are clear about how many days you want to spend in your trip, what you want to see and then the big question comes: when is the best moment in year to enjoy the time in Chile?

First of all, the fist thing you have to take into account while you visit Chile is that it is a country shaped like a golf club, what means that it is elongated. Due to this shape it includes very different zones with very varied temperaturesdepending on whether you are in the north, center or south of the country.

We will try to prevent you from showing up in the Chilean Patagonia at -2ºC (28,4ºF) in a swimsuit. Today we tell you everything you need to know about the weather in Chile so that you can choose the best dates to enjoy your trip, keep reading!

When does temperature start to drop in Chile?

It seems that when we talk about Latin America we don’t get the sun and the heat out of our minds, but surprise! Just as Newton said, everything that goes up, goes down, and temperature in Chile is not an exception.

As you know, the summer of Chile coincides with the winter of Europe, you will think that when here we take out the coats, there they put on the bikini, more or less, but not exactly. To clarify doubts and before we go in:

• Spring: from September 23rd to December 21st.
• Summer: from December 21st to March 20th.
• Autumn: from March 20th to June 21st.
• Winter: from June 21st to September 23rd.

The weather in northern Chile: San Pedro de Atacama

In the northern zone the temperature is high, with few variations and if it just happens to rain on your trip… what bad luck because rain is very very scarce! We could say that the coldest months are June, July, August and September with a minimum of approximately 14 °C (57,2ºF). The maximums are around 18ºC (64,4ºF) so during the day there will be no excuse to rest.

San Pedro de Atacama is one of the most popular towns in the north of Chile. It is situated at 2 500 meters of altitude so the temperature is not so high. As in the rest of the northern territory temperatures do not vary too much from one month to another, being about 10ºC (50ºF) the difference from the coldest month to the warmest one. Attention! The change of temperature from day to night is very noticeable, so keep it in mind if you have in mind to visit the Death and Moon Valley in the Atacama Desert.

As we go down, the different seasons increase their characteristics so that the cold starts to be noticed from June to August, in winter. The minimums are around 3ºC (37,4ºF) and the maximums 15ºC (59ºF) and it is just in these months when it rains more frequently.

The weather in the south of Chile: Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales

Okay, here comes the good stuff. In the south it’s windy, cold and raining that gives you pleasure. Don’t be scared because in the south of Chile there is a lot to discover and the weather won’t stop you. Summers are fresh in Punta Arena and in Puerto Natales, the most famous cities of this territory. Winters are cold, although the temperatures are not usually negative.

The more water, the more vegetation, so if we say it rains all year round, be assured that green is the winning color. And it’s not just the vegetation, but also the landscapes that will leave you breathless as you walk through the sun, but not the heat, the Torres del Paine National Park .

And for those who prefer to enjoy the snow and low temperatures, there is also the option of making the trip to Torres del Paine in winter. We take it for granted that people flee from the cold, but there are many people who prefer the blank landscapes, and there are options for them too, of course.

What is the best time of the year to travel to Chile?

As we said in the beginning of the post, time is really diverse and changing. Depending on the area you want to visit, the activities you want to do and the tolerance to cold and rain you have, it will be better one time or another.

We make it easy for you, the north is a good option in any season, be it spring, summer, autumn or winter. Temperatures are generally high and the most popular months are from May to September. In the central area and in the south the best months are the summer months to avoid unforeseen climates events in case you have hired excursions to squeeze the experience.

Although meteorology is not an exact science and we are weather gurus, now you have enough information to get a general idea of what time to visit each area of Chile and not die trying. Reminder! It is important to visit specialized weather pages the days before your trip, so there won’t be any surprises… And after reading the post, do you know what you are going to put in your suitcase?