When is the Best Time To Visit Chile? High season or off-season? Summer or Winter?
One of the country’s many charms is that Chile has many climatic differences, which are beautiful and exciting all year.
Depending on the destinations you visit, going at the wrong time of year can result in unexpected rain or crowds that will make your stay far from pleasant.
But, No worries! In this article, I will give you a rundown of 5 things to consider for planning your trip to Chile for the ideal weather, low crowds, and more!
But, before I go on…
If You are an independent traveler who loves traveling and would love to visit Chile and other destinations in South America, but looking on the internet to do it yourself makes you want to stay at home! We can help! As a Boutique Travel Company specializing in South America for the past 15 years, we can help you plan a True Custom Trip, a fully organized trip for you with the perfect timing and our local expert’s insights.
Now, let’s dive into the best time to Visit Chile and the five things you need to consider.
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3- Consider the Destinations you want to visit
4- The best time to visit if you’re going to see marine wildlife
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Best Season to travel to Chile
First of all, when thinking about the best time to visit Chile, you need to believe that the seasons correspond to the southern hemisphere, which means that:
👉Summer runs from December to March;
👉Autumn from April to June;
👉Winter from July to September;
👉and then Spring from September until November;
When is the peak season in Chile?
The most popular time for traveling to Chile is during the summer, between January and March. If you visit at this time, it’ll coincide with the warm weather, summer holidays, the most daylight, and the most outdoor activities available.
📍Torres del Paine in Patagonia. Going in the shoulder season, March and April is a good choice.
The Least Busy Time to Visit Chile
The least busy time to visit Chile is from April to November, and it is considered the low season, including autumn, winter, and spring.
So, if you want to avoid the crowds and the winter season, the best time to visit is march-may ( shoulder season) or September-October.
READ MORE: Best Summer Destinations in South America
Best Time to Visit Chile for Ideal Weather
Volcanoes, deserts, rivers, glaciers, lakes: Chile’s unique geography and topographical features result in a wide range of climates and environments, especially since the country stretches for miles from north to south.
Chile has the Atacama Desert in the north, the driest desert in the world, the ice-capped Andes mountains in the east, the Pacific Ocean in the west, and the Antarctic region in the south. Thus, Chile’s unique climate zones range from tropical in the north, Mediterranean in the center, and Antarctic (antiboreal oceanic) in the South, with unique regional climates such as the arid Atacama Desert or the high peaks of the Andean mountains.
You will find various climates ranging from the desert climate in the north to the tundra and polar climate in the south.
Considering only the climate, on the whole, the best period to visit Chile is the Summer season, between November and March. As I said before, you will find long summer days, the mildest weather, and the rainfalls less frequent.
Best Time to Visit: Popular Destinations
Chile has many things to offer, and the best time to travel will vary depending on which places you want to visit.
For example, the Atacama desert can be visited throughout the year; although on the other hand Easter Island is better to see during the winter months, I will tell you below the best time to visit the main points of interest in Chile.
Best time to visit Chilean Patagonia
The Andes significantly influence the climate of Patagonia, with the best time to travel being the summer.
Summer in Patagonia is the height of the tourist season between December and February. If you are interested in hiking in Torres del Paine National Park, for instance, you should prepare for a fantastic trip between mid-December and mid-February, when there are 20 °C during the day and around ten °C at night.
If you travel in summer, you will enjoy up to 18 hours of light, so you will have plenty of time to explore the breathtaking region. In addition, this is an excellent time for wildlife passionate. But this also means summer is the most popular season among tourists, so you won’t be able to enjoy too many moments of solitude.
❤️ In love with Torres del Paine National Park in Autumn – For me the best time to Visit the park
Spring and Autumn in Patagonia
Spring is also a great time to visit Patagonia, especially if you want to see wildflowers in full bloom while hiking the Patagonian lands. Autumn is a great time To visit Patagonia, not only because of its mild weather but also thanks of the colorful beauty of the surroundings and the lower prices for accommodations, activities, and even flights.
And since it is not the peak season, autumn allows you to find accommodation exactly where you want and book everything closer to your vacation dates. And if you are a passionate hiker, you will love exploring Patagonia in autumn.
So, when to GO? Autumn is my fav time in Patagonia. But, If you want to travel in Summer, book well in advance to get the flights and accommodation you want ( and the best options to avoid the crowds!). We can help you with this!
Read more: When is the best time to visit Patagonia
Best time to visit the Atacama Dessert
In the North of Chile, the climate is arid; deserts dominate the landscape, with temperatures reaching 25 degrees daily and descending to 12 by night.
The Driest desert on the planet, Atacama is an all-year-round destination.
The Atacama desert in northern Chile is a highly visited desert suitable for a year-round trip. However, the summer months (October to May) are the most popular months with enjoyable temperatures. In winter, temperatures drop to -20ºC at night, the lagoons freeze, and there are fewer animals to observe. The region is dry throughout the year, with hardly any rainfall.
Best time to visit Central regions: Santiago de Chile and the wine region
The central area of Chile, where the capital, Santiago de Chile, is located, is characterized by a Mediterranean climate where summers are dry and warm, and winters are rainier.
The months f May to August are considered the rainy season in central Chile; in January and February, temperatures reach 26º Celsius with very little rainfall. November, March, and April have an average of only one rainy day per month.
So, what is the perfect time to visit Santiago?
I love Spring with its blooming flowers, and comfortable temps, and autumn with pleasant temperatures and beautiful red-orange foliage.
At this time of the year, you will find plenty of sunshine, thinner crowds, and affordable flight options ( especially for those coming from popular U.S. destinations).
Visiting Santiago in summers is also very pleasant with 12 hours of sunshine guaranteed, locals leave town, hotel rates drop together with pollution levels.
Best time for wine tasting in Chile wine country
Fall (March through May) is an enjoyable time to visit if you enjoy vino: Vineyards showcase beautiful fall foliage, and grape harvest festivals abound.
READ MORE When Is the Best Time to Visit Chile Wine Country?
Best time to visit Eastern Island
The best time to travel to Easter Island ( Rapa Nui) is between October and March; the warmest months are January and February, with up to 29ºC; the rest of the months on the island are colder and rainier but also less touristy.
Summer (December to March) is the most popular time to visit the Island. I recommend going in March when the crowds ease off.
It rains most frequently in April and May, with an average of 13 rainy days per month.
October and November are relatively dry, with nine rainy days on average, reaching a pleasant temperature of 25º in March, so in this month, the sea is much warmer than on the Pacific coast of Chile.
👉 My recommendation: Visit in March, you will have pleasant weather and less crowds
4- The best time to See Marine wildlife
Both the Atlantic coast in the east of Argentine Patagonia and the Pacific Ocean, which flows into the fjords in the west of Chile, are thriving hubs of marine wildlife. The summer and fall seasons are best for visiting the colonies to see many of these animals.
The beautiful Magellanic penguins of Magdalena Island, in the Strait of Magellan, where over 130,000 are located in what is called the “Penguins National Monument”. 📍Isla Magdalena 📸 @nori.jemil.travel
The whale-watching season in Patagonia extends from May to December, and the best chances for a thriving whale-watching session are in September and October. At the same time, between September and March, you have the opportunity to meet cute penguins.
So, the ideal time would be to plan your wildlife exploration during September and October to have a good chance for both.
5- Visiting Antarctica
You can only visit the area during the Antarctic summer, from November to March. Prices are cheaper at the beginning and end of the season, but there is less to see in the way of wildlife.
Most cruises to Antarctica leave from Ushuaia in Argentina or Punta Arenas in Chile and take about two days to reach the Antarctic Peninsula. This is the first and most common way to get to Antarctica.
You can only visit the area during the Antarctic summer, from November to March
So, combining a trip to Chile with Antarctica is a great option. The standard Classic cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula will generally take 10-12 days.
A classic shortcut for the queasy If you’re pushed for time or don’t want to court seasickness on the Drake Passage, you can now fly to the South Shetland Islands and join a cruise from there. Most flights run from Punta Arenas in southern Chile to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands (1.5 hours).
If you want to seem more wildlife in Antarctica travel between January and february
You can fly one way (making the trip around seven days long) or both (as few as five); once you’ve embarked, you’ll get all the highlights of the classic Antarctic Peninsula tour.
The fly-cruise options can vary in length from 6 to 16 days.
Read more: The best time to visit Antarctica
So. Are you ready to Plan your trip to Chile?
If you want to travel more authentically, visit the unique tourist spots and dig deeper into each place in Chile. If you want to travel in comfort but also like off-the-beaten-track adventure… if you are a foodie and wine lover and don’t want to miss visiting the top places locals go…
Start HERE:
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Clara ✨ Co-founder at Across South America
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