Chile is a popular travel destination all year round. The best time to travel to Chile depends on your route planning. The best travel time varies depending on whether you prefer to spend your vacation in the north or discover the national parks in the south of Chile. In general, the months of October to December (spring to early summer) and April to mid-June (autumn to early winter) are considered the best time to travel to Chile. In principle, Chile’s north can be visited all year round. The temperatures are largely stable. For central Chile and Santiago you should write down the months October to April in the travel calendar. In January it gets warmest here with 29 degrees. According to EZINESPORTS, the best time to travel to southern Chile lies between December and March, the South American summer. The water temperature of the Pacific stays cool off the Chilean coast even in summer. In the north, the sea warms up to 21 degrees in February and cools down to 16 degrees in winter. In southern Chile, the sea does not get warmer than 15 degrees Celsius even in the summer months. Not for chilblains!
Good to know :
- Between mid-December and February , many locals are on vacation and like to travel through Chile. Hotels are often more expensive at this time and domestic flights are booked up quickly.
- Most of the Chilean festivals take place in February , for example the Semana Musical, the Fiesta de Candelario and Carnaval.
Best travel time for Chile’s highlights
In Chile you can expect numerous highlights, with the best travel time differing greatly depending on the geographical location . While the Atacama Desert can be visited all year round, the south of Chile is an interesting travel destination, especially in the South American summer.
Easter island
The best time to visit Easter Island is between October and March . It gets warmest in January and February with up to 29 degrees Celsius . The remaining months on Easter Island are cooler and rainier, but less touristy. It rains most frequently in April and May with an average of 13 rainy days per month. It remains relatively dry in October and November with nine rainy days. The water temperature on Easter Island rises to a pleasant 25 degrees in March , making the sea significantly warmer than on Chile’s Pacific coast.
Patagonia in Chile and Argentina
Patagonia’s climate is significantly influenced by the Andes, the best time to travel to Patagonia is the South American summer. The western part of Patagonia is characterized by heavy rainfall, but east of the Andes it remains mostly dry. Typical for Patagonia is the strong and cool wind, which can occur all year round and in the entire region. The main travel season for Patagonia and thus also for the Torres del Paine National Park and the lake area is December, January and February. Bad weather conditions, heavy rain and low temperatures characterize the winter months.
Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is a suitable travel destination all year round. The summer months October to May are the most popular travel time with pleasant temperatures. In winter, temperatures drop to as low as -20 degrees at night . Lagoons freeze over and there are fewer animals to watch. The region is dry all year round, precipitation falls very rarely and when it does, it is in the winter months.
Skiing in Chile
The best travel time for a skiing holiday in Chile is between June and August , and sometimes you can chase down the slopes until September. The ski areas in Chile make the heart of every winter sports enthusiast beat faster. There are a total of 18 ski areas in Chile, the largest of which is El Colorado / Farellones with a slope length of 50 kilometers.
My conclusion on the best travel time for Chile
Chile is worth a visit at any time of the year! South America is a great place to escape the winter. The north in particular can be used as a travel destination all year round. But Easter Island and central Chile also attract with mild temperatures . In the Chilean winter months you should avoid the south for the most part, especially in the popular Patagonia the weather conditions make many tours impossible. In winter, the many ski areas in particular attract winter sports enthusiasts to Chile. No matter what time of year, Chile will inspire you with its unique landscape and culture.
