When to go · Patagonia, CL
When to visit Torres del Paine
January through December is the sweet spot for Torres del Paine. Days run 0-9°C with under 287mm of rain across the window, before the peak-season surge. March is the one to skip, 301mm of rain and 7°C highs.
The year at a glance
- Excellent
- Good
- OK
- Avoid
How we score weather
How we score months: each starts at 50 and earns or loses points across three signals. Temperature in the 18 to 26°C comfortable band adds 30; 14 to 17°C adds 15; warm 27 to 30°C adds 10. Past 30°C or below 14°C the page starts taking points back, with a 30-point hit at the extremes (below 5°C or above 33°C). Rainfall under 60mm adds 15, 200mm costs 25, over 300mm costs 40. Sunshine over 240 hours adds 10; under 80 hours costs 20. The result lands in one of four bands: Excellent (80+), Good (60-79), OK (40-59), Avoid (under 40). Crowds and prices come from the events calendar, separately, so weather and busyness stay readable as two different signals.
Jan
8°
287mm
Feb
9°
247mm
Mar
7°
301mm
Apr
4°
254mm
May
1°
216mm
Jun
-1°
207mm
Jul
-2°
198mm
Aug
-1°
244mm
Sep
1°
208mm
Oct
3°
238mm
Nov
4°
258mm
Dec
7°
283mm
Best to worst, by weather.
- Avoid
- January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
- Busy
- April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
- Quiet
- January, February, March
Peak demand in Torres del Paine starts in April. Lock flights and the room you actually want by December, or you'll pay for what's left.
What's worth timing
Shoulder · Jan-Mar
Easter Island shoulder
Tapati Rapa Nui festival first two weeks of February. Otherwise the island is most pleasant November to April.
Natural event · Apr-Nov
Atacama clear skies
Atacama is functionally dry year-round; April to November has the clearest astronomy nights. Hotels in San Pedro at peak July.
Natural event · Jun-Sep
Andes ski
Valle Nevado and Portillo run late June to early October. Day trips from Santiago workable; lift queues at school holidays in July.
Peak season · Dec-Mar
Patagonia summer
Torres del Paine W-trek refugios book by October. Wind regularly hits 100 km/h on the passes even in January.
Month by month
January
8°C, 287mm rain. Skip unless you have a reason.
February
9°C, 247mm rain. Skip unless you have a reason.
March
7°C, 301mm rain. Skip unless you have a reason.
April
4°C, 254mm rain. Skip unless you have a reason.
May
1°C, 216mm rain. Skip unless you have a reason.
June
-1°C, 207mm rain. Skip unless you have a reason.
July
-2°C, 198mm rain. Skip unless you have a reason.
August
-1°C, 244mm rain. Skip unless you have a reason.
September
1°C, 208mm rain. Skip unless you have a reason.
October
3°C, 238mm rain. Skip unless you have a reason.
November
4°C, 258mm rain. Skip unless you have a reason.
December
7°C, 283mm rain. Skip unless you have a reason.
Pack for the window
Layer up. Thermal base, a serious insulating mid-layer, a waterproof shell. You'll need real waterproofs, not a fashion shell.
Ready to put it on the calendar?