When to go · Chile
Chile in August
Mixed month. Winter continues; the Atacama may bloom after a rainy year (desierto florido, check).
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Low
- Chile
- Prices
- Low
- Chile
Verdict
Winter continues; the Atacama may bloom after a rainy year (desierto florido, check).
Is another month better than August?
August is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
- NovemberGreatPatagonia season starts properly; fewer crowds than Dec–Feb.
- DecemberGreatSummer; book Torres del Paine refugios and campsites months ahead.
- JanuaryGreatPatagonia peak with long days and strong wind; Chilean holidays; Atacama summer storms possible.
- FebruaryGreatStill peak; Tapati festival on Easter Island; wildfire risk in the centre.
Weather in August
- Atacama and the north · San Pedro de Atacama, Calama, Aricacool
Among the driest places on earth; summer 'Altiplanic winter' storms (Jan–Feb) can close high roads; cold nights, freezing at the geysers Jun–Aug.
- Central Chile · Santiago, Valparaíso, wine valleyscool
Mediterranean: hot dry summers (30 °C (86 °F)+), cool wet winters with smog in Santiago; harvest festivals in March.Mediterranean: hot dry summers (86 °F (30 °C)+), cool wet winters with smog in Santiago; harvest festivals in March.
- Lake District · Pucón, Puerto Varas, Chiloérainy
Green because it rains; summer is the dry-ish window; ski on volcanoes in winter.
- Patagonia · Torres del Paine, Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas, Carretera Australcool
Nov–Mar long days and full services; very strong winds in summer; many services shut Jun–Aug.
- Easter Island · Rapa Nuifine
Subtropical; warm Dec–Mar, wetter and windier in winter.
- Central Chile: Santiago and central valley · Inland basin and valleyscool
Mediterranean: hot dry summers (30 °C (86 °F)+ in January), mild wet winters. Winter smog can linger.Mediterranean: hot dry summers (86 °F (30 °C)+ in January), mild wet winters. Winter smog can linger.
- Central Chile: Coast (Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Pichilemu) · Pacific shorecool
Cooler than inland, with morning fog in summer; rain mostly May–August.
- Central Chile: Andean ski resorts · Above 2,500 msnow
Ski season roughly June–September; check snow and road conditions before going.
- Los Ríos: Valdivia basin · Los Ríos regionhot
Rainfall peaks May–July; summer (Dec–Feb) is mild, 15‑20 °C (68 °F).Rainfall peaks May–July; summer (Dec–Feb) is mild, 15‑68 °F (20 °C).
- Northern Chile: Coast (Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta, La Serena) · Pacific stripcool
Mild all year, almost no rain; sea fog (camanchaca) in winter mornings. Water is cold for swimming.
- Northern Chile: Atacama and highlands (San Pedro, Calama, Putre) · Desert and Andean plateaucool
The altiplano rainy season (Jan–Feb) can block highland roads; desert nights drop below freezing in winter (Jun–Aug). UV is extreme year-round.
- Patagonia, Chile: Aysén (northern Patagonia) · Coyhaique, Carretera Austral, fjordsrainy
One of the wettest areas on earth, around 5,000 mm a year on the coast; Dec–Mar is the driest and warmest window. Rain gear matters more than a forecast.
- Patagonia, Chile: Magallanes (southern Patagonia) · Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, Torres del Painecool
Cooler and drier than Aysén but windy; summer highs rarely pass 20 °C (68 °F), winter averages near 0 °C (32 °F) with snow. Nov–Mar is the trekking season.Cooler and drier than Aysén but windy; summer highs rarely pass 68 °F (20 °C), winter averages near 32 °F (0 °C) with snow. Nov–Mar is the trekking season.
- Southern Chile: Araucanía and Los Ríos · Temuco, Valdivia, Pucónrainy
Warm dry summers Dec–Mar; rain most of the year, heaviest May–Aug.
- Southern Chile: Los Lagos and Chiloé · Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt, Castrorainy
Cooler and wetter than the north of the region; wind on the ferry crossing.
- Santiago17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 3 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 3 rain days
- Achao11 °C (52 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 16 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 16 rain days
- Algarrobo15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 8 rain days
- Ancud9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 14 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 14 rain days
- Antofagasta17 °C (63 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 0 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 0 rain days
- Arica18 °C (64 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 0 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 0 rain days
- Calama23 °C (73 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 0 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 0 rain days
- Caldera21 °C (70 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 0 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 0 rain days
- Castro13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 7 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 7 rain days
- Chaitén10 °C (50 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 16 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 16 rain days
- Chillán9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 8 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 8 rain days
- Concepción14 °C (57 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 15 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 15 rain days
- Copiapó20 °C (68 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 1 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 1 rain days
- Coquimbo15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 8 rain days
- Coyhaique7 °C (45 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 13 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 13 rain days
- Curacautín11 °C (52 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 13 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 13 rain days
- Farellones22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 3 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 3 rain days
- Frutillar13 °C (55 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 12 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 12 rain days
- Futaleufú10 °C (50 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 13 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 13 rain days
- Iquique18 °C (64 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 0 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 0 rain days
- La Parva17 °C (63 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 2 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 2 rain days
- La Serena17 °C (63 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 2 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 2 rain days
- Los Andes16 °C (61 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 7 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 7 rain days
- Monte Águila16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 5 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 5 rain days
- Monte Verde10 °C (50 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 14 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 14 rain days
- Nevados de Chillan13 °C (55 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 9 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 9 rain days
- Pelluhue13 °C (55 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 9 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 9 rain days
- Pichilemu16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 2 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 2 rain days
- Pisco Elqui20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 3 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 3 rain days
- Portillo16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 6 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 6 rain days
- Pucón13 °C (55 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 14 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 14 rain days
- Puerto Montt11 °C (52 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 20 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 20 rain days
- Puerto Natales9 °C (48 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 10 rain days
- Puerto Rio Tranquilo6 °C (43 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
- Puerto Varas8 °C (46 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 13 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 13 rain days
- Puerto Williams-2 °C (28 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 5 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 5 rain days
- Punta Arenas7 °C (45 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 10 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 10 rain days
- Punta de Choros15 °C (59 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 5 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 5 rain days
- Putre9 °C (48 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 5 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 5 rain days
- Quellón5.5 °C (42 °F) / 0.4 °C (33 °F), 208 rain days42 °F (5.5 °C) / 33 °F (0.4 °C), 208 rain days
- Quintay14 °C (57 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 7 rain days
- Rancagua16 °C (61 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 9 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 9 rain days
- Reñaca14 °C (57 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 12 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 12 rain days
- San Pedro de Atacama23 °C (73 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 0 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 0 rain days
- Santa Cruz17 °C (63 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 6 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 6 rain days
- Talca17 °C (63 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 11 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 11 rain days
- Temuco13 °C (55 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 7 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 7 rain days
- Valdivia13 °C (55 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 15 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 15 rain days
- Valle Nevado13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 7 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 7 rain days
- Valparaíso16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 89 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 89 rain days
- Vicuña18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 1 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 1 rain days
- Villa O'Higgins6 °C (43 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 6 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 6 rain days
- Villarrica12 °C (54 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 12 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 12 rain days
- Viña del Mar15 °C (59 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 9 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 9 rain days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Saints Peter and Paul, Virgen del Carmen, Assumption
29 Jun, 16 Jul, 15 Aug
La Tirana festival in the north (16 Jul).
Ski season
Jun–Aug · Santiago
Farellones and Valle Nevado are day trips from the city; roads are busy on weekends.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Chile
- Low
- Prices · Chile
- Low
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Chile, side by side.
Verdict
Aug: Mixed
Jan: Great (better)
Crowds
Aug: Low
Jan: High
Prices
Aug: Low
Jan: High
Festivals listed
Aug: 2
Jan: 1
August: Winter continues; the Atacama may bloom after a rainy year (desierto florido, check).
January: Patagonia peak with long days and strong wind; Chilean holidays; Atacama summer storms possible.
Chile: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
Where to go in August
Rated best or good this month
Best months: Jun–Oct (ski season and milder weather)
Best months: June–September (Southern winter)
Best months: June–Sept (ski season); Dec–Feb (summer hiking)
Best months: Jun–Aug (winter snow)
Best months: Jun–Oct
Best months: Jun–Oct (dry, good snow)