Chile in December

Summer; book Torres del Paine refugios and campsites months ahead.

No other month rates higher than December for Chile in this guide.

• Atacama and the north · San Pedro de Atacama, Calama, Aricabest weather

  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 valleysbest weather

  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, Chiloébest weather

  Green because it rains; summer is the dry-ish window; ski on volcanoes in winter.

• Patagonia · Torres del Paine, Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas, Carretera Australbest weather

  Nov–Mar long days and full services; very strong winds in summer; many services shut Jun–Aug.

• Easter Island · Rapa Nuibest weather

  Subtropical; warm Dec–Mar, wetter and windier in winter.

• Central Chile: Santiago and central valley · Inland basin and valleysbest weather

  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 shorebest weather

  Cooler than inland, with morning fog in summer; rain mostly May–August.

• Central Chile: Andean ski resorts · Above 2,500 mcool

  Ski season roughly June–September; check snow and road conditions before going.

• Los Ríos: Valdivia basin · Los Ríos regioncool

  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 stripbest weather

  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 plateaufine

  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 Painefine

  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, Pucónbest weather

  Warm dry summers Dec–Mar; rain most of the year, heaviest May–Aug.

• Southern Chile: Los Lagos and Chiloé · Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt, Castrobest weather

  Cooler and wetter than the north of the region; wind on the ferry crossing.

• Santiago29 °C (84 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 1 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 1 rain days
• Achao17 °C (63 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 11 rain days
• Algarrobo21 °C (70 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Ancud15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 8 rain days
• Antofagasta22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 0 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 0 rain days
• Arica25 °C (77 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
• Calama22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 0 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 0 rain days
• Caldera22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 0 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 0 rain days
• Castro15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 11 rain days
• Chaitén15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 12 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 12 rain days
• Chillán19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 2 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 2 rain days
• Concepción22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 4 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 4 rain days
• Copiapó29 °C (84 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 0 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 0 rain days
• Coquimbo25 °C (77 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 2 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 2 rain days
• Coyhaique17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 9 rain days
• Curacautín22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 6 rain days
• Farellones13 °C (55 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 8 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 8 rain days
• Frutillar21 °C (70 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 8 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 8 rain days
• Futaleufú21 °C (70 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 7 rain days
• Iquique25 °C (77 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
• La Parva29 °C (84 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 6 rain days
• La Serena23 °C (73 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 0 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 0 rain days
• Los Andes29 °C (84 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 5 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 5 rain days
• Monte Águila22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 7 rain days
• Monte Verde15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 10 rain days
• Nevados de Chillan22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 7 rain days
• Pelluhue22 °C (72 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 3 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 3 rain days
• Pichilemu23 °C (73 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 7 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 7 rain days
• Pisco Elqui22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 2 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 2 rain days
• Portillo4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 2 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 2 rain days
• Pucón23 °C (73 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 5 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 5 rain days
• Puerto Montt19 °C (66 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 12 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 12 rain days
• Puerto Natales17 °C (63 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 12 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 12 rain days
• Puerto Rio Tranquilo15 °C (59 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 5 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 5 rain days
• Puerto Varas14 °C (57 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 10 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 10 rain days
• Puerto Williams4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 12 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 12 rain days
• Punta Arenas15 °C (59 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 11 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 11 rain days
• Punta de Choros21 °C (70 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 2 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 2 rain days
• Putre12 °C (54 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 13 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 13 rain days
• Quellón10.6 °C (51 °F) / 6.8 °C (44 °F), 106 rain days51 °F (10.6 °C) / 44 °F (6.8 °C), 106 rain days
• Quintay21 °C (70 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 1 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 1 rain days
• Rancagua29 °C (84 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 2 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 2 rain days
• Reñaca22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 5 rain days
• San Pedro de Atacama29 °C (84 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 1 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 1 rain days
• Santa Cruz29 °C (84 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 1 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 1 rain days
• Talca28 °C (82 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 7 rain days
• Temuco22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 13 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 13 rain days
• Valdivia22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 6 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 6 rain days
• Valle Nevado-3 °C (27 °F) / -10 °C (14 °F), 2 rain days27 °F (-3 °C) / 14 °F (-10 °C), 2 rain days
• Valparaíso22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 4 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 4 rain days
• Vicuña24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 2 rain days
• Villa O'Higgins14 °C (57 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 10 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 10 rain days
• Villarrica21 °C (70 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 7 rain days
• Viña del Mar27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 5 rain days

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.

• Immaculate Conception, Christmas

  8 Dec, 25 Dec

  Summer holiday season begins.

Crowds · Chile

High

Prices · Chile

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Chile, side by side.

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Atacama and the north

  Best weather of the year (San Pedro de Atacama, Calama, Arica)

• Central Chile

  Best weather of the year (Santiago, Valparaíso, wine valleys)

• Lake District

  Best weather of the year (Pucón, Puerto Varas, Chiloé)

• Patagonia

  Best weather of the year (Torres del Paine, Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas, Carretera Austral)

• Easter Island

  Best weather of the year (Rapa Nui)

• Santiago

  Warm to hot; Christmas week is quiet.

• Achao

  Best months: Dec–Mar (summer, festival)

• Algarrobo

  Best months: Dec–Feb (summer)

• Ancud

  Best months: Dec–Mar (milder weather, penguin season)

• Arica

  Best months: Year-round; Dec–Mar for beach weather, Sep–Nov and Mar–May for valleys and altiplano

• Calama

  Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Dec

• Caldera

  Best months: Oct–Mar (milder temperatures, less fog)