Chile in May

Good for the Atacama and Santiago; south turning wet and cold.

May is rated good. 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.

• 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 valleysfine

  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 mcool

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

• Los Ríos: Valdivia basin · Los Ríos regionbest weather

  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 stripfine

  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 plateaubest weather

  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, fjordsfine

  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.

• Santiago19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 3 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 3 rain days
• Achao11 °C (52 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 17 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 17 rain days
• Algarrobo20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 6 rain days
• Ancud11 °C (52 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 13 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 13 rain days
• Antofagasta19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 0 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 0 rain days
• Arica21 °C (70 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 0 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 0 rain days
• Calama26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 0 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 0 rain days
• Caldera24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 0 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 59 °F (15 °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
• Chaitén14 °C (57 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 14 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 14 rain days
• Chillán13 °C (55 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 6 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 6 rain days
• Concepción16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 14 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 14 rain days
• Copiapó22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 1 rain days
• Coquimbo20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 5 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 5 rain days
• Coyhaique8 °C (46 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 14 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 14 rain days
• Curacautín13 °C (55 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 13 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 13 rain days
• Farellones18 °C (64 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 5 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 5 rain days
• Frutillar15 °C (59 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 12 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 12 rain days
• Futaleufú11 °C (52 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 12 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 12 rain days
• Iquique21 °C (70 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 0 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 0 rain days
• La Parva21 °C (70 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 3 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 3 rain days
• La Serena19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 2 rain days
• Los Andes20 °C (68 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 2 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 2 rain days
• Monte Águila19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 5 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 5 rain days
• Monte Verde11 °C (52 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 15 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 15 rain days
• Nevados de Chillan17 °C (63 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 9 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 9 rain days
• Pelluhue16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 7 rain days
• Pichilemu18 °C (64 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 4 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 4 rain days
• Pisco Elqui24 °C (75 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 1 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 1 rain days
• Portillo8 °C (46 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 4 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 4 rain days
• Pucón14 °C (57 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 14 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 14 rain days
• Puerto Montt13 °C (55 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 20 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 20 rain days
• Puerto Natales11 °C (52 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 11 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 11 rain days
• Puerto Rio Tranquilo8 °C (46 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 8 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 8 rain days
• Puerto Varas10 °C (50 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 8 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 8 rain days
• Puerto Williams1 °C (34 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days34 °F (1 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
• Punta Arenas9 °C (48 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 12 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 12 rain days
• Punta de Choros18 °C (64 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 4 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 4 rain days
• Putre15 °C (59 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 8 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 8 rain days
• Quellón7.5 °C (46 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 245 rain days46 °F (7.5 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 245 rain days
• Quintay16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 7 rain days
• Rancagua20 °C (68 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 6 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 6 rain days
• Reñaca17 °C (63 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 10 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 10 rain days
• San Pedro de Atacama23 °C (73 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 0 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 0 rain days
• Santa Cruz18 °C (64 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 7 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 7 rain days
• Talca22 °C (72 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 6 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 6 rain days
• Temuco15 °C (59 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 8 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 8 rain days
• Valdivia15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 15 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 15 rain days
• Valle Nevado10 °C (50 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 5 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 5 rain days
• Valparaíso17 °C (63 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 96 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 96 rain days
• Vicuña20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 1 rain days
• Villa O'Higgins9 °C (48 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 6 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 6 rain days
• Villarrica13 °C (55 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 14 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 14 rain days
• Viña del Mar20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 8 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.

• Labour Day

  1 May

  Public holiday.

• Navy Day

  21 May

  Public holiday.

• Día del Patrimonio check

  Last weekend of May · Santiago

  Free access; queues.

Crowds · Chile

Low

Prices · Chile

Low

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

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

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)

• Santiago

  Cool; smog begins some days.

• Antofagasta

  Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov (dry, mild temperatures)

• 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

• Copiapó

  Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

• Iquique

  Best months: Dec–Mar (summer, warm sea); Apr–May and Sep–Nov for mild weather and fewer crowds

• Los Andes

  Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

• Monte Águila

  Best months: Feb for Verano Monteaguilino; May for Cruz de Mayo; Sep–Nov for mild weather

• Pisco Elqui

  Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Dec

• Rancagua

  Best months: Sep–Nov, Mar–May

• San Pedro de Atacama

  Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Dec