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When to go · Chile

Chile in October

Good month. Spring; Patagonia opens (shoulder); good Atacama weather.

Key facts

Verdict
Good
Crowds
Medium
Chile
Prices
Medium
Chile

Verdict

GoodVoykit month rating for Chile

Spring; Patagonia opens (shoulder); good Atacama weather.

Is another month better than October?

October is rated good. These months rate higher:

Weather in October

  • 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.

  • Lake District · Pucón, Puerto Varas, Chiloéfine

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

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

    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 valleysbest weather

    Mediterranean: hot dry summers (30 °C (86 °F)+ in January), mild wet winters. Winter smog can linger.

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

  • 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).

  • Mild all year, almost no rain; sea fog (camanchaca) in winter mornings. Water is cold for swimming.

  • 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 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.

  • Southern Chile: Araucanía and Los Ríos · Temuco, Valdivia, Pucónfine

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

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

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

  • Santiago23 °C (73 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days
  • Achao14 °C (57 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 13 rain days
  • Algarrobo19 °C (66 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 6 rain days
  • Ancud13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 10 rain days
  • Antofagasta20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 0 rain days
  • Arica21 °C (70 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 0 rain days
  • Calama25 °C (77 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 0 rain days
  • Caldera23 °C (73 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 0 rain days
  • Castro15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days
  • Chaitén13 °C (55 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 13 rain days
  • Chillán15 °C (59 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 4 rain days
  • Concepción17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Copiapó25 °C (77 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 0 rain days
  • Coquimbo22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 4 rain days
  • Coyhaique13 °C (55 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 10 rain days
  • Curacautín17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 9 rain days
  • Farellones18 °C (64 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 6 rain days
  • Frutillar17 °C (63 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days
  • Futaleufú16 °C (61 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 10 rain days
  • Iquique21 °C (70 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 0 rain days
  • La Parva23 °C (73 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 4 rain days
  • La Serena20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 1 rain days
  • Los Andes23 °C (73 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 4 rain days
  • Monte Águila20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days
  • Monte Verde13 °C (55 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 12 rain days
  • Nevados de Chillan19 °C (66 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days
  • Pelluhue18 °C (64 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 5 rain days
  • Pichilemu20 °C (68 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days
  • Pisco Elqui22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 2 rain days
  • Portillo12 °C (54 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 4 rain days
  • Pucón18 °C (64 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 9 rain days
  • Puerto Montt15 °C (59 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 16 rain days
  • Puerto Natales14 °C (57 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 11 rain days
  • Puerto Rio Tranquilo11 °C (52 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 7 rain days
  • Puerto Varas12 °C (54 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 10 rain days
  • Puerto Williams1 °C (34 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days
  • Punta Arenas13 °C (55 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 9 rain days
  • Punta de Choros19 °C (66 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days
  • Putre14 °C (57 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 10 rain days
  • Quellón7.3 °C (45 °F) / 3.5 °C (38 °F), 129 rain days
  • Quintay17 °C (63 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 4 rain days
  • Rancagua23 °C (73 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 4 rain days
  • Reñaca18 °C (64 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 7 rain days
  • San Pedro de Atacama27 °C (81 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 0 rain days
  • Santa Cruz23 °C (73 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 3 rain days
  • Talca23 °C (73 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 7 rain days
  • Temuco18 °C (64 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Valdivia17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 10 rain days
  • Valle Nevado5 °C (41 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 4 rain days
  • Valparaíso19 °C (66 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 16 rain days
  • Vicuña22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 1 rain days
  • Villa O'Higgins12 °C (54 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 8 rain days
  • Villarrica18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 7 rain days
  • Viña del Mar22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 7 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.

  • Encounter of Two Worlds, Reformation Day, All Saints

    12 Oct, 31 Oct, 1 Nov

    Public holidays.

  • Encuentro de Dos Mundos check

    12 October (moves to nearest Monday in some years) · Santiago

    Public holiday.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Chile
Medium
Prices · Chile
Medium

Compare two months

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

  • Verdict

    Oct: Good

    Jan: Great (better)

  • Crowds

    Oct: Medium

    Jan: High

  • Prices

    Oct: Medium

    Jan: High

  • Festivals listed

    Oct: 2

    Jan: 1

October: Spring; Patagonia opens (shoulder); good Atacama weather.

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

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in October

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)

  • Santiago

    Warm; jacaranda and clear views.

  • 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

  • Caldera

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

  • Chillán

    Best months: Jun–Oct (ski season and milder weather)

  • Concepción

    Best months: Dec–Mar (warm, dry, beach weather); Oct–Nov and Mar–Apr are quieter

  • Copiapó

    Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

  • Coquimbo

    Best months: Oct–Mar

  • Iquique

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