Chile
Patagonia in December
☀️ SummerCool and some showers.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings
Why December scores 8.5What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.5
- !Cool (13.5°C highs / 5.9°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 4.6°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~70 mm rain)
- !Grey, overcast skies (~82% cloud cover on average)
- Air quality10.0
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~2 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | Feb | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.5 Excellent | 8.7 Excellent |
| Season | ☀️ Summer | ☀️ Summer |
| High / low | 14° / 6° | 15° / 7° |
| Rain | 70 mm | 70 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 5° | dew pt 6° |
| PM2.5 | 2 µg/m³ | 1 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Immaculate Conception (8 Dec)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore PatagoniaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyThe southern tip of Chile, a region of granite peaks, glaciers, fjords and steppe, centred on Torres del Paine and the scenic Carretera Austral.
Trekking seasonDate variesUsually October to April
The warmer season when trails, refugios and boat services are fully open.
Why go: Expect strong winds at any time; December to February is busiest.
Where: Torres del Paine and southern Patagonia
Penguin seasonDate variesUsually October to March
Magellanic penguins return to breed and raise chicks.
Why go: Tours run only during these months.
Where: Magdalena Island and Otway Sound
Torres del Paine National Parkgreat in Dec
A park of granite towers, glacial lakes and the multi-day W and O treks.
💡 Campsites and refugios must be booked in advance for the trekking season.
Grey Glacier
A large glacier flowing into Lago Grey, seen by boat or on hikes.
Puerto Natales
A small town on a fjord that serves as the main base for Torres del Paine.
Marble Caves
Swirling marble caverns on General Carrera Lake, visited by boat from Puerto Río Tranquilo.
💡 Boats do not run in strong wind.
Carretera Austral
A long, partly unpaved road through forests, fjords and glaciers in northern Patagonia.
Magdalena Islandgreat in Dec
An island near Punta Arenas with a large colony of Magellanic penguins.
Cordero al palo
Patagonian lamb roasted slowly on a spit beside an open fire.
Centolla
Southern king crab from the cold southern waters.
Calafate
A native berry used in jams, sauces, ice cream and pisco sours.
Curanto
Seafood, meat and potatoes cooked in a pit over hot stones.
💡 Chiloé Island
Wool knitwear
Sweaters, hats and blankets made from Patagonian sheep wool.
Calafate products
Jams and liqueurs made with the calafate berry.
Chilote crafts
Hand-knitted wool items and woven baskets from Chiloé.
💡 Craft markets in Castro and Puerto Montt
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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