Climate

As a result of its enormous north-south extension and vertical topography, Chile contains nearly every imaginable variety of climate, with the exception of the moist tropical climate typical of equatorial nations. In the north we find the world's driest desert -- rain has never been recorded in some parts of the Atacama - with great variation between daytime and nighttime temperatures. The coast enjoys a mild climate year-round, while in the Altiplano, summer temperatures average 10ºC during the day and drop to as low as -13ºC at night. The climate of the central region is of that blessed variety known as subtropical Mediterranean, with long, dry summers (November-March, max. temp. 30C) and short, mild, relatively rainy winters (max. temp. 10-15ºC, min. rarely below 0ºC). South of the Biobio rainfall increases, falling more or less steadily throughout the year, with minor variation between daytime and nighttime temperatures.

The weather in Patagonia, though extremely variable, is often wet, cold and windy. Throughout the country, the proximity of the Pacific and the Andes creates numerous pockets of localized weather patterns known as microclimates. The weather of both Easter Island and Robinson Crusoe is extremely pleasant throughout the year.

Best Time to Visit

• Atacama, Easter Island: throughout the year
• Central Region: October through April
• Ski Centers: June through September
• Lake District: September through April
• Patagonia: October through April