When is the best time to visit Torres del Paine?
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If you ask when is the best time to visit Torres del Paine National Park there is no single answer. It all depends on what you want from your visit and what you enjoy the most. If you prefer warm weather with little rain then summer is the best time for you. If you like solitude the off-season is the right time to visit the park. In this post, we compare different seasons and highlight the main advantages and disadvantages of visiting Torres del Paine during every season.
Is January the best month to visit Torres del Paine?
- The warmest month – January
- The windiest months – December, January
- The busiest month – January
- The driest months – January, September
- The coldest months – June, July
- The rainiest months – April, May
As you can see January is the most popular month of the year to visit Torres del Paine. It’s as well the windiest and the warmest month. The further from January the fewer tourists are in the park, and the cooler and less windy it gets.
Visiting Torres del Paine in spring
Months
September, October, November
Advantages
- Fewer tourists
- Lower prices
- No need to book and plan a long time in advance
- Higher chances of spotting wild animals (pumas in particular in November).
- Spring blossom
Disadvantages
- Lower temperatures (especially during September and October)
- Some campsites and hotels are still closed (September, October)
- The O Circuit is open only from ??? (in 2022/23 hiking season)
The weather conditions during the spring months of September, October, and November vary greatly.
September
- Average max temperature – 10°C/50°F
- Rainy days – 4
- Wind speed – 10km/h
- Daylight hours – 11 – 12 hours
- How busy – 1 out of 5, very few tourists
The first half of September is pretty much a winter month with low temperatures and a significant amount of rainfalls. Towards the end of the month, day temperatures increase.
October
- Average max temperature – 14°C/57°F
- Rainy days – 5
- Wind speed – 15km/h
- Daylight hours – 13-14 hours
- How busy – 2 out of 5, not busy
In October it starts getting warmer with day temperatures averaging 12°C. Nights are still quite chilly 3°C/33°F. If you’re planning to camp bring a warm sleeping bag. Most campsites, hotels, and trails are open for the season. Daylight hours increase, rainfalls decrease, and the famous Patagonian wind just starts picking up.
It is a great time for birdwatching many migratory birds are back in the park after long winter.
November
- Average max temperature – 17°C/63°F
- Rainy days – 4
- Wind speed – 17km/h
- Daylight hours – 15-16 hours
- How busy – 3 out of 5, busy
November is the beginning of the season of backpacking in Torres del Paine the weather conditions are quite favorable and there are still not many visitors. The main downside of November is that it’s one of the windiest months of the year. Everything in the park is ready for the season, all hotels and campsites are open, and all activities are available. Though it’s not the peak month I would want to book campsites in Torres del Paine in advance to make sure you get a spot in the most popular ones.
November is the beginning of the breeding season for guanacos in Torres del Paine. Baby guanacos attract pumas that come to hunt them. Your chances of spotting a puma are higher than ever.
In my opinion, November is one of the best months to visit Torres del Paine if you want to do one of the multi-day treks. We’re planning to explore the park in November this year.
If you enjoy hiking and are going to spend some time in the region there are plenty of amazing day hikes and long-distance treks in Patagonia.
Traveling to Torres del Paine in the summer
Months
December, January, February
Advantages
- Highest temperatures
- Long daylight hours
- Easy access to the park
- All campsites and hotels are open
- All activities and hiking trails are available
Disadvantages
- Strong wind
- Many tourists
- High prices
- Lower chances of spotting wild animals (too many people in the park)
- Campsites and accommodation inside the park have to be booked long in advance
Seasons in Patagonia are opposite to the US, Canada, and Europe. When it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere it’s summer in Patagonia. The summer months of December, January, and February are the most popular time to visit Torres del Paine National Park. These are the warmest months of the year. Just keep in mind that Patagonian summer is quite unpredictable you still can get rainy and chilly days.
December
- Average max temperature – 18°C/64°F
- Rainy days – 7
- Wind speed – 18km/h
- Daylight hours – more than 16 hours
- How busy – 4 out of 5, very busy
December is the beginning of the peak season it’s the least crowded summer month especially the first half of it. Overall December is a good month if you want to visit Torres del Paine during the summer. The wind starts picking up in December you might get some strong gasps when walking over the passes. It’s recommended to book accommodation especially the campsites on the O and the W treks in advance.
January
- Average max temperature – 20°C/68°F
- Rainy days – 5
- Wind speed – 19km/h
- Daylight hours – 15-16 hours
- How busy – 5 our of 5, extremely busy
January is the busiest month in Torres del Paine. Many locals visit the park in January during the summer holidays. January is the warmest month in Patagonia with the least rainfalls. The wind is at its strongest and can get quite annoying sometimes e.g. when you try to pitch your tent. If you’re planning to camp in your tent, make sure it can cope with strong winds.
If you decide to visit the park in January it’s highly recommended to book your accommodation long in advance especially if you’re planning to hike the O Circuit or the W trek.
February
- Average max temperature – 19°C/66°F
- Rainy days – 5
- Wind speed – 15km/h
- Daylight hours – 14 hours
- How busy – 4 out of 5, very busy
February is still warm and less windy compared to January and December. February usually has the least rain. The number of visitors starts declining towards the second half of the month. It’s an excellent time to visit the park if you want campsites to be social but not overwhelmed by people. Daylight hours start decreasing but you still have plenty of time for hiking.
Summer is a great time to travel the Carretera Austral and to visit some of the beautiful Patagonia national parks.
Torres del Paine in fall
Months
March, April
Advantages
- Fewer tourists
- Lower prices
- No need to book everything a long time in advance
- Foliage (a great time for photography lovers)
- Better chances of spotting wild animals
Disadvantages
- Cooler temperatures
- Higher chances of rainfalls
- Shorter daylight hours
- Some hotels and campsites close for the off-season
- The O Circuit is open only till 30th March
Weather conditions during the fall months of March and April differ a lot. March is still a good time for trekking in Torres del Paine. In April it gets cold and rainy and starts getting dark early.
March
- Average max temperature – 17°C/62°F
- Rainy days – 6
- Wind speed – 10km/h
- Daylight hours – 12 hours
- How busy – 3 out of 5, busy
The first time we visited Torres del Paine was March. We were quite lucky with the weather. Out of the 7 days we spent trekking in the park we had only one rainy day and not too much wind. It starts getting quite chilly at night and early morning. On the bright side, there are fewer tourists in the park which means you don’t have to plan and book everything months ahead. Prices go down as well it’s cheaper to visit Torres del Paine.
April
- Average max temperature – 13°C/55°F
- Rainy days – 8
- Wind speed – 8km/h
- Daylight hours – 10 hours
- How busy – 2 out of 5, not busy
Prepare for decreasing daylight hours and temperatures in April. Rainfalls are more frequent, it’s the rainiest month of the year. Weather in Torres del Paine is always unpredictable but in April you can really experience it. In a matter of hours, it can change from warm and sunny to cold and stormy. It’s important to remember that the O Circuit is closed from 1st April. Some services, hotels, and campsites closing down for the winter season. There are significantly fewer people and prices of accommodation and activities go down.
Visiting Torres del Paine during winter
Months
May, June, July, and August
Advantages
- Very few visitors
- Beautiful winter landscape (most areas of the park are covered in snow)
- Lower prices
Disadvantages
- Low temperatures
- High probability of rain and snowfalls
- Some campsites and hotels are closed
- Difficult access to the park
- The O Circuit is closed
The winter months (June, July, and September) are not great for long-distance trekking but you can still do several day hikes in Torres del Paine. Temperatures often go down below 0°C. If you want to visit the park in solitude, stay indoors and enjoy cold and snowy weather then winter is a good time for you. You still will be able to do some day hikes but access to many areas will be restricted.
May
- Average max temperature – 9°C/48°F
- Rainy days – 9
- Wind speed – 7km/h
- Daylight hours – 8-9 hours
- How busy – 1 out of 5, very few tourists
Technical May is still a fall month but the weather in Torres del Paine starts shifting towards winter. Daylight hours decrease, night temperatures go down to 0°C and you can experience occasional snowfalls.
June
- Average max temperature – 5°C/41°F
- Rainy days – 6
- Wind speed – 4km/h
- Daylight hours – 8 hours
- How busy – 1 out of 5, very few tourists
June is the coldest month of the year with daily temperatures averaging 5°C and cold nights below 0°C. The month of June sees the most rain and snowfalls but it’s the least windy month of the year. June has the shortest daylight hours. It’s a complete off-season in Torres del Paine; services and accommodation options are very limited. You’ll be one of the few visitors in the park and will likely have the trails all to yourself.
July
- Average max temperature – 5°C/41°F
- Rainy days – 5
- Wind speed – 4km/h
- Daylight hours – 8-9 hours
- How busy – 1 out of 5, very few tourists
July continues June’s trend; it’s cold, snowy, not windy, the days are short, and there are very few tourists. It’s very likely that Torres del Paine is covered in snow a unique opportunity to winter scenery in the park.
August
- Average max temperature – 8°C/46°F
- Rainy days – 4
- Wind speed – 8km/h
- Daylight hours – 10 hours
- How busy – 1 out of 5, very few tourists
Weather conditions in August are similar to those in June and July; still cold and snowy. Daylight hours start increasing and reach 10 hours per day. Most territory of the park is covered in snow. Limited services and difficult/limited access to some parts of the park.
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The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.
