Best time to visit El Chaltén
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in El Chaltén
6 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on El Chaltén).
- 1
Private Transfers in El Chaltén and PN Los Glaciares - 2
Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten - 3
Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia - 4
Chalten Kayak at the Rio de las Vueltas - 5
2 day Cerro Madsen Ascent & Laguna Torre - 6
Alpine Adventure in Pollone Lagoon and Lake Electric Valley
Last refreshed 2026-06-18.
Similar climatesPuerto Natales89% · Pucón78% · Wanaka77%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to El Chaltén (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against El Chaltén's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8–16 | 13 | 15 | 192 | 12.8 | 52% | 16 | 267 | 8 | Quiet | 3 |
| Feb | 8–16 | 14 | 12 | 148 | 12.3 | 54% | 15 | 224 | 7 | Quiet | 4 |
| Mar | 6–13 | 10 | 17 | 227 | 13.4 | 61% | 15 | 186 | 4 | Quiet | 4 |
| Apr | 3–10 | 7 | 17 | 228 | 13.4 | 66% | 13 | 150 | 2 | Quiet | 5 |
| May | 0–7 | 4 | 13 | 200 | 15.4 | 70% | 12 | 129 | 1 | Quiet | 7 |
| Jun | -3–3 | 0 | 16 | 225 | 14.1 | 73% | 11 | 105 | 1 | Quiet | 6 |
| Jul | -4–3 | -1 | 16 | 238 | 14.9 | 69% | 13 | 114 | 1 | Quiet | 6 |
| Aug | -2–5 | 1 | 16 | 224 | 14.0 | 68% | 13 | 144 | 2 | Quiet | 6 |
| Sep | -1–6 | 3 | 15 | 214 | 14.3 | 63% | 14 | 178 | 3 | Quiet | 7 |
| Oct | 2–10 | 6 | 15 | 213 | 14.2 | 56% | 17 | 219 | 5 | Quiet | 6 |
| Nov | 4–13 | 9 | 14 | 194 | 13.9 | 52% | 16 | 247 | 7 | Peak | 5 |
| Dec | 6–15 | 12 | 13 | 168 | 12.9 | 49% | 15 | 281 | 9 | Peak | 4 |
UV Index in El Chaltén by Month
UV index in El Chaltén peaks at 9 (very high) in December, dropping to 1 (low) in June. January, December reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
Best months in detail
May
7/100–7°C (feels 4°C) · 13 rain days (200h) · 129 sun hours · 70% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
September
7/10-1–6°C (feels 3°C) · 15 rain days (214h) · 178 sun hours · 63% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 5 (moderate)
August
6/10-2–5°C (feels 1°C) · 16 rain days (224h) · 144 sun hours · 68% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
3/108–16°C (feels 13°C) · 15 rain days (192h) · 267 sun hours · 52% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 8 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
February
4/108–16°C (feels 14°C) · 12 rain days (148h) · 224 sun hours · 54% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
March
4/106–13°C (feels 10°C) · 17 rain days (227h) · 186 sun hours · 61% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 4 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (moderate)
April
5/103–10°C (feels 7°C) · 17 rain days (228h) · 150 sun hours · 66% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
June
6/10-3–3°C (feels 0°C) · 16 rain days (225h) · 105 sun hours · 73% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
July
6/10-4–3°C (feels -1°C) · 16 rain days (238h) · 114 sun hours · 69% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
October
6/102–10°C (feels 6°C) · 15 rain days (213h) · 219 sun hours · 56% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (high)
November
5/104–13°C (feels 9°C) · 14 rain days (194h) · 247 sun hours · 52% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 10 (very high)
December
4/106–15°C (feels 12°C) · 13 rain days (168h) · 281 sun hours · 49% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 9 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
Frequently asked questions about visiting El Chaltén
When is the best time to visit El Chaltén?
May is the highest-scoring month (7/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 0–7°C (13 rainy days). The top three months by score are May, September, August.
What is the worst time to visit El Chaltén?
January is the lowest-scoring month (3/10, capped by extreme heat). Typical conditions: 8–16°C (15 rainy days).
Is El Chaltén too hot in summer?
3 months (January, February, December) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in El Chaltén?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in January and peaks in December. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in El Chaltén have good weather but fewer tourists?
May (climate 7/10, crowd index 0) and September (climate 7/10, crowd index 0) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in El Chaltén by month?
UV peaks at 9 (very high) in December and is lowest in June at 1 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 8, Feb 7, Mar 4, Apr 2, May 1, Jun 1, Jul 1, Aug 2, Sep 3, Oct 5, Nov 7, Dec 9. January, December reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
What is the UV index in El Chaltén in December?
December is the peak UV month in El Chaltén, with a daily-peak UV index of 9 (very high). At this level, sunburn can occur in under 20 minutes on unprotected fair skin. Apply SPF 50+, wear protective clothing and a hat, and avoid direct midday sun (11:00–17:00).
How high can UV get in El Chaltén on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. December is the worst case: typical days average UV 9 (very high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 12 (extreme) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.