The best times to visit El Calafate for ideal weather are

January 1st to March 11th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other El Calafate Travel Info

Weather in El Calafate

Temperature

Average temperatures in El Calafate vary greatly. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for most of the year with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 36th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit El Calafate, the hottest months are January, February, and then December. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late January where highs are regularly around 69.1°F (20.6°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 47°F (8.3°C) at night.

El Calafate Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

El Calafate Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

El Calafate Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

El Calafate Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average El Calafate Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 67.7 58.9 45.4
Feb 66.6 57.6 44
Mar 63.7 54.2 40.4
Apr 56.7 46.9 33.1
May 48.9 40 28.7
Jun 44.6 35.7 26
Jul 42.8 33.8 23.9
Aug 45.4 36.8 26.1
Sep 52.2 42.4 30
Oct 57.2 47.4 34.6
Nov 61.2 51.7 38.8
Dec 65.1 56.2 43.5

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 19.8 14.9 7.4
Feb 19.2 14.2 6.7
Mar 17.6 12.3 4.7
Apr 13.7 8.3 0.6
May 9.4 4.4 -1.8
Jun 7 2.1 -3.3
Jul 6 1 -4.5
Aug 7.4 2.7 -3.3
Sep 11.2 5.8 -1.1
Oct 14 8.6 1.4
Nov 16.2 10.9 3.8
Dec 18.4 13.4 6.4

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in El Calafate are March, November, and then September. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early to mid January. For example, on the week of January 8th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late June with an average of 1 days of significant precipitation the week of June 25th.

When can you find snow in El Calafate? Weather stations report large amounts of snow likely to be deepest around October, especially close to late October. The best time to ski (if at all) in El Calafate is often around around October 22nd when fresh powder is deepest. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in El Calafate.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in El Calafate (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 5% 0 0.6
Feb 6% 0 0.4
Mar 2% 0 0.3
Apr 8% 0 0.7
May 9% 2.1 1.8
Jun 10% 1.2 0.9
Jul 8% 1.7 0.7
Aug 8% 6.8 0.9
Sep 3% 0.9 0.4
Oct 4% 13.2 0.3
Nov 3% 0 0.7
Dec 5% 0 0.4

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 5 0 1.5
Feb 6 0 1
Mar 2 0 0.8
Apr 8 0 1.8
May 9 5.3 4.6
Jun 10 3 2.3
Jul 8 4.3 1.8
Aug 8 17.3 2.3
Sep 3 2.3 1
Oct 4 33.5 0.8
Nov 3 0 1.8
Dec 5 0 1

 

Humidity and Wind

El Calafate has some humid months, and slightly dry months in the opposite season. The least humid month is November (32.9% relative humidity), and the most humid month is July (68.8%).

Wind in El Calafate is usually moderate. The windiest month is December, followed by January and November. December’s average wind speed of around 13.9 knots (16.1 MPH or 25.8 KPH) is considered “a moderate breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early December where average top sustained speeds reach 22.4 knots, which is considered a strong breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in El Calafate.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 13.7 Significant breeze 21 Strong breeze
Feb 12.4 Significant breeze 19.5 Strong breeze
Mar 11.1 Significant breeze 18.4 Strong breeze
Apr 9.6 Gentle breeze 16.1 Significant breeze
May 7.7 Gentle breeze 13.6 Strong breeze
Jun 7.9 Gentle breeze 13.8 Significant breeze
Jul 6.4 Light breeze 11.5 Strong breeze
Aug 7.4 Gentle breeze 12.7 Significant breeze
Sep 8.4 Gentle breeze 14.3 Strong breeze
Oct 11 Significant breeze 18.4 Strong breeze
Nov 13.6 Significant breeze 20.9 Strong breeze
Dec 13.9 Significant breeze 21.2 Strong breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 34.1%
Feb 37.5%
Mar 39.9%
Apr 49.6%
May 59.7%
Jun 66.5%
Jul 68.8%
Aug 61.6%
Sep 47.9%
Oct 38.6%
Nov 32.9%
Dec 33.4%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to El Calafate?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for Argentina; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Nov 21, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in El Calafate, Argentina is January, followed by March and November. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit El Calafate in July. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 54.8 in July means 54.8% of the tourists vs. January.

 

 

Overall El Calafate Travel Experience by Season

Fall (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 67.7°F (19.8°C) and 44°F (6.7°C) with colder temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with 1 to 3 days of significant precipitation per month. Fall is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Winter (June through August)

The middle-year months have cold weather with high temperatures that are still jacket weather. These months see the most precipitation with 2 to 3 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the slowest season for tourism in El Calafate, so lodging and other accommodations may cost less than usual.

Spring (September through November)

Spring daily highs range from 63.9°F (17.7°C) and 50.2°F (10.1°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: approximately 1 days per month. Tourism is fairly slow during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be lower priced.

Summer (December through February)

Weather is somewhat cool this time of year in El Calafate to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 69.1°F (20.6°C) and 63.8°F (17.7°C). On average, it rains or snows a smalll amount: 1 to 2 times per month. These times of year are the busiest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Argentina › El Calafate, Argentina