The best times to visit San Pedro de Atacama for ideal weather are
September 10th to April 29th
based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.
San Pedro de Atacama Travel Guide
Other San Pedro de Atacama Travel Info
Weather in San Pedro de Atacama
Temperature
Average temperatures in San Pedro de Atacama vary little. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 55th 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 San Pedro de Atacama, the hottest months are January, February, and then December. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early January where highs are regularly around 78.2°F (25.7°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 45.4°F (7.4°C) at night.
San Pedro de Atacama Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
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San Pedro de Atacama Temperatures (Celsius)
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“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.
San Pedro de Atacama Perceived Temperature (F)
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San Pedro de Atacama Perceived Temperature (C)
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Average San Pedro de Atacama 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 | 77.5 | 67.1 | 45.3 |
| Feb | 76.6 | 65.9 | 45.3 |
| Mar | 76 | 64.5 | 42.9 |
| Apr | 75.1 | 61.2 | 39.4 |
| May | 72.9 | 56.8 | 35.6 |
| Jun | 72.1 | 54.8 | 33.6 |
| Jul | 70.8 | 53.5 | 31.5 |
| Aug | 73.4 | 56.2 | 33.7 |
| Sep | 75 | 59.5 | 37.3 |
| Oct | 76.1 | 62.7 | 42.1 |
| Nov | 77.2 | 64.7 | 44.4 |
| Dec | 77.3 | 65.7 | 43.5 |
Show Celsius
| Month | Avg. High (°C) | Avg. Mean (°C) | Avg. Low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25.3 | 19.5 | 7.4 |
| Feb | 24.8 | 18.8 | 7.4 |
| Mar | 24.4 | 18.1 | 6.1 |
| Apr | 23.9 | 16.2 | 4.1 |
| May | 22.7 | 13.8 | 2 |
| Jun | 22.3 | 12.7 | 0.9 |
| Jul | 21.6 | 11.9 | -0.3 |
| Aug | 23 | 13.4 | 0.9 |
| Sep | 23.9 | 15.3 | 2.9 |
| Oct | 24.5 | 17.1 | 5.6 |
| Nov | 25.1 | 18.2 | 6.9 |
| Dec | 25.2 | 18.7 | 6.4 |
Precipitation (Rain or Snow)
If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in San Pedro de Atacama are January, February, and then June. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early January. For example, on the week of January 1st there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late March with an average of 0 days of significant precipitation the week of March 26th.
When can you find snow in San Pedro de Atacama? Weather stations report no annual snow. 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 San Pedro de Atacama.
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Snow on the Ground
The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in San Pedro de Atacama (in).
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Average Rain and Snow by Month
Show Inches
| Month | Daily Chance of Rain | Average Snow Depth (in) | Total Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| Feb | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| Mar | 1% | 0 | 0 |
| Apr | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| May | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| Jun | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| Jul | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| Aug | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| Sep | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| Oct | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| Nov | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| Dec | 0% | 0 | 0 |
Show Centimeters
| Month | Daily Chance of Rain | Average Snow Depth (cm) | Total Precipitation (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| May | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Humidity and Wind
San Pedro de Atacama has no months that would be considered humid, with some extremely dry months. The least humid month is September (9.3% relative humidity), and the most humid month is February (28%).
Wind in San Pedro de Atacama is usually stronger than many places. The windiest month is November, followed by December and October. November’s average wind speed of around 14.9 knots (17.1 MPH or 27.6 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 July where average top sustained speeds reach 22.3 knots, which is considered a strong breeze.
Relative Humidity (%)
The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in San Pedro de Atacama.
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Wind
The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.
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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 | 14.5 | Significant breeze | 21.5 | Strong breeze |
| Feb | 14 | Significant breeze | 21.4 | Strong breeze |
| Mar | 13.5 | Significant breeze | 20.2 | Strong breeze |
| Apr | 13 | Significant breeze | 19.7 | Strong breeze |
| May | 13.4 | Significant breeze | 20.4 | Strong breeze |
| Jun | 13.5 | Significant breeze | 20.7 | Strong breeze |
| Jul | 14 | Significant breeze | 21.7 | Strong breeze |
| Aug | 13.9 | Significant breeze | 21.3 | Strong breeze |
| Sep | 13.9 | Significant breeze | 21.1 | Strong breeze |
| Oct | 14.6 | Significant breeze | 21.2 | Strong breeze |
| Nov | 14.9 | Significant breeze | 21.1 | Strong breeze |
| Dec | 14.9 | Significant breeze | 21.1 | Strong breeze |
Show Relative Humidity by Month
| Month | Avg. Relative Humidity |
|---|---|
| Jan | 24.4% |
| Feb | 28% |
| Mar | 26.2% |
| Apr | 18.3% |
| May | 14.8% |
| Jun | 11.1% |
| Jul | 10.3% |
| Aug | 9.9% |
| Sep | 9.3% |
| Oct | 10.6% |
| Nov | 13% |
| Dec | 18% |
Is it Safe to Travel to San Pedro de Atacama?
Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are travel warnings for Chile; exercise a high degree of caution. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.
The Busiest and Least Crowded Months
The busiest month for tourism in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile is January, followed by April 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 San Pedro de Atacama 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
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Overall San Pedro de Atacama Travel Experience by Season
Fall (March through May)
Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 77.4°F (25.2°C) and 71.2°F (21.8°C) with colder temperatures in the later months. Rain is nonexistent with roughly 0 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 comfortably cool weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see moderate precipitation with about 0 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the slowest season for tourism in San Pedro de Atacama, so lodging and other accommodations may cost less than usual.
Spring (September through November)
Spring daily highs range from 77.6°F (25.3°C) and 74.4°F (23.6°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a trivial amount: approximately 0 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 perfect this time of year in San Pedro de Atacama to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 78.2°F (25.7°C) and 76.3°F (24.6°C). On average, it rains or snows a insignificant amount: consistently 0 times per month. These times of year are the busiest with tourists.
Best Times to Travel› Chile › San Pedro de Atacama, Chile