January in El Calafate — the year's strongest window
Best window · 8.8/10January averages 7°C (45°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Expect 29 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 26 sunny days and 15.7 daylight hours.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for El Calafate at 8.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, footwear you can get muddy.
February in El Calafate — reliably good (4th best month)
Good · 7.9/10February averages 7°C (44°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Expect 39 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 16 sunny days and 14.3 daylight hours.
It scores 7.9/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, footwear you can get muddy.
March in El Calafate — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6/10March averages 4°C (38°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Expect 40 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 6 sunny days and 12.5 daylight hours.
It scores 6/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Calafate — 2.8 points higher on the same scale.
April in El Calafate — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.4/10April averages 1°C (34°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Expect 36 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 0 sunny days and 10.5 daylight hours.
It scores 4.4/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Calafate — 4.4 points higher on the same scale.
May in El Calafate — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.5/10May averages -1°C (29°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Expect 34 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 0 sunny days and 8.8 daylight hours.
It scores 3.5/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Calafate — 5.3 points higher on the same scale.
June in El Calafate — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 2.4/10June averages -4°C (24°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 48 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 7.8 hours of daylight.
It scores 2.4/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Calafate — 6.4 points higher on the same scale.
July in El Calafate — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 2.6/10July averages -6°C (22°F) — deep-winter cold that dictates the whole trip: short outdoor stints, indoor plans on standby, and no expectation of long walking days.
Expect 36 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 0 sunny days and 8.2 daylight hours.
It scores 2.6/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Calafate — 6.2 points higher on the same scale.
August in El Calafate — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.2/10August averages -3°C (26°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Expect 36 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 0 sunny days and 9.7 daylight hours.
It scores 3.2/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Calafate — 5.6 points higher on the same scale.
September in El Calafate — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.7/10September averages -2°C (29°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Expect 30 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 5 sunny days and 11.6 daylight hours.
It scores 4.7/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Calafate — 4.1 points higher on the same scale.
October in El Calafate — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.8/10October averages 2°C (36°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Expect 22 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 13 sunny days and 13.6 daylight hours.
It scores 6.8/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Calafate — 2 points higher on the same scale.
November in El Calafate — reliably good (3rd best month)
Good · 8.4/10November averages 4°C (40°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Expect 30 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 23 sunny days and 15.3 daylight hours.
It scores 8.4/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, footwear you can get muddy.
December in El Calafate — the year's strongest window
Best window · 8.5/10December averages 6°C (42°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Expect 38 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 29 sunny days and 16.2 daylight hours.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for El Calafate at 8.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, footwear you can get muddy.
