January in El Chaltén — the year's strongest window
Best window · 7/10January averages 4°C (40°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 104 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 30 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for El Chaltén at 7/10 — 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, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
February in El Chaltén — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.6/10February averages 4°C (40°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 107 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 19 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 6.6/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 7/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
March in El Chaltén — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.5/10March averages 2°C (35°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 134 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 9 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 4.5/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 7/10 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, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Chaltén — 2.5 points higher on the same scale.
April in El Chaltén — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.1/10April averages 0°C (31°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 110 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 1 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 3.1/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 7/10 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, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Chaltén — 3.9 points higher on the same scale.
May in El Chaltén — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 2.4/10May averages -3°C (27°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 90 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 8.9 hours of daylight.
It scores 2.4/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 7/10 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 Chaltén — 4.6 points higher on the same scale.
June in El Chaltén — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 1.6/10June averages -5°C (23°F) — deep-winter cold that dictates the whole trip: short outdoor stints, indoor plans on standby, and no expectation of long walking days.
At 102 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 1.6/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 7/10 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 proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Chaltén — 5.4 points higher on the same scale.
July in El Chaltén — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 1.5/10July averages -6°C (21°F) — deep-winter cold that dictates the whole trip: short outdoor stints, indoor plans on standby, and no expectation of long walking days.
At 119 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 1.5/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 7/10 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 proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Chaltén — 5.5 points higher on the same scale.
August in El Chaltén — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 2.1/10August averages -4°C (25°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 104 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 2.1/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 7/10 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, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Chaltén — 4.9 points higher on the same scale.
September in El Chaltén — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.6/10September averages -3°C (26°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 108 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 7 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 3.6/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 7/10 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 proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in El Chaltén — 3.4 points higher on the same scale.
October in El Chaltén — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.7/10October averages 0°C (32°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
At 111 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 18 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 5.7/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 7/10 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, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
November in El Chaltén — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.7/10November averages 2°C (35°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 92 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 25 sunny days and 15.2 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.7/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 7/10 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 insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
December in El Chaltén — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.9/10December averages 3°C (37°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 95 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 31 sunny days and 16 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.9/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 7/10 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 insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
