January in Portillo — off-season conditions
Hardest · 1.7/10January averages 6°C (43°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Expect 20 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.9 daylight hours.
It scores 1.7/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 8.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in.
Flexible dates? June scores 6.9 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
February in Portillo: expect compromises
Hardest · 1.7/10February averages 6°C (43°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rain is a non-issue at 12 mm for the month, with about 28 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.2 hours of daylight to work with.
It scores 1.7/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 8.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in.
Flexible dates? June scores 6.9 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
March in Portillo: expect compromises
Hardest · 2.3/10Expect 4°C (39°F) in March. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
At just 10 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.2 hours of daylight.
That is 2.3/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 8.6/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Portillo — 6.3 points higher on the same scale.
April in Portillo: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 5.5/10April averages 0°C (32°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Precipitation is light at 3 mm (mostly snow at altitude), with about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.2 hours of daylight.
It scores 5.5/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 8.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
Flexible dates? June scores 3.1 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
May in Portillo — reliably good (3rd best month)
Good · 7.2/10At -4°C (25°F) this is proper winter weather in May: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
Only 11 mm of water-equivalent precipitation is expected (snow at altitude), leaving about 8 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.3 hours of daylight.
That is 7.2/10 on the same scale — 3rd of 12 months, versus 8.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
June in Portillo — the year's strongest window
Best window · 8.6/10June averages -7°C (19°F) — deep-winter cold that dictates the whole trip: short outdoor stints, indoor plans on standby, and no expectation of long walking days.
Precipitation is light at 32 mm (mostly snow at altitude), with about 1 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.8 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Portillo at 8.6/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Plan for peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. 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, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
July in Portillo — reliably good (5th best month)
Good · 7/10July averages -7°C (20°F) — deep-winter cold that dictates the whole trip: short outdoor stints, indoor plans on standby, and no expectation of long walking days.
Precipitation is light at 9 mm (mostly snow at altitude), with about 5 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10 hours of daylight.
It scores 7/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
Flexible dates? June scores 1.6 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
August in Portillo: strong conditions, 2nd of 12
Good · 7.6/10August sits at -6°C (22°F), firmly in deep-winter territory. Plan compact outdoor blocks with warm reset points between them rather than full days outside.
Only 15 mm of water-equivalent precipitation is expected (snow at altitude), leaving about 9 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.8 hours of daylight.
That is 7.6/10 on the same scale — 2nd of 12 months, versus 8.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for 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, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
September in Portillo: strong conditions, 4th of 12
Good · 7.1/10At -4°C (24°F) this is proper winter weather in September: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
Only 7 mm of water-equivalent precipitation is expected (snow at altitude), leaving about 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.8 hours of daylight.
That is 7.1/10 on the same scale — 4th of 12 months, versus 8.6/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Portillo — 1.5 points higher on the same scale.
October in Portillo — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.4/10October averages -1°C (30°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Precipitation is light at 7 mm (mostly snow at altitude), with about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.8 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.4/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 8.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
Flexible dates? June scores 2.2 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
November in Portillo — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.3/10November averages 2°C (35°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Precipitation is light at 5 mm (mostly snow at altitude), with about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 4.3/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 8.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
Flexible dates? June scores 4.3 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
December in Portillo — off-season conditions
Hardest · 2.1/10Expect 5°C (40°F) in December. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
At just 7 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 31 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14.2 hours of daylight.
That is 2.1/10 on the same scale — 10th of 12 months, versus 8.6/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, goggles and a helmet if you are not renting.
If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Portillo — 6.5 points higher on the same scale.
