You’ve decided you’d like to visit Patagonia for the hiking and now you’re wondering when to go? I’ve got you!
I visited Patagonia in spring specifically to embark on the W Trek in Torres del Paine and do some of the big day hikes out of El Chalten.
Patagonia had been on my radar for years and a couple summers before going, I thought, ‘hey it’s summer, I should go to Patagonia!’ I quickly realized, the seasons down there are completely flipped from what I was used to.
Patagonia is in the southern hemisphere and as a result, the seasons are opposite from those on the northern half of the planet. The weather conditions can also get extreme, so choosing the best time to hike in Patagonia can depend on whether you want to prioritize less wind, higher temperatures, less crowds, etc.
In this guide to the best time to hike in Patagonia, I’ll go over the weather conditions to expect month-by-month. As well as a general overview of the seasons and what the crowd levels are like. All to help you plan exactly when you want to visit this incredible slice of the world.
A quick summary of when to visit Patagonia
As you may know, Patagonia is a region that stretches over the southernmost portions of Argentina and Chile in South America. The seasons are flipped meaning summer is from December – February and winter is from June – August.
Most people visit Patagonia during their summer months because the weather is typically more stable with warmer conditions and clearer skies. Spring and fall have slightly higher rainfall and can be slightly less predictable weather-wise but the temperatures are still mild and the trade off of less crowds can be worth it depending on your priority.
I personally opted to visit during Spring, for a 3 week Patagonia trip over late October and early November. I ended up getting amazing weather with clear skies for most of my days and warm enough temperatures that I only had to wear a light sweater while hiking.
The hiking trails were quiet enough that when I started hiking early in the morning around 7 am in El Chalten, I avoided being around other people.
In Torres del Paine when I trekked the W Trek with G Adventures, I heard from our guides that it would become wayyy busier on the trails once December hit. My personal opinion is that late spring is the best time to trek in Torres del Paine.
Torres del Paine vs. El Chalten weather
Patagonia is a huge region with over 1 million square kms of land. Naturally, that means the weather can vary A LOT between the towns and national parks you visit.
For example, I found El Chalten in Argentina way warmer and less windy than Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine in Chile. Even though they are only a few hours drive apart. These are two of the most epic places to hike in Patagonia, so I will break down the weather conditions by month for both of these areas below 👇.
Patagonia weather conditions by month
Spring in Patagonia: September – November
Spring in Patagonia is a shoulder season sweet spot. The days start to get longer again with the sun not setting until after 7 pm at the start of the season and after 9 pm by the end. The temperatures are mild and trails and refugios start to open again from being closed all winter.
Earlier in Spring, there are a lot of closures, but things start to open as the season stretches towards summer and almost everything is fully operational by October. The number of people on the trails is way lower and there are often shoulder season prices or deals for accommodation.
I travelled to both Torres del Paine and El Chalten in Spring, between late October and mid-November. I found El Chalten to be slightly warmer than Torres del Paine and it had less wind.
The conditions overall stayed more consistent in El Chalten. Torres del Paine had a lot more unpredictability and weather fluctuations in single days.
⭐ An important note on Patagonia weather: Patagonia is known to have “four seasons in a day,” because it changes quick and unpredictably. This is still very true in spring.
Some days, I’d start my hike with warm clear skies, get hit with clouds, rain, and high winds, and then it would be sunny again by the time I finished the hike.
September in Torres del Paine:
September in Patagonia is the first month of Spring so some winter conditions linger. Depending on how long the winter conditions persist, you will be required to hike with a guide (you can hike without one outside of winter).
For planning purposes, I’d say only plan to hike Torres del Paine in September with a tour group or guide. And only choose to go if you want to experience winter-like conditions or are restricted by your availability.
Temperatures: The average highs of 6 °C / 43 °F, lows of -1 °C / 30 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 8 am and sets around 7:40 pm.
Trail conditions: Portions of the trail will still have snow on the ground, especially in higher elevation spots like the base of the towers or high in the French Valley. You’ll need crampons and trekking poles for these sections. The snow adds extra beauty as the landscape sparkles a pure untouched white.
Restrictions/Closures: The trails in Torres del Paine should all be open in September (with some exceptions depending on extreme conditions). However, certain activities run less frequently, like the ferry to Grey Glacier or to Paine Grande Refugio across Lake Pehoe.
The ferry to Paine Grande only runs two days in September, so you’d have to make other arrangements for your hike with your guide.
September in El Chalten:
September in El Chalten is similar to Torres del Paine but it can get dicey with trail closures. Most tourist shops and services won’t be running yet at this point.
Temperatures: Highs of 2 °C / 36 °F, lows of -4 °C / 25 °F.
Daylight: The sun rises around 8 am and sets around 7:40 pm.
Trail conditions: Most trails are usually walkable though muddy. The final kilometer to Laguna de los Tres is often icy/under snow so crampons or micro-spikes are strongly advised and may be mandatory if rangers flag the route.
Restrictions/Closures: The higher elevated portions can also be closed entirely until the conditions improve. The buses between El Calafate and El Chalten don’t run every day yet.
October in Torres del Paine:
October is fully open in Torres del Paine and you can officially start hiking without a guide. The wild flowers start to bloom and you can spot baby guanacos! The crowd levels are perfect too, you won’t see nearly as many people on the trails as November and then especially December – February.
Temperatures: Highs of 7 °C / 44 °F, lows of 0 °C / 33 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 7 am and starts setting after 8 pm.
Trail conditions: No snow on most of the trails, wildflowers blooming, some muddy conditions. You should pack micro-spikes for the higher elevation spots still to deal with ice, like the base of the towers.
Restrictions/Closures: Almost all the trails are open. The full W Trek is open, but the O Circuit usually stays closed until November or until rangers declare the John Gardner Pass safe. The ferries start running daily now.
October in El Chalten:
Temperatures: Highs of 13.8 °C / 57 °F, lows of 2.9 °C / 37 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 7 am and starts setting after 8 pm.
Trail conditions: No snow on most of the trails, wildflowers blooming, some muddy conditions. You should pack micro-spikes for the higher elevation spots like the last km of the Laguna de Los Tres hike.
Restrictions/Closures: Most trails are usually open, but there might be some snow and ice on the final 1 km of Laguna de los Tres. You’ll still want to check the park ranger board at the tourist information centre each night to see if they’ve flagged any ice-related trail closures. The daily buses from El Calafate resume a full schedule mid-month and nearly all hostels, cafés, and gear shops reopen.
November in Torres del Paine:
Everything should be open by November and this is the sweet spot between milder weather and less crowds. I hiked the W Trek in November.
Temperatures: Highs of 10 °C / 50 °F, lows of 2 °C / 36 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 6 am and starts setting after 9 pm.
Trail conditions: The conditions are really similar to summer now, with no snow or ice. The wildflowers are still blooming and you can see lots of guanacos. The wind seems to be at its peak in spring, so expect to get “Patagonia hair,” which is basically a nest on your head at the end of each day.
Restrictions/Closures: Everything should be open. The O Circuit is open.
November in El Chalten:
Just like Torres del Paine, everything should be open and you get the spring sweet spot.
Temperatures: Highs of 15 °C / 59 °F, lows of 5 °C / 41 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 6 am and starts setting after 9 pm.
Trail conditions: Laguna de los Tres, Loma del Pliegue Tumbado, Laguna Toro are snow-free by mid-month. Early mornings can still see icy patches on the final km to Laguna de los Tres. When I hiked Laguna de los Tres in early November, there was snow at the very top and covering the blue glacial lagoon. Not enough to need micro-spikes though.
Restrictions/Closures: Everything should be open. Buses run regularly.
Summer in Patagonia: December – February
Summer is peak season in Patagonia. The days are long, the temperatures reach their highest, and the trails are buzzing with lots of other excited hikers. Everything is operating at their max, with lots of transportation and trail options.
The trails can feel a lot more crowded during summer, with thousands of visitors in Torres del Paine every day. You need to book your accommodation and guides about 6 months in advance if you plan to visit in summer.
For those who don’t mind the extra crowds, summer is the best time to trek in Patagonia.
December in Torres del Paine:
Temperatures: Highs of 15 °C / 59 °F, lows of 6 °C / 42 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 5:30 am and starts setting after 9:40 pm.
Trail conditions: Dry paths with lots of wind, clear skies, and glacial lakes gleaming. This is the least-crowded summer month.
Restrictions/Closures: Everything should be open!
December in El Chalten:
Temperatures: Highs of 18 °C / 65 °F, lows of 7 °C / 45 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 5:30 am and starts setting after 9:40 pm.
Trail conditions: Dry paths with lots of wind, clear skies, and glacial lakes gleaming. This is the least-crowded summer month.
Restrictions/Closures: Everything should be open!
January in Torres del Paine:
Temperatures: Highs of 16 °C / 60 °F, lows of 7 °C / 45 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 5:45 am and starts setting after 10 pm.
Trail conditions: Dry paths with lots of wind, clear skies, and glacial lakes gleaming. Trails are crowded.
Restrictions/Closures: Everything should be open!
January in El Chalten:
Temperatures: Highs of 19 °C / 66 °F, lows of 8 °C / 46 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 5:45 am and starts setting after 10 pm.
Trail conditions: Dry paths with lots of wind, clear skies, and glacial lakes gleaming. Trails are crowded.
Restrictions/Closures: Everything should be open!
February in Torres del Paine:
Temperatures: Highs of 16 °C / 60 °F, lows of 7 °C / 45 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 6:30 am and starts setting after 9:30 pm.
Trail conditions: Dry paths with lots of wind, clear skies, and glacial lakes gleaming. Trails are crowded.
Restrictions/Closures: Everything should be open!
February in El Chalten:
Temperatures: Highs of 19 °C / 66 °F, lows of 8 °C / 46 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 6:30 am and starts setting after 9:30 pm.
Trail conditions: Dry paths with lots of wind, clear skies, and glacial lakes gleaming. Trails are crowded.
Restrictions/Closures: Everything should be open!
Fall in Patagonia: March – May
The fall season has similar benefits to Spring but has amazing autumn colour changes in the trees. The daylight hours start to shorten slightly but are still plenty for hiking and you start to see cooler temperatures again. The wind starts to settle down a bit too.
As the fall progresses, trails get less and less crowded. Refugios and tourist shops start to close and by May you need to hike in Torres del Paine with a guide again.
March in Torres del Paine:
Temperatures: Highs of 14 °C / 57 °F, lows of 5°C / 41 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 7:20 am and starts setting around 8:40 pm.
Trail conditions: The crowds start to thin out but are still busy, the winds get a little less intense but are still there.
Restrictions/Closures: Everything should be open!
March in El Chalten:
Temperatures: Highs of 15 °C / 59 °F, lows of 6°C / 42 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 7:20 am and starts setting around 8:40 pm.
Trail conditions: The crowds start to thin out but are still busy, the winds get a little less intense but are still there.
Restrictions/Closures: Everything should be open!
April in Torres del Paine:
Temperatures: Highs of 11 °C / 51 °F, lows of 3°C / 37 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 7:20 am and starts setting around 8:40 pm.
Trail conditions: Autumn colours pop in the lenga forests, crowds thin, and the average wind get breezy, but gentler than summer. Expect muddy sections after rain and cooler, clearer mornings.
Restrictions/Closures: The O-Circuit closes on 1 April, so only the full W-Trek and day-hikes remain available. A handful of back-country campsites and some refugios begin shutting down after Easter. Ferry times also get less frequent.
April in El Chalten:
Temperatures: Highs of 8 °C / 46 °F, lows of 4°C / 39 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 8:30 am and starts setting around 7:30 pm.
Trail conditions: Fewer trekkers on routes like Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre. Winds ease compared with summer, and fiery fall leaves frames the valleys.
Restrictions/Closures: All main trails remain open and unguided hiking is still permitted. Most cafés, hostels, and gear shops operate through late April, though some scale back hours and buses to El Calafate run a reduced timetable after Easter.
May in Torres del Paine:
May is basically a winter season, so I would not recommend booking your hiking trip to Patagonia during this month.
Temperatures: Highs of 11 °C / 51 °F, lows of 3°C / 37 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 7:20 am and starts setting around 8:40 pm.
Trail conditions: Winter conditions start in May, so the trails start getting snowy and icy.
Restrictions/Closures: Trekking in Torres del Paine is now only permitted with licensed guides.
May in El Chalten:
Temperatures: Highs of 8 °C / 46 °F, lows of 4°C / 39 °F
Daylight: The sun rises around 8:30 am and starts setting around 7:30 pm.
Trail conditions: Snowy and icy! Really cold and lots of wind and precipitation.
Restrictions/Closures: Trails start to close in May because of snow and ice conditions.
Winter in Patagonia: June – August
Winter is the worst time to visit Patagonia. I don’t recommend hiking in Patagonia in winter unless you have a specific guided expedition in mind.
The trails are covered in snow and ice. Many trails are outright closed. Almost all tourist shops and services are closed for the season.
Next Step: Map Out Your Patagonia Hiking Trip
Now that you know the best time to hike Patagonia month-by-month, it’s time to start getting your itinerary put together.
If you love the idea of combining Torres del Paine and El Chalten into an epic hiking trip that also incorporates bucketlist experiences like trekking on Perito Moreno glacier and staying at a traditional ranch in El Calafate, my 3-week Patagonia itinerary shows you how to string it all together.
👉 Dive into the 3 week Patagonia itinerary and start building your perfect Patagonia trip today!
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