When to go to Atacama Desert

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December - February

During these summer months, the hot and sunny days and pleasantly warm nights attract many visitors. The clear skies are perfect for stargazing, with the milky way often visible. You’ll spy wild flamingos gathered together in large groups on the ethereal salt flats, though access may be restricted by bursts of rain in January.

18°C Average max daytime temperature

6°C Average min nighttime temperature

12 days per season rainfall

None humidity

Flamingos Atacama

March - May

While temperatures drop a little, the climate remains pleasantly warm and autumn nights are cool in the desert. As the peak season is over, you’ll find fewer visitors at popular attractions like the hissing geysers.

16°C Average max daytime temperature

2°C Average min nighttime temperature

4 days per season rainfall

None humidity

Geysers Atacama

June- August

The days are shorter during the winter months, and while daytime temperatures remain pleasant, nights are often below freezing with possible snowfall in July. Though the desert is generally very dry, there is an increased chance of rainfall during the winter, the aftermath of which is an explosion of endemic wildflowers blooming across the arid plains.

13°C Average max daytime temperature

-2°C Average min nighttime temperature

0 days per season rainfall

None humidity

Wildflowers Atacama

September - November

With fewer crowds than the high season and temperatures warming up, this is an ideal time to visit the Atacama. Try horse riding or hiking across the lunar landscapes.

17°C Average max daytime temperature

2°C Average min nighttime temperature

3 days per season rainfall

None humidity

Horse Riding Atacama

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    Ben Line - Travel Expert

    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

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    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

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    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

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    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

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    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

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    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

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