The Atacama Desert
The driest place on earth turning into a lunar landscape of salt flats and geysers, a night sky so clear the observatories queue up to build there, and flamingos wading through water that shouldn't exist.
The best time to visit The Atacama Desert is Sep–Nov, Mar–May, when typical daytime highs reach about 24°C (75°F). Local time there is 19:45 (UTC-4).
Good for
In season
The year at a glance
March · high 74°F · rain 0.1in · 12.3h of daylight · in the recommended window
shaded columns are the recommended window
Measured at Calama, this page’s gateway
| Month | High °CHigh °F | Rain mmRain in | Light | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°C75°F | 4mm0.2in | 13.4h13.4h | |
| February | 24°C75°F | 8mm0.3in | 12.9h12.9h | |
| March | 23°C74°F | 2mm0.1in | 12.3h12.3h | in the recommended window |
| April | 23°C74°F | 0mm0.0in | 11.6h11.6h | in the recommended window |
| May | 22°C72°F | 1mm0.0in | 11.0h11.0h | in the recommended window |
| June | 21°C70°F | 1mm0.0in | 10.8h10.8h | |
| July | 22°C71°F | 0mm0.0in | 10.9h10.9h | |
| August | 22°C72°F | 2mm0.1in | 11.3h11.3h | |
| September | 23°C74°F | 0mm0.0in | 12.0h12.0h | in the recommended window |
| October | 24°C75°F | 1mm0.0in | 12.7h12.7h | in the recommended window |
| November | 24°C76°F | 1mm0.0in | 13.2h13.2h | in the recommended window |
| December | 24°C76°F | 1mm0.0in | 13.5h13.5h |
Good to know
- Currency
- CLP · Chilean peso
- Language
- Spanish
- Driving
- on the right
United States: Type A, B at home, you will need an adapter. 220 V there, 120 V at home: check your charger says 100-240 V.
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When is the best time to visit The Atacama Desert?
The best time to visit The Atacama Desert is Sep–Nov, Mar–May, when typical daytime highs reach about 24°C (75°F).
How warm does The Atacama Desert get?
Typical daytime highs in The Atacama Desert are Mar–May 23°C (73°F), Jun–Aug 22°C (71°F), Sep–Nov 24°C (75°F), Dec–Feb 24°C (75°F).
Is The Atacama Desert expensive?
On the ground, The Atacama Desert is mid-range.
What sort of trip is The Atacama Desert good for?
The Atacama Desert is good for landscape doing the heavy lifting, the once-in-a-lifetime sort of thing, sunshine and salt water, moving about and doing things.