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 07:52 (UTC-3).
Good for
In season
The year at a glance
March · high 23°C · rain 2mm · 12.3h of daylight · in the recommended window
shaded columns are the recommended window
Measured at Calama, the arrival airport
Averages for 2019–2023 from Open-Meteo’s archive, not a forecast
| 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
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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 middling.
What sort of trip is The Atacama Desert good for?
The Atacama Desert is good for nature and scenery, bucket-list trips, beach and sun holidays, adventure holidays.
How rainy is The Atacama Desert?
The wettest month in The Atacama Desert is February at 8mm (0.3in), the driest April at 0mm (0.0in), with a monthly average of 2mm (0.1in).
What plug do I need for The Atacama Desert?
The Atacama Desert uses type C, L sockets at 220 V.
