Chile Travel Information

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When to Go to Chile

To get the most out of your next adventure it makes sense to consider some of the very local factors that combine to make up what you feel is the best time to travel to a destination. Many of these factors are very personal - some people prefer to travel when the weather is not too hot, or sites too crowded - others prefer to travel when a traditional local event is taking place. Taking into account the dates of public holidays can also make sense as these may have an impact on opening times of attractions, shops and restaurants, or might affect public transport or other services. Conversely public holidays can be a time of great local festivities and celebrations providing a feast of local expressionism and culture.

Climate

The sheer length from the north to south of Chile and dramatically varied altitudes mean that the climates vary incredibly throughout the country.

The far south is best visited during the summer months (November to March), when the weather is warmer.  Winter in this area (June to September) can see entire areas blocked in by heavy snowfall, which offers a more extreme experience!

Central Chile can be visited year-round, with excellent skiing in winter, beautiful spring colours from September to November and autumnal shades from late February to April.

The far north can be visited at any time, though some rain should be expected from December to January.  At higher altitudes here it can be extremely hot by day and bitterly cold by night, so be prepared!

Seasonality

Chile's high-season falls during the summer months from November to March.  Prices are highest at this time and availability of hotels can be limited in January and February, especially in the National Parks.

National Holidays

Date	Description
01 Jan 09	New Year's Day
12 Apr 09	Easter Sunday
01 May 09	Labour Day
21 May 09	Navy Day
25 May 09	Corpus Christi
19 Jun 09	Feast of St Peter and St Paul
15 Aug 09	Assumption Day
18 Sep 09	National Chile Independence Day
19 Sep 09	Chilean Army Day
12 Oct 09	Columbus Day
01 Nov 09	All Saints Day
08 Dec 09	Feast of the Immaculate Conception
13 Dec 09	Easter Monday
25 Dec 09	Christmas Day

National Events

Event	Occurs	Description
Chilean Independence Celebrations	Week around 18 September	With Chile National Day celebrating partial independence from Spain on 18 September 1810 and a national holiday celebrating the Chilean Army the following day, this is a week of celebrations, food, wine and parties all over Chile.
Chilean Crafts, Song and Dance Exhibition	23rd - 31st August 2008 (annual)	Held on the patio of Santiago's Natural History Museum, this annual event celebrates the country's cultural heritage with exhibitions, shows and workshops of song and dance.
Festival Internacional Danza Mayor	November 2008 (annual)	This festival of dance takes place every year in Santiago. This free festival is organised by the dance school of the Universidad Mayor and features performances by emerging national and international dancers and choreographers.
International Exhibition of Traditional Arts and Crafts	November - December 2008 (annual)	This exhibition in Santiago's Parque Bustamante features typical handicrafts by around 150 artisans from Latin American countries. There is also live music, dance and food stalls offering Chilean food.
Valparaíso Cultural Carnival	December 2008 (annual)	Valparaíso Cultural Carnival involves four days of art exhibitions, music and theatre performances, cinema screenings and gastronomic fairs.
Iquique Carnival	February 2009 (annual)	Iquique's annual carnival on Playa Brava beach at the southern end of the city features a parade of brightly coloured floats, professional groups of dancers and the election of the festival queen.
Columbus Day	12th October 2008 (annual)	This day of celebration commemorates Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World on 12 October 1492. The people of Santiago parade to music and dance wearing traditional colourful dress.