Chile
Atacama in December
☀️ Warm dry seasonWarm and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · sunglasses & hat
Why December scores 9.5What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.5
- ✓Warm (30°C highs / 12.2°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point -7.2°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~4 mm rain)
- Air quality10.0
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~4 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | Jan | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.5 Excellent | 9.6 Excellent |
| Season | ☀️ Warm dry season | ☀️ Warm dry season |
| High / low | 30° / 12° | 30° / 13° |
| Rain | 4 mm | 4 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt -7° | dew pt -1° |
| PM2.5 | 4 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Immaculate Conception (8 Dec)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore AtacamaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyThe high-altitude desert of northern Chile, explored from San Pedro de Atacama, with salt flats, geysers, lagoons and clear night skies.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Fiesta de San Pedro y San PabloEvery year29 June every year
The town's patron saint festival with processions and dances.
Why go: The town fills with visitors from the region.
Where: San Pedro de Atacama
Valle de la Luna
Eroded salt and clay formations near San Pedro, popular at sunset.
El Tatio Geysers
A high geothermal field best seen at dawn when steam columns are tallest.
💡 It is at over 4,000 m and below freezing at dawn; dress warmly.
Altiplanic lagoons
Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons, high-altitude lakes below volcanoes.
Laguna Chaxa
A lagoon on the Salar de Atacama where flamingos feed.
Laguna Cejar
A salty lagoon where visitors can float.
Stargazing
Very dry, clear skies make the area one of the world's best for astronomy tours.
💡 Plan around the new moon for the darkest skies.
Llama meat
Grilled or stewed llama meat on local menus.
Quinoa dishes
Andean grain used in salads and soups.
Rica-rica
A local aromatic plant used in sour drinks and ice cream.
Empanadas
Baked or fried pastries with fillings.
Alpaca and llama wool
Scarves, hats and sweaters.
💡 Craft market in San Pedro
Andean crafts
Woven textiles and ceramics.
💡 Craft market in San Pedro