The best time to visit Torres del Paine

If you ask when is the best time to visit Torres del Paine National Park there is no single answer. It all depends on what you want from your visit and what you enjoy the most. If you prefer warm weather with little rain then summer is the best time for you. If you like solitude the off-season is the right time to visit the park. In this post, we compare different seasons and highlight the main advantages and disadvantages of visiting Torres del Paine during every season.

You can find all our posts dedicated to the region on our Patagonia resource page

What is the best month to visit Torres del Paine?

The warmest month – January

The windiest months – December, January

The busiest month – January

The driest months – January, September

The coldest months – June, July

The rainiest months – April, May

As you can see January is the most popular month of the year to visit Torres del Paine. It’s also the windiest and the warmest month. The further from January the fewer tourists are in the park, and the cooler and less windy it gets. We hiked in the park in late February – early March and had good weather, little rain and wind. It was not very difficult to find free spots in the campsites without booking months ahead.

According to the official website, hikers must purchase their entrance tickets to Torres del Paine online at least 24 hours before the visit. You can print your tickets on show them on the screen.

Opening dates of the W and O treks and campsites in the 2024/25 season

Before you decide when to visit Torres del Paine check if the trekking routes and campsites are open that time of the year.

The trekking routes

The W trek is open from the 1st of October 2024 till the 27th of April 2025 (you have to finish the hike by then)

The O circuit is open from the 1st of November 2024 till the 31st of March 2025

The campsites in Torres del Paine

On the O route, the campsites are open from

Serron (Las Torres) – 1st November

Dickson (Vertice) – 2nd November

Los Perros (Vertice) – 3rd November

Grey (Vertice) – 4th November

On the W trek, the campsites are open from

Central (Las Torres) – 15th September

Chileno (Las Torres) – 1st October

Cuernos (Las Torres) – 1st November

Frances (Las Torres) – 15th September

Paine Grande (Vertice) – 1st October

Grey (Vertice) – 4th November

Torres del Paine in the spring

Months

September, October, November

Advantages

Fewer tourists

Lower prices

No need to book and plan a long time in advance

Higher chances of spotting wild animals (pumas in particular in November).

Spring blossom 

Disadvantages

Lower temperatures (especially during September and October)

Some campsites and hotels are still closed (September and October)

The O Circuit is open from the 1st of November (in the 2024/25 hiking season)

The weather conditions during the spring months of September, October, and November vary greatly.

September

Average max temperature – 10°C/50°F

Rainy days – 4

Wind speed – 10km/h

Daylight hours – 11 – 12 hours

How busy – 1 out of 5, very few tourists

The first half of September is pretty much a winter month with low temperatures and a significant amount of rainfall. Towards the end of the month, day temperatures increase. 

October

Average max temperature – 14°C/57°F

Rainy days – 5

Wind speed – 15km/h

Daylight hours – 13-14 hours

How busy – 2 out of 5, not busy

In October it starts getting warmer with day temperatures averaging 12°C. Nights are still quite chilly 3°C/33°F. If you’re planning to camp bring a warm sleeping bag. Most campsites, hotels, and trails are open for the season. Daylight hours increase, rainfalls decrease, and the famous Patagonian wind just starts picking up.

It is a great time for birdwatching many migratory birds are back in the park after a long winter.

November

Average max temperature – 17°C/63°F

Rainy days – 4

Wind speed – 17km/h

Daylight hours – 15-16 hours

How busy – 3 out of 5, busy

November is the beginning of the backpacking season in Torres del Paine. The weather conditions are quite favorable and there are not many visitors. The main downside of November is that it’s one of the windiest months of the year. Everything in the park is ready for the season, all hotels and campsites are open, and all activities are available. Though it’s not the peak month I would suggest booking campsites in Torres del Paine in advance, especially the popular ones (e.g. Chileno, Central).

November is the beginning of the guanaco breeding season in Torres del Paine. Baby guanacos attract pumas that come to hunt them. Your chances of spotting a puma are higher than ever. 

In my opinion, November is one of the best months to visit Torres del Paine if you want to do one of the multi-day treks. All routes and campsites in the park are open and it’s relatively quiet compared to the summer months.

If you enjoy hiking and are going to spend some time in the region there are plenty of amazing day hikes and long-distance treks in Patagonia.

You can find detailed information on transportation in the park in our post on how to get to Torres del Paine

Visiting Torres del Paine in the summer

Months

December, January, February

Advantages

Highest temperatures

Long daylight hours

Easy access to the park

All campsites and hotels are open 

All activities and hiking trails are available

Disadvantages

Strong wind

Many tourists

High prices

Lower chances of spotting wild animals (too many people in the park)

Campsites and accommodations inside the park have to be booked long in advance

Seasons in Patagonia are opposite to the US, Canada, and Europe. When it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere it’s summer in Patagonia. The summer months of December, January, and February are the most popular time to visit Torres del Paine National Park. These are the warmest months of the year. Patagonian summer is quite unpredictable you still can get rainy and chilly days.

December

Average max temperature – 18°C/64°F

Rainy days – 7

Wind speed – 18km/h

Daylight hours – more than 16 hours

How busy – 4 out of 5, very busy

December is the beginning of the peak season it’s the least crowded summer month especially the first half of it. Overall December is a good month if you want to visit Torres del Paine during the summer. The wind starts picking up in December you might get some strong gasps when walking over the passes. It’s recommended to book accommodation especially the campsites on the O and the W treks in advance. 

January

Average max temperature – 20°C/68°F

Rainy days – 5

Wind speed – 19km/h

Daylight hours – 15-16 hours

How busy – 5 out of 5, extremely busy

January is the busiest month in Torres del Paine. Many locals visit the park in January during the summer holidays. January is the warmest month in Patagonia with the least rainfall. The wind is at its strongest and can get quite annoying sometimes e.g. when you try to pitch your tent. If you’re planning to camp in your tent, make sure it can cope with strong winds.

If you decide to visit the park in January it’s highly recommended to book your accommodation long in advance especially if you’re planning to hike the O Circuit or the W trek. 

February

Average max temperature – 19°C/66°F

Rainy days – 5

Wind speed – 15km/h

Daylight hours – 14 hours

How busy – 4 out of 5, very busy

It is still warm and less windy compared to January and December. February usually has the least rain. The number of visitors starts declining towards the second half of the month. It’s an excellent time to visit the park if you want campsites to be social but not overwhelmed by people. Daylight hours start decreasing but you still have plenty of time for hiking. 

Summer is a great time to travel the Carretera Austral and visit some of the beautiful Patagonia national parks.

Torres del Paine in the fall

Months

March, April

Advantages

Fewer tourists

Lower prices

No need to book everything a long time in advance

Foliage (a great time for photography lovers) 

Better chances of spotting wild animals

Disadvantages

Cooler temperatures

Higher chances of rainfalls

Shorter daylight hours

Some hotels and campsites close for the off-season

The O Circuit is open until the 31st of March

Weather conditions during the fall months of March and April differ a lot. March is still a good time for trekking in Torres del Paine. In April it gets cold and rainy and starts getting dark early.

March

Average max temperature – 17°C/62°F

Rainy days – 6

Wind speed – 10km/h

Daylight hours – 12 hours

How busy – 3 out of 5, busy

The first time we visited Torres del Paine was in March. We were quite lucky with the weather. Out of the 7 days we spent trekking in the park we had only one rainy day and not too much wind. It starts getting quite chilly at night and early morning. On the bright side, there are fewer tourists in the park which means you don’t have to plan and book everything months ahead. Prices go down as well it’s cheaper to visit Torres del Paine. 

April

Average max temperature – 13°C/55°F

Rainy days – 8

Wind speed – 8km/h

Daylight hours – 10 hours

How busy – 2 out of 5, not busy

Prepare for decreasing daylight hours and temperatures in April. Rainfalls are more frequent, it’s the rainiest month of the year. The weather in Torres del Paine is always unpredictable but in April you can experience it. In a matter of hours, it can change from warm and sunny to cold and stormy. It’s important to remember that the O Circuit is closed from the 1st of April. Some services, hotels, and campsites closing down for the winter season. There are significantly fewer people and prices of accommodation and activities go down. 

Torres del Paine in the winter

Months

May, June, July, and August

Advantages

Very few visitors

Beautiful winter landscape (most areas of the park are covered in snow)

Lower prices

Disadvantages

Low temperatures

High probability of rain and snowfalls

Most campsites and some hotels are closed

Difficult access to the park

The O Circuit and W trek are closed 

The winter months (June, July, and September) are not great for long-distance trekking but you can still do several day hikes in Torres del Paine. Temperatures often go down below 0°C. If you want to visit the park in solitude, stay indoors, and enjoy cold and snowy weather then winter is a good time for you. You still will be able to do some day hikes but access to many areas will be restricted. 

May

Average max temperature – 9°C/48°F

Rainy days – 9

Wind speed – 7km/h

Daylight hours – 8-9 hours

How busy – 1 out of 5, very few tourists

Technical May is still a fall month but the weather in Torres del Paine starts shifting towards winter. Daylight hours decrease, night temperatures go down to 0°C and you can experience occasional snowfalls.

June

Average max temperature – 5°C/41°F

Rainy days – 6

Wind speed – 4km/h

Daylight hours – 8 hours

How busy – 1 out of 5, very few tourists

June is the coldest month of the year with daily temperatures averaging 5°C and cold nights below 0°C. The month of June sees the most rain and snowfall but it’s the least windy month of the year. June has the shortest daylight hours. It’s a complete off-season in Torres del Paine; services and accommodation options are very limited. You’ll be one of the few visitors in the park and will likely have the trails all to yourself. 

July

Average max temperature – 5°C/41°F

Rainy days – 5

Wind speed – 4km/h

Daylight hours – 8-9 hours

How busy – 1 out of 5, very few tourists

July continues June’s trend; it’s cold, snowy, not windy, the days are short, and there are very few tourists. Torres del Paine is likely covered in snow a unique opportunity to winter scenery in the park. 

August

Average max temperature – 8°C/46°F

Rainy days – 4

Wind speed – 8km/h

Daylight hours – 10 hours

How busy – 1 out of 5, very few tourists

Weather conditions in August are similar to those in June and July; still cold and snowy. Daylight hours start increasing and reach 10 hours per day. Most territory of the park is covered in snow. Limited services and difficult/limited access to some parts of the park.