Conguillío National Park

Chile Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Chile in January.

Planning a journey to Chile this January and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Chile in January

The weather in Chile in January can be quite varied, with temperatures that range from very cold to very warm and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to heavy. January is a summer month.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is very cold in Lake Pehoé at -10°C (14°F) to very warm in San Vicente de Taguatagua at 30°C (86°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 15°C (59°F) in San Vicente de Taguatagua and -19°C (-2°F) in Lake Pehoé. On average, January is the warmest month of the year in Chile. So be prepared and pack summer clothes.

To explore the conditions in Chile in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no rainfall in Copiapó with an average of 0.1 mm (0 in) to heavy rainfall in Torres del Paine with 331 mm (13 in). Based on climate data from the last 30 years, Santiago typically sees the least rain in this month, making it the driest month of the year.

Average sunshine

Sunshine is generally plentiful throughout many areas. Santiago enjoys about 365 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Chile by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Chile — and find the best time to visit. (based on Santiago)

Best Places to Visit in Chile in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Chile.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Chile

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Chile?

Temperature range in Chile (January)

Precipitation variation in Chile (January)

Santiago

In January Santiago generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
14°C (57°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly sun hours
347 hours
365 hours
302 hours
Monthly rainfall
18 mm (0.7 in)
11 mm (0.4 in)
12 mm (0.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
4 days
4 days
Weather conditions

Viña del Mar

In January Viña del Mar generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C (70°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
265 hours
280 hours
246 hours
Monthly rainfall
3.8 mm (0.1 in)
1.3 mm (0.1 in)
2.3 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
2 days
3 days
Weather conditions

La Serena

In January La Serena generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
23°C (73°F)
25°C (77°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
16°C (61°F)
16°C (61°F)
Monthly sun hours
207 hours
250 hours
210 hours
Monthly rainfall
0.9 mm (0.04 in)
0.6 mm (0.02 in)
1.2 mm (0.05 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
2 days
2 days
Weather conditions

Valparaíso

In January Valparaíso generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
14°C (57°F)
15°C (59°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly sun hours
265 hours
280 hours
246 hours
Monthly rainfall
4 mm (0.2 in)
1.4 mm (0.1 in)
2.6 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
2 days
2 days
3 days
Weather conditions

Pucón

In January Pucón generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C (72°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
22°C (72°F)
23°C (73°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly rainfall
154 mm (6.1 in)
94 mm (3.7 in)
97 mm (3.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
4 days
4 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Chile.

In our records: Chile January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Chile in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the warmest January day in Chile reached 41°C (106°F) in Los Ángeles on January 26, 2017.
  • From our sources, the wettest January day in Chile brought 300 mm (12 in) in Coyhaique on January 2, 1981.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Chile in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Santiago 28°C (82°F) 14°C (57°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)
Viña del Mar 21°C (70°F) 15°C (59°F) 1.3 mm (0.1 in)
San Pedro de Atacama 24°C (75°F) 10°C (50°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
Pucón 22°C (72°F) 11°C (52°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Hanga Roa 25°C (77°F) 23°C (73°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Valparaíso 20°C (68°F) 15°C (59°F) 1.4 mm (0.1 in)

Chile weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Chile in January?

In January, Chile generally has perfect weather conditions. Santiago sees daytime temperatures near 28°C (82°F), with nights cooling to roughly 14°C (57°F).

What is the average temperature in Chile in January?

Santiago averages a daytime maximum of 28°C (82°F) in January, with overnight lows close to 14°C (57°F).

Does Chile get a lot of rain in January?

Not particularly. Santiago averages just 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain in January, making it a mostly dry month for Chile.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Chile?

We consider January to be one of the best times to travel to Chile. Typically, the climate in Santiago is perfect. It's worth noting that weather conditions might differ depending on the location you visit.

On average, the best time to visit Chile is in January, February, March, April, October, November and December with generally perfect weather in Santiago. On the other hand, the weather in June tends to be unpleasant.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Chile.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Chile? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Chile.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.