Geographical location
According to COUNTRYAAH, the Republic of Chile is located in the southwest of South America. In the north the country borders with Peru, in the northeast with Bolivia and in the south and west the Pacific Ocean represents a natural border.
The Chilean national territory also includes Easter Island (Rapa Nui) in the Pacific and the Juan Fernandez Islands. About 18 million people live in an area of 756,102 square kilometers. This results in a population density of only 23 inhabitants per square kilometer.
In the north of Chila is the Atacama Desert, it is considered the driest area on earth. Rainforests, glaciers and seascapes can be found in the south of the country. Chile is divided into 15 regions. The capital Santiago de Chile is located in the Metropolitana region.
The northern areas are very sparsely populated with the exception of smaller fishing and mining villages. A distance of around 12,120 kilometers has to be covered from Frankfurt to Santiago de Chile.
- Abbreviation Finder: Check to see national geography, brief history, society description, domestic politics, economy overview, and a list of widely used acronyms about Chile.
Climate in Chile
Due to its size and vertical extension, Chile can be divided into three climate zones: Northern Chile, Central Chile and Southern Chile. In the north mentioned you will mainly find desert areas. In the Atacama Desert there can be no precipitation for years. The port city of Antofagasta is one of the most important regions in the north. The temperatures here are between 16 and 24 ° C throughout the year.
In central Chile you will find a climate that can be compared with the Mediterranean Mediterranean climate. Since Chile is located in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are exactly the opposite of those in the Mediterranean. In the summer months from October to March the temperatures are between 22 and 30 ° C, with extremely low precipitation values. In the winter months from May to August, temperatures can drop to around 15 ° C. During this time the rain can increase somewhat, up to 87 millimeters of precipitation is possible in July, for example.
The south of Chile, however, is extremely rainy. This region is also barely populated, with rainfall between 90 and 234 millimeters per month. Most of the rain falls in this region of Chile in the winter months from May to August. At the same time, temperatures drop to a minimum of 10 ° C. In the summer months there is a little less rainfall and temperatures can rise to 18 degrees.
When to go to Chile
In principle, Chile, with its different climatic zones and landscapes, is easy to travel to all year round, as there is always a region that is climatically suitable for extensive exploration. The best travel time in Chile is therefore difficult to generalize. The sparsely populated north and south areas are generally less traveled. Thus, the tourist centers are mainly limited to the central region of Chile.
Santiago de Chile is a popular destination for vacationers from all over the world. The best time to travel here are December, January and February. The months of September and October as well as March to May are to be categorized as good travel times and only have minor restrictions. If you really want summery weather, you should fly to Santiago at the best travel time in summer.
The other areas of Chile are more likely to be explored as an individual tourist. For Antofagasta and the north, the months of September to May are the best time to travel to Chile. If you are looking for adventure and want to travel to the relatively fresh south, you should do so between December and March. This time is also ideal for a tour of Chile.
Optimal travel time for the regions
In the following overview you can see the best travel time depending on the region (Chile).
| Place | Best travel time |
| Santiago | January, February, March, April, October, November and December |
| Antofagasta | all except June, July and August |
| Puerto Montt | January, February, March and December |
Temperatures, precipitation in Santiago (Chile)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | 30 ° C | 29 ° C | 27 ° C | 23 ° C | 19 ° C | 15 ° C | 15 ° C | 17 ° C | 19 ° C | 22 ° C | 25 ° C | 28 ° C |
| Night temperature | 13 ° C | 12 ° C | 11 ° C | 8 ° C | 6 ° C | 4 ° C | 4 ° C | 5 ° C | 6 ° C | 8 ° C | 10 ° C | 12 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 42 | 70 | 87 | 52 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 2 |
| Rainy days | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Sunrise | 6:50 | 7:20 | 7:40 | 8:05 | 7:25 | 7:45 | 7:45 | 8:25 | 7:45 | 7:00 | 6:35 | 6:30 |
| Sunset | 20:55 | 20:35 | 20:05 | 19:20 | 17:50 | 17:40 | 17:55 | 19:15 | 19:35 | 19:55 | 20:25 | 20:50 |
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Santiago is 15.4 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is January (21.4 ° C), coldest month of July, with mean values of 9.4 ° C.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 312 mm on 52 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. During the months of June, July and August snowfall is possible.
Cities nearby
The following larger towns are nearby and have a similar climate: Santiago de Chile, Puente Alto, Maipú, San Bernardo, La Pintana, Colina, Melipilla, Lo Prado and Lampa.
Highlights and attractions
Due to the climatic range, Chile has a great variety of flora and fauna to offer. However, the dry north is comparatively barren. To the south, around the Rio Elqui, large wine-growing regions begin. Many exotic animals live in the steppe landscapes, such as the guanacos, which belong to the camel family. Chinchillas and pumas can also be found here.
Deer, Chilean forest cats and hummingbirds live in the numerous forests. The Andean condor, one of the largest birds in the world, can be found all over Chile. When traveling to Chile, the Atacama Desert should definitely be on the program. The San Pedro de Atacama Center is a good place to go. The picturesque port town of Cerro Playa Ancha (Valparaíso) is also a popular highlight.
Of course, in addition to the Easter Islands in Chile, the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine is also very popular as a scenic contrast. Don’t miss the dramatic mountain landscape at Lake Pehoé and the glowing red towers of Base de las Torres at sunrise.
