Chile & Argentina, South America

Patagonia in December

Solstice light until very late and everything open. The holiday weeks kick off peak pricing and peak trail traffic.

BestEarly summer, highs near 59F (15C), near-maximum daylight and wind

The granite towers of Torres del Paine, Patagonia — PatagoniaPhoto: Winky from Oxford, UK, CC BY 2.0

The straight answer

December is one of the best months of the year to visit Patagonia. Solstice light until very late and everything open. The holiday weeks kick off peak pricing and peak trail traffic.

Weather: Early summer, highs near 59F (15C), near-maximum daylight and wind
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 5 of 5

What December is like in Patagonia

December is early summer. Highs are near 59F (15C), daylight lasts until very late, and the wind is near its strongest. Everything is open. The holiday weeks kick off peak pricing and peak trail traffic, but early December is still calmer. Wind can close boats and high viewpoints on some days, so leave a buffer day. Penguin colonies are busy and the spring bloom is still going, which makes it a great month for families with kids who can hike.

It suits trekkers and families who want long days and full services. Book far ahead, especially for the holidays. If you want thinner crowds, go in November or March.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Patagonia this month.

Solstice light

Near the solstice, daylight lasts until very late, so you can hike well into the evening.

Wildflowers and wildlife

The spring bloom is still going, and guanaco calves and birds are everywhere.

Beagle Channel trips from Ushuaia

Boats run past sea lion colonies, and the Antarctic cruise season is in full swing from Ushuaia.

What to pack for December

A strong windproof shell
Layers for fast weather changes
Hiking boots
A sleep mask for the late light
Sunscreen and sunglasses

Our timing tip

Go in the first half of December to catch long days and full services before holiday prices and crowds arrive.

Book Patagonia for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Patagonia
Opens a hotel search for Patagonia in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Patagonia
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Patagonia
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Patagonia for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in December

Penguin season on the coasts

Roughly September through March or early April

Magellanic penguin colonies at Punta Tombo and on Beagle Channel and Magdalena Island trips fill with birds for the southern breeding season.

Southern right whales at Peninsula Valdes

Roughly June through December

Northern Patagonia's coastal exception to the winter shutdown: whales gather off Puerto Madryn, peaking in the austral spring.

Spring bloom on the steppe

October through December

Wildflowers and firebush color the grasslands and forest edges while guanaco calves and nesting birds fill the parks.

Things to do in Patagonia

Full guide

Torres del Paine's W Trek

Four to five days past the park's greatest hits, sleeping in refugios or camps. Beds for the summer season sell out many months ahead; book before flights.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The base of the towers day hike

The park's signature single day: a long, steep out-and-back to the granite towers above their glacial lake. Start at dawn for calmer wind and light.

Tickets and tours →

Perito Moreno Glacier

Boardwalks face the calving wall a short drive from El Calafate, open year-round. Give it hours, not minutes; the ice performs on its own schedule.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

El Chalten and the Fitz Roy trails

Argentina's trekking capital, where world-class day hikes like Laguna de los Tres leave from town, no permits or fees required. Largely closes down in winter.

Tickets and tours →

An estancia stay

Sheep-ranch lodges on the steppe add horses, asado, and Patagonian silence to a trekking itinerary, and several operate as destinations in their own right.

Tickets and tours →

Puma watching

Guided trips in the Torres del Paine area track wild pumas at respectful range, with winter and shoulder seasons often the best sighting windows through specialist outfitters.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Choose November or March over the December-January peak: same open infrastructure, gentler winds in March, and a real drop in trail traffic and prices.
Book the sleeping bottlenecks first: W and O circuit refugios and campsites, and El Calafate and El Chalten hotels for peak weeks, sell out far ahead, while day-by-day plans can stay flexible around them.
Start marquee day hikes at first light: Patagonia's long summer days are calmer and clearer in the morning, and the tower and Fitz Roy viewpoints crowd up from late morning.
Walk the W east to west, or tackle the towers on your first day rather than the classic last day, and you will run opposite the main flow of trekkers.

Know before you go

Winter, roughly May through September, closes much of tourist Patagonia: most refugios and campgrounds on the trekking circuits shut, many hotels and restaurants in El Chalten and around the parks go dark, and bus and ferry schedules shrink drastically.
Torres del Paine National Park stays open year-round, but winter changes the rules: daylight is short, trails can be icy, and overnight trekking in the low season requires going with a certified guide. Perito Moreno Glacier receives visitors in every month.
Even in summer, wind is the daily gatekeeper: boats to glacier faces, passes on the O circuit, and exposed viewpoints can close at short notice when gusts spike. Build slack days into any itinerary that matters.
Reservations are effectively the summer permit system: on the Torres del Paine circuits you must have confirmed refugio or campsite bookings to trek, and peak-season beds disappear roughly half a year out.

Patagonia in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Patagonia?

December is one of the best months of the year to visit Patagonia. Solstice light until very late and everything open. The holiday weeks kick off peak pricing and peak trail traffic.

What is the weather like in Patagonia in December?

Early summer, highs near 59F (15C), near-maximum daylight and wind.

Is Patagonia crowded in December?

Patagonia is busy in December, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.

What is happening in Patagonia in December?

Penguin season on the coasts (roughly september through march or early april); Southern right whales at Peninsula Valdes (roughly june through december); Spring bloom on the steppe (october through december).