Visiting Chile in December

It’s one of the busiest times of year to visit Chile, with locals taking their holidays and escaping the heat of Santiago for the beach, coast and countryside so the earlier you go this month, the better. But there’s a good reason this is peak season, with some of the year’s best weather, whether you’re exploring at the southern tip of Punta Arenas, the northern Atacama Desert or isolated Easter Island, as well as pretty much anywhere in between.

Patagonia is at its best and busiest, with the longest day of the year this month and warm weather, although the summer winds are also getting stronger. Spot penguins off Punta Arenas and the island of Chiloé, where you get the rare sight of both Humboldt and Magellanic penguins, plus it’s also peak season for whale-watching. Pull on your hiking boots to explore around Torres del Paine, including the famous W Trek, or escape the worst of the crowds by setting out along the Carretera Austral.

It’s also one of the best months to explore the Lake District and the wine valleys, where the sun is shining and the vines are heavy with grapes. Take a trip over to Argentina, or enjoy some of the activities to be found in the Lake District, including rafting and biking in the shadow of the volcanoes.

Santiago is hot this month, with temperatures rising to around 29C, so it’s tempting to follow the locals’ example and head to the coast around Valparaiso to enjoy the colourful buildings and take the funiculars up the hills to soak up the views and a few sea breezes.

And there’s an unexpected sight if you head to the Atacama this month, where the coast is a hub for whale watching from now until February. The hamlet of Chañaral de Aceituno is one of the main locations with boat trips taking you to see Blue, Fin, Humpback and Minke whales, along with orca and dolphins – it’s warm enough for people to take a dip along the coast too. In the desert itself, it’s hot and sunny with pleasantly warm temperatures at night, clear skies for stargazing, while you can often spot flocks of flamingos on the salt flats.

Festivals: Find Christmas markets and plenty of celebrations in the lead-up to December 25, especially in Santiago. But there’s also an unusual festival a little way north of the capital in Andacollo between December 24 and 26. The Fiesta de La Virgen de Andacollo celebrates the ‘copper queen’ and the importance of the metal, with dances and ceremonies, whose origins are Quechua.

End the year with some spectacular parties on New Year’s Eve, especially the fireworks display at Valparaiso

Best for: Great weather, exploring the whole country, whale-watching, trekking and hiking