Antofagasta weather in May
May in Antofagasta: nice, dry, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#8 of 12 months in Antofagasta · #46 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 93/100 (tier S)
- Days
- 20°C
- Nights
- 15°C
- Wet days
- 0
- Sun
- 9.9 h
- Humidity
- 81%
- Daylight
- 11 h
Traveller notes on Antofagasta in May
Other months in Antofagasta
Chile forum threads about April consistently single out the Antofagasta/Atacama region as the safer bet for outdoor plans compared to further south, since this stretch of coastal desert barely sees rain any time of year. Daytime temperatures were compared to the high 60s/low 70s F range travelers reported around San Pedro de Atacama, cooling off at night but never approaching cold. It's a good month for hiking and sightseeing precisely because there's essentially nothing to plan around weather-wise - clear skies and dry air are close to a given here.
Forum posters describe October along Chile's northern coast and desert as reliably dry, with measurable rain in the Atacama falling on average only once every twenty years - meaning real rain risk in Antofagasta this time of year is close to negligible. Posters are consistent, though, that the coast itself stays cool year-round thanks to the cold Humboldt Current running just offshore, so a jacket is standard advice regardless of season despite the desert setting inland. Posters describe October as sitting within Chile's spring, with clear, settled conditions typical up and down this stretch of coastline - a real contrast between the bone-dry desert climate just inland and the persistently cool, ocean-moderated air right at the water's edge.
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Antofagasta climate normals — May
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Antofagasta in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Shoulder seasonan ordinary month(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Antofagasta's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherAntofagasta's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Antofagasta in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Camanchaca
1 Apr – 31 Oct · usuallyFog seasonThe fog bank off the cold current pushes inland over the coast road and the hills behind town, most mornings from autumn to spring, and usually clears around midday. It is most of the water this desert gets.
- Festival
FILZIC book fair
20 May – 15 Jul · usuallyArts festivalThe international book fair of the Zicosur region sets up for about twelve days near the regional stadium, with authors from northern Chile, Bolivia and Argentina, school programmes and evening music. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Antofagasta — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Antofagasta?
Antofagasta in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Antofagasta?
- May in Antofagasta: nice, dry, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #8 of 12 months for Antofagasta on SeasonMap's comfort score (93/100).
- What is the weather like in Antofagasta in May?
- In May, Antofagasta averages a daily high of 19.9°C and a low of 15.1°C, with about 2.8 mm of rain over roughly 0.4 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Antofagasta in May?
- Antofagasta has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 46 in May.
Within 300 km: San Pedro de Atacama's Stargazing and the moon on 1 Jan – 31 Dec.