What's on in Antofagasta, Chile through the year

Peak crowds — Lifeguarded beach season, Summer holidays in Chile

• Festival

  FITZA theatre festival

  15–31 Jan · usuallyArts festival

  A free week of theatre from Chile, Argentina and Bolivia in the Teatro Municipal, parks and neighbourhood squares, held every January for nearly three decades. Source ↗

Still on: Lifeguarded beach season (15 Dec – 15 Mar)

Peak crowds — Antofagasta's anniversary, Lifeguarded beach season

• Festival

  Antofagasta's anniversary

  11–13 FebMajor festivalCrowded

  The city turns on 14 February with free nights of music at the Estadio Regional and the Ruinas de Huanchaca, a queen's coronation at the municipal theatre and fireworks over the bay at midnight. Source ↗

Still on: Lifeguarded beach season (15 Dec – 15 Mar)

Peak crowds — Lifeguarded beach season, Summer holidays in Chile

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Lifeguarded beach season (15 Dec – 15 Mar)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Season

  Camanchaca

  1 Apr – 31 Oct · usuallyFog season

  The 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.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Festival

  FILZIC book fair

  20 May – 15 Jul · usuallyArts festival

  The 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 ↗

Still on: Camanchaca (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — Winter holidays in Chile

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Camanchaca (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), FILZIC book fair (20 May – 15 Jul (usually))

Busy — Winter holidays in Chile, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Camanchaca (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)), FILZIC book fair (20 May – 15 Jul (usually))

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Camanchaca (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — Fiestas Patrias, Fiestas Patrias recess in Chile

• Holiday

  Fiestas Patrias

  18–19 SepNational holidayCrowdedClosures

  Fondas go up in the coastal parks, the mines run skeleton shifts and shops and offices shut for two days. Flights and buses out of the region are the hardest of the year to get. Source ↗

Still on: Camanchaca (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Camanchaca (1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Peak crowds — Lifeguarded beach season, Summer holidays in Chile

• Opening

  Lifeguarded beach season

  15 Dec – 15 MarSummer season opensCrowded

  From 15 December the city opens its lifeguarded beaches, Balneario Municipal, Trocadero and Playa Paraiso, until mid-March. Outside them the Pacific is cold and swimming is not advised. Source ↗