SeasonMapLa Serena weather in January
Chile
January in La Serena: warm, dry, with clean air — one of the best months to visit.
#2 of 12 months in La Serena · #177 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 89/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on La Serena in January
Other months in La Serena
La Serena's forum is clear that hot February days don't mean warm water — regulars describe the sea as frigidly cold with powerful currents that keep most people out of it altogether, even at the height of Chilean summer. It's peak vacation season for Chileans too, so accommodation books up well ahead.
Add your own note from La Serena's card on the map.
La Serena climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 22°C / 72°F | 🌤 warm |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 16°C / 60°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 25°C / 77°F | |
| Sea temperature | 18°C / 65°F | 🧊 bracing |
| Rainfall | 0 mm / 0 in | ☀️ dry |
| Rainy days | 0 days | |
| Humidity | 72% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | 15°C / 58°F | |
| Sunshine | 12.4 h/day | |
| Daylight | 13.8 h | |
| Wind | 14 km/h / 8 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 29 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in La Serena in January
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.
Peak crowdsChilean summer holidays, Summer holidays in Chile, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for La Serena'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 weatherLa Serena's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in La Serena in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Chilean summer holidays
1 Jan – 28 FebSchool holidaysCrowdedBook earlyThis is the north's family beach and Santiago arrives for all of January and February: the Avenida del Mar is bumper to bumper and Elqui's small hotels sell out. March is the same coast, half empty.
- Nature
New-moon nights in the Elqui
1 Jan – 31 DecDark-sky seasonBook earlyThe valley has clear skies most nights of the year, and the tourist observatories close for the few days either side of a full moon. Book a new-moon night and take a coat; it drops fast.
Where is La Serena?
La Serena in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit La Serena?
- January in La Serena: warm, dry, with clean air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #2 of 12 months for La Serena on SeasonMap's comfort score (89/100).
- What is the weather like in La Serena in January?
- In January, La Serena averages a daily high of 22.3°C and a low of 15.5°C, with about 0.1 mm of rain over roughly 0 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in La Serena in January?
- La Serena has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 29 in January.