SeasonMapWhat's on in Punta Arenas, Chile through the year
Punta Arenas, Chile has 5 curated events through the year — 1 natural spectacle, 1 holiday and 3 seasons. The ones to plan around: Penguin colony season (October) and Winter shutdown (May). January, February, March, September and December are its peak-crowd months.
Updated September 2026 · every event curated and sourced · dates for 2026 where they are announced, the usual window where they are not
Best time to visit Punta Arenas: weather, crowds and notes →
Punta Arenas events and crowds by month
| Month | What starts | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | Peak crowds |
| February | — | Peak crowds |
| March | — | Peak crowds |
| April | — | Shoulder season |
| May | Winter shutdown | Shoulder season |
| June | — | Busy |
| July | — | Busy |
| August | — | Quiet |
| September | Fiestas Patrias | Peak crowds |
| October | The wind season, Patagonia season opens, Penguin colony season | Busy |
| November | — | Busy |
| December | — | Peak crowds |
January in Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas weather in January →Peak crowds — Patagonia season opens, Summer holidays in Chile
Nothing new starts in January.
Still on: The wind season (1 Oct – 1 Mar (usually)), Patagonia season opens (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)), Penguin colony season (15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually))
February in Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas weather in February →Peak crowds — Patagonia season opens, Summer holidays in Chile
Nothing new starts in February.
Still on: The wind season (1 Oct – 1 Mar (usually)), Patagonia season opens (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)), Penguin colony season (15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually))
March in Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas weather in March →Peak crowds — Patagonia season opens, Summer holidays in Chile
Nothing new starts in March.
Still on: The wind season (1 Oct – 1 Mar (usually)), Patagonia season opens (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)), Penguin colony season (15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually))
April in Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas weather in April →Shoulder season — an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in April.
May in Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas weather in May →Shoulder season — an ordinary month
- Season
Winter shutdown
1 May – 31 AugOff-season shutdownClosuresDaylight is short, the boats are laid up and most of the tour operators close until spring. What is left open is for people working here, not visiting.
June in Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas weather in June →Busy — Winter holidays in Chile
Nothing new starts in June.
Still on: Winter shutdown (1 May – 31 Aug)
July in Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas weather in July →Busy — Winter holidays in Chile, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in July.
Still on: Winter shutdown (1 May – 31 Aug)
August in Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas weather in August →Quiet — one of its worst months for weather
Nothing new starts in August.
Still on: Winter shutdown (1 May – 31 Aug)
September in Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas weather in September →Peak crowds — Fiestas Patrias, Fiestas Patrias recess in Chile
- Holiday
Fiestas Patrias
18–19 SepNational holidayCrowdedClosuresChile's national days fall right at the end of winter here, so the fondas go up under cover and everything official shuts for two days. Flights north are full either side. Source ↗
October in Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas weather in October →Busy — Patagonia season opens
- Season
The wind season
1 Oct – 1 Mar · usuallyRiskThe westerlies peak with the southern summer and the city keeps ropes strung along the exposed street corners for people to hold. Crossings and flights are what suffer. Source ↗
- Season
Patagonia season opens
1 Oct – 31 Mar · usuallySummer season opensCrowdedThis is the gateway rather than the destination: the Paine buses, the Cape Horn boats and the Antarctic charters all run in this window, so the hotels price against Torres del Paine.
- Nature
Penguin colony season
15 Oct – 15 Mar · usuallyBirdlife seasonMagellanic penguins hold Isla Magdalena and the Seno Otway colony through the southern summer and the boats only sail in that window. Sailings still get cancelled on a windy morning.
November in Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas weather in November →Busy — Patagonia season opens
Nothing new starts in November.
Still on: The wind season (1 Oct – 1 Mar (usually)), Patagonia season opens (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)), Penguin colony season (15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually))
December in Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas weather in December →Peak crowds — Patagonia season opens, Summer holidays in Chile
Nothing new starts in December.
Still on: The wind season (1 Oct – 1 Mar (usually)), Patagonia season opens (1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)), Penguin colony season (15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually))