Tilcara weather in January

January in Tilcara: warm, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 28 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Tilcara🇦🇷 Argentina · Northwest Argentina · Trekking66
  1. 66Jan
  2. 70Feb
  3. 67Mar
  4. 78Apr
  5. 89May
  6. 92Jun
  7. 94Jul
  8. 96Aug
  9. 91Sep
  10. 81Oct
  11. 74Nov
  12. 69Dec

#12 of 12 months in Tilcara · #826 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 66/100 (tier C)

Days
22°C
Nights
13°C
Wet days
28
Sun
10.8 h
Humidity
81%
Daylight
13 h
Tilcara, Argentina
Photo: Marcelo Avila · Pexels

Traveller notes on Tilcara in January

Jujuy/Salta region forum threads describe January as genuinely the warmest month here, with intense high-altitude sun balanced by a fairly constant breeze that keeps shade pleasantly warm rather than hot. It's also rainy season, but posters who'd actually visited described rain mostly falling at night, with only occasional afternoon showers - one traveler recalled needing an umbrella for just an hour across an entire trip. The general read: a forecast showing rain most days doesn't mean rain all day, and daytime sightseeing around Tilcara's colorful Quebrada de Humahuaca landscape generally goes ahead as planned.
QuebradaHumahuacaRegular · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Tilcara

Tilcara-forum threads on the wider Salta and Jujuy region in February describe this as genuinely within the peak wet season, posters calling real afternoon storms a standing feature this time of year across the northern provinces. Regulars call daytime warmth considerable regardless of the wetter pattern, the intense sun still demanding real sun protection between showers. Posters describe a typical system as dramatic but short-lived, clearing skies often returning within the hour. Regulars call unpaved roads into the hills genuinely more affected than main routes, checking conditions before any side trip standing advice. Posters recommend real layers for the swing between strong midday sun and cooler evenings. Regulars call the region's colorful rock formations especially vivid under February's clearer post-storm skies. The record: 21.3C days feeling like 23C, 13C nights, an extraordinarily high 305.6mm across 25 days and 83 percent humidity.
TilcaraFebruaryRegular · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Tilcara-forum threads on the wider Jujuy region in March describe this as the tail end of the rainy season, posters calling wet days considerably fewer than the reputation suggests, roughly ten days with measurable rain across the month. Regulars call daytime temperatures mild and pleasant, the intense Andean sun still strong enough to warrant real sun protection despite the altitude keeping the air comfortable. Posters describe some visitors going stretches without a drop, others catching an afternoon downpour that clears within an hour. Regulars recommend layering for the swing between midday sun and evening chill. Posters call the colorful Quebrada de Humahuaca formations genuinely striking under March's clearer post-rain skies. Regulars recommend checking road conditions first, unpaved routes occasionally affected after a heavier system. The record: 21.2C days feeling like 22C, 12.4C nights, an extraordinarily high 324.7mm across nearly 27 days and 82 percent humidity.
TilcaraMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Tilcara-forum threads recommending a late-June trip to the northwest call this genuinely one of the strongest windows for the region, days reliably sunny and pleasant even though posters are consistent nights turn properly cold at this elevation. Regulars call a real warm jacket essential for evenings, especially for anyone continuing on to the nearby salt flats where the cold runs even sharper after dark. Posters recommend real layering, a t-shirt-friendly midday giving way fast to a genuinely cold evening once the sun drops. Regulars call June among the best months for the wider Jujuy region, clear skies typical even as high-altitude cold sets in overnight. Posters recommend Tilcara alongside nearby Purmamarca and Humahuaca for a fuller itinerary. Regulars call the painted hillsides worth visiting regardless of the cold nights. The record: 18.8C days feeling like 16C, 6.6C nights, a low 33 percent humidity and 9.7 hours of sun.
TilcaraJuneRegular · June · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Tilcara-forum threads comparing towns across the Quebrada de Humahuaca describe this as the more developed base of the three, better infrastructure and more dining options than smaller Purmamarca while still working well as a hub for exploring the wider valley. Posters call September through the following few months a genuinely favorable stretch, daytime temperatures comfortable though the roughly 2,400 meter elevation means a dramatic drop once the sun starts going down. Regulars describe evenings as turning noticeably cool fast, layering standing advice, a fleece and windproof shell recommended over the daytime t-shirt. Posters call the air here genuinely thin and clear this time of year, a real factor for anyone unused to altitude. Regulars recommend the colorful Cerro de los Siete Colores and the market as worthwhile stops regardless of exact dates. The record: 21.8C days feeling like 20C, 9C nights, a low 52 percent humidity and 10.8 hours of sun.
TilcaraSeptemberRegular · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Tilcara's card on the map.

Tilcara climate normals — January

Daytime high22°C / 71°F🌤 warm
Nighttime low13°C / 56°F
Feels like (high)24°C / 75°F
Rainfall372 mm / 14.6 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days28 days
Humidity81%💦 very humid
Dew point14°C / 56°F
Sunshine10.8 h/day
Daylight13.4 h
Wind8 km/h / 5 mph
Air quality (US AQI)20🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Tilcara 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 crowdsEnero Tilcareño, Christmas and New Year, Summer holidays in Argentina(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Tilcara'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).

Toughest weatherTilcara's weather peaks June–August.

January coincides with Summer mudslides on the RN 9.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Tilcara in January

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Hazard

    Summer mudslides on the RN 9

    1 Jan – 31 Mar · usuallyLandslide seasonClosures

    Summer storms send mud and rock down the side gullies onto the valley road, locally called volcanes, cutting the RN 9 at Volcán or Tumbaya for hours or days. Leave slack in any schedule for the drive up. Source ↗

  • Festival

    Enero Tilcareño

    7–31 JanMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

    A month of folklore stages, gaucho pialada contests and dances in the municipal hall, running since 1957. It is the reason January is the one month the Quebrada's small hotels are genuinely full. Source ↗

  • Holiday

    Christmas and New Year

    24 Dec – 1 JanChristmas & New YearClosures

    Argentines celebrate at midnight on 24 and 31 December with family dinners and fireworks. Shops close early on those evenings, and on 25 December and 1 January almost everything is shut, including many restaurants. Source ↗

  • Season

    Wet season

    MonsoonRisk

    28 rainy days and about 372 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in January →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Tilcara — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Tilcara?

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Tilcara in January — FAQ

Is January a good time to visit Tilcara?
January in Tilcara: warm, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 28 rainy days. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Tilcara on SeasonMap's comfort score (66/100).
What is the weather like in Tilcara in January?
In January, Tilcara averages a daily high of 21.6°C and a low of 13.3°C, with about 371.5 mm of rain over roughly 27.6 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Tilcara in January?
Tilcara has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 20 in January.

Within 300 km: San Pedro de Atacama's Stargazing and the moon on 1 Jan – 31 Dec.