SeasonMapTorres del Paine (Patagonia) weather in May
Chile
May in Torres del Paine: freezing, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 19 rainy days.
#9 of 12 months in Torres del Paine · #1245 of 1383 destinations to visit in May · comfort 51/100 (tier D)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Torres del Paine in May
Other months in Torres del Paine
December is Patagonian summer — among the least cold months of the year here — but the forum is unanimous that temperature is not what makes Torres del Paine hard. Summer is the windiest season, and one trip report describes four consecutive days delivering clear sky and high sun, 80mph winds, snow, hail and rain. The averages shown here read cold and snowy even in December because they cover exposed high terrain rather than only the valley trails, and that is the honest picture: it is the wind that makes you cold. Regulars pack a fleece hat or Buff for exactly that, note most campgrounds sit somewhat sheltered, and reckon the exposed sections feel far worse than the actual risk. The days are very long.
Year-round notes are on Torres del Paine's overview. Add your own note from Torres del Paine's card on the map.
Torres del Paine climate normals — May
| Daytime high | 1°C / 33°F | 🥶 freezing |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -3°C / 26°F | |
| Feels like (high) | -2°C / 28°F | |
| Rainfall | 192 mm / 7.5 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 19 days | |
| Humidity | 89% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | -3°C / 27°F | |
| Sunshine | 4.2 h/day | |
| Daylight | 8.8 h | |
| Wind | 9 km/h / 5 mph | |
| Snowfall | 61.1 cm / 24.1 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 21 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Torres del Paine 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 Torres del Paine'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 weatherTorres del Paine's weather peaks December–February.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Torres del Paine in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
Every night must be booked ahead
1 Jan – 31 DecBook earlyClosuresYou cannot walk the W or the O and find a bed. Campsites and refuges are reserved in advance across three separate operators plus the park service, rangers check the bookings at the gate, and the good dates go the day they open. Source ↗
- Rule
No fires anywhere in the park
1 Jan – 31 DecClosuresOpen fires are banned outright after the fires of 2005 and 2011, and stoves may only be used in the marked cooking shelters at each camp. Rangers enforce it and a careless stove has closed sectors before. Source ↗
- Nature
Lenga turning
20 Mar – 10 May · usuallyAutumn colourThe southern beech goes red and orange across the lower valleys from late March, the wind drops off, and the park empties. Shorter days and colder nights are the trade, and the back of the circuit is already shut.
- Closure
Back circuit and refuges shut
1 Apr – 31 OctThe park stays open but the far side of the massif does not: the John Gardner pass and most refuges close for winter, and some day routes require a guide. It becomes a park you drive and day-walk rather than trek. Source ↗
- Nature
Puma tracking season
15 Apr – 30 Sep · usuallyWildlife seasonThe cold months are when trackers find them: fewer visitors, snow that holds a print, and long low light at both ends of the day. Late April to May and September are the compromise, with the wildlife without the deep cold.
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 61 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Torres del Paine — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Torres del Paine?
Torres del Paine in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Torres del Paine?
- May in Torres del Paine: freezing, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 19 rainy days. It ranks #9 of 12 months for Torres del Paine on SeasonMap's comfort score (51/100).
- What is the weather like in Torres del Paine in May?
- In May, Torres del Paine averages a daily high of 0.8°C and a low of -3.4°C, with about 191.7 mm of rain over roughly 18.9 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Torres del Paine in May?
- Torres del Paine has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 21 in May.
- Does it snow in Torres del Paine in May?
- Torres del Paine sees roughly 61.1 cm of snowfall in May.
Other months in Torres del Paine
Compare Torres del Paine in May
Warmer or cooler than Torres del Paine in May
Similar destinations in South America — May
Within 300 km: El Chaltén's Lenga forests turning around 1 Apr – 10 May, and El Calafate's Los Glaciares entry fee on 1 Jan – 31 Dec.