Weather in Calama

To ensure your journey is as comfortable as possible, familiarise yourself with the current weather situation in the city of Calama. Below you will find the latest meteorological updates, detailed forecasts, and clear charts.

The climate of Calama can be described as a cold desert climate, which is unsurprising given the city's location in the very heart of the arid Atacama Desert. Precipitation here is an exceptional phenomenon: for most of the year, there is no rain at all. Travellers can count on dry air and clear, sunny skies in almost any season, creating excellent conditions for tourism without the risk of getting soaked.

The temperature regime is distinguished by enviable stability, however, tourists should be prepared for sharp diurnal fluctuations. During the day, it is usually comfortable and warm here: the thermometer stays around +19...+23 °C all year round. However, as soon as the sun sets, the air cools rapidly. Even in the summer months, night temperatures rarely exceed +10 °C, and in winter (from June to August) they can drop to +2 °C, so a warm jacket or sweater will be indispensable in the evenings.

There are no clearly defined seasons in the usual sense, but there are nuances. The summer period (January-February) may bring slight cloudiness and rare drops of rain — echoes of the phenomenon known as the "Bolivian Winter". The rest of the time, especially from April to December, the weather remains absolutely dry and predictable, allowing trips to be planned with high precision.

The climate of Calama is characterised by enviable stability and aridity, typical of the high-altitude regions of the Atacama Desert. The annual temperature regime here is quite even, without the exhausting heat common to many deserts. The warmest months are traditionally December and January, when average daily maximums reach +23°C. The coolest period falls in June and July, yet even at this time, the air warms up to a comfortable +19°C during the day.

Summer (from December to February) in the city can be described as pleasantly warm. The average temperature stays at +16°C, and daily maximums rarely exceed +23...+24°C, creating ideal conditions for active tourism. Winter here is mild and sunny: during daylight hours, the thermometer shows about +19...+20°C. Precipitation in Calama is an exceptional occurrence, so dry and clear weather reigns here practically all year round.

The main feature of the local climate that travellers should remember is the significant temperature difference between day and night. The amplitude of fluctuations can reach 15–17 degrees. If you feel comfortable in light clothing on a winter day, the temperature drops sharply to +2...+3°C at night. Even at the height of summer, the night chill is palpable: the temperature drops to +9...+10°C, so a warm jacket or sweater will be necessary for evening walks at any time of the year.

Calama is located in one of the driest regions on the planet — the Atacama Desert, so precipitation here is an exceptional rarity. The city's climate is characterised by extreme aridity throughout the year. The concept of a "rainy season" here is quite relative: the vast majority of days in the year pass under clear skies, and travellers practically need not worry about bad weather disrupting their plans.

A slight increase in humidity is observed only in the summer months of the Southern Hemisphere — in January and February. During this period, statistics record from 3 to 5 days with precipitation, however, their intensity is minimal. Even in these "wettest" months, the level of falling moisture barely reaches 1 mm, which manifests more often as light drizzle or brief drops rather than full-fledged rain.

From March to December, the probability of precipitation tends towards absolute zero. The period from April to November is considered the driest: in these months, rainy days are generally completely absent. Such stable and dry weather makes Calama a predictable destination for tourism, where an umbrella is perhaps the most unnecessary item in your luggage.

When packing for Calama, it is important to remember that the climate here is desert-like and is distinguished by significant temperature changes throughout the day. During the day, the weather is usually sunny and comfortable, conducive to light clothing: t-shirts, shirts, and trousers made of natural fabrics. However, as soon as the sun sets, it becomes noticeably cooler, especially in the winter period (from June to August), when night temperatures can drop to +2°C. Therefore, the main advice is to dress according to the principle of layering: be sure to take a warm sweater, a fleece jacket, and a windproof jacket for evening walks.

Precipitation in this region falls extremely rarely, so you can leave the umbrella at home, but protection from the sun must be maximum. Be sure to pack sunscreen with a high SPF factor, sunglasses, and reliable headwear in your luggage to protect yourself from the active Chilean sun. For excursions around the city and its surroundings, comfortable closed shoes, such as trainers or light trekking boots, are ideal. It will also be useful to take moisturising cream and lip balm, as the air in the desert is very dry.