From late spring to early fall, especially the months of December to March, southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego are popular destinations for Chilean and foreign tourists. Prices rise and lodging is difficult to come by. Winter (June-August) is a second high season, when people come to enjoy snow sports. At this time of year, only Parque Nacional Torres del Paine and Monumento Natural Cueva del Milodón are open.

In summer the weather is sunny and windy. Daytime temperatures reach 17° - 20°C (63° - 68°F) and dip to about 5°C (41°F). Daylight is up to 18 hours. This is the dryer time of the year, with 10-25 millimeters (0.5-1 inch) of rain. Winter is less windy. During the day it gets to 5° - 8°C (41° - 46°F) for the high and below freezing for the low. Precipitation, in the form of snow, is an average 25 – 30 millimeters (1-1.5 inches). Precipitation varies greatly in the region. Islands west of the Andes receive up to 7000 millimeters (275 inches) per year, whereas the eastern pampas get only 400 millimeters (16 inches) annually.