When to Go

During the summer months of January and February, droves of Chileans and Argentines flee their stifling hot cities for the relative cool of El Norte Chico's beaches. Although it is an exciting time to visit, prices go up and rooms are hard to find. Make your reservations at least a month in advance. For a little tranquility, it is better to visit when the high season tapers off in March. Near the coast, temperatures can be chilly due to the wind and famously cold sea, but the weather inland is mild all year. The almost perpetually clear skies explain why the region has the largest concentration of observatories in the world, although the temperatures can drop quite a bit at night or when you head to the mountains.