How Cold Is Atacama at Night?

Cold, in every season. In June and July, San Pedro de Atacama’s average overnight low is just below freezing, −0.8 °C (31 °F) in July, and even in January and February the average low is only around 9 °C (48–49 °F). Stargazing tours run after dark and you spend most of the time standing or sitting still, so pack a warm jacket, hat, gloves and warm shoes whichever month you visit. The Owner Experience astronomical excursion finishes with a tasting of wine and hot drinks, from $46 per person.

Average lows by month

These are the long-term averages for San Pedro de Atacama town, at about 2,400 m (7,900 ft). The stargazing sites are a short drive out of town at a similar altitude.

The gap between day and night is what catches people out. A July afternoon around 19 °C feels mild, and the same night drops toward freezing. A summer day near 28 °C can leave you in a T-shirt at sunset and reaching for a jacket by the time the telescopes come out. Wind adds to it; Layana Travel asks guests to wear clothing suitable for wind and low temperatures.

There are no hourly figures for the exact time a tour runs, so treat these as a guide and dress for the low end.

What to wear

Think of a ski day, minus the snow gear. In winter dress for freezing; in summer dress for a cool evening in the mountains.

• A base layer, then a fleece or warm sweater. Several thin layers work better than one thick one.
• A warm jacket, ideally windproof. Observatory Licanatay lists a windbreaker and thermal clothing among the things to bring.
• A hat and gloves. Your hands get cold fast holding a phone or a cup.
• Warm, comfortable, closed shoes. You spend the night standing on desert ground in the dark.
• Long trousers, and thermal leggings underneath in June, July and August.
• Something bright on top if you want a good photo. Andestellar and The Roofless Experience both recommend colorful clothes.

What each tour provides for warmth

Every listing tells you to bring warm clothing. What they add on top varies.

A blanket helps when you are sitting, but it doesn’t replace a jacket when you stand at the telescope. Pack as if nothing were provided.

Altitude and water

San Pedro sits at about 2,400 m, high enough that the air is thin and very dry. Drink water through the day, go easy for your first day or two, and keep the alcohol modest. The Owner Experience asks you to bring water, and Layana asks for 1.5 liters per person.

The stargazing tours stay close to town altitude. The day trips are different: El Tatio and the high lagoons reach 4,000 m and more, and in August 2026 snow briefly closed El Tatio, Miscanti and Miñiques, and Piedras Rojas.

The Owner Experience on a cold night

The Owner Experience picks you up from your accommodation and drives about 30 minutes to a site away from light pollution. The group, around 20 to 25 people, splits by language for the telescopes and a professional photo session, so you are not standing in a long queue in the cold. It ends with a tasting of wine, pisco sour, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, cheeses and salami before the drive back. It has 4.9 from 68 reviews, and when we checked in October 2026 the next date was around $46 per person.

It doesn’t list blankets, so come fully dressed. If a blanket matters to you, Llama Stargazing, The Roofless Experience, AstrotourChile and Andestellar all include one. Our Owner Experience breakdown has the full details.

Is winter too cold for stargazing?

No, if you dress for it. June to August brings the coldest nights and also the best views of the Milky Way’s core, which is nearly overhead around 22:00 in June and July. Darkness comes earlier too, around 19:15 in June, so winter tours start and finish earlier. Summer nights are milder, but January and February tend to be the cloudiest and wettest months because of the Altiplanic winter. Our best time for stargazing guide weighs the seasons, and if you want to try a night on your own, see stargazing without a tour.

Ready to go? Check the Owner Experience’s availability or compare all nine tours.