El Chaltén or El Calafate in January?
On climate data, El Calafate comes out ahead overall in January. See the per-criterion details below.
El ChalténPhoto: Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia · CC BY 2.0
El CalafatePhoto: Barbara C. Franco · CC BY-SA 3.0Key figures in January
| Criterion | El Chaltén | El Calafate |
|---|---|---|
| Average daily high | 6 °C | 10 °C |
| Average daily low | 1 °C | 2 °C |
| Rainy days | 26 rainy days (est.) | 16 rainy days (est.) ★ |
| Sun | 8 h/day ★ | 7 h/day |
| Humidity | 82 % | 76 % |
Winner by travel type
Trade-offs
- El Calafate is about 4 °C warmer by day.
- El Calafate is drier, with about 10 fewer rainy days.
El Chaltén or El Calafate in January: the short answer
In January, El Calafate comes out ahead on the overall climate score (El Chaltén 21/100 vs El Calafate 36/100). That is a snapshot of one month, though — which one truly fits depends on what you want from the trip, so the breakdown below goes criterion by criterion.
This comparison focuses on January as a representative month for the pair; for any other month, use each destination's month-by-month pages. Across the whole year El Chaltén averages a climate score of 17/100, El Calafate 29/100. Both profiles below are historical monthly averages, not a forecast.
Weather in January, side by side
The average daily high is about 6 °C in El Chaltén and 10 °C in El Calafate — warmer in El Calafate. Average daily lows are around 1 °C versus 2 °C.
On rain, El Chaltén sees about 26 rainy days in January and El Calafate about 16 — drier in El Calafate. El Chaltén gets more sunshine (8 vs 7 hours a day).
Rain and sun across the year
Over a full year El Chaltén records roughly 287 rainy days and El Calafate about 179 — the drier of the two overall is El Calafate. At their sunniest, El Chaltén reaches about 8 hours of sun a day (December) and El Calafate about 7 (December). If dependable dry, sunny weather is your top priority, weigh these annual totals alongside the single month above.
Best time to visit each
Climatically, El Chaltén has no month that stands clearly above the rest, while El Calafate has no clear standout month. If your dates are fixed, pick the destination whose strong season overlaps them; if you are flexible, plan around these windows.
Which suits which kind of trip
Based on the January scores for each travel style:
City breaks: El Calafate scores higher in January (El Chaltén 24 vs El Calafate 43).
Active & hiking: El Calafate scores higher in January (El Chaltén 26 vs El Calafate 42).
Family: El Calafate scores higher in January (El Chaltén 14 vs El Calafate 25).
Verdict: which should you pick?
In January, El Calafate leads across every scored category here — the overall score and each travel type — so on the climate data it is the clearer pick this month. Over the year, El Calafate carries the higher overall climate score. Your own priority (sun, sea, low rain or sightseeing comfort) still matters, and the month-by-month pages for each destination give you the full picture before you book.