Travel Tips
Weather overview
Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego: In the River Grande area, the winds from the west
blow at an average speed of 25 km/h with gusts of up to 200 km/h, with few periods
of calm. In Ushuaia, the southwestern wind blows at an average speed of 59 km/h
with blasts of up to 100 km/h, but with more extended calm periods.
February and March are the warmest and most accessible months for Patagonia.
Weather in Patagonia is unpredictable, with several distinct climatic regions with wide
extremes of temperature, sunlight and rainfall. Cyclists should come well prepared for
all weather conditions regardless of when you choose to travel.
Santiago, the Central Valleys, and the Atacama Desert in Chile are genuinely year-
round destinations. January and February are busy times to visit Chile, the peak of the
country's summer. It is also an excellent time to visit Torres del Paine National Park.
March and April are good times to visit Argentina’s Lake District, and the Mendoza
region has its grape harvests and wine festival during that time. Beaches are famous
from late December through January. Snow falls at ski resorts from June to August.
For ideal weather, visit Uruguay from October to March in the spring and early summer
months.
Festivals and religious ceremonies
Año Nuevo (New Year), January 1 (Chile, Argentina and Uruguay)
Día de Los Reyes (Epiphany), January 6
Carnival. Dates vary. February/March, a Monday and Tuesday become holidays.
(Argentina and Uruguay)
Día de la Memoria (Memorial Day). March 24, the anniversary of the day that started
the 1976 dictatorship and subsequent Dirty War. (Argentina)
Semana Santa (Easter Week), March or April (Chile, Argentina and Uruguay)
Día de las Malvinas, April 2, honours the fallen Argentine soldiers from the Islas
Malvinas (Falkland Islands) war in 1982. (Argentina)
Desembarco de Los 33 (Return of the 33 Exiles), April 19, honours the exiles who
returned to Uruguay in 1825 to, with Argentine support, liberate the country from
Brazil.
Día del Trabajo (Labour Day), May 1 (Chile and Argentina)
Batalla de Las Piedras (Battle of Las Piedras), May 18, commemorates a significant
battle for independence (Uruguay).
Glorias Navales, commemorating the naval Battle of Iquique, May 21 (Chile)
Día de la Revolución de Mayo, May 25, marks the 1810 revolution against Spain.
(Argentina)
Corpus Christi May/June, dates vary (Chile)
Día de la Independencia (Independence Day), June 9 (Argentina)
Natalicio de Artigas (Artigas’ Birthday), June 19 (Uruguay)
Día de la Bandera, June 20 Flag Day. Anniversary of the death of Manuel Belgrano,
creator of Argentina’s flag and military leader. (Argentina)
Día de San Pedro y San Pablo (St Peter and St Paul's Day), June 29 (Chile)
Día de la Independencia, Independence Day, 9 July (Argentina)
Jura de la Constitución (Constitution Day), July 18 (Uruguay)
Asunción de la Virgen (Assumption), August 15 (Chile)