, with winters (June to September) characterized by fairly cool temperatures, cloudy skies, fogs and mists, and summers (December to March) warm and sunny.
The city is located in the north of Chile, at 20 degrees south latitude, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
In winter, water droplets caused by fog can settle on the ground, but actual rain hardly ever occurs. In fact, Iquique, along with Arica, which is further north, is one of the driest cities on Earth.
, which inhibits the formation of upward air currents that could generate rain clouds.
The sea current also makes the climate particularly mild, in fact the temperature almost never reaches 30 °C (86 °F).
to visit Iquique is summer, from December to March, as it is the warmest and sunniest season. The sea is not very warm, but it is warm enough for swimming, especially from January to March.
Considering that it never rains and the temperatures are mild, you can also go in winter, from June to September, but the sun doesn't shine very often and the air is humid.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.2 °C, with a minimum of
18.9 °C and a maximum of
25.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16.5 °C. However, it dropped to
11.8 °C in January 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
31.2 °C in January 1995.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
15.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.4 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
February, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.5 °C, with a minimum of
19 °C and a maximum of
26 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
10.1 °C in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C. However, it reached
30.4 °C in February 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 81% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
16.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
March is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.5 °C, with a minimum of
18.1 °C and a maximum of
25 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
11.8 °C in March 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
31.1 °C in March 1992.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
15.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
April is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.7 °C, with a minimum of
16.5 °C and a maximum of
22.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
11.7 °C in April 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
30.4 °C in April 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
18 °C, with a minimum of
15.3 °C and a maximum of
20.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
9.9 °C in May 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
28 °C in May 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.7 °C, with a minimum of
14.5 °C and a maximum of
18.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
8.5 °C in June 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
24.2 °C in June 1991.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.3 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
July is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.9 °C, with a minimum of
13.9 °C and a maximum of
17.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11 °C. However, it dropped to
8 °C in July 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
22.6 °C in July 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
August, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.9 °C, with a minimum of
13.9 °C and a maximum of
17.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9.3 °C in August 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
20.9 °C in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.5 °C, with a minimum of
14.4 °C and a maximum of
18.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9 °C in September 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
22.8 °C in September 1994.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.2 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.5 °C, with a minimum of
15.2 °C and a maximum of
19.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
8.5 °C in October 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
24.2 °C in October 2014.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
13.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
November is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.8 °C, with a minimum of
16.2 °C and a maximum of
21.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
10.5 °C in November 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
25.5 °C in November 1992.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
14.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
December is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.5 °C, with a minimum of
17.5 °C and a maximum of
23.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15 °C. However, it dropped to
11.7 °C in December 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
28 °C in December 1994.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
15.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.