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Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #1  
Old 25 Dec 2013
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Northern hemisphere dweller confused with climates....
Hi all,

I have a job starting in Chile that runs from March until early August... I want to take a motorbike and visit the Andes, i.e northern Chile/Argentina, Bolivar and Peru.

If I could afford it, I would then head south through Argentina, making my way down to Patagonia and then back north to Santiago, aiming at Nov/Dec.

So what can I expect the weather in the Andes to be like August/September/November? Is this a good time to do some motorcycle touring/camping etc?

Many thanks!!!

RTW
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Old 25 Dec 2013
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August is still Winter in far Southern area. (Ushuaia/Punta Arenas)

But if you start your tour from Chile (Santiago?) and head North (or EAST, across the Andes to Argentina), you'll be fine ... you may encounter rain, but not a total freeze out except in very high mountains in Bolivia/Peru'. Cent. Argentina is nice then, nicer weather on Eastern side of Andes at that time.

By late September/November the far South warms up beautifully. So start North in August and loop around, going South after. Lots of ground to cover, but plenty of options to alter route to follow good weather.

By December Northern Argentina can get very warm. (around Salta) Even Buenos Aires gets hot in their "Summer" (November to March). Santiago does not get very hot ... ever. Nor does the South of Chile. Think coastal Northern California.
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Old 25 Dec 2013
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Not true. The Andes will be cold no matter where you cross in August. In Bolivia, Peru, northern Chile and Argentina chances are good it'll be dry cold, but the cold at elevation can get brutal after sunset. In the central Chile/Argentina Andes, snow is normal--there are ski resorts along the divide. The paved road between Santiago and Mendoza is plowed and usually clear, but you need to watch the storms and be aware of melt-freeze black ice on both sides of the pass.

The far south does not "warm up beautifully" by September/November. The far south does not ever warm up beautifully. However, by November it's often not freezing cold or blowing sleet and snow sideways at you. Except, of course, when it is (usually very limited in extent and duration).

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
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Old 25 Dec 2013
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Snow and gale-force winds are possible any time of the year (we had both in the last few days in Ushuaia) in mountains and lower latitudes, so for particular areas and roads you really need to go by current and forecast conditions rather than historical averages.
In the months you are asking about, especially August, there will be snow all over the high country and some passes and border posts will be closed. Most campgrounds and tourist stuff will also be closed. On the salt lake in Bolivia you can expect below freezing and strong winds
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Old 25 Dec 2013
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I'm sure I read somewhere that winter is generally preferable in the Andes because there is less rain, and so the roads are in better condition, despite it being colder.
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