Patagonia · Month comparison

May vs March

March ranks #1 overall vs May at #9. Autumn colors on Patagonia's lenga beech forests — the most photogenic month and increasingly the expert's choice over the summer rush.

Patagonia May — stark winter landscape approaching the southern peaks

May

#9 of 12 months

Strong option

Pre-winter shoulder: most trekking operations closing, temperatures near freezing overnight — only Ushuaia's ski season beginning.

  • ↑The only month where Perito Moreno glacier is genuinely uncrowded: the walkways open and the glacier in dramatic greyed winter light with no waiting for the prime calving viewpoints
  • ↑Cerro Castor ski resort (Ushuaia) opening its season: the southernmost ski resort in the world, with 30+ runs and reliable early-season snow from May
Patagonia March — autumn fall colors on lenga beech trees in Patagonian valley

March

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Autumn colors on Patagonia's lenga beech forests — the most photogenic month and increasingly the expert's choice over the summer rush.

  • ↑Lenga beech trees (the dominant Patagonian beech species) turn vivid red, orange, and gold from late March: the autumn color on the hillsides around Torres del Paine's Valle del Francés and on the slopes above El Chaltén is the landscape photography equivalent of New England in October
  • ↑Crowds beginning to thin from February peak: refugio availability returns without advanced booking, trail experience significantly better with 30–40% fewer hikers on the W-trek
FactorMayMarch
Weather score
4
7
Value score
8
5
Crowd score
9
5
Events score
4
8
Atmosphere
5
9
Avg high temp5.5°C12.5°C
Monthly rain52mm42mm
Daily sunshine5hrs9hrs

May trade-offs

  • ↓Torres del Paine and El Chaltén trekking routes partially or fully closed: the administration closes the W-trek and O-circuit from May 15 in most years due to fire risk and winter conditions
  • ↓Freezing overnight temperatures throughout the region: requires full winter camping and hiking kit that most travelers don't carry — not a destination for casual visitors in May

March trade-offs

  • ↓Daylight hours shortening rapidly (16h in early March to 13h by month-end): the long golden evening photography windows of January-February compressing
  • ↓Wind patterns becoming less predictable as autumn approaches: calm days alternate with sudden strong gusts more randomly than in the summer season
See all 12 months for Patagonia →May in detail →March in detail →
Scores compare months within Patagonia. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →