AI-generatedLa Serena at a glance
- Best time
- Aug – May
- Warmest month
- Jan · 22°
- Warmest sea
- Feb · 17.5°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,310 h
- Rain a year
- 96 mm
- Climate
- Dry subtropical
- Time zone
- UTC−3 / UTC−4
- Elevation
- 30 m
Climate in La Serena
La Serena has a dry subtropical climate: mild to warm all year, with very little rain. January is the warmest month with average highs of 22 °C, while July is the coolest at 16 °C. With around 2,310 hours of sunshine a year, La Serena is sunny; January is the sunniest month with 8.2 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit La Serena
The best time to visit La Serena is from August to May. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in February it only reaches 17.5 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, the weather is pleasant all year round. Rain is a rarity all year: only 96 mm fall in an average year.
La Serena through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
La Serena in spring
Sep – Nov
Excellent
- 17–20 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy day in all
La Serena in summer
Dec – Feb
Excellent
- 21–22 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 8.1 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days in all
La Serena in autumn
Mar – May
Excellent
- 18–21 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 5.5 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days in all
La Serena in winter
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 16–17 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
All year
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in La Serena for you.
Your best months: December – February
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: August – May
Where to go in OctoberSea temperature in October
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 12°
- Midday, 13:00: about 18°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 18°
- Evening, 20:00: about 16°
- Night, 23:00: about 13°
07:0819:54
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:53–07:39 · evening 19:22–20:08
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:43–06:53 · evening 20:08–20:18
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in La Serena compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs rise from about 18° at the start of the month to 19° at the end. The sea warms from 13° to 14°. The days get 0.8 h longer.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 18° | 19° |
| Night-time low | 10° | 11° |
| Sea | 13° | 14° |
| Daylight | 12.3 h | 13.2 h |
What is the weather like in La Serena in October?
In October, La Serena is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 13.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 6.6 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in La Serena.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 46 min07:08 – 19:54
- UV index
- 10 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 13 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 36 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC−3offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %60 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %100 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
Compare two months in La Serena
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
January has the better holiday weather in La Serena: score 97 against 92. In January, days are 4 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 4 °C warmer in January. January has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in January.
| Month | October | January |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 92 | 97better |
| Daytime high | 18° | 22° |
| Night-time low | 11° | 15° |
| Sea | 13.5° | 17.0° |
| Sunshine | 6.6 h | 8.2 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 1 | 0better |
| Rainfall | 5 mm | 0 mm |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
La Serena month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
97January22° · Sea 17° · 8.2 h
In January, La Serena is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 17.0 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8.2 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in La Serena.
La Serena in January97February22° · Sea 18° · 8.2 h
In February, La Serena is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 17.5 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8.2 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in La Serena.
La Serena in February91March21° · Sea 17° · 6.3 h
In March, La Serena is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 16.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6.3 hours of sunshine a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in La Serena.
La Serena in March88April19° · Sea 16° · 5.3 h
In April, La Serena is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 15.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.3 hours of sunshine a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in La Serena.
La Serena in April85May18° · Sea 15° · 4.8 h
In May, La Serena is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 14.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4.8 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 21 mm in total. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in La Serena.
La Serena in May80June17° · Sea 14° · 5.0 h
In June, La Serena is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 13.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.0 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 26 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in La Serena.
La Serena in June80July16° · Sea 13° · 5.6 h
In July, La Serena is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 13.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.6 hours of sunshine a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in La Serena.
La Serena in July83August17° · Sea 13° · 5.7 h
In August, La Serena is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 13.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.7 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 17 mm in total. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in La Serena.
La Serena in August85September17° · Sea 13° · 5.6 h
In September, La Serena is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 13.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.6 hours of sunshine a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in La Serena.
La Serena in September92October18° · Sea 14° · 6.6 h
In October, La Serena is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 13.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 6.6 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in La Serena.
La Serena in October93November20° · Sea 14° · 7.0 h
In November, La Serena is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7.0 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, November is an excellent month for a holiday in La Serena.
La Serena in November96December21° · Sea 16° · 7.8 h
In December, La Serena is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 15.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7.8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in La Serena.
La Serena in DecemberClimate in detail
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in La Serena
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
CoolOctober: nights around 11°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in July (8°), the warmest in January (15°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from January to February.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 97 | 22° | 15° | 17.0° | 8.2 h | 0 | 0 |
| FebruaryFeb | 97 | 22° | 15° | 17.5° | 8.2 h | 0 | 1 |
| MarchMar | 91 | 21° | 14° | 16.7° | 6.3 h | 0 | 3 |
| AprilApr | 88 | 19° | 12° | 15.5° | 5.3 h | 1 | 2 |
| MayMay | 85 | 18° | 11° | 14.6° | 4.8 h | 2 | 21 |
| JuneJun | 80 | 17° | 9° | 13.7° | 5.0 h | 2 | 26 |
| JulyJul | 80 | 16° | 8° | 13.3° | 5.6 h | 2 | 17 |
| AugustAug | 83 | 17° | 9° | 13.2° | 5.7 h | 2 | 17 |
| SeptemberSep | 85 | 17° | 10° | 13.2° | 5.6 h | 1 | 5 |
| OctoberOct | 92 | 18° | 11° | 13.5° | 6.6 h | 1 | 5 |
| NovemberNov | 93 | 20° | 12° | 14.4° | 7.0 h | 0 | 0 |
| DecemberDec | 96 | 21° | 14° | 15.5° | 7.8 h | 0 | 0 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
29.91° S, 71.25° W · 30 m · America/Santiago
Sea temperature in La Serena
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 12.9 – 14.1 °C
Swimming season: Always below 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in La Serena ranges from 13.2 °C in August to 17.5 °C in February. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in February, while the air already peaks in January. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in February, eight out of ten years were between 16.6 and 18.6 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 17.0° | 16.1° | 17.7° | fresh |
| FebruaryFeb | 17.5° | 16.6° | 18.6° | fresh |
| MarchMar | 16.7° | 15.5° | 17.8° | cold |
| AprilApr | 15.5° | 14.5° | 16.7° | cold |
| MayMay | 14.6° | 13.8° | 15.4° | cold |
| JuneJun | 13.7° | 12.9° | 14.4° | cold |
| JulyJul | 13.3° | 12.6° | 14.1° | cold |
| AugustAug | 13.2° | 12.4° | 13.9° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 13.2° | 12.5° | 14.0° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 13.5° | 12.9° | 14.1° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 14.4° | 13.7° | 15.1° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 15.5° | 14.7° | 16.7° | cold |
Sunshine hours in La Serena
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.6 of 12.8 hours of daylight in La Serena, 52 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 4 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain in La Serena: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, La Serena has about one rainy day with 5 mm of rain in total.
UV index in La Serena
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 10 · very highStay in the shade around midday; SPF 50, clothing, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in December (UV 11).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 15 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 25 min
- Olive skin
- about 30 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind and clouds in La Serena
How breezy and how cloudy La Serena is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in La Serena typically peaks at 13 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, gentle breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
The daily breeze rarely reaches Beaufort 4 (20 km/h), so wind sports depend on single windy days.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 36 % of the sky over La Serena: mostly sunny, with about 6.6 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Planning a trip to La Serena
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
La Serena in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
La Serena has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 97) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 82).
- 89
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Excellent
- 20 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 5.6 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 84
May half-term
May – Jun
Excellent
- 18 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 4.8 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 82
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Excellent
- 17 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 5.7 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 92
October half-term
Oct
Excellent
- 18 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 6.6 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy day a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 97
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
ExcellentBest holidays
- 22 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 8.0 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 14 h 10 min
- Distance
- 11,370 km
- Time zone
- UTC−3
- Jet lag
- About 3 days (4 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Compare & alternatives
La Serena compared
Put La Serena side by side with another destination.
La Serena vs Coquimbo
In October the holiday weather in La Serena and Coquimbo is about equally good (score 92 vs 92). During the day it is about as warm in Coquimbo as in La Serena. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | La Serena | Coquimbo |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 92 | 92 |
| Daytime high | 18° | 18° |
| Sea | 14° | 14° |
| Sunshine | 7 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 1 | 1 |
| Best time | Aug – May | Aug – May |
Through the year
Chile in October: the best places
In October, La Serena ranks 6 of 17 destinations in this country.
- Calama25°100
- 2Antofagasta18°16°98
- 3Viña del Mar19°13°97
- 4Valparaíso19°13°97
- 5Iquique25°18°97
- 6La SerenaThis page18°14°92
- 7Coquimbo18°14°92
- 8Arica20°18°91
Near La Serena
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like La Serena
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to La Serena's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about La Serena
When is the best time to visit La Serena?
The best time to visit La Serena is from August to May. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in La Serena?
The sea temperature in La Serena ranges from 13.2 °C in August to 17.5 °C in February. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in La Serena in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 13.5 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in La Serena?
January is the warmest month, with average highs of 22 °C and nights around 15 °C. July is the coolest month at 16 °C.
When does it rain most in La Serena?
Rain is a rarity all year: only 96 mm fall in an average year.
How many hours of sunshine does La Serena get?
La Serena gets around 2,310 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is January with 8.2 hours a day; in May there are 4.8 hours a day.
What time zone is La Serena in?
La Serena is on UTC−3 in January and UTC−4 in July.
How long is the flight from London to La Serena?
A nonstop flight from London to La Serena takes about 14 h 10 min, for a straight-line distance of about 11,370 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for La Serena?
La Serena has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 97) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 82). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 89, May half-term 84, summer holidays 82, October half-term 92, Christmas holidays 97.