Arica in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Arica sees average daytime highs around 26°C and overnight lows near 19°C, with 22 mm of rain over about 5 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 24°C in early December to 26°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 9% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels humid.
Summer is Arica's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Arica's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 26°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 19°C
- Rainfall
- 22 mm
- 5 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.6
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Arica in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 24°C in early December to 26°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Arica reaches about 26°C and drops to 19°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Arica weather by month
How the three summer months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26° / 20° | 10 | 2.3 | 13 | 7.4 |
| Feb | 26° / 20° | 7 | 2 | 12.6 | 7.4 |
| Mar | 26° / 19° | 4 | 0.7 | 12.1 | 7.8 |
| Apr | 24° / 18° | 7 | 1.7 | 11.6 | 8.0 |
| May | 22° / 16° | 24 | 8.9 | 11.1 | 6.5 |
| Jun | 20° / 14° | 30 | 12.7 | 10.9 | 5.6 |
| Jul | 19° / 13° | 29 | 10.6 | 11 | 5.7 |
| Aug | 19° / 14° | 20 | 6.8 | 11.4 | 6.2 |
| Sep | 20° / 14° | 15 | 4.4 | 11.9 | 6.7 |
| Oct | 21° / 15° | 9 | 2 | 12.4 | 7.3 |
| Nov | 23° / 16° | 4 | 0.3 | 12.9 | 8.1 |
| Dec | 25° / 18° | 5 | 0.8 | 13.1 | 8.0 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 9% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Arica gets around 22 mm of rain over 5 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 9 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 13 hours in early December to 12 h 24 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 7.0 kWh/m².
Is summer a good time to visit Arica?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is one of the better times to visit Arica for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Arica in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Arica sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 19°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes. About 5 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Arica in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 22°C across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 14 km away) is warmest in February at about 23°C and coldest in August near 17°C.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Nov 28 to Apr 30 — about 5.1 months when the water holds above 20°C.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 22 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 |
| Comfort | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Refreshing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22 | Refreshing |
| Feb | 23 | Refreshing |
| Mar | 22 | Refreshing |
| Apr | 20 | Refreshing |
| May | 20 | Cool |
| Jun | 19 | Cool |
| Jul | 17 | Cool |
| Aug | 17 | Cool |
| Sep | 17 | Cool |
| Oct | 18 | Cool |
| Nov | 20 | Cool |
| Dec | 21 | Refreshing |
UV index in Arica in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 15 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Arica peaks around February 9 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near July 11 at about 7 (high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 15 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | High | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15 | Extreme |
| Feb | 15 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 11 | Extreme |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 7 | High |
| Jul | 7 | High |
| Aug | 9 | Very high |
| Sep | 11 | Extreme |
| Oct | 13 | Extreme |
| Nov | 13 | Extreme |
| Dec | 13 | Extreme |
Where is Arica?
Arica sits at 18.5°S, 70.3°W, 80 m above sea level, in Chile. The nearest listed city is Tacna, 51 km away.
Topography around Arica
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Arica.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Arica has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 290 m around an average of 49 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 863 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,342 m.
The land around Arica is covered by artificial surfaces (53%) and bare terrain (26%) within 3 km, bare terrain (56%) and water (37%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (69%) and water (27%) within 80 km.
Chile travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type C / F / L
- 220 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 48% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $17,995
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.3 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 6.3
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 14.9
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- English
- Moderate
- EF EPI 517
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Arica (-18.4755°, -70.3006°, elevation 80 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.