Due to the country's immense length, Chile's climate is hard to sum up in a broad description. Generally, spring (September to November) welcomes a beautiful array of flowers and summer (December to February) is perfect for those wishing to acquaint themselves with Chile's beautiful beaches or its range of vineyards.
From March through to May the changing colours in the leaves offer perfect postcard pictures. Winter (June to August) is a time when many Chileans hit the ski slopes, which is often an easy excursion to plan as many ski resorts are only a short bus trip away from major cities.
Climatic conditions vary quite a bit from region to region. The northern part of Chile is home to the beautiful Atacama Desert, one of the driest places in the world, where it's warm all year round. Central regions around Santiago have a Mediterranean climate, characterised by long, hot summers and cool, wet winters. Glaciers and alpine tundras are found in the east and southeast of the country. Precipitation increases as one move from the north to the south of Chile, with the southern regions having quite a wet climate and generally cooler temperatures.