Climate Insights for Cafayate

The climate in Cafayate is temperate. The average annual temperature is 14°C and approximately 477mm of precipitation falls per year. January is the wettest month, receiving around 117mm of rainfall. Cafayate is in the Southern Hemisphere. The seasons are reversed — summer runs from December to February, while winter falls between June and August. The summer months are: December, January, November. The coldest months are July, June, August, when temperatures can drop to 3°C.

Temperatures in Cafayate vary considerably across the year, with a 21°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. December is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 24°C with a mean of 18°C. July is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 3°C and an average of 9°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 13°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 3°C shift in average temperatures.

Cafayate is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 477mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 40mm per month. The wettest month is January, averaging 117mm of rainfall. February and March also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is July, with just 2mm. That's 116mm less than January, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic.

Cafayate is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 11km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is September, averaging 13km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in February, with average winds dropping to 9km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 4km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 12km/h in winter, 12km/h in spring, 9km/h in summer, 10km/h in autumn.

It is currently autumn in Cafayate, which began on March 20, 2026. Cafayate is in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed — spring starts in September, summer in December, autumn in March, and winter in June. The warmest period peaks in December at around 24°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in July near 3°C. Winter is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 89 days from now.

The best time to visit Cafayate is during March, October, November and December, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 51mm per month. By contrast, July can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 3°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Cafayate based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.