Santa Cruz · Patagonia · 51°37′ S
Río Gallegos
The southern gateway
Santa Cruz's capital, facing the Gallegos estuary, where daily tides uncover huge mudflats full of birds. From here you can visit Cabo Vírgenes and Laguna Azul, a volcanic crater lake.
What not to miss
- The urban coastal reserve and its birds
- Laguna Azul in a volcanic crater
- Cabo Vírgenes and its penguin colony
Getting there
Piloto Civil Norberto Fernández Airport, about 5 km away. Direct flights from Buenos Aires.
Río Gallegos, month by month
Tap a month to see what’s on, the weather and how busy it is.
January
Summer holidays
- Mild days (20°), cold nights (7°); little rain.
- Busy. Book ahead.
- Pack: a jacket for the evening, sunscreen.
February
Summer holidays
- Mild days (20°), cold nights (7°); little rain.
- Busy. Book ahead.
- Pack: a jacket for the evening, sunscreen.
March
Autumn
- Cool days (17°), cold nights (5°); little rain.
- Normal.
- Pack: a jacket for the evening.
April
Autumn
- Cool days (13°), very cold nights (3°); little rain.
- Normal.
- Pack: a winter coat.
May
Quiet
- Cold days (9°), very cold nights (0°); little rain.
- Quiet. Quieter.
- Pack: a winter coat.
June
Deep winter
- Cold days (5°), very cold nights (-2°); little rain.
- Quiet. Quieter.
- Pack: a winter coat.
July
Deep winter
- Cold days (5°), very cold nights (-2°); little rain.
- Quiet. Quieter.
- Pack: a winter coat.
August
Deep winter
- Cold days (8°), very cold nights (-1°); almost no rain.
- Quiet. Quieter.
- Pack: a winter coat.
September
Quiet
- Cold days (11°), very cold nights (1°); almost no rain.
- Quiet. Quieter.
- Pack: a winter coat.
October
Spring
- Cool days (15°), very cold nights (2°); almost no rain.
- Normal.
- Pack: a winter coat.
November
High season
- Cool days (17°), cold nights (5°); little rain.
- Busy. Book ahead.
- Pack: a jacket for the evening.
December
Summer
- Cool days (19°), cold nights (7°); little rain.
- Pack: a jacket for the evening, sunscreen.
See the full data (travelers and weather)
Month by month
How many travelers stay in Río Gallegos each month. Teal months are the quietest; earth-colored ones, the busiest.
Weather, month by month
Average temperatures and rainfall in Río Gallegos. A guide for packing, not a forecast.
The warmest month is January, with highs of 20 °C. The coldest is July, with lows of -2.3 °C. The wettest month is December (32 mm). The driest is October.
See the numbers
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20 °C | 7.4 °C | 27 mm |
| February | 19.5 °C | 6.9 °C | 30 mm |
| March | 17.1 °C | 5.4 °C | 29 mm |
| April | 13.4 °C | 2.7 °C | 25 mm |
| May | 8.8 °C | 0.2 °C | 24 mm |
| June | 5.2 °C | -2.1 °C | 21 mm |
| July | 5.1 °C | -2.3 °C | 20 mm |
| August | 7.5 °C | -0.8 °C | 19 mm |
| September | 11.3 °C | 0.8 °C | 15 mm |
| October | 14.8 °C | 2.3 °C | 15 mm |
| November | 17.1 °C | 4.5 °C | 22 mm |
| December | 18.6 °C | 6.5 °C | 32 mm |
Source: Argentina's National Weather Service (SMN), Río Gallegos Aero station, 1991-2020 averages. smn.gob.ar