Arica vs Iquique: which is sunnier?
🇨🇱 Chile vs 🇨🇱 Chile · 244 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Arica and Iquique are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,893 vs 2,950 hours a year. Iquique has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 of 12 months; the other 7 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Arica | Iquique | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,893 | 2,950 |
| Sunniest month | March (96/100) | January (96/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 96/100 | 96/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 74/100 | 96/100 |
| Rain / year | 28 mm | 8 mm |
| Warmest sea | 22°C / 72°F | 21°C / 70°F |
| Peak midday UV | 14 (extreme) | 14 (extreme) |
Arica vs Iquique month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arica | Iquique | Arica | Iquique | Arica | Iquique | Arica | Iquique | |
| January | 95 | 96 | 23° | 30° | 4 | 1 | 20° | 19° |
| February | 95 | 96 | 24° | 31° | 4 | 1 | 22° | 21° |
| March | 96 | 96 | 23° | 30° | 2 | 1 | 22° | 19° |
| April | 96 | 96 | 21° | 27° | 1 | 0 | 21° | 19° |
| May | 96 | 96 | 20° | 26° | 0 | 0 | 18° | 17° |
| June | 80 | 96 | 18° | 24° | 2 | 1 | 17° | 16° |
| July | 71 | 96 | 17° | 24° | 6 | 1 | 16° | 15° |
| August | 72 | 96 | 17° | 24° | 3 | 1 | 17° | 16° |
| September | 72 | 96 | 17° | 25° | 2 | 1 | 17° | 16° |
| October | 80 | 96 | 18° | 26° | 1 | 0 | 18° | 17° |
| November | 96 | 96 | 20° | 27° | 1 | 1 | 19° | 18° |
| December | 96 | 96 | 22° | 29° | 2 | 0 | 20° | 19° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May even · Jun Iquique · Jul Iquique · Aug Iquique · Sep Iquique · Oct Iquique · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Arica averages 96/100, Iquique 96/100. Iquique is the warmer, around 29°C daytime highs vs 22°C.
- March–May: too close to call — Arica averages 96/100, Iquique 96/100. Iquique is the warmer, around 28°C daytime highs vs 21°C.
- June–August: Iquique (average score 96/100 vs 74). Iquique is the warmer, around 24°C daytime highs vs 17°C.
- September–October: Iquique (average score 96/100 vs 76). Iquique is the warmer, around 26°C daytime highs vs 18°C.
Sea temperature
Arica's sea gets warmer: 22°C / 72°F at its peak vs 21°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Arica about 3 months a year, Iquique about 1 month a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Arica weather by month · Iquique weather by month · Best time to visit Chile.
More comparisons: Arica vs Arequipa · Arica vs Tacna · Iquique vs Antofagasta · Iquique vs Tacna · Iquique vs Calama · all head-to-heads