San Rafael has a dry, semi-desert climate with hot summers (December–March) and cool, sunny winters (June–September). The summer is the wine-tasting season — temperatures often hit the mid-30s but evenings cool quickly. The Atuel Canyon is at its rafting best from October to March, when snowmelt makes the river run high.
If skiing at Las Leñas is the goal, July and August are reliable; September can be excellent (more sunshine, less crowds) but conditions are weather-dependent. April and May are the harvest months in the bodegas, and a quiet, atmospheric time to visit the wineries.