The dry season runs roughly April to November and is the best time for clear skies and reliable road access to Hornocal. Winter nights (June–August) drop below freezing at 3,000 metres but days are sunny and crisp.
The summer rainy season (December–March) can wash out the dirt roads to surrounding sites; landslides occasionally close Route 9. The big festival of the Virgin of Candelaria falls on 2 February, and Carnival in February is celebrated intensely throughout the Quebrada with cuarteadas, water fights, and brass bands.