Best time to visit South America
There's a time for everything on a continent contrasting humid tropics and scorching desert with Andean and Antarctic cool.
Its vast size and altitude contrasts means there is no single best time to visit South America. June, for example, offers cool, dry weather in Galapagos, steamy 30°C in the Amazon – but snow and ice will shut down much of southern Patagonia – which is best visited from Nov-Feb. Steep contour shifts can mean balmy temperatures on Chile's coast but snowy 5,000m chill just 100km away. September/October offers a good balance in many places, with generally comfortable spring temperatures and dry weather. But check specific locations – even within the same country – to help you set nature's thermostat to suit yourself during trips.
When to visit South America
Our South America Holidays
Peru tailormade holiday
Lima, Colca, Titicaca & Machu Picchu in a customisable tour.
From
£1765
14 days
ex flights
Galapagos cruises
Cruise the Galapagos Islands on sailing boats and yachts
From
£1995
8 days
ex flights
South America tour, coast to coast
Epic discovery journey across South America
From
£3233
19 days
ex flights
Southern Peru small group tour
Journey through south Peru, the heartland of the Inca Empire
From
£3131
14 days
ex flights
Tour of Patagonia, El Calafate & Torres del Paine
Patagonia's best - Torres del Paine and Perito Moreno Glacier.
From
US $605 to US $805
5 days
ex flights
Ecuador ecolodge, Napo Wildlife Center
A luxurious eco-lodge in wildlife rich Ecuadorean Amazon
From
£1173
4 days
ex flights
Galapagos & Amazon wildlife holiday, Ecuador
The ultimate wildlife trip to the Amazon and Galapagos
From
US $6190
16 days
ex flights
Peru tour, off the beaten track
An cultural small group tour to the Northern region of Peru.
From
£2885
14 days
ex flights
Brazil wildlife holiday, tailor made
From the world’s largest jungle to the world’s largest swamp
From
£4070
14 days
inc UK flights
Patagonia small group holiday
Explore Patagonia's National Parks by foot and small-ship.
From
US $5174 to US $6954
11 days
ex flights
Chile adventure holiday
Chile's best: the Atacama Desert, Lake District and Patagonia
From
£4249 to £4599
15 days
inc UK flights
Patagonian adventure holiday
Explore the highlights of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia
From
£2559 to £2701
15 days
ex flights
Hiking the Inca trail holiday
An unrivalled combination of history and spectacular scenery
From
£1999 to £2299
11 days
inc UK flights
Galapagos holiday cruise options
Excellent selection of small and midsize Galapagos cruises
From
£2835 to £4150
8 days
ex flights
Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
£2779 to £3169
17 days
inc UK flights
Inca Trail walking tour, Peru
Customisable holiday including comfort service Inca Trail
From
£1285
8 days
ex flights
Peru and Galapagos holiday
An inspirational tour combining Peru, Ecuador & the Galapagos
From
£5195
15 days
ex flights
South America overland expedition
South America as few others will experience it
From
£3825
15 weeks
ex flights
Ecuador adventure holiday, tailor made
From volcano-top to Amazon basin and everything in between!
From
£1395
9 days
ex flights
Tailor made holiday in Brazil
Green Coast, the Pantanal, and Iguaçu Falls
From
£4500
15 days
inc UK flights
Patagonia luxury adventure holiday
Luxury hotels and adventure in Patagonia
From
£3757 to £3987
11 days
ex flights
Ecuador holiday, small group tour
Ecuador small group adventure holiday
From
£2385 to £2495
16 days
inc UK flights
Atacama and Patagonia hiking holiday
Explore Chile on foot Atacama Patagonia Walking Holiday
From
£4595 to £5170
14 days
ex flights
Bolivia and Peru tour
Explore the Amazon Andes and Inca trail
From
£2796 to £3625
25 days
ex flights
Highlights of Peru holiday
Join a cultural exploration of Peru
From
£2299 to £2549
21 days
ex flights
Buenos Aires & Iguazu Falls holiday in Argentina
Adventures in Buenos Aires and the spectacular Iguazu Falls
From
US $746 to US $975
6 days
ex flights
Tailor made holiday in Argentina, best of Argentina
Enjoy Mendoza's wineries, Iguazu Falls and Patagonia glaciers
From
US $2435 to US $3000
15 days
ex flights
Bolivia tour, tailor made
Tour the magnificent landscapes of Bolivia.
From
US $3895 to US $4850
26 days
ex flights
1. Amazon
2. Atacama
3. Ecuador
4. The Galapagos
5. Iguazu Falls
6. The Pantanal
7. Patagonia
2. Atacama
3. Ecuador
4. The Galapagos
5. Iguazu Falls
6. The Pantanal
7. Patagonia
Amazon
1. Amazon
The Amazon is always warm and humid, with temperatures from 20s - high 30s. For trekking, avoid the wet season from January to May when the forest floods and you’ll be travelling by canoe. It’s also very humid with rain falling mainly in the afternoon. More details about the Amazon here
Atacama
2. Atacama
The world's driest desert isn't all about year-round baking heat. Its high altitude on an Andean plateau with peaks rising above 6,000m means cold nights and snow at higher altitudes. September-October can sometimes bring spring rains that spark stunning floral blooms in southern Atacama. More details about Atacama here
Ecuador
3. Ecuador
Straddling the equator, Ecuador's seasons are wet v dry rather than summer and winter – but none extreme enough to disrupt travel. Mid-June to early September are the busiest months, along with late December to early January. The Andes will get chilly, especially at night, while May, June and August are the wettest months in the Tena region of the Amazon. More details about Ecuador here.
The Galapagos
4. The Galapagos
Seasons split into cool and dry (June-November) and warm and wet (December-June). The warmer season is arguably the best time to visit, as rain tends to fall in sharp bursts and leaves clear skies – though these islands are idyllic year-round. More details about the Galapagos here.
Iguazu Falls
5. Iguazu Falls
Dec-Feb sees the heaviest rains (and crowds). But while rain is good for the most impressive cascade volume plus getting-happily-soaked boat jaunts, it may also render San Martin Island and surrounding forest trails inaccessible. The driest months, meanwhile, can significantly reduce the flow of the falls. The best compromise for impressive water levels plus a decent chance of blue skies is Mar-Ap and Aug-Sep. More details about Iguazu Falls here.
The Pantanal
6. The Pantanal
Sep-Oct is a good time to visit this Brazilian wetland paradise – avoiding major holidays, the chilly southern winter and soggy season – when many access roads are closed. Wildlife clusters along the riverbanks in the dry season, and there is less vegetation to obscure your view. More details about the Pantanal here.
Patagonia
7. Patagonia
Temperatures peak in December and January – but so do crowds and prices. Oct/Nov is generally good for clear skies, spring blooms and fewer crowds. September is notoriously windy, while the winter is cold but often dry and calm – ideal to kayak amid icebergs! The summer months see much of the south snowbound and inaccessible. More details about Patagonia here.
Our top South America Holiday
Peru tailormade holiday
Lima, Colca, Titicaca & Machu Picchu in a customisable tour.
From
£1765
14 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about South America or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
Responsible Travel recommends
Guy Marks from our supplier Tribes Travel suggests the best time to see Brazil's wonderful wildlife:
“The Pantanal is seasonally flooded so there are islands of dry land where the wildlife concentrates. There’s only one road down there so in the very wet season it’s hard to access – it's certainly more difficult to see jaguars, you can’t drive anywhere, and you’ve got to travel by canoe. You can do horse rides – canters through deep water are fantastic – but you want to go in the dry season really, from July until October.
If you want to go to the Amazon it doesn’t really make much difference when you go; it’s the rainforest so it rains all year. There is high water and low water, but there are advantages to both. In low water you get more walks through the forest, and at high water (Jan-May) as much as ten metres of water rise through the forest – which means you’re ten metres higher into the canopy when you’re in a boat. So the animals that live in the canopy are not absolutely miles away – you can see them much closer!”
Elena Larkin from our supplier Natural World Safaris is originally from Lima, and she shares her best time to visit Peru's magnificent highlands:
"For me personally, the best time to see the mountains is mid-late April, because it's after the rainy season and everything is green. But it's the end of summer, so it's still a bit warmer. My least favourite time is July and August when they are filled with local families as well as tourists - it's too crowded, and very cold. Also, if you arrive in Lima during April, it's just finishing summer - so it doesn't have the grey skies you can expect to find there for the rest of the year."
Festivals & events
Did you know about...?
Carnival/Carnevale (Feb/Mar)
The Rio Carnival is famous but you may have more fun and feel less touristy joining Brazilian street parties in African-influenced Salvador or boho colonial Paraty, where incredible celebrations avoid Rio's hype (and price hikes). Other countries party too. In Argentina, top Carnevale spots are the colonial northern cities of Corrientes and Gualeguaychu, with parades over several weekends.
More about South America
We take you trekking, bushwhacking, rafting and salsa-ing your way across this thrilling continent, from Amazon depths to Andean peaks...
Our map helps you choose which places to visit in South America, whether you're enjoying an epic overland tour or a relaxing two-week holiday...
Trek in the Andes, spot Andean wildlife, discover Aymara, Quechua, Afro and Latino culture, or cross remote borders on a thrilling overland tour...
Latinos are famously welcoming towards children, and will be delighted to share folklore, street food, language and dance with any curious visitor...
Get tips on the best way to explore Patagonia, the Amazon vs the Pantanal, what to do in the Lake District and where to find the best street food...
Is there really such a thing as an ethical wildlife selfie? The spread of social media has encouraged a worrying trend in pictures of tourists holding, hugging and feeding wild animals, and NGO World Animal Protection has campaigned to stop this.
Across the continent there are issues with the displacement, deforestation and deep set poverty. Our guide helps you make wise - and kind - choices...
Find all of our South America guides in one place, for particular places in South America such as Bolivia, the Galapagos or Peru.
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: McKay Savage] [Top box - chart background: Alexander Martins Rodrigues]
[Atacama: Justin Jensen]
[RT recommends: Danielle Pereira]
[Elena Larkin quote: Glauber Ribeiro]
[Festivals and events: Team at Carnaval.com Studio]
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