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
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 South America Holidays
Peru tailormade holiday
Lima, Colca, Titicaca & Machu Picchu in a customisable tour.
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£1765
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Galapagos adventure holiday
An active Galapagos Islands adventure holiday
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£3679
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Galapagos cruise options, tailor made
The greatest wildlife experiences tailor made
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£3250
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Atacama and Patagonia hiking holiday
Explore Chile on foot Atacama Patagonia Walking Holiday
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£4595
14 days
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Ecuador ecolodge, Napo Wildlife Center
A luxurious eco-lodge in wildlife rich Ecuadorean Amazon
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£1173
4 days
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Peru tour, off the beaten track
An cultural small group tour to the Northern region of Peru.
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£2695
14 days
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Hiking the Inca trail holiday
An unrivalled combination of history and spectacular scenery
From
£1969
11 days
inc UK flights
Ecuador adventure holiday, tailor made
From volcano-top to Amazon basin and everything in between!
From
£1395
9 days
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South America tour, coast to coast
Epic discovery journey across South America
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£3098
19 days
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Small group adventure holiday to Patagonia
Explore the spectacular wilderness and mountains of Patagonia
From
£3598
21 days
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Peru and Galapagos holiday
An inspirational tour combining Peru, Ecuador & the Galapagos
From
£5195
15 days
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Patagonian adventure holiday
Explore the highlights of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia
From
£2559
15 days
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Southern Peru small group tour
Journey through south Peru, the heartland of the Inca Empire
From
£3198
14 days
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Ecuador holiday, small group tour
Ecuador small group adventure holiday
From
£2155
16 days
inc UK flights
Inca Trail walking tour, Peru
Customisable holiday including comfort service Inca Trail
From
£1285
8 days
ex flights
Galapagos & Amazon wildlife holiday, Ecuador
The ultimate wildlife trip to the Amazon and Galapagos
From
US $6190
16 days
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Patagonia luxury adventure holiday
Luxury hotels and adventure in Patagonia
From
£3757
11 days
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Galapagos holiday cruise options
Excellent selection of small and midsize Galapagos cruises
From
£2835
8 days
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Brazil wildlife holiday, tailor made
From the world’s largest jungle to the world’s largest swamp
From
£4500
14 days
inc UK flights
Chile adventure holiday
Chile's best: the Atacama Desert, Lake District and Patagonia
From
£4099
15 days
inc UK flights
Patagonia small group holiday
Explore Patagonia's National Parks by foot and small-ship.
From
US $4850
11 days
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South America overland tour
A cross-continental South America adventure
From
£3440
45 days
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Peru highlights tour, Inca trail, Titicaca and Nazca
Taste Peru's diverse landscapes and fascinating culture
From
£2859
17 days
inc UK flights
Tour of Patagonia, El Calafate & Torres del Paine
Patagonia's best - Torres del Paine and Perito Moreno Glacier.
From
US $790
5 days
ex flights
Tailor made holiday in Brazil
Emerald Coast, the Pantanal & Iguacu Falls
From
£3500
15 days
inc UK flights
South America overland expedition
South America as few others will experience it
From
£2845
12 weeks
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Galapagos cruises
Cruise the Galapagos Islands on sailing boats and yachts
From
£1995
8 days
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Tailor made holiday in Argentina, best of Argentina
Enjoy Mendoza's wineries, Iguazu Falls and Patagonia glaciers
From
US $2950
15 days
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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.
01273 823700 (UK)
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!”
Our best selling 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
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."
More about South America
Our South America travel guide takes you trekking, bushwhacking, rafting, climbing and salsa-ing your way across this thrilling continent, from the depths of the Amazon up to the high peaks of the Andes, the icy reaches of Patagonia to the astonishing ruins of Machu Picchu.
This beguiling continent is made up of 12 countries, each with their own unique quirks, culture, landscapes and history.
There is such a range of things to do in South America that planning a holiday there can be a daunting task.
It's not just the most fearless of families that will enjoy travelling in South America with kids.
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 - our destination specialists from our partner holiday companies share their top South America travel tips to help you plan your holiday of a lifetime.
The continent has done well for itself in terms of responsible tourism in South America - there are vast wildlife reserves, endless opportunities for cultural interaction, superb mountain and naturalist guides and a celebration of traditions from food to dance.
Find all of our South America guides in one place, for particular places in South America such as Bolivia, the Galapagos or Peru.
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.
