When Is The Best Time To Travel South America?
When is the best time to travel South America you might ask? Well, how long is a piece of string? Deciding when to travel to Latin America really depends on two factors- the weather, and what’s happening. In South America, they don’t need a reason to celebrate, meaning there is always at least one festival happening at any given time. In this blog post, we’ll be letting you know the main festivals that happen throughout the year, as well as the climate so that you can decide when the best time to take your South America trip.
When Is Summer In South America?
Despite being attached to Northern America, if you head down into South America, the seasons do a 180° flip. The summer months are November through February, and winter covers June through September. There is also a rainy season throughout a large part of the region from January to March, so bear this in mind when visiting South America.
What Is The Weather Like In South America?
With such a large region comes a large range in climate. The countries within the Amazon basin, such as Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, and Ecuador have a hot and humid climate year-round, and also have a high amount of rainfall.
While some countries have warm but not sweltering temperatures throughout the year, the equator runs through South America, and as a result, the countries that it touches are cursed with scorching 40°C summers. Brazil and Colombia see these temperatures between the months of December and March, with February being the hottest month. Visiting outside of these months will be a cooler and more enjoyable experience, with temperatures hovering around 20-25°C the rest of the year. The summer months also align perfectly with the wet season, meaning if you visit outside of these times, you'll not only enjoy a warm climate but a dry one as well.
Moving down to the southern part of South America, you'll see a greater range in temperature throughout the year. In fact, during the winter months, temperatures drop to around 18°C in countries such as Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, as well as the southern tip of Brazil, and the Northern part of Argentina. The summer months of December-March see pleasant temperatures of around 27°C, although if you visit at this time, make sure to pack an umbrella as there is more rainfall during the summer months.
Heading further south still to the countries of Chile and Argentina, you’ll find a wide variety in the weather throughout these two countries. From north to south, Chile covers 2,653 miles, yet from east to west it only covers just over 100 miles, which is why there is such a variation in temperature. We've already covered the weather in the northern part of Argentina, but moving down to the central part of both countries, it becomes cooler. Temperatures range between 8-20°C depending on the month, and unlike other South American countries, these parts of Chile and Argentina have four distinct seasons. February and March are the best months to visit for warm weather with little rain.
If it's Patagonia you want to visit, make sure you've packed your coat. Although the summer months can reach up to 22°C, as expected during the winter temperatures drop to around 0°C. The coldest month is July with lows of -2°C, and May sees the highest rainfall.
Annual Events By Month
There are many annual events that happen all over the region. When determining the best time to travel South America, take a look at what's happening before booking your flight. This is not a comprehensive list of every single event happening in the region, as we would LITERALLY be here all day, but instead, it includes the main celebrations to give you some inspiration for your travels.
January
Fiesta de la Santa Tierra
Lake Titicaca, Peru
Meaning 'festival of the sacred land', the Fiesta de la Santa Tierra sees the population of Isla Amantani split in two to represent mother and father earth.
February
Carnaval
Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay
The most famous festival across the whole of South America is, of course, Carnaval. Celebrated differently in each country, most tourists flock to Brazil for four days of non-stop partying.
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Festival of the Virgen de la Candelaria
Bolivia, Peru
In Puno, Peru, you’ll find one of the most colorful religious festivals in all of South America, with music and dancing, as well as an array of costumes and masks. In Bolivia, the celebration also includes parades and dancing in the streets.
Festival de la Cancíon
Vina del Mar, Chile
This 5-day festival of song is both the oldest and largest music festival in South America and started in 1960. It also holds the title of the longest-running music festival in the world.
March
Wine Harvest Festival
Mendoza, Argentina
As if we needed a reason to celebrate wine. The celebrations start in February, but the first week in March is the prime time to visit, with firework displays as well as many dancers and performers.
Ibero-American Film Festival
Bogotá, Colombia
This festival is held every other year in Bogotá and is the world's biggest theatre festival taking up over 100 venues, with 855 productions. The festival also celebrates Bogotá's birthday.
April
Festival Internacional de Teatro
Caracas, Venezuela
This lively 2-week celebration of the arts happens in Caracas in April and hosts many different performances in many languages.
Semanta Santa
Uruguay
The Semanta Santa runs throughout the holy week, which is known as 'tourism week' in Uruguay. The reason behind this is that when Uruguay separated from the Catholic church, the government decided to rename all religious events. There are many celebrations during this time, and the main festival includes arts and crafts, and all types of delicious food.
May
Fiesta de la Cruces
Peru
The 'feast of the crosses' takes place in May and represents the sacrifice of Jesus. Different towns celebrate differently, some with flute and drum music, and some with dancing and the tying of flowers on crosses.
June
Gaucho Parade
Salta, Argentina
Thousands of Gaucho (Latin American cowboys) come together to celebrate and show off their skills, including rodeo and acrobatics, all while dressed in typical Gaucho attire, including red ponchos and leather chaps.
Inti Raymi
Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador
The Inti Raymi is one of the most important dates in the Latin American calendar and is the celebration of both the Inca new year and the Sun King, who is the most worshipped God in the Inca religion. Different countries have slightly different traditions, but expect merriment and dancing in all locations.
July
Fiestas Patrias
Peru
This festival marks Peru’s independence from Spain, which happened in 1821. The main cities hold the biggest celebrations, where you can find cockfighting and bullfighting.
August
Feria de las Flores
Medellín, Colombia
As the largest flower festival in the world, this festival is so beautiful, you wouldn't want to miss it. It includes a horse parade, pageant, and lots of concerts.
Independence Day
Sucre, Bolivia
Independence day is a big deal in Bolivia, and the people celebrate with fireworks and colorful parades. Although the center of this is found in Sucre, there are celebrations all over the country.
September
Virgen del Valle
Isla de Margarita, Venezuela
This festival is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who is the patroness of Eastern Venezuela and patron saint of sailors, and takes place on Margarita Island. Locals create beautiful dresses to adorn the virgin and celebrate with street fairs.
Independence Day/ Armed Forces Day
Chile
A joyous weekend filled with drinking and dancing as well as military parades. Independence day is celebrated all over Chile, but the best place to join in the frivolities is in the Central Valley.
October
El Señor de los Milagros
Lima, Peru
‘The Lord of Miracles’ is a painting of Jesus, created by Benito in the 17th Century, which has inspired an annual procession to take place to commemorate the image. Thousands join, and it’s one of the biggest religious processions in the world.
November
All Souls’ Day and Independence Day
Cuenta, Ecuador
This festival is a double whammy, which remembers and celebrates the dead, as well as the country’s independence. Although this could be a morbid affair, it’s anything but, with dancing, shows, parades, and food festivals.
December
Sancturanticuy Festival
Cusco, Peru
The name of this festival translates to ‘Sale of the Saints’, which is fitting as it is a fair that brings together many artisans to sell their wares, including many statues of Saints. As the fair happens around Christmas time, you’ll find that the nativity is a running theme throughout.
Ferias de Cali
Cali, Colombia
This festival in the notorious party town of Cali is a 2-week affair, comprising of the famous Salsa marathon, horse riding parades, dance parties, bullfights, and more. The festival is the most important cultural event in Cali and has been celebrated since 1957.
New Years’ Eve
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
We can’t mention events in South America without mentioning New Years’ Eve. Whilst this annual event is celebrated all around the world, it’s a spectacle to behold in Rio. More than 1 million people head to Copacabana beach and fill out the 6-mile stretch of sand. The night is filled with performances, concerts, and fireworks.
Final Thoughts
The best time to travel South America really depends on how much heat you can take, and which events you don’t want to miss. Those who prefer a cooler climate would benefit from visiting in the middle of the year, whilst those who are itching to experience Carnaval should visit in February, although, we’re pretty sure everyone can find something to do in this year-round destination.