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South America destination guide

The South America destination guide.

South America spans desert, rainforest, high Andes and sub-Antarctic ice, and its seasons run opposite to the northern hemisphere. The practical consequence is that the continent has no single best month — only a best month for the particular trip you want. We do not currently hold villas in South America, so treat this as an editorial guide: how to plan the trip, when to go, and what the ground actually asks of you.

Travel tips

Choose the landscape, then the month

Patagonia, the Amazon, the Atacama and the Brazilian coast peak at different times, and two of them are usually wrong whenever you travel. Pick the one you came for and build the rest of the trip around its window.

Respect the altitude

Check current official travel-health guidance and consult a qualified clinician about an itinerary involving altitude. This guide does not give individual acclimatisation or fluid-intake instructions. Where an itinerary allows, gain altitude gradually rather than flying straight to the highest point.

Internal flights save days

The distances are continental — Santiago to Patagonia is a long flight, not a drive. Budget for domestic legs, book them early in January and February when Argentines and Chileans are on holiday, and leave a buffer before any international connection.

Patagonia has a short window

November to March is the season, and even then the wind is a constant and the weather changes hourly. Layers, a proper waterproof shell and flexible plans matter more than any packing list detail.

Carry cash, and watch your surroundings in cities

Cards work in hotels and better restaurants, but cash is still king in markets and small towns, and some countries have volatile exchange rates worth understanding before you arrive. In the large cities, ordinary urban caution — discreet phones, booked cars at night — goes a long way.

The best months to go

December to February
Ask Patagonia, Rio, Argentina, Chile and Brazil properties directly about current availability for this window, and enquire with Amazon lodges about current water levels.
March to May
Ask Patagonia properties directly about current conditions and closing dates for the season, and check current Peruvian highland forecasts before booking Inca Trail dates.
June to August
Check current forecasts for Peru and Bolivia before booking Machu Picchu or salt-flat dates, and ask Patagonia properties directly about current closures. Check current snow reports for the Chilean and Argentine Andes.
September to November
Ask Patagonia properties directly about current reopening dates and rates, and check current Peruvian forecasts before booking this window.

Local culture and etiquette

Greetings are warm and physical

A single cheek kiss between acquaintances is standard in much of the continent, two in parts of Brazil and Argentina. Handshakes are firm and eye contact matters. Stepping back from it reads as cold rather than polite.

Meals run late

Dinner at nine is early in Buenos Aires and Santiago, and many kitchens do not open before eight. Lunch is the substantial meal in much of the Andes. Plan the day around that rather than fighting it.

A little Spanish or Portuguese goes far

English is not widely spoken outside hotels and tourist areas. A dozen phrases, used badly, are received generously. Brazil speaks Portuguese, not Spanish, and the distinction is felt.

Tipping is modest and expected

Check service charges on each bill and ask your local operator for its tipping guidance. Customs and inclusions vary by country and establishment.

Must-visit places

  • Patagonia

    Torres del Paine and the Fitz Roy massif; ask the property directly for its current view on season dates and expect wind year-round.

  • The Atacama Desert

    A desert itinerary in northern Chile; ask your accommodation about current conditions and transfer arrangements.

  • Cusco and the Sacred Valley

    Machu Picchu and the high Andes; check the current Inca Trail permit system directly and book as early as the official process allows.

  • Rio de Janeiro and the Costa Verde

    Beaches, Paraty and the islands south of the city; check current forecasts before booking a specific window.

  • Mendoza and the Argentine wine country

    Malbec at the foot of the Andes; ask the vineyard directly for its current harvest timing before booking.

  • The Galápagos

    Wildlife year-round; ask the operator directly for its current view on sea temperature and diving conditions.

Where to stay in South America

We hold no houses of our own here yet, so each destination page opens live prices from our booking partners for real hotels, lodges and rentals — with our planning notes, months and questions alongside.

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