South America destination guide FAQ
Your South America questions, answered.
The same ground the South America destination guide covers — travel tips, the best months, local culture and where to go — set out as the questions people actually ask us before they book.
Planning a trip to South America
- Choose the landscape, then the month — what does that mean for a trip to South America?
- 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 — what does that mean for a trip to South America?
- Cusco sits at 3,400m and La Paz higher still. Arrive, do nothing for the first day, drink far more water than feels necessary, and go easy on alcohol. Where an itinerary allows, gain altitude gradually rather than flying straight to the highest point.
- Internal flights save days — what does that mean for a trip to South America?
- 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 — what does that mean for a trip to South America?
- 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 — what does that mean for a trip to South America?
- 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 time to visit South America
- When is the best time to visit South America?
- December to February: High summer in the south: the Patagonian season at full stretch, Rio at carnival, and the busiest, most expensive weeks across Argentina, Chile and Brazil. Book flights and lodges many months ahead. The Amazon is in its wetter, higher-water season. March to May: Autumn in the south and one of the best windows: Patagonia quieter with autumn colour before the season closes, Buenos Aires and Santiago at their most comfortable, and the Peruvian highlands drying out from April ahead of the Inca Trail season. June to August: Dry season in Peru and Bolivia, the clearest months for Machu Picchu and the salt flats, though nights at altitude are cold. Winter in the far south closes much of Patagonia, while the Atacama and the Galápagos are pleasant and Ski season runs in the Chilean and Argentine Andes. September to November: Spring in the south and a strong shoulder: Patagonia reopens from November with long days and fewer people, the Peruvian dry season runs through September, and Brazil warms up before the December peak. Rates sit well below the summer weeks. Rates on every house move with these seasons, and the live partner panels on each listing show what a given week actually costs.
- What is South America like in December to February?
- High summer in the south: the Patagonian season at full stretch, Rio at carnival, and the busiest, most expensive weeks across Argentina, Chile and Brazil. Book flights and lodges many months ahead. The Amazon is in its wetter, higher-water season.
- What is South America like in March to May?
- Autumn in the south and one of the best windows: Patagonia quieter with autumn colour before the season closes, Buenos Aires and Santiago at their most comfortable, and the Peruvian highlands drying out from April ahead of the Inca Trail season.
- What is South America like in June to August?
- Dry season in Peru and Bolivia, the clearest months for Machu Picchu and the salt flats, though nights at altitude are cold. Winter in the far south closes much of Patagonia, while the Atacama and the Galápagos are pleasant and Ski season runs in the Chilean and Argentine Andes.
- What is South America like in September to November?
- Spring in the south and a strong shoulder: Patagonia reopens from November with long days and fewer people, the Peruvian dry season runs through September, and Brazil warms up before the December peak. Rates sit well below the summer weeks.
Local culture and etiquette in South America
- Greetings are warm and physical — what is expected of visitors?
- 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 — what is expected of visitors?
- 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 — what is expected of visitors?
- 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 — what is expected of visitors?
- Around ten per cent in restaurants across most of the continent, in cash where possible. Guides, drivers and porters on trekking routes are tipped at the end, and outfitters publish guidance worth following.
Where to go in South America
- Which places in South America should I build a trip around?
- Patagonia — Torres del Paine and the Fitz Roy massif; the season runs November to March and the wind never really stops. The Atacama Desert — The driest desert on earth, with some of the clearest night skies anywhere — good year-round, best April to June. Cusco and the Sacred Valley — Machu Picchu and the high Andes; May to September is the dry season, and permits for the Inca Trail sell out months ahead. Rio de Janeiro and the Costa Verde — Beaches, Paraty and the islands south of the city; December to March is hot and busy, and May to September is drier and calmer. Mendoza and the Argentine wine country — Malbec at the foot of the Andes, with harvest through March and April. The Galápagos — Wildlife year-round, with warmer seas from December to May and better diving conditions from June to November.
- How do I book a house in South America?
- We do not currently hold houses in South America, so this guide is editorial rather than a listing page. Everything we do list sits in the Collection, and the trip planner can help shape a route if you are weighing South America against somewhere we cover.