South America moves further into autumn in April, with cooler weather settling in across much of the continent.
The Amazon remains deep in its wet season, with rivers running high, which actually makes some areas easier to explore by boat than during drier months. Andean regions begin their dry season around this time, improving trail conditions for hikers heading toward Peru's classic mountain routes. Patagonia's short travel season starts winding down in April, with many services scaling back ahead of the region's cold winter months. Beach cities further north stay pleasant, with fewer crowds than the busy summer stretch just before. Wine regions across parts of the continent also wrap up their harvest around this same time of year, drawing visitors to the countryside.
The destinations on our list for South America reflect that same shift, from improving mountain trails to a quieter, cooler south.
