Best destinations to visit in December in South America
Best destinations to visit in December in South America
December kicks off peak summer season across South America, with warm weather and holiday travel both building at once.
Beach cities see a sharp rise in visitors as the month goes on, with both local and international travelers filling coastal towns for the holidays. Patagonia's best travel window gets underway too, with more reliable weather and longer days than the shoulder months on either side. Andean and Amazon regions stay in their wet season, with regular rain shaping the rhythm of daily travel in both areas. Christmas and New Year celebrations also drive a lot of domestic travel, as families gather in cities and coastal towns across the continent. Booking ahead matters here too, since demand climbs quickly around the holidays and into the new year.
The destinations on our list for South America reflect that same peak season energy found across much of the continent.
Lists by region
Waterfall
Iguazu Falls
Breathtaking waterfalls spanning two countries
People who visit Iguazu Falls often see them from both countries. The Argentine side has catwalks that go right over the water while the Brazilian side has wide views of all 275 falls. December is warm and humid with brief downpours, so the rivers are full and the forest is loud with birds.
City in Chile
Santiago
A vibrant city between mountains
Unlike most capital cities, Santiago has snowy Andes peaks right behind it, even in summer. December has dry sunny weather and long evenings, so people eat outdoors in Bellavista, ride the funicular up Cerro San Cristobal and take day trips to the Maipo Valley wineries.
City in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
In December a giant floating Christmas tree lights up the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas while Ipanema and Copacabana are busy with beachgoers at the start of summer. On New Year's Eve more than a million people dress in white on Copacabana to watch fireworks over the sea.
City in Colombia
Cartagena
Walled city of Caribbean color
The Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, a stone fortress built in the 1600s and expanded in the 1700s, has tunnels and cannons that guarded Cartagena from pirates. December is the start of the dry season with sunny days and sea breezes, so walkers circle the old city walls at sunset.
Region
Patagonia
Untamed Beauty at the End of the World
December is early summer in Patagonia, when days are long, wildflowers bloom along the roads and the trails of the Andes are open. At Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina, hikers walk on the ice and boats pass the blue ice wall, which is 240 feet high, while chunks break off with a loud crack.
City in Brazil
Florianopolis
Beaches, lagoons and island adventure
On an island off the southern coast of Brazil, Florianopolis has about 40 beaches, from lively Jurere to wild Joaquina, where sandboarders slide down tall dunes. December is the start of summer with long sunny days, so surfers, families and visitors from Argentina fill the sand.
City in Colombia
Medellín
The City of Eternal Spring
Unlike most cities in the tropics, Medellin has a mild spring like climate all year because it sits in a valley at about 4,900 feet. The Alumbrados, a Christmas light show along the Medellin River, lasts from November to January with millions of colourful lights in the parks and streets.
Desert in Chile
Atacama Desert
Endless dunes under starlit desert skies
Compared with the green forests of southern Chile, the Atacama Desert is so dry that some places go years without rain. December is early summer with long sunny days and clear nights for stargazing, so visitors watch the sunset over the Valle de la Luna and the Andes.
City in Argentina
Mendoza
Wine, Andes and Adventure Bliss
The vineyards of the Uco Valley south of Mendoza sit below the snowy Andes and have tasting rooms among green vines. December is early summer with sunny days while the climbing season is open on Aconcagua, 22,837 feet high and the tallest mountain in the Americas, about 110 miles to the west.
City in Argentina
San Carlos de Bariloche
Argentina’s Alpine Wonderland
Families in Bariloche walk along Mitre Street, a main street lined with chocolate shops, to drink thick hot chocolate with churros, a habit that dates from the Swiss and German settlers of the early 1900s. December is early summer, so hikers climb Cerro Campanario for views over Nahuel Huapi Lake.
City in Uruguay
Punta del Este
Glamour, Beaches and Endless Sunsets
The barking of sea lions carries across the water from Isla de Lobos, a rocky island off the coast with a large colony. December is the start of the summer season, so Playa Brava and Playa Mansa are busy. La Mano, a giant sculpture of fingers rising from the sand, is a favourite photo stop.
City in Ecuador
Quito
Andean Charm Meets Colonial Splendor
High in an Andean valley at about 9,350 feet, Quito has an old town that is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with baroque churches and gold covered altars. In early December the Fiestas de Quito have street parades, music and open sided party buses called chivas.
Town in Argentina
Ushuaia
End of the World Adventures
At the southern tip of South America on the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia has snowy mountains behind the harbour and boats that sail to sea lion islands and a red and white lighthouse. December is early summer with long daylight while ships leave from here for Antarctica between November and March.
Town in Chile
Pucon
Volcano Views and Adventure Bliss
Pucon began as a small fort in 1883 on the shore of Lake Villarrica while today it is a base for climbing Villarrica, an active volcano 9,340 feet high with a smoking crater. December is early summer with long days, so lake beaches, hot springs and forest trails are all open.
National Park in Colombia
Tayrona National Park
Where Jungle Meets Turquoise Caribbean
Cabo San Juan, a beach with a hammock hut on a rocky point, is reached by a forest trail of about two hours in Tayrona National Park. December is the start of the dry season so the trail is firm, though swimming is safe only on a few calm beaches because of strong currents.
National Park in Chile
Torres del Paine National Park
Epic Landscapes and Untamed Wilderness
The roar of strong wind and the crack of ice from Grey Glacier are part of a hike in Torres del Paine, where three granite towers rise above turquoise lakes. December is early summer with long days, so hikers on the W trek may see guanacos, relatives of the llama, grazing beside the trail.
Island in Ecuador
Galapagos Islands
The Wildlife Paradise of Ecuador
December is the start of the warm season in the Galapagos, with calm seas, sunny mornings and an occasional shower, so snorkellers swim with sea lions and green sea turtles in clear water. Giant tortoise eggs begin to hatch on Santa Cruz island while the dry lowlands turn green.
Town in Argentina
El Chalten
Hiking Capital of Argentina
Argentina founded El Chalten in 1985 to claim a border area in the Andes, while today the village is a base for hikers beneath Mount Fitz Roy, a granite peak 11,171 feet high. In December the days are long with light until late evening, so trails to Laguna de los Tres are open.
Island in Brazil
Fernando de Noronha
World's Best Beaches and Dolphins
The splash of spinner dolphins and the sound of surf on white beaches are part of mornings in Fernando de Noronha, where dolphins gather in Dolphin Bay at sunrise. December is in the dry season with clear water for snorkelling, while green sea turtles nest on Leao beach from December to June.
Salt Flat in Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni
World's largest surreal salt mirror
Families in Colchani, a village at the edge of the salt flat, carve small llamas from salt and build houses of salt bricks. In December the rainy season begins and a thin layer of water makes the flat a huge mirror of the sky, though roads can be wet and some tours change.
Archipelago
Tierra del Fuego
Endless winds and rugged volcanic horizons
Ferdinand Magellan named the land Tierra del Fuego, Land of Fire, in 1520 after seeing the smoke and fires of Indigenous people on the shore. December is early summer with about 17 hours of daylight, so hikers visit Tierra del Fuego National Park, where beech forests meet the Beagle Channel.
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