Best destinations to visit in February in South America
Best destinations to visit in February in South America
South America builds toward one of its biggest events of the year in February, as Carnival season reaches its peak in several countries.
Rio de Janeiro's Carnival draws huge crowds each year, with parades, music and street parties that take over the city for days at a time. Beach cities elsewhere on the continent stay busy too, since February still falls within the region's peak summer season. Andean regions remain in their wet season, so trail conditions and visibility can vary more than during drier months. Southern parts of the continent continue to enjoy long, warm days, good for road trips, coastal drives and time spent outdoors well into the evening. Many travelers plan trips around Carnival specifically, timing their visit to catch the celebrations firsthand.
The destinations on our list for South America reflect that same mix of Carnival energy and peak summer travel.
Lists by region
Country
Chile
Land of dramatic climate contrasts
The Rapa Nui people carved nearly 900 moai statues on Easter Island between about 1250 and 1500. Their Tapati festival fills the island in the first two weeks of February with canoe races, dances and body painting. Torres del Paine in Patagonia has long summer days for hiking. The Atacama has clear skies for stargazing.
City in Brazil
Salvador
Afro-Brazilian Soul on the Sea
On 2 February locals gather at Rio Vermelho and offer flowers and gifts to Iemanjá, goddess of the sea. Fishermen carry the offerings out to sea in boats. The day ends with drumming and street food. Carnival, with giant sound trucks called trio elétricos, follows in February or March.
City in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
Carnival fills the city in February or early March with samba school parades at the Sambadrome. Street parties called blocos spill into neighbourhoods for weeks. Highs near 90 degrees Fahrenheit keep Ipanema and Copacabana beaches full. Christ the Redeemer stands 98 feet tall on Corcovado mountain.
City in Colombia
Cartagena
Walled city of Caribbean color
Stone walls surround the Old City, which UNESCO listed in 1984. The dry season brings little rain and highs near 90 degrees Fahrenheit in February. Colourful balconies line the lanes of Getsemaní. Castillo San Felipe de Barajas is a hilltop fort with tunnels to explore.
Region
Patagonia
Untamed Beauty at the End of the World
This region runs south through windswept steppe to Tierra del Fuego. February is summer with long days for hiking near El Chaltén and Mount Fitz Roy. Perito Moreno Glacier near El Calafate is about 5 kilometres wide. Boat trips pass its ice wall, which rises about 70 metres above the lake.
City in Argentina
Mendoza
Wine, Andes and Adventure Bliss
The sweet smell of crushed grapes drifts from Malbec wineries as the harvest begins. Picking starts in February or March. The national harvest festival, the Vendimia, follows in early March with parades and a crowned queen. Aconcagua rises to the west at 6,961 metres, the highest peak in the Americas.
City in Argentina
San Carlos de Bariloche
Argentina’s Alpine Wonderland
February days are about 15 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than in Buenos Aires, with highs near 70. Lake Nahuel Huapi has beaches, kayaking and boat rides to Isla Victoria. The Circuito Chico loop road passes lakeside viewpoints. Chocolate shops on Mitre Street make the city a sweet stop.
City in Argentina
San Martin de los Andes
Patagonian Paradise by Lake Lácar
The Seven Lakes Road starts here and runs about 110 kilometres to Villa La Angostura. Lake Lácar has small beaches and boat rides in summer. Lanín Volcano rises to 3,776 metres in the national park nearby. Warm days and cool nights suit hiking in February.
Town in Chile
Pucon
Volcano Views and Adventure Bliss
Lake Villarrica spreads at the foot of a snowcapped volcano that rises 2,847 metres. Summer brings warm beaches and rafting on the Trancura River in February. Guided hikes climb to the crater rim on clear days. Hot springs in the nearby forest soothe tired legs afterwards.
National Park in Colombia
Tayrona National Park
Where Jungle Meets Turquoise Caribbean
Howler monkeys call from the forest while waves roll onto pale beaches at Cabo San Juan. February is dry, but the park has closed for part of the month in recent years. The closures rest the ecosystem and let indigenous communities hold ceremonies. Check the dates before you plan.
City in Colombia
Santa Marta
Coastal jewel where Caribbean meets mountains
Rodrigo de Bastidas founded the city in 1525. Simón Bolívar died in 1830 at an estate nearby called Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino. Dry sunny days near 90 degrees Fahrenheit are common in February. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta rises behind the coast to more than 5,700 metres.
Other lists you may like
Discover
Best winter sports destinations in Europe
Europe is the heartland of alpine skiing culture, with a resort infrastructure and mountain tradition that has been developing for well over a century. The best destinations…
Read more
Discover
Best street art destinations in Africa
Africa's street art scenes have emerged rapidly, with several cities developing mural cultures of genuine international standing that sit at the intersection of local artistic…
Read more
Discover
Best slow travel destinations in North America
Rural New England and a culinary region in Mexico offer two very different versions of slow travel, one built around small-town routine, the other around centuries-old culinary and…
Read more
Discover
Best cherry blossom destinations in Africa
Cherry blossoms are a rarity across Africa, limited to a small handful of regions in South Africa, Algeria and Morocco rather than any continent wide tradition. Jacaranda trees are…
Read more
Discover
Most beautiful beaches and coastal escapes
For a lot of people, a beach is the whole point of a holiday, but what makes a beach day perfect really depends on personal taste. Some travellers want isolation and the feeling…
Read more
Discover
Best winter sports destinations in North America
North America has some of the most varied and celebrated winter sports terrain on earth, with resort cultures on both the east and west coasts that have developed distinct…
Read more
Discover
Best slow travel destinations in Oceania
New Zealand's southern regions and the wider Pacific Islands both reward a slower pace, shaped as much by geography and limited transport links as by deliberate choice, with…
Read more
Discover
Best cherry blossom destinations in South America
Cherry blossoms are not native to South America, but Japanese immigrant communities have successfully planted Yoshino and other cherry varieties throughout the continent since the…
Read more
What other users say about travelfilters
“travelfilters made it easy for me to find ski areas and compare what else they offer, so that I could find the best place for my personal travel style.”
Chris
Snowboarding & Onsen trip to Japan
“I love how transparent the data feels. There is no pushy upsell, just honest information and settings I can tune to my own travel style.”
Maria
After booking her 2027 winter escape
“The level of detail for each destination and how well those are displayed, make planning feel confident instead of overwhelming.”
Mina
Planned a week in New York City
“We used travelfilters for our planning from start to end. The trip turned out even better than expected, thanks to all their tools and customisation options.”
Allan & Etienne
Trip to Japan to see autumn foliage
“Thanks to travelfilters, I found some hidden gems to see. Being able to filter for exactly your interests is a game changer for my travel planning.”
Michael
Tour through the old cities of Northern Italy
“The customizable filters helped me find a quiet beach town with good wifi and low season crowds in under five minutes.”
Diego
Weekend Escape to Llanes, Spain
“The airport connection map saved me hours by showing good flight options from my home airport to lesser-known cities.”
Nguyen
Planning a 2027 trip to France
“The website is clean, fast and focused on the search itself, which makes travelfilters feel more like a professional tool than an ad-heavy booking site.”
Hassan
Christmas Market trip, Germany
