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Best destinations to visit in January in South America

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San Carlos de Bariloche
Argentina’s Alpine Wonderland
7.4
Summer days in January are warm at about 22 degrees Celsius and daylight lasts late. This Patagonian lake town sits on the shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi. Hikers climb to mountain huts above the tree line. The Circuito Chico loop passes lakes and viewpoints. Chocolate shops fill the main street.
Highlights:
  • 🏘️ Explore the Bavarian-style Centro Cívico and museums
  • 🥾 Hike the scenic trails of Nahuel Huapi National Park
  • 🚡 Take a cable car to Cerro Otto for panoramic views
Cartagena
Walled city of Caribbean color
7.2
Colourful, walled and romantic, this Caribbean port city has streets full of balconies and flowers. January is dry season with breezy days near 30 degrees Celsius. Murals cover the lanes of Getsemani. Boats leave for the Rosario Islands. The old city walls are good for a stroll at sunset.
Highlights:
  • 🍉 Photograph the vibrant Palenqueras fruit vendors
  • 🛡️ Explore Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas fortress
  • 🏰 Walk the historic Walled City and soak in colors
Galapagos Islands
The Wildlife Paradise of Ecuador
8.5
Visitors to these islands follow strict park rules. Each group walks with a certified guide and stays two metres from animals. January is the warm season with calm seas and sea temperatures near 25 degrees Celsius. Marine iguanas, sea lions and giant tortoises live beside the trails.
Highlights:
  • 🦩 Walk among blue-footed boobies on North Seymour Island
  • 🐢 Spot giant tortoises roaming freely in the highlands
  • 🐢 Snorkel with sea lions and turtles at Isla Lobos
Florianopolis
Beaches, lagoons and island adventure
6.8
January is peak summer on this island city in southern Brazil, with days near 29 degrees Celsius. The island has more than 40 beaches. Sand boarders slide down the dunes at Joaquina. Fresh oysters are served in the Azorean style fishing village of Ribeirao da Ilha.
Highlights:
  • 🦐 Eat fresh seafood at sunset in Santo Antônio de Lisboa
  • 🌅 Walk the wooden trails above the Lagoa da Conceição dunes
  • 🏄‍♀️ Swim and surf at Praia Mole’s scenic coastline
Salta
Colonial Charm and Andean Landscapes
7.1
With more than half a million people, this is the main city of northwest Argentina. Its pink cathedral and colonial plazas fill the centre. Folk music clubs called penas serve empanadas and wine. January is warm with afternoon storms. Day trips go to the red rock canyons near Cafayate.
Highlights:
  • 🚠 Climb San Bernardo Hill via cable car for stunning views
  • 🚂 Ride the Train to the Clouds, one of the world’s highest railroads
  • 🦴 Visit the Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña for mummies
Arequipa
White city with volcanic views
6.3
In southern Peru at 2,335 metres, this city is ringed by volcanoes such as El Misti at 5,822 metres. Its old centre is built from white volcanic stone. The Santa Catalina Monastery dates to 1579. In January afternoon showers are common but mornings are usually clear. Colca Canyon is a day trip away.
Highlights:
  • 🌋 Climb Yanahuara viewpoint for panoramic city and volcano views
  • 🌆 Admire colonial architecture at Arequipa’s Plaza de Armas
  • 🏰 Explore the historic Monasterio de Santa Catalina complex
Punta del Este
Glamour, Beaches and Endless Sunsets
7.4
A small port at the tip of a peninsula began to grow into a resort here in the early 1900s. Calm bay beaches face one side and big ocean waves the other. January is the busiest month with beach parties and warm days near 27 degrees Celsius. Casapueblo is known for sunset views.
Highlights:
  • 🦭 Explore Punta del Este Marina and watch sea lions
  • 🏖️ Relax on calm waters at Playa Mansa beach
  • 🖐️ Take photos at iconic Los Dedos sculpture on Playa Brava
Paraty
Colonial Charm and Tropical Beauty
6.9
Smaller and calmer than Rio de Janeiro, this colonial Brazilian town has cobbled streets closed to cars. The old centre became a World Heritage Site in 2019. In January the days are humid and about 30 degrees Celsius. Schooners sail to green islands with good snorkelling. Local distilleries make cachaca.
Highlights:
  • 💦 Hike to Cachoeira Toboga natural waterslide waterfall
  • 🚤 Cruise the serene Saco do Mamanguá fjord
  • 🏘️ Explore Paraty’s charming colonial historic center
San Martin de los Andes
Patagonian Paradise by Lake Lácar
7.1
Smoked trout and wild boar are local favourites in this small Patagonian town on Lake Lacar. Mapuche people have lived in the area for centuries. The Lanin volcano rises to 3,776 metres in a nearby national park. The road of the Seven Lakes runs 110 kilometres to Villa la Angostura.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax and swim at Playa Quila Quina beach
  • ⛷️ Ski or snowboard at Cerro Chapelco Resort
  • 🛣️ Drive the scenic Route of the Seven Lakes
Villa la Angostura
Patagonia's Hidden Gem
7.5
This lakeside village in the Argentine Andes grew around a small port on Lake Nahuel Huapi in the early 1900s. A wooden walkway leads into the Los Arrayanes forest of cinnamon coloured trees. January days are warm and good for lake boating. A chairlift climbs Cerro Bayo for views.
Highlights:
  • 🏞️ Relax along the tranquil shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi
  • ⛷️ Admire panoramic views from the Cerro Bayo ski resort
  • 🌲 Hike the enchanting trails of Los Arrayanes National Park
Pucon
Volcano Views and Adventure Bliss
7.6
In the Chilean lake district beside Lake Villarrica, this adventure town sits below an active volcano of 2,847 metres. January days are warm at about 24 degrees Celsius. Guides lead climbs to the crater. Rafting trips run on the Trancura River. Hot springs are close to town.
Highlights:
  • 🚣‍♂️ Kayak on Lake Villarrica to private, serene beaches
  • ♨️ Soak in the soothing waters of Termas Geometricas hot springs
  • 🌋 Climb the active Villarrica Volcano and enjoy crater views
Purmamarca
Rainbow Hills and Andean Traditions
7.0
Tiny, dusty and colourful, this village in northern Argentina sits below the Hill of Seven Colors. Adobe houses surround a plaza where artisans sell wool and weavings. The Quebrada de Humahuaca valley is a World Heritage Site. Afternoon storms are common in January. The Salinas Grandes salt flat is a short drive away.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Explore the quaint Plaza 9 de Julio
  • 🥾 Walk the scenic Paseo de los Colorados trail
  • 🌈 Hike the colorful Hill of Seven Colors
Patagonia
Untamed Beauty at the End of the World
8.3
Vast, windy and thinly settled, this southern region of Argentina has glaciers, steppe and sea cliffs. In January the days are long, which suits trekking near El Chalten. Magellanic penguin chicks fill the nesting colony at Punta Tombo. Boats cross the Beagle Channel from Ushuaia to see sea lions.
Highlights:
  • 🐧 Explore the diverse wildlife on Peninsula Valdés
  • ❄️ Witness the massive Perito Moreno Glacier up close
  • 🥾 Hike the legendary trails of Torres del Paine National Park
Villa de Leyva
Timeless Cobblestones and Andean Skies
7.5
High in the Andes of central Colombia at 2,149 metres, this colonial town has whitewashed houses and red tile roofs. Its Plaza Mayor is one of the largest cobbled squares in the country. January is dry with sunny days and cool nights. A nearby museum shows a 120 million year old marine fossil.
Highlights:
  • 🏇 Ride horseback or ATV to the vibrant Pozos Azules
  • 🦕 Explore the Fossil Museum and see the giant Kronosaurus
  • 🌆 People-watch and relax in the huge Plaza Mayor
Tayrona National Park
Where Jungle Meets Turquoise Caribbean
7.5
Compared with Caribbean resort beaches, these coves are reached on foot through rainforest. Hikers walk about 90 minutes to Cabo San Juan. January is part of the dry season so trails are firmer. The park usually closes for part of February so Indigenous communities can hold rituals. Howler monkeys call from the trees.
Highlights:
  • 🦜 Spot howler monkeys and exotic birds along forest paths
  • 🌴 Swim in crystal-clear Caribbean waters surrounded by palm trees
  • 🏝️ Hike through jungle trails to the stunning Cabo San Juan beach
Fernando de Noronha
World's Best Beaches and Dolphins
8.5
Only about 3,000 people live on this Brazilian island group, which is a protected marine park. It sits about 350 kilometres off the northeast coast. January is dry with warm clear water for snorkelling. Spinner dolphins gather in the bay each morning. Sea turtles nest on the beaches.
Highlights:
  • 🛥️ Take a boat tour to spot dolphins and sea turtles
  • ⛰️ Hike to the Morro Dois Irmãos viewpoint for stunning vistas
  • 🤿 Snorkel vibrant reefs at Baía do Sancho, world’s top beach
Bahia
Vibrant coastlines and Afro‑Brazilian rhythms
7.3
Portuguese settlers founded Salvador in 1549 and enslaved Africans shaped the music and food of this Brazilian state. The old centre of Pelourinho is a World Heritage Site. January is summer with sea temperatures near 27 degrees Celsius. Street cooks sell acaraje, a fried bean cake. Beaches near Itacare have surf.
Highlights:
  • 🍲 Taste acarajé and moqueca at local stalls
  • 🎭 Attend a vibrant Afro-Brazilian carnival parade
  • 🏛️ Explore Salvador's historic Pelourinho district
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