Best destinations to visit in March in South America
Best destinations to visit in March in South America
South America settles into autumn in March, with the peak of summer travel and Carnival season both winding down.
Carnival celebrations wrap up in early March in most years, though the exact dates shift depending on the calendar. Beach cities stay warm and pleasant, with fewer crowds than the busy weeks around Carnival itself. Andean regions move out of their wet season around this time, and Peru's classic Inca Trail typically reopens in March after its annual February closure for maintenance. Southern parts of the continent cool down gradually too, good for travelers who prefer milder days over peak summer heat. Vineyards in some of the continent's wine regions also begin their harvest around this same time of year, drawing more visitors to the countryside.
The destinations on our list for South America reflect that same shift from summer's peak into a quieter, cooler autumn.
Lists by region
Country
Colombia
Where diverse landscapes meet culture
Coffee aroma fills the hills around Salento while wax palms tower over Cocora Valley. The wax palm is the national tree of Colombia. On the Caribbean coast the walled old town of Cartagena has warm evenings and music in the plazas. March falls in the drier season there.
City in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
Christ the Redeemer, a 98 foot statue, opened on Corcovado in 1931. The peak rises about 2,300 feet above the city. Sugarloaf Mountain has a cable car that adds sunset views. March is late summer, so the ocean is warm for days on Copacabana and Ipanema beaches.
Region
Patagonia
Untamed Beauty at the End of the World
Late March brings the first touches of autumn colour as beech forests turn red and gold. Trails are quieter than in peak summer. Glaciers such as Perito Moreno still calve loudly into their lake. Cool air carries the smell of wet earth and pine across the steppe.
City in Brazil
Foz do Iguaçu
Where three nations meet waterfalls
Summer rains keep Iguazu Falls heavy through March after peak flow from December to February. The falls stretch 2.7 kilometres with about 275 drops. The Brazilian side has broad panoramas while walkways reach the edge of Devil's Throat. Humid heat calls for light clothes and a rain jacket.
City in Brazil
Florianopolis
Beaches, lagoons and island adventure
Three bridges link this island city to the mainland, including the Hercílio Luz Bridge that opened in 1926. March keeps summer warmth with daily highs near 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Joaquina Beach has surf and dunes for sandboarding. Lagoa da Conceição has restaurants and water sports.
City in Argentina
Mendoza
Wine, Andes and Adventure Bliss
Aconcagua rises 22,837 feet in the Andes west of this city and is the highest peak outside Asia. Malbec grapes ripen in March. The Vendimia harvest festival fills the first week with parades, a night show and the crowning of a national queen. Wineries across the valley open for tastings.
Town in Chile
San Pedro de Atacama
Mars-like Landscapes and Starry Nights
The Atacameño people built the Pukará de Quitor fortress in the 12th century above the oasis. The town lies at 7,897 feet. Valle de la Luna has old salt mine ruins and dunes that glow at sunset. El Tatio has more than 80 geysers. Nights are clear for stargazing.
Island in Ecuador
Galapagos Islands
The Wildlife Paradise of Ecuador
Licensed guides lead every group onto the islands, a rule that protects the wildlife. The warm season runs from December to May with air and sea near 77 degrees Fahrenheit. March brings calm water for snorkelling with sea lions and turtles. Ecuador made most of the land a national park in 1959.
National Park in Brazil
Chapada Diamantina National Park
Waterfalls, Caves and Diamond History
Diamond prospectors arrived in the 1840s and founded mining towns such as Mucugê. The region's name means diamond plateau. Rivers and waterfalls run full after the summer rains. Cachoeira da Fumaça drops about 340 metres from a cliff edge. Trails lead to caves and flooded wells.
Salt Flat in Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni
World's largest surreal salt mirror
High on the Bolivian altiplano at about 12,000 feet, this salt flat covers 4,086 square miles. It is the largest in the world. Rain in the wet season leaves a thin sheet of water that turns the flat into a giant mirror. Isla Incahuasi has cacti that grow about 12 metres tall.
State/Prefecture in Brazil
Bahia
Vibrant coastlines and Afro‑Brazilian rhythms
Pelourinho, the historic centre of Salvador, has more than 800 restored buildings and UNESCO listing since 1985. Colourful colonial facades and Baroque churches line its cobbled streets. Afro-Brazilian music, food and religion shape daily life. March days reach about 86 degrees Fahrenheit, which suits beach time along the coast.
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
