Best destinations to visit in May in South America
Best destinations to visit in May in South America
May pushes South America further into autumn, though conditions for travel actually improve in several parts of the continent this month.
Andean trekking season is in full swing by May, with the region's wet season behind it and trail conditions at their best for hikers heading toward Peru's mountain routes. The Amazon's wet season begins tapering off too, though rivers stay high and travel by boat remains the easiest way to explore. Patagonia's short travel season has largely wound down by this point, with many services closed ahead of the region's cold winter months. Southern Brazil and Argentina cool down noticeably, better suited to travelers who prefer milder days over the heat of summer. Wine regions across the continent also settle into a quieter post harvest stretch.
The destinations on our list for South America reflect that same range, from peak trekking conditions to a quieter, colder south.
Lists by region
City in Peru
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
Qorikancha was the main Inca temple of the sun and a Spanish church now rests on its walls. The rainy season fades so hills stay green and skies turn clear. Crowds are thinner than in June to August. At about 11,150 feet this city is the base for Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley.
Lake
Lake Titicaca
Crystal waters echo ancient Andean legends
May starts the dry season on the high plain with clear days and cold nights. The lake lies at about 12,500 feet on the border of Peru and Bolivia. Men on Taquile Island knit hats and its weaving is on a UNESCO heritage list. Boats leave daily from Puno on the Peruvian shore.
Archaeological Site in Peru
Machu Picchu
Lost Inca city among clouds
Most Inca Trail hikers end the four-day trek at the Sun Gate at sunrise. The Inca built this hilltop citadel around 1450 for their ruler Pachacuti. The trail closes in February and May has mostly dry days. Trains from Ollantaytambo reach Aguas Calientes below the ruins in about two hours.
Valley in Peru
Sacred Valley
Ancient terraces echoing timeless Andean rhythms
Corn and potato harvests peak from April to June so fields are busy and golden. Ollantaytambo still has its Inca streets and water channels beside a fortress with steep terraces. Moray has round terraces that Inca farmers may have used to test crops. Maras has thousands of salt pans cut into a hillside.
Desert in Chile
Atacama Desert
Endless dunes under starlit desert skies
This desert lies between the Andes and the Pacific and is among the driest places on Earth. May brings cold clear nights that suit stargazing. Valle de la Luna has ridges crusted with salt that glow orange at sunset. Join a dawn tour to the El Tatio geysers at about 14,000 feet.
City in Argentina
Salta
Colonial Charm and Andean Landscapes
Hernando de Lerma founded Salta in 1582 and the colonial centre still has a pink cathedral. Autumn brings dry sunny days and cool nights in May. Day trips run through red rock canyons to Cafayate, known for its white wine called Torrontés. Empanadas here are baked with beef and cumin in a clay oven.
City in Peru
Puno
Lakeside town where cultures converge
The Uros Floating Islands are built from layers of totora reeds from the lake. Families live on them and travel in reed boats. May days are sunny with nights that can fall below freezing. Puno is a market city with a baroque stone cathedral finished in 1757.
City in Peru
Iquitos
Amazon’s gateway to jungle adventures
This Amazon city has no road to the rest of Peru and is reached by air or boat. Rivers peak in May so skiffs paddle through flooded forest among the trees. Pink river dolphins surface near boats and sloths hang in riverside trees. Belén market sells fish, fruit and jungle herbs.
Island in Ecuador
Galapagos Islands
The Wildlife Paradise of Ecuador
Charles Darwin visited in 1835 and noted how mockingbirds and tortoises differed from island to island. May ends the warm season so the sea is still warm for snorkelling. Sea lions, giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies are easy to see. Visitors fly in from Quito or Guayaquil and hop between islands by boat.
Salt Flat in Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni
World's largest surreal salt mirror
Dry salt crunches underfoot and the glare off the flat is almost too bright to bear. By May the wet season is over and jeeps cross the dry salt to Incahuasi. Giant cacti cover the island and some stand taller than a house. Nights at 12,000 feet are freezing.
National Park in Brazil
Pantanal Matogrossense National Park
World's largest tropical wetland paradise
The wider Pantanal wetland is larger than Greece and floods each rainy season. By May the water falls and animals gather along the rivers. Watch capybaras, caimans and giant otters from slow boats. Jaguar sightings along the Cuiabá River become more likely as the dry season starts.
Village in Peru
Huacachina
Desert oasis with turquoise lagoon and dunes
Sand hisses under sandboards and dune buggies roar across the ridges. This tiny desert oasis near Ica has a lagoon ringed by palm trees and tall dunes. May is sunny and mild with cool evenings. Tours leave in late afternoon so riders catch sunset on the dunes.
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