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Best festivals in South America

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Buenos Aires
Where Tango and Culture Thrive
8.1
Tango BA Festival y Mundial runs from late August into early September. Admission is free for most events. Some milongas require a reservation up to 72 hours ahead. The World Tango Championship has two categories, Tango de Pista and Tango Escenario. Over 20,000 people watched the 2022 finals outdoors at the Obelisco.
Highlights:
  • 🎭 Tour the grand Teatro Colón and admire its opulence
  • 🎨 Stroll through colorful Caminito Street in La Boca
  • 💃 Watch a passionate tango performance in San Telmo
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
8.1
Carnival runs five days and starts on the Friday before Ash Wednesday. The Sambadrome has seating for 72,500 spectators. It has hosted the parades since 1984. Over 200 samba schools compete in five leagues. About two million people fill the streets each day for the blocos. Rio held its first Carnival in 1723.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the iconic sands of Copacabana Beach
  • ✝️ Stand before Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain
  • 🚠 Take the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain for breathtaking views
Medellín
The City of Eternal Spring
7.4
The Feria de las Flores runs from late July to early August. The Desfile de Silleteros has been part of it since 1957. Growers carry flower arrangements called silletas on their backs. In December thousands of fairy lights cover the city. National Geographic ranked the Alumbrados Navideños among the world's ten most beautiful.
Highlights:
  • 🌺 Stroll through the Botanical Garden and its orchid collection
  • 🎨 Explore Comuna 13’s colorful murals and vibrant street art
  • 🚡 Ride the Metrocable to Parque Arví for panoramic views
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
8.4
Inti Raymi fills the city every 24 June. Inca Emperor Pachacuti is said to have created the festival in 1412. Spanish colonists and priests banned it after 1535. It was revived in 1944 and has been staged at Sacsayhuamán every year since. The procession begins at Qorikancha and moves on to the Plaza de Armas.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Stroll through Plaza de Armas and admire colonial architecture
  • 🏔️ Take the train or trek to the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu
  • 🧱 Visit the ancient Inca site of Sacsayhuamán overlooking the city
São Paulo
A vibrant mix of culture and cuisine
8.0
The Pride parade has been held on Avenida Paulista since June 1997, when police counted about 2,000 participants. It takes place on the Sunday after Corpus Christi. Guinness World Records listed it as the world's largest Pride parade. Organisers reported 4 million attendees in 2009. Crowd counts are disputed because police stopped publishing estimates.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Admire street art at colorful Beco do Batman
  • 🌳 Relax in vast green Ibirapuera Park with museums
  • 🚶‍♀️ Walk vibrant Paulista Avenue, heart of São Paulo
Montevideo
Chill vibes on the Río de la Plata
7.2
Carnival lasts more than 40 days and generally runs from late January to mid-March. Drummers play candombe rhythms in the Desfile de Llamadas, which draws on Bantu and Angolan Benguela traditions. Murgas perform an opera-style show on temporary stages called tablados. The songs cover social and political issues.
Highlights:
  • 🏙️ Visit the iconic Palacio Salvo and nearby plazas
  • 🍽️ Taste local flavors at Mercado del Puerto market
  • 🌅 Stroll along the scenic Rambla by the waterfront
Santiago
A vibrant city between mountains
7.4
This theatre festival began in 1994 as a two month event with three companies. It is now held each January. The 2014 edition ran from 3 to 19 January and listed 67 stage shows. About half a million spectators attended in 2013. It is Chile's largest arts festival and includes theatre, dance and music.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Stroll through the colorful alleys of Barrio Bellavista and enjoy local art
  • ⛪ Explore the historic Plaza de Armas and its stunning cathedral
  • 🚠 Ride the cable car up Cerro San Cristóbal for sweeping city views
Iquitos
Amazon’s gateway to jungle adventures
8.4
Carnival is held each February and is shaped by Amazonian myths. Participants soak each other with water balloons called cabaciñas. The Fiesta de San Juan on 24 June honours John the Baptist, patron saint of the Peruvian Amazon. Its signature foods and dances include the juane dish and the shunto jump.
Highlights:
  • 🍴 Stroll through San Pedro Market, taste quinoa empanadas
  • 🗿 Explore Sacsayhuamán ruins, trace Inca stonework
  • 🏔️ Climb Machu Picchu sunrise, capture the misty peaks
Bolivia
Land of dramatic climate contrasts
6.3
Legend says a mural of the Virgin Mary appeared in a silver mine shaft in 1756. The Oruro Carnival honours her at the Santuario del Socavón. Over 28,000 dancers and about 10,000 musicians take part. UNESCO proclaimed it a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on 18 May 2001.
Highlights:
  • 🚡 Ride the world’s highest cable car system above La Paz
  • 🧿 Visit the colorful markets and witches’ stalls in La Paz
  • 🌫️ Walk across the otherworldly Uyuni Salt Flats after the rain
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