Top New Year's Eve celebrations and holiday spots in South America
Top New Year's Eve celebrations and holiday spots in South America
South America turns New Year's Eve into one of its biggest nights of the year, with traditions that mix beach celebrations, food and a fair amount of superstition.
Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach hosts one of the largest New Year's gatherings anywhere, with fireworks over the water and crowds dressed in white for good luck. Elsewhere on the continent, midnight traditions include jumping over seven waves, wearing certain colors of underwear or eating a spoonful of lentils, all believed to bring luck in the coming year. Family gatherings remain just as central as public celebrations, with many people splitting the night between a big countdown and a smaller meal with relatives. Warm summer weather across most of the continent keeps the night firmly outdoors.
The New Year's Eve destinations on our list for South America reflect that same mix of big celebration and personal tradition.
Lists by region
City in Argentina
Buenos Aires
Where Tango and Culture Thrive
Summer heat arrives in December, with average highs near 84°F. Avenida 9 de Julio stretches 140 metres wide and is described as the widest avenue anywhere. Puerto Madero offers parks along the river. Bars and nightclubs stay open well past midnight, so New Year's Eve plans run late.
City in Peru
Lima
Historic Charm Meets Coastal Vibes
Francisco Pizarro founded the city in 1535 as the City of the Kings. UNESCO listed the Historic Center in 1988. December opens a sunny, hot and humid summer, with highs between 77 and 86°F. Larcomar, an entertainment centre on the cliffs of Miraflores, looks out over the Pacific.
City in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
Copacabana Beach draws an estimated 2 million people on New Year's Eve. The fireworks show began in 1976 and now lasts 15 to 20 minutes. Concerts have followed since the 1990s. Since the 1950s, Candomblé and Umbanda groups have gathered on the sand in white.
City in Colombia
Bogotá
Vibrant Culture in the Andean Highlands
December is one of the driest months, with highs near 68°F and chilly nights around 45°F. The city lies at 2,640 metres, which makes it the third highest capital in the world. Plaza de Bolívar forms the heart of the historic La Candelaria district. A cable car climbs Monserrate for city views.
City in Brazil
Balneário Camboriú
Sul‑Brazil’s spa oasis amid lush hills
About 1 million people were reported at the New Year's fireworks in 2020. The city has roughly 139,000 residents. Summer visitors push that past one million. Towers here rise above 280 metres. A beach-to-beach cable car links the central beach with Laranjeiras. Florianópolis lies about 80 kilometres south.
City in Colombia
Cartagena
Walled city of Caribbean color
The hilltop Castillo San Felipe de Barajas was completed in 1654. The walled city was founded in 1533 and gained World Heritage status in 1984. Murals and plazas fill Getsemaní. Temperatures hover around 86°F with humidity near 80 percent. The rainy season runs from May to November.
City in Colombia
Medellín
The City of Eternal Spring
Every December thousands of fairy lights cover the city, mostly along La Playa Avenue and the Medellín River. National Geographic ranked the display among the ten most beautiful in the world. The valley location keeps the climate mild, with an average near 72°F. Metrocable gondolas climb to hillside neighbourhoods.
City in Chile
Valparaíso
Colorful Hills, Art and Ocean Views
A multi-day festival ends with a fireworks show described as the biggest in Latin America. It stretches along the coast past Viña del Mar towards Concón. Dozens of steep hills overlook the Pacific. Sixteen funiculars remain. UNESCO named the city a World Heritage Site in 2003.
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