Best Time to Travel to South America

When looking for the best time to travel to South America, you really have to base it depending on which area you are going to choose as your destination. Being that South America is very vast continent, the climatic conditions can vary substantially. Or example, in the Altiplano region, you can expect it to rain between December and March, when it is considered summer. During the months of February to March, Rio de Janerio has its rainy season. Places like Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela have a consistent weather pattern of being humid, while above the Tropic of Capricorn the weather is extremely hot.
There are a few different high seasons for travel in South America. From June through September, as well as mid December through February, when people from colder parts of the world travel there for the warm tropical climate over the holidays. Carnival, which takes place during the week before Ash Wednesday is also a highly visited time of year.
When looking to travel in the months of July or August, Brazil or Peru are the places to go, because in some places the summers are humid and rain often, while these locations stay hot and dry. If you are looking to travel from October through May, a place like Mexico is more favorable, this is the time when the temperatures are more comfortable and the humidity is less, creating a nice tropical feel for its tourists.

Climate of South America

This area is home of a wide range of climates which are predominantly wet as well as hot. The large size of the continent makes the climate of South America varied with each region having its own characteristic weather conditions, geographical location, ocean currents, and winds. In areas of the Amazon River basin, it has typical hot, wet climates suitable for the general growth of the rain forests there. On the other hand, the desert regions of Chile are home to the driest parts that South America has.
Most of South America receives ample rainfall, averaging more than 200 centimetres a year in four areas. The Coastal French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname, as well as the Amazon River Basin, South-western Chile, and the coasts of Colombia and northern Ecuador. The rainiest place in South America is Quibdo, Colombia, receiving more than 890 centimetres of rain a year. Even the wettest regions of the continent generally have a dry season. However, there is plenty of sunshine in between the constant downpours.
The highest temperatures of South America have been recorded in the area of Gran Chaco, Argentina, with temperatures going up to 110*F. By far, the wettest place is Quibdo in Columbia. A unique feature of the South America Climate is the El Nino. Every two to seven years, the cold dry Peru Current weakens and warm waters from the south rush along the coast in a southward direction. The El Nino affects the Climate of South America and causes heavy rainfall in the drier parts of South America.
The people of South America are heavily dependent on the continents natural resources, from the rangelands at the foothills of the Andes, as well as the plants and animals of the Amazon rainforest. The fisheries off the coast of Peru are also greatly affected by these rains. The regions ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to the changes in water availability expected with a changing climate. Higher global temperatures along with more frequent El Niño’s may bring increased drought. The melting glaciers in the Andes threaten the future water supply of mountain communities. Signs of a warming climate have already appeared both at high elevations, like in glacial retreat and shifting ranges of disease-carrying mosquitoes as well as along the coast, in rising sea level and coral bleaching.

Best time to travel to Argentina

An important thing to know when looking into visiting Argentina is that the seasons are reversed south of the Equator. With that said, this means that Argentina can be the home of very random weather during anytime of the year. The hottest summer months fall within December until February. During this time it can be incredibly humid and hot, to the point that some may find it to be too much to deal with while trying to enjoy the area. Holidays are most definitely the most populated time in this area, with many seeking the warm weather as an escape from the colder climate they may have at home.
The cooler seasons are from October until November, or April and May. These are some of the best months to enjoy Argentina and not experience weather that is too extreme.

Best time to travel to Bolivia

Vacationing here anytime of the year can be an option. No matter which time of the year it is, you can come across different types of weather. A great deal of Bolivia is located on the Altiplano, which is 10,000 ft above sea level. Most of the tourists visit this area during the dry season in the moorland, which stretches from May to October. This is also the coolest time of the year here. Although temperatures at sundown can be cool during any time of the year, during the peak of the dry season in June, July or August they can drop well below freezing. April through June, as well as September through November typically have warmer temperatures, as well as mild rains. The lowlands and the highlands both have alleged “dry” and “wet” seasons, but in reality both seasons have been seen to see the exact opposite weather of their names, going to show that nothing is definite.

Best time to travel to Brazil

This particular area is located 90% within the tropical zone, resulting in many areas never experiencing cold weather. Also, since it is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed from those in the northern hemisphere. Therefore, summer takes place during the months of December through March. From the months of June through August areas do tend to get occasional snowfall as well as frost, so the best time to travel is during the summer months. Other areas like Rio De Janerio and Salvador have consistent warm weather all year round, and get extremely hot and humid in the summer months.
If you are looking to visit the Amazon, it’s better to look into going during the months of January to June. The reason for this is that the humidity is higher, and the rainfall more extensive, this results in the rivers becoming more passable and permits tourists to explore more of the wildlife than they would be able to see during the dry season.
When it comes to wanting to explore the immaculate shoreline that Brazil has to offer, keep in mind that Brazil’s beaches are located on the Atlantic coast. This means that you should avoid traveling from the months of June to August, which is when the ocean can be rough and cold.

Best time to travel to Chile

In Chile, their warmest temperatures are during the months of December to February, making this the most popular time to travel to this destination. The winds are also stronger in these months, versus the wind in the shoulder months, which is muss less. The temperatures don’t drop too drastically in the shoulder months of October through November and March through the end of April, the biggest difference is that the winds will be lower, and you will find fewer tourists at this time of year.

Best time to Travel to Colombia

Since Colombia is located along the equator line, this region doesn’t experience any real seasonal changes at all. There are climate changes though; they are dictated by the altitude that you are located at. Despite the fact that there are no real seasonal changes, distinct weather patterns to make way in certain times of the year. The winter months are considered October and November, which make for cooler temperatures and more rainfall that normal. The summer is known as the dry season, and this runs from December until March in the mountainous regions and from December to April in the lower more coastal areas.
Considering that the altitude has a lot to do with the climate, this means that the highlands are normally warm in the day and chilly during the night hours. In the lowlands the temperatures stay hot most of the time, no matter what hour of day it is.

Best time to travel to Peru

The coolest time of the year in Peru is during the dry season of May through November, and this is typically the most visited time of the year. Evening temperatures sometimes fall below freezing at the peak of the dry season. During the wet season of December to April, it is expected to rain anywhere from three to four afternoons out of the week. The most crowded months are June, July and August, but this wetter time of the year creates a greener hillside and provides smaller crowds as well.

Best time to Travel to Venezuela

There are only two distinct seasons in Venezuela, a dry season, and a wet season. During the wet season, which occurs from May through October, temperatures are continuous, averaging about 20*C. The wet season peaks during the month of August, when up to 14 inches of rain is likely. During the dry season, the average temperature is a bit lower, averaging about 18* C. These months fall from December until March, and this is the best time to travel to Venezuela. The days are typically warm and dry, which provides comfortable weather for sightseeing. During the wet season on the other hand, you’ll want to pack waterproof clothes and be equipped for the humidity as well.

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