Best places to visit in South America in December

In December, South America's best-scoring destinations are San Pedro de Atacama (95), Puerto Ayora (93) and Lima (91): 9 of its 40 well-known places are at their seasonal best, mostly in Northeast Brazil; Andean Lakes District averages 17/100.

Each place is scored at its seasonal best — beaches on beach weather, cities on walking weather, ski towns in snow season. Tap any place for the full December breakdown.

Classics at their best in South America in December

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The places you already know, in the month the climate agrees with them. 9 of South America's 40 well-known places are in one of their own top-three months.

  1. 1San Pedro de Atacama 🇨🇱 Chilewarm, dry, clean air · best March95
  2. 2Puerto Ayora 🇪🇨 Ecuadorhot, dry, clean air · best August93
  3. 3Lima 🇵🇪 Peruwarm, dry, clean air · best November91
  4. 4Maceió 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air · best October91
  5. 5El Calafate 🇦🇷 Argentinacool, a little rain, clean air · best February90
  6. 6Porto de Galinhas 🇧🇷 Brazilhot, a little rain, muggy air · best October90
  7. 7Salvador 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air · best September90
  8. 8Cartagena 🇨🇴 Colombiasweltering, a little rain, clean air · best January88
  9. 9Montevideo 🇺🇾 Uruguaywarm, a little rain, clean air · best November88
  10. 10Santiago 🇨🇱 Chilehot, dry · best November88
  11. 11Fernando de Noronha 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air · best November87
  12. 12La Serena 🇨🇱 Chilenice, dry, clean air · best February87
  13. 13Villa de Leyva 🇨🇴 Colombianice, rainy, clean air · best August87
  14. 14Arequipa 🇵🇪 Perunice, a little rain · best September86
  15. 15Mendoza 🇦🇷 Argentinahot, dry, clean air · best April86

Under the radar in South America in December

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Less-visited places whose December weather outscores the classics above — the data's own suggestions.

  1. 16Antofagasta 🇨🇱 Chilewarm, dry, clean air · best January94
  2. 17Montañita 🇪🇨 Ecuadorhot, dry, clean air · best November94
  3. 18Máncora 🇵🇪 Peruhot, dry, clean air · best July93
  4. 19Pipa 🇧🇷 Brazilhot, dry, clean air · best October92
  5. 20Valparaíso 🇨🇱 Chilenice, dry, clean air · best January92
  6. 21Cafayate 🇦🇷 Argentinawarm, a little rain, clean air · best October91
  7. 22João Pessoa 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air · best October91
  8. 23Recife 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air · best October91
  9. 24Iquique 🇨🇱 Chilewarm, dry, clean air · best February90
  10. 25Trujillo 🇵🇪 Peruwarm, dry, clean air · best August90
  11. 26Morro de São Paulo 🇧🇷 Brazilhot, a little rain, clean air · best February89
  12. 27Santa Marta 🇨🇴 Colombiasweltering, a little rain, clean air · best January89

Every region of South America in December

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The best-known place in each part of South America this month, even where the month is only fair.