Best places to visit in South America in February

In February, South America's best-scoring destinations are San Pedro de Atacama (95), El Calafate (93) and Cartagena (91): 10 of its 40 well-known places are at their seasonal best, mostly in Patagonia; Andean Lakes District averages 12/100.

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 February breakdown.

Classics at their best in South America in February

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The places you already know, in the month the climate agrees with them. 10 of South America's 40 well-known places are in one of their own top-three months.

  1. 1San Pedro de Atacama 🇨🇱 Chilenice, a little rain, clean air · best March95
  2. 2El Calafate 🇦🇷 Argentinanice, a little rain, clean air · best February93
  3. 3Cartagena 🇨🇴 Colombiasweltering, dry, clean air · best January91
  4. 4La Serena 🇨🇱 Chilewarm, dry, clean air · best February91
  5. 5Maceió 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air · best October89
  6. 6Paracas 🇵🇪 Peruhot, dry, clean air · best April89
  7. 7Salvador 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air · best September89
  8. 8Puerto Ayora 🇪🇨 Ecuadorsweltering, rainy, clean air · best August88
  9. 9San Andrés 🇨🇴 Colombiahot, dry, muggy air · best March88
  10. 10Porto de Galinhas 🇧🇷 Brazilhot, rainy, clean air · best October87
  11. 11Santiago 🇨🇱 Chilehot, dry, poor air quality · best November87
  12. 12Mar del Plata 🇦🇷 Argentinawarm, rainy, clean air · best January85
  13. 13Mendoza 🇦🇷 Argentinahot, a little rain, clean air · best April84
  14. 14Villa de Leyva 🇨🇴 Colombiawarm, rainy, clean air · best August84
  15. 15Bogotá 🇨🇴 Colombianice, rainy, muggy air · best September83

Under the radar in South America in February

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

  1. 16Antofagasta 🇨🇱 Chilewarm, dry, clean air · best January93
  2. 17Iquique 🇨🇱 Chilehot, dry, clean air · best February93
  3. 18Valparaíso 🇨🇱 Chilenice, dry, muggy air · best January93
  4. 19Castro 🇨🇱 Chilenice, a little rain, clean air · best February92
  5. 20Chicama 🇵🇪 Peruhot, dry · best April92
  6. 21Santa Marta 🇨🇴 Colombiasweltering, dry, clean air · best January92
  7. 22Puerto Varas 🇨🇱 Chilenice, a little rain, clean air · best February91
  8. 23Trancoso 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air · best September90
  9. 24Viña del Mar 🇨🇱 Chilehot, dry · best February90
  10. 25Cafayate 🇦🇷 Argentinawarm, rainy, clean air · best October89
  11. 26Morro de São Paulo 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air · best February89
  12. 27Puerto Madryn 🇦🇷 Argentinawarm, dry, clean air · best February89
  13. 28Punta del Diablo 🇺🇾 Uruguaywarm, rainy, clean air · best February89
  14. 29Pipa 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, rainy, clean air · best October88

Every region of South America in February

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