SeasonMap

Best places to visit in South America in January

In January, South America's best-scoring destinations are San Pedro de Atacama (95), El Calafate (92) and Cartagena (91): 12 of its 39 well-known places are at their seasonal best.

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 January breakdown.

← South America in DecemberSouth America in February →The whole world in January

Classics at their best in South America in January

The places you already know, in the month the climate agrees with them. 12 of South America's 39 well-known places are in one of their own top-three months.

  1. 1San Pedro de Atacama, Chilewarm, dry, clean air95tier S
  2. 2El Calafate, Argentinanice, a little rain, clean air92tier S
  3. 3Cartagena, Colombiasweltering, dry, clean air91tier S
  4. 4Puerto Ayora, Ecuadorhot, a little rain, clean air90tier S
  5. 5La Serena, Chilewarm, dry, clean air89tier A
  6. 6Maceió, Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air89tier A
  7. 7Santiago, Chilehot, dry89tier A
  8. 8Villa de Leyva, Colombianice, rainy, clean air89tier A
  9. 9Guatapé, Colombiawarm, rainy, clean air88tier A
  10. 10Porto de Galinhas, Brazilhot, a little rain, clean air88tier A
  11. 11Mar del Plata, Argentinahot, a little rain, clean air87tier A
  12. 12Paracas, Peruwarm, dry, clean air87tier A
  13. 13Salvador, Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air87tier A
  14. 14Bogotá, Colombianice, a little rain, muggy air86tier A
  15. 15Lima, Peruhot, dry, clean air85tier A

Under the radar in South America in January

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

  1. 16Antofagasta, Chilewarm, dry, clean air94tier S
  2. 17Valparaíso, Chilenice, dry, clean air94tier S
  3. 18Santa Marta, Colombiasweltering, dry, clean air93tier S
  4. 19Hanga Roa, Chilewarm, a little rain, clean air91tier S
  5. 20Iquique, Chilehot, dry, clean air91tier S
  6. 21Máncora, Perusweltering, a little rain, clean air91tier S
  7. 22Castro, Chilenice, a little rain, clean air90tier S
  8. 23Pipa, Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air90tier S
  9. 24João Pessoa, Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air89tier A
  10. 25Puerto Varas, Chilenice, a little rain, clean air89tier A
  11. 26Recife, Brazilsweltering, a little rain, clean air89tier A

Every region of South America in January

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