Best places to visit in South America in March

In March, South America's best-scoring destinations are San Pedro de Atacama (97), Paracas (90) and San Andrés (90): 7 of its 40 well-known places are at their seasonal best, mostly in Atacama; Andean Lakes District averages 19/100.

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 March breakdown.

Classics at their best in South America in March

15

The places you already know, in the month the climate agrees with them. 7 of South America's 40 well-known places are in one of their own top-three months.

  1. 1San Pedro de Atacama 🇨🇱 Chilenice, dry, clean air · best March97
  2. 2Paracas 🇵🇪 Peruhot, dry, clean air · best April90
  3. 3San Andrés 🇨🇴 Colombiahot, dry, muggy air · best March90
  4. 4Cartagena 🇨🇴 Colombiasweltering, dry · best January89
  5. 5La Serena 🇨🇱 Chilenice, dry, clean air · best February89
  6. 6Mendoza 🇦🇷 Argentinawarm, a little rain, clean air · best April89
  7. 7Santiago 🇨🇱 Chilehot, dry, poor air quality · best November88
  8. 8El Calafate 🇦🇷 Argentinacool, a little rain, clean air · best February87
  9. 9Mar del Plata 🇦🇷 Argentinawarm, rainy, clean air · best January86
  10. 10Montevideo 🇺🇾 Uruguaywarm, rainy, clean air · best November86
  11. 11Maceió 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, rainy, clean air · best October85
  12. 12Cusco 🇵🇪 Perunice, soaked, clean air · best June83
  13. 13Lima 🇵🇪 Peruhot, a little rain, muggy air · best November83
  14. 14Porto de Galinhas 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, rainy, clean air · best October83
  15. 15Salvador 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, rainy, clean air · best September83

Under the radar in South America in March

9

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

  1. 16Antofagasta 🇨🇱 Chilewarm, dry, clean air · best January94
  2. 17Chicama 🇵🇪 Peruhot, dry · best April93
  3. 18Iquique 🇨🇱 Chilehot, dry, clean air · best February93
  4. 19Cafayate 🇦🇷 Argentinawarm, a little rain, clean air · best October92
  5. 20Valparaíso 🇨🇱 Chilenice, dry, clean air · best January92
  6. 21Santa Marta 🇨🇴 Colombiasweltering, dry, clean air · best January90
  7. 22Trancoso 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, rainy, clean air · best September89
  8. 23Viña del Mar 🇨🇱 Chilewarm, dry, clean air · best February88
  9. 24Morro de São Paulo 🇧🇷 Brazilsweltering, rainy, clean air · best February87

Every region of South America in March

18

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