Best places to visit in South America in May

In May, South America's best-scoring destinations are Arequipa (95), Cusco (94) and Lima (93): 6 of its 40 well-known places are at their seasonal best, mostly in Peruvian Andes; Andean Lakes District averages 56/100.

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 May breakdown.

Classics at their best in South America in May

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The places you already know, in the month the climate agrees with them. 6 of South America's 40 well-known places are in one of their own top-three months.

  1. 1Arequipa 🇵🇪 Perunice, dry, clean air · best September95
  2. 2Cusco 🇵🇪 Perunice, a little rain, clean air · best June94
  3. 3Lima 🇵🇪 Peruwarm, dry, clean air · best November93
  4. 4Ollantaytambo 🇵🇪 Perunice, a little rain, clean air · best July91
  5. 5Puerto Ayora 🇪🇨 Ecuadorhot, a little rain, clean air · best August91
  6. 6Paracas 🇵🇪 Perunice, dry, clean air · best April89
  7. 7San Pedro de Atacama 🇨🇱 Chilenice, dry, clean air · best March88
  8. 8Aguas Calientes 🇵🇪 Perunice, rainy, clean air · best July87
  9. 9São Paulo 🇧🇷 Brazilwarm, a little rain, muggy air · best July87
  10. 10Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷 Brazilhot, a little rain, muggy air · best September86
  11. 11Ilha Grande 🇧🇷 Brazilnice, a little rain, muggy air · best July84
  12. 12Mendoza 🇦🇷 Argentinanice, a little rain, clean air · best April84
  13. 13La Paz 🇧🇴 Boliviacool, dry, clean air · best November83
  14. 14Buenos Aires 🇦🇷 Argentinanice, a little rain, clean air · best October82
  15. 15Bogotá 🇨🇴 Colombianice, rainy, clean air · best September80

Under the radar in South America in May

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

  1. 16Máncora 🇵🇪 Perusweltering, dry, clean air · best July95
  2. 17Antofagasta 🇨🇱 Chilenice, dry, clean air · best January93
  3. 18Brasília 🇧🇷 Brazilwarm, dry, clean air · best June93
  4. 19Chicama 🇵🇪 Peruwarm, dry, muggy air · best April93
  5. 20Cochabamba 🇧🇴 Boliviawarm, dry, clean air · best September92
  6. 21Belo Horizonte 🇧🇷 Brazilwarm, dry · best July91
  7. 22Ica 🇵🇪 Peruwarm, dry, clean air · best July91
  8. 23Trujillo 🇵🇪 Peruwarm, dry, clean air · best August91
  9. 24Ouro Preto 🇧🇷 Brazilnice, a little rain, clean air · best September90
  10. 25Cafayate 🇦🇷 Argentinanice, dry, clean air · best October89
  11. 26Copacabana 🇧🇴 Boliviacool, a little rain, clean air · best June89
  12. 27Huaraz 🇵🇪 Perunice, rainy, clean air · best July89
  13. 28Montañita 🇪🇨 Ecuadorhot, a little rain, clean air · best November89
  14. 29Samaipata 🇧🇴 Bolivianice, a little rain, clean air · best August89
  15. 30Sucre 🇧🇴 Bolivianice, dry, clean air · best September89

Every region of South America in May

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