Just as Winter knocks at the door in the northern hemisphere, South America transitions in what is often touted as the best travel-time of the year. This…is YOUR perfect month to visit!
Gone are the huge mid-summer crowds and gone too is the frigid chill in the air. October in South America marks the beginning of a fantastic travel season. Cheaper, quieter, warmer and more colourful, October is an excellent shoulder month to travel, just about anywhere in South America. Choose to travel now and you’ll miss the busiest (end-of-year) season and, perhaps more importantly, you could be among the first visitors to tackle some of the continent’s most prized adventures: hiking in Patagonia and expedition cruising to Antarctica.
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Hiking in Patagonia
Mountain view in Antarctica
Costa Rica – Mass turtle nesting events, called arribadas, start taking place in Costs Rica’s Pacific Coast this month. These magnificent spectacles are one of Mother Nature’s truest treasures
Tierra del Fuego – Patagonia, in general, is a resplendent bloom of colours in Spring and the region’s southern island hub is an ideal place to soak up the visual feast
Central Andes – As temperatures warm in Peru and Bolivia, the first rains start to drop. October is the last month of the ‘best’ season so there’s still time for Machu Picchu visits and jaunts on Lake Titicaca before the wet season begins
Argentina – October is an ideal month to plan an all-encompassing Argentina tour as all its magical highlights, like Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and the Patagonian the Lakes District, are at their prime. If you’ve been dreaming of a whirlwind through this incredible (and huge) country, you’ll know there aren’t many months which offer idyllic conditions all over. October is one of them.
Amazon Rainforest, Brazil
Your best springboard for travels through all of South America, Santiago is most New Zealander’s first step into the continent. October is an excellent month to visit Chile as wildflowers burst into life both in the north and southern regions of this long but narrow country. Santiago sees temps in the late-teens in October, which is quite agreeable for sightseeing tours. The one capital city that often gets overlooked, Santiago is actually a captivating and vibrant place that has a lot to offer. For history, culture, architecture and food lovers, this city offers a stunning intro into South America. Don’t forget to plan an extra day to take in a wine-tasting tour in nearby valleys.
Could you even dream of a better way to start your South America tour?
Plaza de Armas in Santiago,Chile
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Some say colours springs eternal in Buenos Aires and although the city is magical at any time of year, it is even more so in October. Warmer, sunnier and with more daylight hours than September, October offers great sightseeing experiences, minus the crowds that will descend in just two short months. This is a great month to visit if you’re an avid walker: the temps are simply perfect for extensive sightseeing on foot.
Buenos Aires,Argentina
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The convenient ferry across the Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires brings boatloads of people toColonia every year although far too many simply carry on to bustling Montevideo without giving this charming hub a chance. The Uruguayan capital is certainly worthy of a visit but Colonia itself also demands a look-see. This colourful seaside town is one of our favourite spots to take a rest-day after Buenos Aires and its charming cobblestone core, a UNESCO-listed treasure, just begs to explored leisurely and on foot. A hybrid of Portuguese and Spanish colonial influence, Colonia thrives in a little bubble all its own, with a distinctive flair, cuisine and architecture making it a real jewel in Uruguay’s crown. There’s a ton of street art to discover and some amazing culinary treats to try, alongside a few hours’ walking to take in the main sights like the St Francis Convent, lighthouse, Calle de Los Suspsiros (Street of Sighs) and the photographic Plaza Mayor. Trust us on this, Colonia is quaint enough to captivate the heart of even the most hardened of travellers.
Check out this CNN article about the 10 Best Reasons to Visit Uruguay
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
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As Patagonia defrosts after the harsh winter, it’s time to head south! Use Bariloche as your base and explore the spectacular Lakes Region once you’ve had your fill of chocolates, hiking, kayaking and horseback riding in this breath-taking town. Don’t forget to cross the border into the Chilean side of the Lakes District, as this once-Germanic region welcomes the best Oktoberfest celebrations in the whole continent. We know, it’s a bit of a bizarre combo but SO worth catching!
Bariloche, Argentina
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What do you get when you mix glorious days of 26-degree-celsius with world-class winery tours, white-water rafting, hot-spring soaking, mountain biking and jaw-dropping Spring scenery? Yep. You get Mendoza in October. With its stunning colonial architecture and unrivalled location, Mendoza is mostly revered for its wineries although there’s so much more to this town than a few exceptional drops. Framed by high Andean peaks and outstanding valleys, this town is a genius destination for active gourmands looking for Argentina’s best…of everything.
Vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina
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Don’t make the mistake of looking up temperatures in Patagonia for October. The ‘average’ of 10-degree-celsius will make you think we’ve gone nuts, so best to just hear us out! Patagonia is an active traveller’s destination, a place where hiking, climbing and moving about, in general, gifts the best experiences. Trust us that 10-degrees is an ideal daytime temp to be active down here, especially when you consider that the wind-chill factor is not nearly as strong as it will be in December. Yes, you can visit in a hotter month but will experience much colder temps, all-round. Plus, Patagonia is a huge region and given that the further south you travel, the lower the temps, October is a perfect month to tour the northern half. Plus, you’ll have all those astonishing wildflowers in bloom, uncrowded hiking trails and much smaller tourist crowds in the most famous sites to look forward to! In October, our money’s on Torres del Paine National Park, the Perito Moreno Glacier, whale-watching in the Peninsula Valdes and the wonderful Nahuel Huapi National Park which sits right on Bariloche’s shoulders.
Mount Fitz Roy, Patagonia
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If you’re looking for a reason to headway south in Patagonia, we have just two words for you: Chilean Fjords. The outrageously beautiful Glacier Alley is one of the region’s best-kept secrets and given that so many of the glaciers here are too remote to reach on land, taking to the frigid seas aboard an expedition cruise ship is the best way to experience it. With an abundance of extra-curricular activities like kayaking and hiking – not to mention thrilling Zodiac rides – Chilean Fjord cruising is simply ideal for active explorers who want to get way off the beaten path and experience some of the world’s most mesmerizing sights.
Cruise ship sailing the Chilean Fjords
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Global warming has meant that October Antarctica expeditions are much more likely to have unobstructed expeditions to the south as opposed to a decade ago. It’s no consolation, of course, but it does mean that cruises are also starting earlier every year. Being among the first to reach the icy continent is a very special experience despite the cold temps and shorter daylight hours. Landing sites are pristine and devoid not only of many human footsteps but also of wildlife dropping which, we can assure you, can get rather on the nose at the end of the season! Classic cruises to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula are also the cheapest they will be all Summer so if budget is a concern, plan for an unforgettable cruise during this month.
Zodiac in front of enormous ice berg in Antarctica
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October is one of the driest months in the Amazon and although heavy downpours can still occur, it isn’t the kind of relentless rain that limits explorations on foot. Moreover, low-water levels make for higher wildlife-spotting chances, as many animals will have to come out of hiding to quench their thirst on the river shores. Most of our clients sit on the fence when it comes to river cruising VS lodge-based stays so it may help to know that in October, you can enjoy both, rewardingly.
Amazon Jungle Yasuni, Ecuador
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October hails the start of our small group tours in Patagonia and if you’re looking for an organised, fully-led tour with two exceptional guides and one truly epic ATV truck, then our 27-day Wild Patagonia trip has your name all over it. We dish up not only the best highlights in the region but also the magical bits in-between…the ones you don’t even know you need to see.
Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia
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Did you know that we’ve just celebrated 10 years of Viva Expeditions? In just a decade, we’ve become New Zealand’s leading operator for tours to South America, Central America and Antarctica. We love nothing more than to take punters on the trips of a lifetime, showcasing not just the most celebrated sights in the continent but all those we’ve discovered along the way that we know will blow your mind.
Contact us and let us help you plan your own, once-in-a-lifetime journey to this truly sensational continent.
Laura PattaraLaura Pattara writes for Viva Expeditions with a special love for all things Latin America. She had guided overland tours across the continent, reached Machu Picchu five times on foot, and even dressed up as a giant toucan for Carnaval. With a degree in languages and two decades of global travel experience behind her, Laura has a long-standing love for the Andes, soaring condors, and a truly delicious empanada. |
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