Where to Go in South America in January

South America in January is something special. It's the height of summer across much of the continent, and the season brings with it long days, buzzing cities, and some of the best wildlife and wilderness experiences on the planet. Summer is peak season for Patagonia, the southernmost and wildest region in South America, attracting outdoor lovers in droves. But Patagonia is just the beginning. With a dazzling range of experiences on offer from the Colombian Caribbean coast all the way down to the tip of Tierra del Fuego, January is one of the best months to visit South America.

Planning a trip for a slightly different time of year? Check out our guides to South America travel in December and South America travel in February, too.

Torres del Paine in January means long daylight hours, open trails, and peak season conditions for hiking in Patagonia.

Click the links below to skip through the article:

South America in January – overview

Best City Escapes in January

• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Santiago, Chile
• Cartagena, Colombia

Best Wilderness & Wildlife Experiences in January

• Patagonia, Argentina & Chile
• Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
• The Avenue of Volcanoes, Ecuador
• The Pantanal, Brazil

Here's a quick overview of where to go in South America in January:

• Patagonia is where it's all at this month — if you've been dreaming of extensive hiking and sightseeing in South America's wildest south, January is the golden month to visit. All trails are snow-free, all lodges are open, and the long summer days mean maximum time to explore.

• Colombia is having its driest month right now, but also its busiest, as locals take the whole month off and travel extensively. Still, it's a fab time to visit, to enjoy the colonial-era architecture and stunning Caribbean coastlines. Just make sure your flights and accommodation are booked well in advance.

• The Galápagos are swarming with wildlife activity this month, with courtship displays, nesting sea turtles, and playful seal pups all putting on a show.

• Heavy rains pretty much rule out extensive travel through the Central Andes, unless you're happy to visit Machu Picchu by train and are looking for a genial off-season bargain.

A quick reference guide to the best places to visit in South America in January

Best City Escapes in January

Buenos Aires, Argentina

The best springboard for tours of Patagonia, BA is the bees-knees this month. Yes, it's hot — like, 30-degree-hot — BUT if you've ever visited in winter and know what a chore it is to face the freeze and convince yourself to head out for dinner, you may just appreciate the heat a little more.

If you're visiting the colourful Argentinian capital for the very first time, trust us: you'll want a climate that allows for day-long sightseeing. There is so much to see and do, and such an eclectic mix of evening nightlife options, that idyllic summer temps are an asset. While you may get some afternoon rain showers, they are always a refreshing interruption.

Warm January evenings suit Buenos Aires, when late dinners, tango shows and nightlife spill out into the city’s streets.

Buenos Aires is also the natural jumping-off point for Antarctica expeditions heading through Ushuaia — so if you're combining an Antarctic cruise with some South America exploration, BA is the perfect place to start or finish your adventure.

See our tours of Argentina

Santiago, Chile

If coming from New Zealand, Santiago will probably be your entry point into South America, and although it will also be quite warm here, stop and stay a few days. It'll be worth it. As opposed to Buenos Aires (which stays hot all day), Santiago always experiences cooler evenings and a much drier heat, so sightseeing here is even more enjoyable.

In January, you can take a day-trip to visit the world-class vineyards nearby, or spend a couple of days in the gorgeous seaside town of Valparaíso. Santiago settles into its summer rhythm in January. It's a particularly lovely month for twilight strolls, slow dinners out, and a cheeky ice cream in the evening with plazas brimming with people. Just gorgeous.

Santiago in January is warm and dry, with cooler evenings that make city walks and late meals easy.

January also brings a wonderful calendar of events to the city — check out our guide to festivals in South America in January for a taste of what's on.

See our Santiago city stopover option

Cartagena, Colombia

If our blurb about Colombia caught your eye, then pin Cartagena on your travel map, pronto! As mentioned, January is a holiday month in Colombia, and Cartagena is a busy place. However, who are we to say you wouldn't enjoy the energising buzz of local crowds? The historic seaside town is a slice of paradise, and in January, it offers one of the most idyllic climates on the continent. If you're a social butterfly, you'll love finding bars and restaurants open until very late and plazas absolutely teeming with people.

While you're there, make a detour to Medellín — the city of eternal spring — and bag two of Colombia's greatest destinations in one whirlwind trip.

January is Cartagena’s dry season, when the old walled city and Caribbean coastline are at their best.

 

Explore our Colombia Tours

Best Wilderness & Wildlife Experiences in January

Patagonia, Argentina & Chile

January is a spectacular month to explore every inch of Patagonia, in whichever way you love best. Peak season means the biggest crowds of the year descend on the south, but that's all rather relative. Patagonia is huge and, outside the seriously major points of interest (like the Perito Moreno viewpoint), there is ample room for everyone to hike, cruise, and enjoy in peace.

If you prefer to cruise, the Chilean Fjords will be more your thing. And if you just want a short trip, you can visit Magdalena Island from Punta Arenas (the departure point for most Patagonia cruises), famous for its enormous Magellanic penguin colony.

Magdalena Island near Punta Arenas is famous for Magellanic penguins, a classic Patagonia add on in January.

 

 

Discover our Patagonia Tours

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galápagos aren't nearly as tropical as many people expect, despite straddling the Equator. The seas are always refreshingly cool but a little warmer in January, and the fact that this month brings a little more cloud and the occasional shower is almost inconsequential.

What January does deliver is a striking array of mating displays: flightless cormorants, land and marine iguanas, penguins, boobies, and even albatross (visit at the very start of the month for this last gem). Nesting green sea turtles on many of the beaches make for yet another stellar spectacle, and playful seal pups are out in force. If meeting extraordinary Galápagos wildlife is your goal, January is a brilliant time to go.

January brings standout Galápagos wildlife activity, including courtship displays from blue footed boobies.

See our full range of Galápagos Tours and Cruises

The Avenue of Volcanoes, Ecuador

Stretching from Quito in the north all the way to Cuenca in the south, the Avenue of Volcanoes is Ecuador's most astonishing drawcard — after the Galápagos Islands, of course.

A narrow corridor stretching for more than 320km, this remarkable 'avenue' is peppered with seven jaw-dropping mountains over 5,000m high. The tallest is Chimborazo, which stands at a breathtaking 6,200m — just 700m below Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America. The sheer range of hiking and sightseeing options is nearly endless: from short strolls to spectacular viewpoints to multi-day trekking adventures. You can stay in traditional estancias along the way and easily stretch the trip into a weeklong adventure.

Chimborazo dominates Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes, a high altitude route for hiking and viewpoints in January.

Read Beke's trip report on her sensational 2-week trip to Ecuador, where she combined the Amazon rainforest and the Galápagos in two unforgettable weeks.

See all our Ecuador Tours

The Pantanal, Brazil

January sees a healthy amount of rain fall across the Pantanal, with the main unpaved road that traverses the wetlands (Transpantaneira) often flooded. It may seem like a bad time to visit — but it really isn't. Wet season is a luscious time to explore the Pantanal, when downpours drench the wilderness into a near-fluorescent state of green and wildlife comes out to revel in the rain.

There are still bucketloads of adventures to be had: some operators run horseback riding excursions this month,but canoe safaris remain the primary way to explore. The Pantanal is a once-in-a-lifetime destination for Amazon wildlife lovers — if January is the only window you have, don't be put off by high water levels. You'll still have an incredible trip and see an abundance of wildlife. And if you've already visited during the dry season? Come back in January — you'll experience a completely different world altogether.

Even in the wet season, the Pantanal can deliver big wildlife moments, with waterways shaping how you explore in January.

 

 

Learn more about our Brazil Tours

At Viva Expeditions, we've travelled South America in every season — summer, winter, and the wet — and we keep coming back for more.

Browse our full range of South America tours and Contact our Destination Specialists for personalised advice on where to go in South America in January.