Best Time to Visit South America

December to February are the hot summer months in Brazil, when the country comes alive with a buzzing beach culture. Expect surfers chasing waves, capoeira dancers performing intricate routines and pop-up bars selling cold caipirinhas while samba beats drift though the air. In February you also of course have Rio Carnival, arguably the biggest, boldest and most energetic festival in the world. This is also the best time to visit South America's northernmost country Colombia. Whether you want to wander the cobbled streets of colonial cities, go hiking in the Coffee Triangle or relax on palm-fringed beaches, the sunny months of December to February are the perfect time to visit.

April and May are some of the best months to travel to South America's incredible Galapagos Islands when the weather is pleasant, the water’s warm so you can snorkel for longer and wildlife sightings are abundant. You may have the chance to witness the end of the hatching season for giant tortoises and the beginning for sea turtles, while blue-footed boobies and albatrosses will both be performing fascinating courtship rituals. In Argentina, the autumn months of March to May promise fresher temperatures and beautiful fall colours. The wine harvest typically takes place in Mendoza in early March, making this a particularly popular time to visit.

Clear blue skies and warm sunshine make June to August a popular time to visit Ecuador. In June you may be able to observe Corpus Christi celebrations around Cotopaxi, where villages come to life with traditional music, dance and costumes. The same weather in Peru provides near-perfect conditions for trekking the Inca Trail (but you’ll need to secure permits about nine months in advance). Trek under vivid skies with picturesque snow-capped peaks in the background and prepare to be mesmerised when Machu Picchu comes into view. June also plays host to a whole month of festivities in Cusco, culminating in the Inti Raymi festival.

From September, Chile and Argentina begin to emerge from their cold, frosty winters into the spring sunshine. This is the best time of year to travel to South America's southern reaches of Patagonia, where flowers burst into bloom, dyeing the Pampas an array of vibrant colours. Birds return en masse and guanacos, pumas and foxes all roam the plains. Hike through the region’s breathtaking landscapes without getting too hot, while signs of winter can still be seen in the mountains of granite and ice which rise overhead. From August the pupping season begins for sea lions in the Galapagos Islands, and it continues right through to November. Young pups perform aqua aerobics alongside snorkellers and might even playfully nibble your fins.