The Best Places To Visit In South And Central America In Winter

Whether it’s to avoid the summer season crowds or simply to load up on Vitamin D, travelling in winter offers a load of unique benefits, and South and Central America is a great region to take full advantage. Here is a selection of our winter trips in this beautiful part of the world.

Central and South America in winter offers dramatic variations in weather as you travel from north to south. The winter months in Colombia and Costa Rica will always remain hot and humid – but visit the wilderness of Patagonia in the far south of Argentina and you’ll need to be wrapped up warm as you explore glaciers and hiking trails. From steamy rainforests to sun-soaked beaches and remote island adventures, here are the best places to visit in South and Central America in winter, courtesy of Culture Trip.

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Giant tortoise walks on grass, with several people walking behind, on Santa Cruz Island

Galapagos Islands, to see exotic flora and fauna flourish

December to March is peak season in the Galapagos, but with good reason. The main attraction of this incredible archipelago is the wildlife, and the warm, humid weather leads to an explosion of natural life, with plants blooming and rare birds at their most active. The warm weather continues underwater, which attracts sea turtles, sea lions and tropical fish in their droves. It’s also breeding season here, so you might even get to spot baby iguanas and turtles – more than adorable enough to justify the peak season prices. Our five-day tour of the Galapagos sees you snorkelling with penguins, swimming with sea lions and glamping with giant tortoises. Now that’s the full Galapagos experience!

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT Bali, Indonesia

ENDS AT Lombok Island, Indonesia

DURATION 12

GROUP SIZE 18

PHYSICAL RATING

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This is an updated version of an article originally written by Richard Collett, with additional words from Maja Proescholdt.

About the author

Gethin Morgan

Content Editor

Gethin Morgan has developed an exciting portfolio across a series of roles at Culture Trip. With a keen interest in food and drink, Gethin is also particularly interested in niche or alternative travel which, in his case, usually involves following the Wales national soccer team to Europe's most obscure cities.