South America offers fascinating experiences all year round. From the north of Colombia to the southernmost tip of Chile, the region is truly a 'year round' destination. While Peru experiences heavier rainfall around January-February which can cause heavy mudslides (we do not run tours at these times), and Brazil’s Pantanal and Amazon regions are wetter from December to March, the rest of the continent is generally calmer thanks to the impact of the Andes in creating microclimates. July and August, coinciding with the summer season, is often peak time for people visiting the Galapagos Islands or planning to hike the Inca Trail, while Easter Celebrations offer vibrant cultural experiences (though expect higher visitor numbers). However, the shoulder seasons, from March to November often provide excellent travel conditions.
Patagonia, with its summer during the Northern Hemisphere’s winter months, is the exception. To fully appreciate the region’s rugged scenery, plan your trip to Patagonia between November and March.
Latin America is a paradise for food lovers. Traditional South American dishes such as Andean ceviche found in Peru, Ecuador and even up into Central America, are becoming much more well-known. Ceviche is a vibrant dish of seafood cured in citrus juices, spiced with chili and served with the Andean staples of 'choclo', or corn, potatoes or plantain. That said, more well-known dishes such as ceviche are just the beginning of the rich and unique cuisines of South America.
As you travel south through the Andes towards Argentina, we enter beef country. Argentinian wines and steak are a classic pairing, and Explore tours through Patagonia and Argentina's northwest offer opportunities to sample some of the finest beef in the world.
Of course, no meal is complete without a beverage. Enjoy the diverse array of local beers and regional spirits, from Brazil’s cachaça to pisco sours in Chile and Peru, chuflay from Bolivia or Argentina’s renowned Malbec wine.
Food is a fundamental part of any culture, and an Explore trip to Latin America provides a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in local traditions while also sampling the region’s local delicacies.