South America

Continent of the Amazon, Andes and passionate cultures

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About South America

Continent of the Amazon, Andes and passionate cultures

South America in numbers

Area

17,840,000 km²

Countries

Population

442 million

Highest point

Aconcagua, 6,961 m

Lowest point

Laguna del Carbón, -105 m

Tourists per year

35 million

Time zones

UTC−5 to UTC−2

Sources: UN WPP, UNWTO and national statistics offices. Figures are rounded.

Largest countries by area

Most visited countries

Live toplists in South America

Warmest, coldest and driest places right now, based on our latest readings.

Warmest right now

Temperature

Coldest right now

Temperature

Driest right now

Humidity

Updated: 2026-11-04 11:52 UTC · Reused from our cached live weather pool — no extra API calls.

Climate in South America

Long-term normals 1991–2020 per climate zone — not a point forecast.

The Amazon basin is permanently warm and wet, the Andes create cold high-altitude climates at every latitude, and the far south turns cool and windy — seasons are reversed compared with Europe.

Climate zones

Equatorial rainforest

Amazon, Brazil

Monthly average, coldest–warmest: 24°C – 32°C
Annual precipitation: 2300 mm
Best time to go: Jun–Oct

Andean highland

Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador

Monthly average, coldest–warmest: 2°C – 20°C
Annual precipitation: 600 mm
Best time to go: May–Sep

Atacama desert

Northern Chile

Monthly average, coldest–warmest: 12°C – 25°C
Annual precipitation: 5 mm
Best time to go: Year-round

Temperate & Patagonian

Argentina, southern Chile

Monthly average, coldest–warmest: 2°C – 24°C
Annual precipitation: 700 mm
Best time to go: Nov–Mar

Season calendar

A green month is a good month to travel in that climate zone.

Season calendar
Climate zones	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Equatorial rainforest	Jan: –	Feb: –	Mar: –	Apr: –	May: –	Jun: Best time to go	Jul: Best time to go	Aug: Best time to go	Sep: Best time to go	Oct: Best time to go	Nov: –	Dec: –
Andean highland	Jan: –	Feb: –	Mar: –	Apr: –	May: Best time to go	Jun: Best time to go	Jul: Best time to go	Aug: Best time to go	Sep: Best time to go	Oct: –	Nov: –	Dec: –
Atacama desert	Jan: –	Feb: –	Mar: –	Apr: –	May: –	Jun: –	Jul: –	Aug: –	Sep: –	Oct: –	Nov: –	Dec: –
Temperate & Patagonian	Jan: Best time to go	Feb: Best time to go	Mar: Best time to go	Apr: –	May: –	Jun: –	Jul: –	Aug: –	Sep: –	Oct: –	Nov: Best time to go	Dec: Best time to go

Countries(14)

Argentina

Land of tango, Patagonian glaciers, vibrant Buenos Aires, and world-class wine regions.

Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni, La Paz, and incredible Andean landscapes.

Brazil

Amazon rainforest, Rio's iconic beaches, carnival celebrations, and diverse ecosystems.

Chile

From Atacama Desert to Patagonian fjords, Easter Island to wine valleys.

Colombia

Caribbean coast, coffee regions, colonial Cartagena, and biodiversity hotspots.

Ecuador

Galápagos Islands, Andean highlands, Amazon basin, and colonial Quito.

Falkland Islands

Remote British territory with penguin colonies.

French Guiana

South American rainforest and European Space Centre.

Guyana

Kaieteur Falls and Amazonian rainforest.

Paraguay

A landlocked South American country with Guaraní culture and natural reserves.

Peru

Machu Picchu, ancient Inca heritage, Amazon adventures, and renowned cuisine.

Suriname

A South American nation with tropical rainforests and diverse ethnic communities.

Uruguay

A South American nation with Atlantic beaches, gaucho culture, and progressive policies.

Venezuela

A South American nation with Angel Falls, Caribbean coast, and diverse ecosystems.

Local partners

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