Christmas & New Year Tours in South America
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10 best Christmas & New Year South America tour packages
Compiled by
NinaSouth America travel expert at TourRadar
- 5 Countries: Rio de Janeiro to La Paz (30 Days)
- Southern Divide
- Cultural and Nature Experience in the Andes
- Galapagos Cruise & Peru in Depth (Grand Queen Beatriz)
- Galapagos & Inca Trail Adventure (33 destinations)
- 【South America】 21 days 5-country tour to Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru Package
- Exploring South America - 13 days
- The most beautiful New Year's Eve in the world in Copacabana
- Perú, Argentina & Brazil - Wonders of the World
- 8/7 Christmas Machu Picchu Peru (Small Group)
Duration 30 days Destinations Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia Age Range 18 to 70 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Hi Travel Argentina From
- NZ$4,769
Southern Divide
11 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“This was the first time leaving my home country and Eddy just made everything so easy.”
William, traveled in September
South America's iconic sites host 21 days of holiday celebrations. Cusco's historic center glows at Christmas, Machu Picchu offers peaceful low-season visits, and Bolivia's salt flats welcome the New Year. Special festive meals enhance the journey.
Duration 21 days Destinations Peru, Bolivia, Chile Age Range up to 90 year olds Operator G Adventures From $6,919
15% Off- NZ$5,881You save $1,038
Cultural and Nature Experience in the Andes
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The hotels were strategically located, in walking distance of the center of town.”
Lydia, traveled in May
South America's spectacular sites provide holiday backdrops. Machu Picchu's ruins host Christmas explorations before Santiago's festive New Year atmosphere. Lake Titicaca and La Paz share seasonal traditions with holiday-themed celebrations.
Duration 15 days Destinations Peru, Bolivia, Chile Age Range 10 to 70 year olds Operator EUROLATINO Tour Operators From
15% Off- NZ$7,093
Duration 24 days Destinations Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia Age Range 15 to 99 year olds Operator Intrepid Travel From
15% Off- NZ$24,570+$366 local payments
The holiday season comes alive across South America's most captivating sites. Dive into Christmas snorkeling at Leon Dormido, master traditional encebollado cooking in Santa Cruz, and trek through Sacred Valley communities. Camp under stars on the Inca Trail before reaching Machu Picchu.
Duration 17 days Destinations Ecuador, Mexico, Peru Age Range 15 to 99 year olds Operator Intrepid Travel From
15% Off- NZ$10,380+$382 local payments
Holiday magic unfolds across South America with Christmas markets in Buenos Aires and New Year festivities in vibrant cities. The festive Windsor Excelsior Rio and Inkaterra Hacienda Amazon welcome visitors. Christ the Redeemer and Machu Picchu shine with seasonal charm.
Duration 21 days Destinations Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru Age Range 2 to 99 year olds Operator Delightful Travel From
15% Off- NZ$16,465
Exploring South America - 13 days
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Say Hueque made all of my travel plans a lot easier. I felt very safe the entire time and like I was cared for well.”
Bonnie, traveled in October
Machu Picchu provides a magical Christmas backdrop before Rio's New Year extravaganza. Buenos Aires comes alive with tango shows, Iguazú Falls adds natural drama to seasonal celebrations, and Sacred Valley's holiday markets bustle. Casa Sur Palermo leads the selected hotels, featuring special holiday events.
Duration 13 days Destinations Peru, Argentina, Brazil Age Range 1 to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Say Hueque Argentina & Chile Journeys From
15% Off- NZ$7,316
Duration 8 days Destinations Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis, Arraial Do Cabo Age Range up to 85 year olds Operator We Travel Discovery From
15% Off- NZ$3,974
Perú, Argentina & Brazil - Wonders of the World
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We took in some incredible scenery, explored interesting cities, learned about the South American culture and history.”
Ian, traveled in September
Duration 15 days Destinations Peru, Argentina, Brazil Age Range 2 to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Receptivo Aborigen Tours From $6,650
10% Off- NZ$5,985You save $665
The festive season merges with history in this South American adventure. Lima's colonial center beckons, Cusco's Plaza de Armas radiates holiday spirit, and Machu Picchu awaits discovery. Perfect for travelers aged 3+.
Duration 9 days Destinations Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian Operator ILE Tours From
10% Off- NZ$2,976
What people love about Christmas & New Year Tours in South America
- Southern Divide
This tour was fantastic and our tour guide Eddie was the best CEO ever. If every G Adventures tour is like this, I would have no problems recommending them. I did get quite sick with altitude in Peru and Bolivia, so make sure you take precautions just in case. Limit your expectations for buses etc and you will be pleasantly surprised. The people were great, the local food was great (make sure you get recommendations from your CEO so you don't end up sick, we didn't get food poisoning at all once we joined the tour). If you opt to do the death road tour it was a great experience. I went in the bus, which I think was more dangerous then doing it on the bike.
- Exploring South America - 13 days
This was an incredible lifetime tour that we really enjoyed. The accommodation in some of the stays was quite poor relative to the lifetime experience that this was. In Machu Picchu the hotel we stayed in had a long power cut when we arrived and then a further long one later in the evening.
- South America: Glaciers, Water Falls & World Wonders
We went on the 18 day Glaciers We went on the 18 day Glaciers, Water Falls & World Wonders tour. With over 18,000 miles flown from our home in the Pacific Northwest and 2 bus trips, we often times didn’t know if we were coming or going. Wanderful Holidays took care of all the details with our airline boarding passes, bus tickets, pickups to and from airports and hotels and our accommodations. On our one small snafu, I texted Rose Amanda and she got back to me within 20 seconds and the problem was fixed within 20 minutes. The food was excellent, the hotels great and it was the perfect combination of natural wonders and beautiful cosmopolitan cities, especially Rio and Copacabana Beach. We would recommend Wanderful Holidays to anyone looking for a fun, carefree and exciting vacation. Thank you Wanderful! Sean Hanlon
What our customers ask about Christmas & New Year Tours in South America
What are the best destinations to visit in South America during Christmas & New Year?
South America offers excellent holiday destinations with distinct local flavors. Buenos Aires comes alive with tango shows at venues like La Ventana while Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach hosts one of the world's largest New Year's celebrations. In Peru Cusco and Machu Picchu blend ancient traditions with holiday festivities. Santiago's Plaza de Armas transforms into a festive hub with Christmas markets. Many travelers who book through TourRadar recommend stays at properties like the Altiplanico Bellas Artes in Santiago saying "the atmosphere was magical during the holidays."
What's the weather like in South America during the Christmas & New Year period?
December and January bring summer to South America with consistently good weather for travel. Buenos Aires sees temperatures of 25-30°C (77-86°F). The Andean regions including Cusco enter their wet season with afternoon showers and temperatures near 20°C (68°F). Coastal cities like Lima stay warm and dry at about 24°C (75°F). A TourRadar traveler noted "We experienced perfect weather for sightseeing during our Christmas tour through Peru and Argentina though we needed to pack both summer clothes and rain gear for different locations."
What special Christmas & New Year celebrations or activities are included in South American tours?
Tours across South America feature local holiday traditions. Buenos Aires offers tango dinner shows at La Ventana Tango House with special holiday performances. Cusco's Plaza de Armas hosts Christmas markets where visitors can browse local crafts. Many hotels organize festivities such as the Hilton Lima Miraflores' gala dinners and Sonesta Hotel Cusco's holiday events. According to a TourRadar traveler "The New Year's celebration in Buenos Aires was unforgettable with live music traditional dancing and amazing food."
How do South American Christmas traditions differ from Western celebrations?
South American Christmas reflects a mix of Catholic heritage and regional customs. Cusco's Santuranticuy fills Plaza de Armas on Christmas Eve with vendors selling crafts and religious items. In Rio revelers dress in white for Reveillon at Copacabana Beach. Argentinian families gather for late Christmas Eve dinners centered around asado barbecue. A TourRadar traveler noted: "Experiencing Christmas in Peru showed us a beautiful mix of colonial Spanish traditions and indigenous Andean customs."
What special holiday meals and traditions can I experience during Christmas & New Year tours?
Each country offers distinct holiday foods and customs. Argentina serves traditional asado and pan dulce at places like LIBERTADOR Hotel. Brazilian reveillon celebrations feature seafood and champagne at hotels such as Windsor Excelsior. As noted by a TourRadar traveler: "The Christmas Eve dinner at Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion in Peru combined traditional turkey with Amazonian specialties - truly unforgettable." Tour packages often include special holiday meals that showcase local traditions.
What are the must-see destinations for Christmas & New Year in South America?
Key locations include Copacabana Beach in Rio for its New Year's celebration Buenos Aires' La Boca district for Christmas markets and Santiago's Plaza de Armas for traditional events. TourRadar travelers note: "The combination of Iguazu Falls and Christmas celebrations in both Brazil and Argentina was magical." Visitors should consider Machu Picchu for solstice celebrations Valparaiso's harbor fireworks display and holiday stays at Amazon lodges like Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion.
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