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Frequently Asked Questions Q: When should I go? A: If you have a flexible schedule, you should plan your trip with respect to the climates in the various parts that you wish to visit. South America's seasons are opposite to those of the Northern Hemisphere. So going to Patagonia in July is like going to Alaska in January-not a good idea unless you don't mind sub-freezing temperatures. If you are planning to spend several months in South America, whether it be on or off the "Gringo Trail", you'll probably wind up passing through many of the coastal cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Santiago, Chile. Your basic path will probably take you, for the most part, around the circumference of the continent since many of the most interesting places are found there. Thus, you'll want to determine where to start then whether to go clockwise or counter-clockwise. By some stroke of fortune, I experienced a life-changing event exactly one month before the beginning of Carnaval and became available to take part in it. Although it would be difficult to pack all my possessions and ship them home then shop for an undetermined length of time on a foreign land, I had no trouble deciding that I would start in Brazil. Once I arrived, I found out that the seasons near the equator are not distinguishable by temperature but by precipitation. Clearly, I did not want to spend extra days in buses through Ecuador and Bolivia due to washed-out roads. Plus, I wanted to spend some time in Patagonia, which begins to get fairly cold and windy in late March-believe me, I can verify this fact. Therefore, I headed southward after Carnaval in February. Summary by Region North (Andean) - Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia Rainy season is roughly from November to April. Unless you want to push your bus through the mud, you'll be there from May to October. Ecuador, in particular, is delightful in July and August. Central - Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires - Summer vacation is in January and February. The hot spot to go is Punta Oleste, Uruguay. For me, Rio was too hot in February. It was near 100 degrees just about every day. South - Patagonia - The trails are most crowded in January and February. In early April, the trails begin to close and the wind is fierce. March is the best month to be in Patagonia. November and December are also supposed to be good. next: How much money will my trip to South America cost? Return to FAQS Have a question that isn't answered here, submit a question and we'll post a response on the site. Make sure to check back soon to see your answer. Add FAQ

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