Best Places to Visit in South America in January 2026

South America in January ranges from about 11°C (Puerto Natales) to 32°C (Foz do Iguaçu). Median around 22°C. The exact temperature depends heavily on which destination — coastal vs inland, north vs south, altitude all matter.

Puerto Natales, Chile averages around 11°C in January — the coolest destination in South America on our list. Worth checking peak/shoulder season too: even with cool temps, January may not be peak for the destination.

Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil runs around 32°C in January — the warmest destination in South America on our list. If you're chasing summer in winter or beach weather year-round, this is the move.

Across South America we have 40 destinations with weather data. Whether January is "good" depends on what you're after: cool weather, warm weather, peak season pricing or shoulder. The list below sorts by temperature so you can match destinations to your weather preference.