Things to Do in South America in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
May Weather in South America
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
63°F (17°C)
High Temp
46°F (8°C)
Low Temp
0.1 inches (3 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ High UV at altitude - sunburn possible in under 30 min above 3,000 m (9,843 ft)
Is May Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Shoulder season delivers thinner crowds at headline sites - Machu Picchu mornings feel half-empty compared with July gridlock, and you'll find space on the classic Torres del Paine W-trek platforms.
- + Airfares and Andean hotels are currently running 15-25 % below June-August peaks. The same Lima-Cusco flight that hits wallet-pain levels in July is still reasonably priced in May.
- + Wine harvest energy lingers in Chile's Central Valley - roads between Santa Rita and Concha y Toro smell of crushed grapes, and cellar doors run daily barrel-sampling tours without summer's bus-tour scrum.
- + Amazon water levels in Peru and Ecuador are dropping after the wet season, so jungle lodges around Puerto Maldonado and Tena are reachable by trail rather than long boat transfers - better wildlife sightlines, fewer mosquitoes.
Considerations
- − Patagonian fronts still spin through - Torres del Paine can throw sleet at 100 km/h (62 mph) even on blue-bird mornings, so you'll carry a full layering system that you might not need in high summer.
- − Brazil's northeast is sliding into its dry-to-wet transition; Recife and Fortaleza beaches see 180 mm (7.1 in) over 12 days - plenty of sun between bursts. But boat trips to Fernando de Noronha get cancelled more often.
- − Altiplano nights are cold - La Paz, Uyuni and northern Argentina drop to -2 °C (28 °F) after sunset, so camping the Uyuni salt flat means a -5 °C (23 °F) rated bag and you'll still see your breath at breakfast.
Best Activities in May
Top things to do during your visit
Colca Canyon condor viewpoints trekking
Thermals start rising by 8 a.m. in May, lifting Andean condors within 30 m (98 ft) of Cruz del Condor rim - cool 12 °C (54 °F) dawn temps keep the birds airborne longer, and post-Easter crowds are gone.
Booking Tip: Overnight in Chivay or Yanque the night before. Licensed Colca guides leave at 5 a.m. to beat the tour-bus convoy from Arequipa. See current day-hike and multi-day options in the booking section below.
Mendoza high-altitude vineyard cycling
Days sit at 22 °C (72 °F), UV is strong but humidity low - good for pedalling between Luján de Cuyo and Valle de Uco estates without the January oven effect. Harvest equipment is still in the yards, giving cellar tours a working feel.
Booking Tip: Book 5-7 days out. Look for operators that supply 29er mountain bikes, helmet and follow-car support for the 1,100 m (3,609 ft) ridge climb to the Zuccardi viewpoint.
Galápagos land-and-sea wildlife circuits
May water temperature hovers at 23 °C (73 °F) so you can snorkel without a thick wetsuit, yet it's outside US spring-break swell - visitor numbers drop 20 %, meaning sea-lion pups on Gardner Bay outnumber tourists.
Booking Tip: Choose 5-day/4-night itineraries that combine speedboat day trips with Santa Cruz highland hikes; inter-island flights fill first, so reserve domestic connections when you lock the cruise.
Rio de Janeiro samda circle experiences
Pre-winter humidity keeps nights warm at 24 °C (75 °F); Lapa arches echo with roda de samba on Mondays and Fridays, and you won't queue 45 min for caipirinhas like December.
Booking Tip: Small-group evening tours start at 7 p.m., include metro pickup in Copacabana/Ipanema and finish with churrasco at a Carioca's favourite boteco - check current samba nights in the booking widget.
Uyuni salt-flat 4×4 sunrise photography
Dry crust is firm enough for vehicles, and overnight frost creates a glassy sheen that reflects starlight before dawn. Day temps reach 15 °C (59 °F) so you can shed layers by 10 a.m.
Booking Tip: Book the sunrise leg only if your operator supplies sleeping bags rated to -10 °C (14 °F) and hot-water lodging in Tahua - multi-day circuits should be reserved 10 days ahead in May.
Where to Stay in South America in May
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for May travellers.
May Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Mid May
Fiesta de las Cruitas y el Agua, Carhuaz - Callejón de Huaylas, Peru
High-Ander water festival: villagers dance behind brass bands, then spray each other with perfumed water in 18 °C (64 °F) sunshine - think of it as a mountain Songkran. Arrive by colectivo from Huaraz. Bring dry clothes in a plastic bag.
Early May
Festa do Divino, Paraty, Brazil
Colonial-era procession through cobblestone streets, free communal feijoada served from iron cauldrons, and 19 °C (66 °F) sea breezes that keep the historic centre comfortable. Accommodation fills locally, so reserve pousadas two weeks out.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View South America Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Colombia's coffee region is in full bloom - if you're flying Bogotá-Medellín, detour to Salento for 48 h. Hotel owners often throw in free coffee-farm tours when occupancy drops after Easter.
Book domestic legs on LATAM and Azul first; May seat sales appear 6-8 weeks out, and foreign sites sometimes miss regional promo codes.
Buenos Aires restaurants roll out ñoqui de papa on the 29th for Dia de Ñoquis - order the potato gnocchi and slip a peso note under your plate for luck. Tourists rarely know the ritual.
Cash still rules in Argentina's blue-dollar economy. Bring crisp USD 50s/100s to swap at Florida Street cuevas and you effectively shave 30 % off hotel bills paid in pesos.
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming Brazil is beach-perfect everywhere - Fortaleza averages 12 rain days in May, so build flex days or you'll lose boat excursions.
Book the overnight. Afternoon storms pile up over the Andes and delay 30 % of May Cusco-Lima flights. One lost connection ruins the trip. Sleep in Lima. Fly fresh tomorrow.
La Paz airport perches at 4,060 m (13,320 ft). Two nights in the city first. Skip this and you'll huff across the Salar mirrors like a landed fish. Acclimatize. Then dash to Uyuni.
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