4 Cities in South America with Fantastic Christmas Festivities

Not everyone dreams of a white Christmas. Some want a white-sand Christmas instead.

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Unsurprisingly, Caribbean countries are a top choice for Americans who want to flee the cold. But they’re far from the only option on the table for travelers in December.

If you want a temperate, warm Christmastime, then you might want to head south.

All the way to South America.

As an up-and-coming destination for tens of thousands of Americans, Christmas might be the best time to start exploring all this continent has to offer. (Again—I’m excluding the Caribbean.)

If you’re planning a Christmas escape to a warm place for this year or in 2025, then keep these capitals and popular cities on your list. Not only will you benefit from the warmer climate, but you won’t be missing out on the holiday spirit.

Remember, most South American nations are Catholic, meaning Christmas is a big deal.

Where to celebrate Christmas in South America: shortcut

• Best for culture-seekers: Lima, Peru
• Perfect for vibrant celebrations: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Top pick for natural wonders: Santiago, Chile
• Best climate: Medellin, Colombia

Where to celebrate Christmas in South America

Best for culture-seekers: Lima, Peru

Christmas meets Andes culture in Peru’s capital city. With a highly traditional and Catholic population, you’ll notice the Christmas spirit around every corner.

Noche Buena is Christmas Eve—and it’s the main appeal in Lima. Most locals head to midnight mass to ring in Christmas with family and friends.

In terms of weather, you can expect late December temperatures to hover in the 70s. Though that’s far from a warm summer day, don’t forget that this is a high-altitude city—one that will showcase clear, light-filled skies on most days.

On top of its love of Christmas and temperate climate, Lima is also one of the best places to take off on a trip to Machu Picchu.

Heading to Lima for Christmas?

Perfect for vibrant celebrations: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Want a little more fanfare with your Christmas trip to South America? Like almost every type of celebration in Rio de Janeiro, Christmas comes with tons of over-the-top festivities.

There’s a massive, decorated tree in the center of a lake, for example, that includes more than one million lights. There are also holiday-themed projections on Christ the Redeemer—literally a larger-than-life sight.

To put it simply, you’ll be celebrating Christmas in a pure Brazilian style. Along with all the recognizable decorations and celebrations, you also get to dance, parade, and otherwise enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Just keep in mind that while temperatures stay in the 80s during the day, they’ll drop into the 60s at night.

Heading to Rio for Christmas?

Top pick for natural wonders: Santiago, Chile

If you’re a little hesitant to leave behind that winter chill, then book a trip to Santiago, Chile. First and foremost, you can soak up the great mountain views.

With a dramatic mountainous backdrop, Santiago feels a little bit like Denver—and those snow-capped mountains have a classic feel to them.

You can join traditional asados or barbecues while wandering the streets and enjoying the nativity scenes, decorated trees, and treats like cola de mono (a cinnamon-infused liquor drink). Plus, there’s a massive Christmas parade with Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade-style floats. They’re massive.

But, given its proximity to the mountains and southern location, it’ll be a little cool, hovering in the high 70s during the day before dropping into the 50s at night.

Heading to Santiago for Christmas?

Best celebrations: Medellín, Colombia

Christmas light displays are basically an Olympic sport in Medellín. Known locally as el alumbrado (or ‘the lighting’ in English), this publicly funded display spans the entire city. From December 7^th until January 6^th, the lights illuminate the night.

And it’s a beautiful enough spectacle that Disney incorporated the trend into 2022’s Encanto. Seriously—I’d book a trip to Medellín just to soak up the lights.

But aside from the awesome display, you can also enjoy Christmas-themed projections at the Metro Cathedral, along with traditional goods at the city’s Christmas markets.

And did I mention that Medellín is considered the ‘City of Eternal Spring’? Temperatures hover in the low 70s in December during the day before dropping into the 60s and 50s at night.

Heading to Medellín for Christmas?