LUXURY CHRISTMAS TRIPS TO CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
Christmas is one of our favourite times to be in Latin America.
Schools have broken up, families can travel for longer, and much of the region is at its best. Instead of short days and cold weather, expect long evenings outdoors, summer temperatures and plenty of opportunities to be active, should you wish.
You might spend Christmas on a working estancia in Argentina, riding out with gauchos by day and gathering around the barbecue in the evening; take over a beach house on Brazil’s Bahian coast; or retreat to a rainforest lodge in Costa Rica, surrounded by monkeys, toucans and tropical forest. We have an excellent book of private properties across the region for larger families looking to spend time together without feeling confined to a hotel.
These are the destinations we most often recommend for festive escapes; all are places we would go ourselves, and offer something very different from Christmas at home.
A Costa Rican Christmas in the Wild
Few countries pack as much into such a compact area as Costa Rica: rainforest, cloud forest and coastline can all be combined in a single trip, and Christmas falls within the country’s driest, sunniest months.
Begin at Pacuare Lodge, one of the most memorable arrivals anywhere in Latin America. Reached by white-water raft, the journey follows the Pacuare River through a steep, forested canyon before emerging at the lodge itself. Days here are spent exploring the river and rainforest: swimming beneath waterfalls, spotting toucans and motmots from jungle trails, kayaking and taking in the sounds of the forest.
From there, head into the hills of Guanacaste. Hacienda Montezuma is a favourite for families, offering plenty of space to spread out. Ride out with the sabaneros, hike through the forest, swim in the lake and spend evenings around a barbecue while keeping an eye out for sloths and tapirs passing through the property.
Finish on the Osa Peninsula, described by National Geographic as “the most biologically intense place on Earth.” It makes a fitting finale: scarlet macaws overhead, monkeys in the trees, boat trips through mangroves and long stretches of wild coastline where it often feels as though you have the beach to yourself.
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Gauchos and Tango in Argentina
Christmas in Argentina means long evenings, outdoor meals and summer temperatures. It’s a destination that lends itself particularly well to families looking to combine time in the countryside with culture and adventure.
We would generally avoid spending Christmas Day in Buenos Aires, as it can feel eerily quiet; porteños gather with family and many shops and restaurants close their doors. Before or after, however, it’s a wonderful place to spend a few days wandering its neighbourhoods, ducking into tango milongas and soaking up the city’s energy.
For Christmas itself, we’d be more inclined to head north to Salta, home to dramatic red-rock mountains, high-altitude vineyards and dusty Andean villages. An estancia stay brings everyone together, with days spent riding, walking in the countryside and around the table; Pampa Grande is a favourite.
For those looking to add a dose of wilderness, Patagonia delivers – though it’s also at its busiest. Long daylight hours make full days on foot or horseback possible, whether around the lake districts of the north or among the glaciers and peaks further south. We can steer you to the quieter corners, away from the crowds.
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Brazil: Rio, the Amazon and the Bahian coast
Christmas in Brazil means high summer and the build-up to Réveillon (New Year), the biggest night of the Brazilian year. It’s the hottest and busiest time to visit Rio de Janeiro, but also one of the most atmospheric; on New Year’s Eve, millions dressed in white descend on Copacabana beach and offerings of flowers are floated out to Iemanjá, the sea goddess, before the fireworks begin.
From Rio, fly north into the Amazon for a completely different pace. A charter aboard the Tupaiu allows access to parts of the river system that few ever reach, exploring narrow tributaries and flooded forests by skiff, with pink river dolphins, macaws and river communities often encountered along the way. It is a world away from the beaches and cities of the coast. Further inland, the lush, rolling landscapes of Minas Gerais beckon, with the Ibiti Project being our favourite place to spend an active few days hiking, riding and biking.
End in Bahia for beach time and Afro-Brazilian culture. The clifftop beach town of Trancoso has one of Brazil’s most energetic scenes, with world-famous New Year’s Eve beach parties, but beware crowds and traffic; taking over a villa and settling in for the week is often the most enjoyable approach. Further north, Itacaré offers a more laid-back alternative, with rainforest, cacao plantations and some of the country’s best surf.
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Chile: A Journey into the Land of Volcanoes and Glaciers
Chile rewards those willing to cover ground: desert in the north, glaciers in the south, lakes and vineyards in between. Over Christmas, when the southern summer brings long days and settled weather, there are few better places to be.
You might begin in the Atacama, spending a few days among salt flats, geysers and high-altitude lagoons at a desert lodge. For a truly off-grid adventure, spend a night at a pop-up camp in the dunes in a bell tent with a proper bed, with dinner around the campfire and stargazing beneath some of the planet’s clearest night skies.
Christmas itself belongs in Patagonia, among granite peaks, glaciers and open steppe. Most head straight for the trails of Torres del Paine, which are saturated at this time of year; we prefer to steer travellers to northern Patagonia, such as the Carretera Austral or Neuquén, which remain mercifully free from crowds. Finish in the vineyards of the Casablanca Valley for cool-climate wines and lunches among the vines.
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Colombia: Cartagena, Cowboys and the Chocó
Christmas falls during one of the best times to visit Colombia’s coast and cities, as warm days and low rainfall bring ideal conditions for exploring.
Start in colourful Cartagena, where the old walled city is at its best in the dry December heat. From here, continue west to El Chocó: the ultimate Robinson Crusoe destination, this ultra-remote, jungle-backed part of the Pacific coast is one of the world’s great biodiversity hotspots. Morromico sits alone in its own bay, reached only by boat. Spend a few days hiking jungle trails, floating along rivers, visiting local Afro-Colombian fishing villages, and spotting wildlife.
Next, head east to the plains of Los Llanos, which stretch towards Venezuela in a vast sweep of savannah and wetland. Dry season is the best time for spotting wildlife here: capybara, giant anteaters, caiman and huge flocks of scarlet ibis. Days are spent riding out with llanero cowboys along the riverbank, paddling aboard traditional bongo canoes, and tracking jaguar.
Finish in the Andes with a few slow days in Barichara, often called Colombia’s prettiest town, for perfectly preserved red-tiled buildings and cobbled streets, artisan workshops, and dramatic views over the Chicamocha Canyon. The brave can try the local delicacy, hormigas culonas: roasted leaf-cutter ants, eaten here since pre-Hispanic times.
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When to Plan
The best festive trips require a little more planning than usual. Christmas and New Year are among the busiest weeks of the year across Latin America, and our favourite places are often booked many months in advance. To get into the most sought-after mountain lodges and our favourite private properties, book a year ahead.
If you can’t, then think outside the box, avoid the iconic areas and keep an open mind. Instead of Southern Patagonia, think northern Patagonia. Pivot from Costa Rica to its culturally more interesting neighbour, Nicaragua.
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Looking for more inspiration?
Where to Travel in December
Where to Travel in January
Where to Travel in February
