Best Winter Sun in South America for Families (Dec–Feb)
Updated September 2025 from Quito, Ecuador, lived notes for Ecuador; other regions are planning guides based on climate + family needs. Some recommendations may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you.
These are the tools we use to make travelling with kids a lot easy, these are tried and tested and what we rely on.
💳 Money: Set up Wise or Revolut for multi-currency accounts + cheap transfers.
🛡️ Insurance: SafetyWing family insurance coverage
📱 Connectivity: Buy an Airalo eSIM before you fly.
🏠 Accommodation: Booking.com or Airbnb for long-stay discounts; TrustedHousesitters if you’re flexible.
🎒 Packing: Amazon is your friend for travel gear (packing cubes, filters, kid essentials).
🗓️ Itinerary: Keep first week slow (altitude, jet lag, new routines).
Freebie: Download our Family Travel Toolkit to copy our apps and tools we use to make travelling with KIDS easier.
UK/US winter is South American summer. That means warm Caribbean water, blue-sky days along the Pacific, and long rambla walks down in the Southern Cone. It also means the Andes are rainy right when you’re desperate for sun. If you’re plotting December–February with kids, here’s what actually works—and what to save for later.
Where is warm in South America in December?
December flips the seasons. For straight-up sun + swims, look to Colombia’s Caribbean (Cartagena, Santa Marta, Tayrona) and the Peru coast (Lima, Paracas, Máncora).
Down south, Uruguay and Argentina start their school-holiday summer, great promenades, lifeguarded beaches, and higher prices.
Patagonia is also in season (think wind + jaw-drop scenery, not beach). The Andes (Quito, Cusco) get afternoon showers; fine for city days, not ideal for big hikes but that didn’t stop us.
Best places to visit in South America in January with kids
Colombia’s Caribbean (Cartagena • Santa Marta • Tayrona)
January is dry, hot, and happily predictable on this coast, perfect for families who like a city-plus-beach combo. We do Old City mornings in Cartagena (shade, plazas, gelato bribes), pool + quiet at midday, then sunset laps on the walls when the heat eases.
For sand days, line up a calmer Rosario Islands boat (ask about shade and child lifejackets) or keep it simple with a Castillogrande beach morning.
Where to base:
Old City/San Diego if you want charm and short stroller walks; Bocagrande/Castillogrande if you want bigger hotel pools and easy beach access.
Family-friendly options to check:
➡️ Sofitel Legend Santa Clara (history + pool)
➡️ Hyatt Regency Cartagena (multiple pools)
➡️ Luxstay Cartegena (Budget but with pool)
Heads-up: Christmas/New Year runs pricey (roughly Dec 20–Jan 6). Book ahead, eat early, and plan on siestas. Use official taxis or ride-hail; keep valuables low-key on island boats.
South America in February: family beach destinations to book early
Uruguay & Argentina beaches (Montevideo • Punta del Este • Mar del Plata)
By February the Southern Cone is in full summer swing. If your kids are scooter fiends, Montevideo’s rambla is basically a 20-km playground with city beaches like Pocitos and Carrasco watched by guardavidas (lifeguards).
Over in Punta del Este, split your time between Mansa (calmer bay) and Brava (waves + the famous sculpture).
In Argentina, Mar del Plata is the big show; for calmer vibes look at Cariló/Mar de las Pampas (pine forests, soft sand).
How to not torch the budget:
January is the peak of peaks. February eases a touch, but still… ask hosts for 28-night discounts (15–40%), Airbnb do this automatically on monthly stays, check in Mon–Thu, and look a couple of streets back from the sand.
Apartments with kitchens are a win for breakfasts and post-beach laundry. Ferries make BA ↔ Montevideo/Punta an easy two-country trip.
Car hire helps haul shade tents/snacks (and sleeping children)
Peru coast summer (Dec–Mar): Lima, Máncora
Peru runs two shows this time of year: coast = summer, Andes = wet. So stay seaside now and save highland hikes for later.
Lima (Miraflores/Barranco):
The Malecón is kid heaven—cliff-top parks, scooter paths, paragliders to point at. The beaches below can be pebbly and punchy, so most families treat Lima as city + pool base with day trips.
Easy stays to peek at:
➡️ JW Marriott Lima (pool, opposite Larcomar)
➡️ Miraflores Park – Belmond (suite layouts)
➡️ Flat apartment in Miraflores (Budget)
Máncora / Vichayito / Los Órganos: warmest water in Peru, lots of shaded beach clubs, and kid surf lessons you’ll end up filming too much.
Good bets is to go find hotel resorts on Booking.com or check out airbnb and look for beach side apartments around Vichayito, where there slightly cheaper and beaches less crowded. thats what we are plannign to do.
Reminder: You can visit Cusco/Sacred Valley now, but think museums/markets/short walks, not major treks. The dry window is roughly May–Sept.
Galápagos with kids in Dec–Feb
Galápagos is the place our two keep asking about. Dec–May brings warmer, calmer seas, which makes first snorkels a win rather than a sulk. We’d skip the big cruise with young kids and do island-hopping instead.
Base Santa Cruz (Puerto Ayora) for Tortuga Bay, Las Grietas, tortoise reserves, and a lot of family apartments within flip-flop distance of ice cream [apartment link].
Hop to San Cristóbal for La Lobería (sea lions literally on the beach) and easy coves.
Choose one or two marquee day tours (Pinzón, Seymour) and leave buffer days for beaches and naps. Bigger boats or catamarans, morning departures, and confirmed child lifejackets = fewer “we’re turning back” moments. Self-cater to keep costs sane; bring kids’ snorkel sets so you’re not fighting rental masks [tour link] [transfer link]
Top Tip: If your budget is tight go to Isla de la Plata (Poor mans Galapogas) Locals told us this is basically the same as Galapogas, all the same animals but a fraction of the price and way less crowded.
Patagonia in January/February: worth it with kids?
If “winter sun” for you is sun + big nature rather than “bucket + spade,” and your kids are older (10+) Patagonia’s your poster. It’s summer, but the wind has opinion, pack layers and expect four seasons in a day.
El Calafate: the Perito Moreno Glacier boardwalks are family gold—short walks, massive views, railings (phew), and optional boat rides to stare at the ice face [tour link].
El Chaltén: choose short scenic trails (Mirador de los Cóndores, Chorillo del Salto), start early, and bring snacks like you’re feeding a small army.
Torres del Paine: do day trips from Puerto Natales or an in-park hotel rather than multi-day circuits with littles. You still get the turquoise lakes and guanacos without the meltdown math.
Book stays and key tours early; inventory is limited in peak months. A hire car gives nap-friendly flexibility (and lets you chase the sunshine between squalls) Rent a 4×4 to be on the safe side.
Cooler sun, not scorch: highland city breaks
Prefer blue sky without baking? Try Quito/Cuenca (Ecuador) or Arequipa (Peru) as city breaks. You’ll get mild temps and sunshine windows, but showers are part of the deal Dec–Feb. Our move: morning exploring, museum/market afternoons, and a central apartment with laundry so wet gear doesn’t take over the room…Trust me you dont wanrt to be living in. room of soggy smelling clothes and kids runnign around.
What to pack for South American summer with kids (Dec–Feb)
Keep it light, keep it sane: rash vests, wide-brim hats, mineral sunscreen, quick-dry sandals, and electrolyte sachets for the sweaty days. Add packable ponchos and a small dry bag for boat trips. We travel with 5–7 days of clothes and do laundry on a rhythm; it’s the only way backpacks stay closable. Binus if we have a stay we washing machine included, we the use more regular.
FAQs: winter in South America with kids (quick wins for search)
Is South America warm in December?
Yes, Caribbean Colombia and the Peru coast are sunny and swim-friendly; Uruguay/Argentina are in summer; Andes are rainy.
Where is dry season in December?
Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Peru’s coast, and the Southern Cone beaches. Patagonia is also in season (bring layers).
Best beaches for families in January?
Cartagena/Santa Marta, Máncora/Paracas, Montevideo/Punta, and Cariló/Mar de las Pampas.
Can we visit Cusco in February?
You can, but plan for showers and more city/market/museum time. Save big hikes for May–Sept.
Plan your trip (and keep costs sensible)
Grab our Free Family Travel Toolkit the exact money setup (Wise), eSIM (Airalo), family insurance picks, and our tools and apps we use to make travelling as a family of 4 easier.
Then you just need to pick a bas from abovee: Cartagena, Paracas, Máncora, Montevideo, a Galápagos combo, or Patagonia if you’re more fleece than flippers. December–February goes fast—book the beds first, everything else we can wing together.
