Travel to South America in April

April is a month of transformation across South America, when shifting seasons bring unique spectacles and ideal conditions to many regions.

In Bolivia’s high Andes, the last rains of the season can still create the mirror-like surface of the Salar de Uyuni, turning parts of the world’s largest salt flat into a seamless reflection of sky and cloud — one of the continent’s most unforgettable scenes when conditions align.

In Peru, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu remain lush from the rainy season, with bright, clear mornings, dramatic afternoon light, and quieter trails. If Holy Week falls this month, cities like Cusco and Quito come alive with colorful processions and time-honored traditions.

The Amazon stays in its high-water season, allowing canoes to glide deep into flooded forests alive with macaws, pink river dolphins, and playful monkeys. In Patagonia, crisp autumn air bathes lenga forests in gold and crimson, with soft light and peaceful trails as the season winds down.

The Galápagos offers warm seas and abundant marine life, from hatching giant tortoises to the courtship displays of blue-footed boobies. In Ecuador’s highlands, orchids bloom across green valleys under clear skies, while Chile and Argentina’s wine regions host their final vendimia celebrations. On Colombia’s Caribbean coast, sunny weather returns to Cartagena and the islands, and in northern Brazil, the first dry days bring golden light to palm-fringed beaches.