Celebrate New Year’s Eve Across South America
Celebrate Somewhere Unexpected
The end of the year doesn’t look the same everywhere. Across South America, celebrating under
southern skies means experiencing traditions shaped by remarkable landscapes and local cultures.
In northern Chile, stars settle over the desert beneath some of the clearest skies on Earth. Across the Andes, summer evenings in Mendoza drift from vineyard tours to candlelit dinners in wine country. Iguazú hums with the sounds of the rainforest long after sunset, while on Brazil’s Emerald Coast, December arrives with warmer waters and the scent of salt carried on the breeze.
With a private guide and 4×4 vehicle, each day is shaped around what interests you most, whether
that’s setting out before sunrise or lingering a little longer over lunch.
Five Lodges, Five Ways to Celebrate New Year's in South America
Santa Catarina
Forest trails lead to secluded beaches and festive dinners are served with the Atlantic stretching beyond the table. On Christmas, a specially curated menu marks the season. As midnight approaches on New Year’s Eve, you’ll find yourself surrounded by those who matter, music, an open bar, and fireworks that echo against the shoreline as one year gives way to the next. A pause to celebrate, together.
Atacama
Mornings begin among salt flats, volcanoes and high-altitude lagoons before giving way to evenings beneath extraordinary skies. Christmas is marked with a seasonal menu inspired by local traditions, while New Year’s Eve concludes with La Quema del Mono, a long-held Chilean custom that welcomes the year ahead around a ceremonial bonfire.
Patagonia
Days are spent exploring Torres del Paine with
a private guide before returning to a festive tasting menu created for the season. At Christmas, seasonal in-vila amenities bring a sense of warmth to the wilderness. On New Year’s Eve, cocktails, a multi-course dinner and a bottle of sparkling wine mark the beginning of another year, accompanied by live musicians.
Mendoza
In Mendoza, summer stretches long into the evening: vineyards at their greenest, tables filled with regional dishes and local wines. This season, we celebrate with our partners: an intimate Cena de Nochebuena at the 24 with Matervini and a New Year dinner with Viña Cobos, moments where terroir, tradition, and genuine partnership come together beneath the Andes.
Iguazú
Rainforest walks, hidden corners of the national park and the constant soundtrack of birds, insects and rushing waterfals fil the days. As evening fals, Argentine flavours take center stage beneath a canopy of towering trees.
A Season Unlike Any Other
When the rest of the world gathers indoors, South America is awakening. December arrives as the height of summer here, with long evenings that stretch beyond sunset, warmth that invites movement, and landscapes at their most alive.
Christmas dinners beneath stars that seem close enough to touch. New Year’s toasts along coastlines and mountain peaks. Wine ceremonies in vineyards at their most vibrant. Trails that lead deeper into nature.
Here, summer is an invitation to experience celebration as transformation.
South America Holidays: Combining Two or More Awasi Lodges
The most transformative journeys here move through biomes and seasons. Imagine Christmas in Patagonia’s glacier-blue waters, followed by New Year’s in the Atacama’s starlight. Our team handles connections, transfers, and logistics—you simply arrive and transition between worlds.
Explore our curated itineraries for inspiration, or discover our Across Biomes and Awasi Trilogy itineraries, designed specifically for those ready to experience the continent in depth.
Festive Season
When is the best time to visit Awasi for the holidays?
All five Awasi lodges are open during the November–January holiday season. Patagonia and Atacama are in peak season in December and January, with optimal weather and maximum daylight in Patagonia. Mendoza, Iguazú, and Santa Catarina are also at their best during this period. Guests planning holiday stays, particularly over Christmas and New Year’s, are encouraged to book from July onward, as availability fills early.
What New Year’s Eve experiences does Awasi offer?
Each lodge marks New Year’s Eve in its own way, rooted in the traditions and character of its location. At Awasi Atacama, guests take part in the quemar el malo ritual — a local tradition of burning the old year under the desert night sky. At Awasi Patagonia, the long summer evening becomes the celebration itself, with the sun still on the horizon at midnight in midsummer. At Awasi Mendoza, the evening centers on an asado with tango, drawing on the deep culinary culture of the Argentine wine country. At Awasi Iguazú, festive tasting menus highlight regional and seasonal ingredients. At Awasi Santa Catarina, the New Year arrives on the Atlantic Coast with music and open views of the ocean.
Can I visit more than one Awasi lodge in a single holiday trip?
Yes — combining lodges is one of the most popular ways to experience the Awasi collection. Guests who combine two or more properties receive complimentary hotel stays in connecting cities, and the Awasi team coordinates all logistics and transfers. The ‘Across Biomes’ offer covers two-lodge combinations with a ten percent discount on each property; the ‘Awasi Trilogy’ extends this to three lodges with a fifteen percent saving. A typical two-week holiday itinerary might combine Christmas in Patagonia with New Year’s in the Atacama, with a connection through Santiago.
Is the private guide experience included during the holiday period?
Yes. Every villa at every Awasi lodge includes a dedicated private guide and 4×4 vehicle throughout the stay, regardless of the season. During the holiday period, this means guests can design their own celebration — choosing where to mark midnight, which excursion to take on New Year’s Day, and how to spend the quiet days between Christmas and the new year. There are no shared group excursions and no fixed daily schedules.
What should I know about the weather in South America in December and January?
December and January are high summer in the southern hemisphere. Patagonia experiences its best weather of the year, with long days, mild temperatures, and the full wildflower and wildlife season. The Atacama remains dry and clear, with excellent conditions for stargazing and outdoor excursions. Mendoza is warm and sunny, with the vineyards approaching harvest season. Iguazú and Santa Catarina are at their warmest and most lush. Guests should plan for warm temperatures across all locations and variable winds in Patagonia.
