Celebrate Under Southern Skies

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 a mountain picnic.

A Different Kind of December

In the Atacama Desert, 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 with a ceremonial bonfire.

Further south, Patagonia offers a quieter celebration. Days are spent exploring Torres del Paine with a private guide before returning to a festive tasting menu created for the season. At Christmas, gingerbread houses and 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.

Further east, Iguazú folows its own rhythm. 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.

In Mendoza, summer stretches long into the evening. Vineyards are at their greenest, tables filed with regional dishes and local wines, and live music drifts through the warm air. It’s a place where celebrations rarely feel orchestrated — they simply grow out of a culture centered on sharing food, wine and good company.

On the Santa Catarina coast, the season is inseparable from the sea. Forest trails lead to secluded beaches and festive dinners are served with the Atlantic stretching beyond the table. At midnight, fireworks shimmer along the shoreline as another year begins.

Celebrate Somewhere Unexpected

There’s something quietly special about spending this time of year somewhere unfamiliar. Whether beneath the stars of the Atacama Desert, among the vineyards of Mendoza, deep in the rainforest or by the Atlantic Ocean, celebrating under southern skies offers a different perspective on the season.

Perhaps the best holiday traditions are the ones you bring home from somewhere else.