12 Best Places to Visit in Central and South America in May

If you are preparing for a grand holiday in May, then you must take a look our article on the 12 best places to visit in Central and South America in May.

Although there are a few months to go before we get to May, you need to plan ahead of time if you want to make the most of your holiday.  In essence, we wish to provide you with a comprehensive list of the best countries to visit in South America and the best places to visit in Central America in May. The thing is, unlike North America, there are quite a few countries in Central and South America and the weather varies from one place to another due to the geography. We want to give you the list of places where you will have the optimal experience as a tourist during the month of May. If you visit a place and remain confined to your hotel room due to bad weather, then there is no point in visiting it, right? It is crucial to factor in South American weather and seasons when planning a trip there.

If you are just visiting South or Central America for the first time, which is the case for many of our readers, then you will have a little difficulty coming up with the most effective travel plan. However, we have already done all the heavy lifting for you if you are planning a visit in May, and you can rely on our findings to plan your trip. With that said, what if you want to go on a vacation during April, we’ve got you covered for April as well. Just take a look at the 12 Best Places to Visit in Central and South America in April. Another likely scenario is that you want to visit Europe or other parts of the world in May, and if you are unsure where to go, then check out the 15 Best Places to Travel in May in Europe, Asia and Tropical Destinations, In case you would prefer to remain in the United States, then check out the 15 Best Places to Visit in USA in May.

To find the best places of tourist interest in South America and Central America we employed several techniques. First up we took a look at the Global peace index 2017 to find out the most peaceful countries in Central and South America. Then we went ahead and found out the top tourist destinations in those countries. In order to determine the top destinations, we used websites like Trip Advisor, Price of Travel and Travel and Leisure, which gave us enough data to work with. For rankings, we took into consideration the weather of each location in May (we had to look at weather patterns and forecasts for that we used The Best Time to Visit). We also went through travel-related forums for reviews of places and expert opinions. Finally, we took into account the cost of stay per night as well. We put Google’s trusty search engine through its paces for all the additional information.

Let’s get our list of 12 best places to visit in Central and South America in May started, so you can start planning your dream vacation.

12. San Pedro, Belize

San Pedro is a small yet beautiful town located in the southern part of Ambergris Caye, Belize, and it is one of the most expensive places in all of Central America. However, if you do decide to visit San Pedro, then we can guarantee that you will not regret your visit. The town is teeming with seafood restaurants, beach bars and all the luxuries of an extravagant pleasure town.

11. Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Guanacaste ranks 11th on our list of best places to visit in Central and South America in May. It covers most of the northern Pacific territories of Costa Rica. It offers a wide range of hotels and resorts that can fit anyone’s expectations. You can stay at Guanacaste for as little as $40, or if you like really expensive places, you can spend upwards of $200 per night for the stay. This place is famous for its beautiful beaches and bio-diverse parks spread across the province.

10. San Jose, Costa Rica

At number 10 on our list of best places to visit in Central and South America in May, we again have a city from Costa Rica. San Jose is not just any city though, as it is the very capital of Costa Rica. Any list you come across detailing the best places to visit in Central America will have San Jose listed since this place is so good. Yes, it is a bit expensive compared to other central American tourist destinations, but the cost is outweighed by its natural beauty and cultural significance for sure.

9. Santa Ana, El Salvador

If you love coffee and would like to take a closer look at coffee production, then you cannot go wrong with Santa Ana. Apart from that, you will also be able to visit quite a few beautiful historic landmarks during your stay in Santa Ana like the ornate Santa Ana National Theater and the Neo-Gothic Santa Ana Cathedral.

8. Bariloche, Argentina

This Argentinian city is famous for its delicious chocolates and also its Swiss alpine-style architecture. Although we are talking about a tour in May, you can also visit Bariloche during the winter months, as the city becomes a popular ski destination during winter. During May the city is crowded with people looking to take part in water sports and outdoor activities in the adjacent mountains.

7. La Paz, Bolivia

We are continuing our list of best places to visit in Central and South America in May with La Paz, which is a unique tourist destination, as it is situated approximately 3,500 meters above sea level. Until recently, this city was quite difficult to access for outsiders, but now the situation is changed, and you will find tourists from all over the world visiting La Paz. The city is really beautiful and blessed with constantly pleasant weather all year round.

6. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro needs no introduction. It is one of the best places to visit on this planet, not just in the continent of America. Rio de Janeiro is also quite reasonable, especially if you choose to stay in a 1 or 2-star hotel. However, the downside to that is you won’t be able to stay near the amazing beaches, and you have to hitch a ride to and from there.

5. Santiago, Chile

We are halfway through our list of 12 best places to visit in Central and South America in May, and at number 5 we have Santiago the glorious Chilean capital city. Santiago also happens to be the largest city in the country. The city offers great nightlife and tons of things to do for tourists. The city’s natural beauty is almost overwhelming as it sits among the snow-capped Andes mountain range and the Chilean Coast.

4. Medellín, Colombia

The city of Medellín has been nicknamed the City of Eternal Spring, for its beautiful year-round weather. The city has inspired many artists over the years to create their masterpieces, and if you love art, then you will definitely love the City of Eternal Spring. On top of that, Medellín is one of the cheapest cities on this list as well.

3. Lima, Peru

Now Lima at a glance may not seem like the ideal tourist destination for tourism during the month of May, as the city comes to its own during the winter season. However, during May you are going to find some amazing deals, and the cost of visiting Lima during May is going to be significantly less compared to winter months. You may not find many tourists during May, but you will find Lima equally appealing and colorful.

2. Quito, Ecuador

One of the cheapest destinations on our list of best places to visit in Central and South America in May, is Quito the Capital city of Ecuador. If you are thinking less than $10 per night, then Quito is where you will find it. On top of that, this Ecuadorian city has the best weather during the month of May although the city pretty much experiences great weather during the whole year as it sits 2,850 meters above the sea level.

1. Cartagena, Colombia

At the very pinnacle of our list, we have Cartagena, the famous Colombian city situated on the Caribbean coast of the country. Although technically, we are not crossing over to the Caribbean, but if you visit Cartagena, you can expect great weather and amazing beaches just like in any Caribbean country. This is definitely the cheapest tourist destination on the list, as you can find hotels and resorts all over Cartagena for less than $10 a night.

This wraps it up for our list of best places to visit In Central and South America in May.