A few parts of Latin America are still rainy in December, but most of it is clear and enjoying the best climate of the year. Every single city on this list and in these regions will get more crowded and expensive just before Christmas, so visit earlier if you are looking for bargains.
The Caribbean
The Caribbean generally has excellent weather in December, although sometimes the rainy season keeps going through the first week or so. Cancun is the most popular destination in the area and it has perfect weather starting in December.
If you are mainly looking for a place to relax on the beach and take a couple boat trips or water sports, you might consider just booking at an all-inclusive resort. There are hundreds of them in the Caribbean and they have to compete for guests by offering prices that can seem suspiciously low, but most of them actually deliver what they promise for those low rates.
- 17 Cheapest Caribbean all-inclusive destinations
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Cancun, Mexico
- December avg high: 83°F/28°C
- December avg low: 70°F/21°C
- December avg precip: 3.8″/9.5cm
Cancun is far more popular than any Caribbean island because it is easier to reach and there is excellent infrastructure for visitors. It has a perfect Caribbean climate, although there might be a downpour or two early in December, although those tend to last 15 minutes or less and can be refreshing.
When planning a trip to Cancun it’s important to choose the best area for your style. Cancun itself is mainly a long L-shaped strip of resort hotels and timeshares along a beach, with very few other restaurants or shops between them. If you want to stay in your resort the whole time, Cancun itself is a good choice. But about an hour south of Cancun by shuttle you can be in Playa del Carmen, which is an actual fun tourist town filled with shops, bars, and restaurants. If you want to sample different things on your trip, Playa del Carmen is a better choice. The island of Cozumel is just across the water from Playa del Carmen and it’s kind of a hybrid of the other two. And Tulum is a bit south of those and it’s a smaller and more artsy town that is gaining in popularity in recent years. All of these choices are served by the Cancun airport and are easy to reach from there.
>>>New: Guide to choosing where to stay in the Cancun area
- 3-star hotels from: US$67 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$139 per night for two people
>>Cancun prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Cancun resort and package deals
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- December avg high: 84°F/29°C
- December avg low: 73°F/23°C
- December avg precip: 0.8″/2.0cm
As December begins in the Caribbean, the hurricane season is officially over and the weather is pretty much perfect by any standard. Punta Cana is the Dominican Republic’s most popular resort areas, especially for those who aren’t particularly interested in absorbing the local culture. This is a resort area with wonderful beaches and not much history.
Unsurprisingly, the end of December is the beginning of the peak season for resort prices, so those who are able to come earlier in the month will be getting better deals. Still, the all-inclusive resorts are locked in heavy competition all year so this area can be a great deal compared to the alternatives, even in high season. If you are looking for where to go in December for an all-inclusive beach holiday, this is your best option for most people. Punta Cana is also on the list of our best Caribbean destinations for families with kids, by the way.
The Dominican Republic is also on the list of countries that no longer have COVID or vaccination restrictions as of July 2022, so you should be able to book without concern. Needless to say, it’s a good idea to keep you eye on the news in case things get worse again, but everything in Punta Cana is outdoors so it’s a pretty safe place to be regardless.
- 3-star hotels from: US$48 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$91 per night for two people
>>Check current Punta Cana resort and package deals
Montego Bay, Jamaica
- December avg high: 85°F/29°C
- December avg low: 73°F/23°C
- December avg precip: 1.6″/4.0cm
As with other Caribbean resort destinations, the weather in Montego Bay is perfect in December, and the first half of the month is still cheap for flights and resort prices. The weekend before Christmas is when peak season here starts, and if you book early enough you can still get a good deal then, but don’t expect many last-minute bargains during that period.
Montego Bay’s busy airport has cheap flights from most major hubs including many in Europe, so it’s one of the easier places to reach as well. If Montego Bay itself doesn’t sound perfect then you might instead considerNegrilorOcho Rios, both of which are about 90 minutes from the same airport and each has a different feel. Two of our 11 best luxury all-inclusive resorts in the entire Caribbean are in Jamaica, and one is near the Montego Bay Airport so it’s easy to reach.
Jamaica also finds itself on the list of countries that have dropped COVID restrictions and hopefully things stay that way. Like the other tropical islands, guests here spend all of their time outdoors or in their private hotel rooms, and tend not to congregate in great numbers even outdoors.
- 3-star hotels from: US$83 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$209 per night for two people
>>Check current Montego Bay resort and package deals
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- December avg high: 86°F/30°C
- December avg low: 64°F/18°C
- December avg precip: 0.9″/2.3cm
The destinations above are good choices for anyone in Europe or the eastern half of the US or Canada, but those in the western US and Canada should consider Puerto Vallarta instead. Unlike many other tropical resort destinations, Puerto Vallarta is a real town with history and an interesting downtown area right on the beach.
The December weather is pretty much perfect and dry, and airfares and hotel rates are very reasonable up until Christmas itself. If you are in California you might also considerLos Cabos (see below), although Puerto Vallarta is more interesting and usually cheaper as well. This is definitely one of the best places to go in December if you are anywhere near the Pacific Ocean.
It’s worth noting that while the hotel prices listed below are real, those are not typical of larger chain hotels on the beach. If you want to stay in, say, a Marriott on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, you are going to be paying much closer to US$200 per night for two people.
- 3-star hotels from: US$35 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$64 per night for two people
>>Puerto Vallarta prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Puerto Vallarta resort and package deals
Los Cabos, Mexico
- December avg high: 80°F/27°C
- December avg low: 58°F/15°C
- December avg precip: 0.6″/1.4cm
While Puerto Vallarta is a classic and traditional Mexican beach resort area, Los Cabos is much newer and very different. One important thing to note is that the evening temperatures in Cabo in December are cool enough that you’ll need to bring a light jacket or sweater, so if you want a real tropical destination you’ll want to go elsewhere. The weather is dry and very pleasant though, so Cabo has become a very popular and trendy winter destination for celebrities and other rich folks in the last decade or so.
Los Cabos is the name for the whole area, but it’s really two towns that are also quite different. Cabo San Lucas is in the west and it’s built around the large and somewhat glamorous marina. This is also where you’ll find the famous Land’s End arch that is in every photo of Cabo. About 30 minutes away by car to the east is San José del Cabo, which has a newer and more modern town center and is close to the airport. There are also really nice beach resorts stretching along the coast between the two towns, so if you don’t want to go bar hopping or do much shopping, you might be better booking at one of the stand-alone resorts in between.
- 3-star hotels from: US$55 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$163 per night for two people
>>>Check current Cabo resort and package deals
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
- December avg high: 91°F/33°C
- December avg low: 70°F/21°C
- December avg precip: 0.5″/1.3cm
Costa Rica is known as the adventure travel capital of Central America, partly because a third of the country is national parks. But Costa Rica is also famous for beaches, and the best ones are mainly clusted along the northern Pacific coast in the Guanacaste region. The nearby Liberia Airport provides a convenient way to get in and out quickly.
Tamarindo and Smara are two of the most popular beach areas, but there are other good choices in the area as well. This part of Costa Rica is known for large chain resorts on the beach, and the 4-star resorts can be pricey, while the more traditional 3-star hotels are still very reasonable. Costa Rica is obviously one of the hot countries in December in both temperature and popularity, so book early.
- 3-star hotels from: US$65 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$179 per night for two people
>>Guanacaste prices and travel tips
>>>Check current San Jose hotel and package deals
Mexico City, Mexico
- December avg high: 69°F/21°C
- December avg low: 44°F/7°C
- December avg precip: 0.2″/0.5cm
Surprising to some people, December can actually be a bit cool in Mexico City, especially at night. Its elevation keeps it mild all year, but at least the rainy season is totally over by December, so it’s an ideal month for a cheap cultural holiday, perhaps combined with a trip to one of Mexico’s many beach resorts. You can get cheap flights between Mexico City and Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, for example. This could be a good place to do some Christmas shopping because they have huge shopping centers with appealing prices, while in the beach resorts it tends to be cheap souvenirs and bathing attire.
As Christmas approaches the city will fill up much more, so if you can go early in the month you’ll be much better off. But even if you can’t go before the last week of the month you’ll still find Mexico City to be a tremendous bargain compared to pretty much anywhere else in North America. It’s a great shopping destination, and not just for goofy souvenirs, so that’s something to think about as well.
- 3-star hotels from: US$61 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$72 per night for two people
>>Mexico City prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Mexico City hotel and package deals
Cartagena, Colombia
- December avg high: 86°F/30°C
- December avg low: 76°F/24°C
- December avg precip: 1.3″/3.3cm
By early December the rainy season is pretty much over in Cartagena, and it cools down just a bit more as well, so the weather really doesn’t get any better than this. As with most others on this list, right around Christmas you’ll find that hotels get more expensive and are more crowded, so if you can go earlier in the month you’ll be paying less and dealing with fewer crowds.
Cartagena is becoming a very popular winter beach destination for people from North America, and it’s still a fantastic bargain compared to better known places, but it might not stay that way forever. As Colombia gets more popular (and as long as it stays safe) then prices should keep going up at these resort towns.
- 3-star hotels from: US$71 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$119 per night for two people
>>Cartagena prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Cartagena hotel and package deals
Lima, Peru
- December avg high: 76°F/24°C
- December avg low: 66°F/19°C
- December avg precip: 0.0″/0.0cm
While December is quite busy in Lima, as a very popular summer beach destination for South Americans, it’s also still very reasonably priced so it’s worth considering if you are exploring the continent. The beaches aren’t spectacular as they are in Brazil and elsewhere, but Lima is still a great summer city with great outdoor life this time of year.
The food, including its famous ceviche dishes, is a particular highlight here, and the tourist district of Miraflores is packed with interesting and cheap restaurants. Basic and cheap hotels are in the same neighborhood, so it’s a better alternative to the historic center of Lima for most people. By the way, the rainy season inCuscostarts in December, so the trails can sometimes be cut off, although many people go anyway.
It’s worth noting that Peru quietly had one of the most serious COVID situations in the world, so if cases somehow start to spike again as December approaches, it might be better to wait another year to visit Peru.
- 3-star hotels from: US$52 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$83 per night for two people
>>Lima prices and travel tips
>>>Check prices on Peru hotels and resorts
Santiago, Chile
- December avg high: 83°F/28°C
- December avg low: 54°F/12°C
- December avg precip: 0.1″/0.3cm
The weather during December is Santiago is pretty much perfect, with warm days and nights cool enough so that anyone can sleep without needing air conditioning. This is obviously part of high season in Santiago, although the first half of the month won’t be as crowded or expensive as the second half.
It’s true that Santiago is not considered a top-flight destination by everyone, but it’s a fantastic base for a trip involving several stops in Chile, especially this time of year. There’s the Colonial town ofValparaisoand many adventure towns in the mountains, so you can get a bit of everything in at very reasonable prices.
- 3-star hotels from: US$65 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$978 per night for two people
>>Santiago prices and travel tips
>>>Check prices on Chile hotels and resorts
Buenos Aires, Argentina
- December avg high: 83°F/28°C
- December avg low: 65°F/18°C
- December avg precip: 4.1″/10.3cm
Unlike most cities on South America’s west coast, Buenos Aires has fairly consistent rainfall all year long, and you might see a bit of the wet stuff even during December. Still, the temperatures should be ideal for being outdoors, and this is really mostly an indoor city anyway, so when it does rain you’ll be able to pop into a shop or museum or cafe and have a great time.
Hotel prices definitely go up in around Christmas so it’s best to come early in the month if that’s possible, but it’s still a pretty good bargain even during the peak weeks. Book early if you can because the better and cheaper hotels will fill up first, of course. Also consider a side trip to theMendoza wine region, Patagonia, or the amazing water falls of Iguazu.
Some good news for foreign visitors in 2022 is that the value of the Argentine currency has dropped dramatically once again. There has also been quite high domestic inflation, but things here are still ridiculous cheap if you are coming from the US or Canada this year. Look into the exchange rate situation before you go because visitors can typically get a far better exchange rate if they bring new US dollars into the country than if they just put things on their credit cards.
- 3-star hotels from: US$33 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$52 per night for two people
>>Buenos Aires prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Buenos Aires hotel and package deals
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- December avg high: 88°F/31°C
- December avg low: 72°F/22°C
- December avg precip: 5.1″/12.8cm
December is yet another fantastic month for weather in Brazil, although you can expect some short tropical rain storms a couple times each week, usually only an hour or so each time. It’s also getting warm enough that you are going to want a hotel with air conditioning to get to sleep at night, since it’ll be warm and muggy even in the wee hours.
As with most on this list, hotels get very full and more expensive just before the Christmas holidays, so it’s better to come early in the month if possible. That way you’ll have your pick of places at some surprisingly good room rates, even at some high-end places on the famous beaches. If you are coming during Christmas then book a hotel NOW because they’ll be full and will keep getting more expensive the longer you wait.
The Brazilian currency dropped in 2019 and it has stayed low in the last few years, so the country is cheaper these days than it has been in around a decade.
- 3-star hotels from: US$55 per night for two people
- 4-star hotels from: US$67 per night for two people
>>>Rio de Janeiro prices and travel tips
>>>Check current Rio de Janeiro hotel and package deals