What Is the Coolcation Trend and Why Are Travelers Getting It All Wrong?
“Coolcation” is the word of the summer, a stylish answer to the age-old question: how can we escape the heat without sacrificing luxury, exclusivity, or cultural depth?
As climate anxieties and record-breaking heatwaves dominate headlines, publications like Condé Nast Traveler, Forbes,and Travel + Leisure have spotlighted the rise of cooler summer destinations, pointing readers toward fjords, Alpine valleys, and coastal Maine.
But here’s the problem: the world is still looking north. These lists recycle the same Northern Europe travel escapes, beautiful, yes, but increasingly overexposed, overcrowded, and overpriced.
What if the real coolcation destinations weren’t north at all, but south of the equator? What if Cooler Summer Destinations in South America offered everything these glossy lists promise, and more: exclusivity, culture, and unmatched value?
This is where the coolcation travel trend deserves a smarter lens. While most so-called “cool places to vacation” guides point to Nordic retreats, the continent quietly perfecting the art of the coolcation is South America.
As a luxury travel designer curating journeys across Latin America and the Mediterranean Basin for over a decade, I can say with authority: South America is the best-kept secret in luxury coolcations.
So what are the best luxury travel options in South America right now? At Cosmopolitours, our curated choices are Colombia, Peru, and Argentina, each entering its most inviting season in August and September. What makes these destinations compelling is not only their opposite seasons with ideal climates, but also the extraordinary value paired with five-star hospitality, the richness of their culture and cuisine, and the sustainability and exclusivity that make travel here both meaningful and refined.
If you’re planning a last-minute Labor Day Weekend getaway, it’s time to look south.
Flip the Hemisphere: Why South America Is the Smartest Coolcation Climate
If you’re searching for a cool summer vacation spot, head south.
While much of the Northern Hemisphere is baking, or scrambling to book overpriced coolcation destinations in Europe, South America is slipping into late winter and early spring: crisp mornings, golden light, and serene landscapes. For luxury travelers, it’s a dream season.
Plaza Botero in Medellín, Colombia, brings together monumental works by Fernando Botero and striking architecture, reflecting the city’s transformation. The “City of Eternal Spring” is one of South America’s most compelling coolcation destinations.
Medellín, Colombia – The Eternal Spring Coolcation
Known as the “City of Eternal Spring,” Medellín offers year-round temperatures between 64°F and 82°F. Imagine breezy mountain air, lush greenery, and plazas filled with modern art and design. Here you’ll find innovation without the heat, cultural vibrancy without the chaos. With insider access, travelers can step into the city’s design studios, contemporary art spaces, and hidden culinary gems, experiences beyond the surface of “cosmopolitan travel.”
Arequipa, Peru’s “White City,” offers crisp blue skies, volcanic stone architecture, and views of the majestic Misti Volcano, an elegant coolcation destination where history, culture, and refined gastronomy converge.
Arequipa, Peru – Baroque Splendor Beneath Blue Skies
Framed by three volcanoes and built from luminous white volcanic stone, Arequipa bathes in light. With days averaging in the 60s, travelers stroll colonial streets, enter gilded baroque churches, or dine al fresco on Andean tasting menus. For aesthetes, it’s not only a city of architecture and art, it’s also one of Peru’s culinary rising stars, where chefs reinterpret ancestral flavors for modern palates. Think warm sun on stone walls, pisco sours at sunset, and evenings in refined comfort.
Cooler Summer Destinations in South America: The Coolcation the World Forgot. Laguna Capri with Mount Fitz Roy and snow-covered peaks in the background, showcasing the wilderness luxury of El Chaltén in Patagonia, Argentina.
Northern Patagonia, Argentina – Wine, Wilderness, and Fireplaces
In Patagonia’s northern lakes region, August and September are defined by snow-dusted serenity. Travelers linger in vineyard lodges, sip Malbec by firelight, and step into landscapes of alpine lakes and vast forests. Unlike Europe’s overrun Alpine villages, here the exclusivity is the stillness itself. This is luxury wine touring in Argentina combined with wilderness immersion: expansive, authentic, and restorative.
Luxury That Travels Further: Value and Five-Star Hospitality in South America
For today’s discerning traveler, true luxury lies not in thrift but in the exclusivity, personalization, and elevated experience that uniquely curated journeys deliver. Yet even at the highest levels of travel, the global currency landscape matters.
Right now, the U.S. dollar has weakened against the euro, falling about –5.5% over the past year. In August 2025, 1 USD equals only €0.85, making European escapes significantly more expensive. By contrast, in South America, 1 USD 1 USD equals approximately 1,290–1,300 Argentine peso, averaging 1,320 ARS in August. In practical terms, travelers see their dollar stretch further in South America than in Europe, where luxury hotel rates have surged up to 30% since 2022.
That difference translates into more than affordability: it means larger suites, more personalized service, and deeper cultural immersion for the same investment.
Colombia’s Coffee Region: Heritage Hospitality at Hacienda San José
Hacienda San José, a meticulously preserved 19th-century estate, is a masterclass in heritage hospitality. Guests are welcomed into suites furnished with hand-carved antiques, orchid-draped verandas, and an atmosphere of timeless elegance. Days unfold with private chef-prepared meals, wellness menus that include outdoor yoga, and horseback rides or treks through lush landscapes. Rates hover around $400 per night, compared to $600–700 for similar European estates.
Hacienda San José in Colombia’s coffee region is a meticulously preserved 19th-century estate where flowers-draped verandas, private chef dining, and wellness-focused experiences redefine heritage hospitality, an exclusive alternative to Europe’s historic estates for luxury coolcation travelers.
Arequipa, Peru: Minimalist Design Meets Baroque History at Cirqa
Cirqa, part of the Relais & Châteaux collection, is a design jewel carved from volcanic stone. Set within Arequipa’s UNESCO-protected historic center, the property occupies a former monastery dating back to 1540, the very year the city was founded. Its design blends centuries-old cloisters with minimalist architecture and refined Peruvian gastronomy, creating a seamless dialogue between past and present. Named to Condé Nast Traveler’s 2024 Gold List, Cirqa stands as proof that South American hospitality rivals -and often exceeds- the world’s finest. More than comfort, staying here evokes the spirit of the monks who once welcomed travelers with care and devotion, a philosophy now reimagined in an atmosphere of heritage and contemporary elegance.
Cirqa in Arequipa, Peru, a Relais & Châteaux property and 2024 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List honoree, redefines luxury hospitality by merging monastic history with contemporary design, an exclusive destination for travelers seeking cultural depth and five-star refinement in South America.
Explora El Chaltén, awarded Argentina’s Leading Lodge by the World Travel Awards, offers unmatched wilderness luxury in Patagonia, where guided treks, alpine seclusion, and five-star comfort create one of South America’s most exclusive coolcation experiences.
Northern Patagonia, Argentina: Wilderness Luxury at Explora El Chaltén
In today’s global market, Argentina delivers the most compelling numerical advantage for U.S. travelers, so luxury experiences here feel even more expansive. At Explora El Chaltén Lodge, named Argentina’s Leading Lodge for three consecutive years by the World Travel Awards, guests combine wilderness immersion with five-star refinement: guided treks by day, spa rituals in alpine seclusion, and evenings beside roaring fireplaces with Malbec in hand. Comparable alpine retreats in Europe are crowded and costly, here, the experience remains private, pristine, and profoundly personal.
Culture, Cuisine, and Living Traditions: Why South America Is the Coolcation Everyone’s Missing
A true coolcation goes beyond climate. In South America, exclusive travel experiences are defined by artistry, cuisine, and heritage that rival the world’s best.
La Palma y El Tucán in Colombia represents the pinnacle of specialty coffee, where farmers handpick ripe cherries and lead innovative, sustainable practices. Recognized worldwide for award-winning beans, this project elevates coffee from commodity to cultural luxury, making it a highlight of South America’s immersive travel experiences.
Coffee as Culture – Colombia’s Liquid Gold
In Colombia, coffee is not just a drink, it’s a way of life and a symbol of national pride. At La Palma y El Tucán, travelers walk the hillsides with specialty coffee growers who have redefined global standards. Through innovative fermentation techniques and eco-friendly cultivation, they produce award-winning beans recognized among the finest in the world. This is not commodity coffee; it is luxury craftsmanship, praised by international experts and sought after across the globe. With Cosmopolitours, guests go beyond tasting: they immerse in the art of coffee itself, roasting, blending, and even pairing coffee with regional foods. La Palma y El Tucán is also a pioneering social project, designed to uplift neighboring farmers by sharing knowledge and resources, ensuring that the benefits of Colombia’s coffee renaissance reach the wider community.
Mendoza, Argentina, sits at the foot of the Andes and stands at the pinnacle of global wine culture. Its Malbec vineyards, set against dramatic mountain backdrops, make it a premier destination for luxury travelers seeking exclusive coolcation experiences rooted in tradition and refinement.
Argentina – Wine, Tango, and Living Legacy
In Mendoza, Argentina’s wine culture blends refinement with deep tradition. Guests are welcomed into vineyard estates for private tastings of Malbec, the grape that has put Argentina at the forefront of the global wine industry. Year after year, Mendoza’s wineries make headlines in the world’s top wine rankings, recognized for their innovation, craftsmanship, and state-of-the-art production methods that rival -and often surpass- Europe’s great wine regions. Here, luxury means more than a glass of wine; it’s a cultural immersion through vineyard lunches, conversations with winemakers, and a firsthand education in a product that is both Argentina’s legacy and its living art. And beyond the vineyards, tango in Buenos Aires, gaucho traditions in the Pampas, and the café culture of Recoleta weave additional layers of authenticity. This is a cultural storytelling through taste, music, and history.
Maido in Lima, ranked the world’s #1 restaurant in 2025, exemplifies Peru’s global culinary leadership. A must-visit destination for luxury travelers seeking South America’s finest gastronomic coolcation experiences.
Peru – A Global Gastronomic Powerhouse
Peru is not an emerging food capital, it is the reigning champion. In 2025, Maido in Lima claimed the #1 spot on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, reaffirming the country’s culinary dominance. But Peru’s influence stretches far beyond one celebrated kitchen. Chefs, food writers, and culinary students journey from Europe, Asia, and the U.S. to study its unique fusion of indigenous and global ingredients, and to learn from innovators who transform Andean staples into haute cuisine. In addition to savoring these groundbreaking flavors, travelers can explore Lima’s acclaimed restaurants and wander through bustling markets in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. South American markets are worlds apart from those in the Northern Hemisphere, overflowing with exotic fruits, rare spices, and ingredients many visitors have never encountered before. Beyond tasting, it’s an invitation to learn, to discover, and to understand how Peru’s cuisine draws from its biodiversity and ancient traditions to shape the future of global gastronomy.
South American Sustainable Travel. These coolcation destinations offer a sustainable escape beyond overtourism: wellness rooted in heritage at Cirqa, authentic encounters with Andean traditions, and the preserved beauty of Arequipa’s Santa Catalina Monastery.
A Sustainable Escape: Cooler Summer Destinations Without Overtourism
A Sustainable Escape: South America as the Answer to Overtourism
Across Europe, overtourism has strained cities from Venice to Barcelona. Protests against cruise ships, overcrowded squares, and short-term rentals reveal an industry desperate for solutions. One of the most thoughtful answers is diversification: choosing destinations where tourism flows at a human pace.
South America offers precisely that, a luxury coolcation without the crowds. Traveling here in August or September means peaceful plazas, open reservations, and cultural encounters that feel personal, not staged.
- A Smarter Solution to Overtourism:Instead of limiting or taxing travelers, South America provides a natural alternative, authentic destinations still untouched by mass tourism. Here, exclusivity comes not from barriers, but from access.
- Transformational Travel:Without the rush of bucket-list checkmarks, journeys in South America unfold slowly. Guests linger longer, form deeper connections, and return home with experiences that truly change them.
- Supporting Local Communities and Traditions:Luxury here is also sustainable. By engaging directly with small producers, chefs, artisans, and cultural guardians, travelers help sustain centuries-old traditions -from Andean weaving techniques to family-owned vineyards- ensuring they thrive for future generations.
- Wellness Rooted in Ancestral Wisdom:Long before modern spas, the Andes and Amazon cultivated healing rituals with volcanic stones, thermal waters, and botanical knowledge. Today, wellness travelers enjoy these practices in serene, luxurious settings where authenticity and comfort meet.
Here, meaningful luxury becomes legacy: a journey that restores you while sustaining the communities that host you.
Why Travel to South America with Cosmopolitours?
At Cosmopolitours, we are a boutique, full-service luxury tour operator with over a decade of experience designing bespoke South America luxury tours.
As a Latin American myself, I bring to Cosmopolitours not only my heritage but also my deepest personal and professional connections across the region. Over the years, I’ve built trusted networks of art historians, architects, and cultural insiders who open doors that remain closed to ordinary travelers.
This is not about tourist-facing experiences; it’s about access rooted in trust, heritage, and expertise. It is meaningful luxury travel, where the finest hotels in South America are paired with cultural depth and one-of-a-kind encounters, designed exclusively for you.
South America defines the future of luxury coolcations with ancestral rituals in the Andes, serene wellness retreats in Patagonia, and transformative coffee experiences in Colombia. Together, they highlight exclusivity, cultural authenticity, and meaningful travel beyond the crowded routes of Europe.
Cooler Summer Destinations in South America: The Future of Luxury Coolcation Travel
When summer swelters in the Northern Hemisphere, South America shines as the smarter, quieter, and more rewarding choice.
- Opposite Seasons: Fresh air, mild temperatures, and landscapes in bloom.
- Extraordinary Value: With the dollar at only €0.85, Europe grows costlier. In South America, the picture is different: around 4,000 Colombian pesos per USD, approximately 1,291 Argentine pesos per USD, and about 3.54 Peruvian soles per USD.
- Unmatched Hospitality: From vineyard estates to jungle lodges, South America rivals Europe’s finest, without crowds.
- Living Culture: Tango, textiles, coffee, wine, traditions that live, not perform.
- Sustainability: Your stay supports artisans, chefs, and communities directly.
- Exclusivity: These destinations remain intimate, authentic, and rare.
If you’re still deciding where to go, consider this your sign: Cooler Summer Destinations in South America are not just alternatives, they are the future of luxury travel.
Your soul is ready. South America is waiting.
Mayret Gonzalez Rubenstein is an art historian, Co-Founder of Cosmopolitours, and renowned Dream Trip Weaver. With a passion for cultural immersion and bespoke travel design, she specializes in crafting trips of a lifetime that blend art, history, and authentic experiences. Mayret’s work bridges her scholarly expertise with her dedication to curating unforgettable journeys for discerning travelers worldwide.
