Holidays in South America
Travel in South America countries not only does one have to deal with arrangements such as hotel reservations, museum hours, and event timing, one also has to closely understand the timing for holidays in each country. It is more convenient for people who travel to South America from far away countries, especially those that are at least 5,000 miles distant, to visit not only one country but several at a time while being already there. Sometimes one will want to avoid these holidays and the crowds, whereas other trips these are exactly the times to try and be someplace to see the local festivities.
Nothing can be more frustrating than planning on seeing a sight and finding it closed due to a holiday. We all know how hard it can be to change a booked flight, or even a hotel reservation. More and more they limit the time for you to do any cancellations. For the hotels I have noticed that their check in time are becoming later and later while at the same time their check-out times are earlier. Taking these factors in consideration we always had a list with the country holidays while making travel arrangements.
Below is a list of the upcoming National Holidays for nine countries in South America for the remainder of 2017. Although Christmas Eve is not considered a holiday in South America most businesses will close early that day; especially because in South America it is customary to have dinner at midnight on this day and open gifts afterwards.
Also it is important to mention that some of the holidays will change, the government will try to make it fit into a long weekend, every year will bring a new calendar, and I will have a complete list for the 2018 year once it is available. For now we are focusing on the second half of this year.
ARGENTINA
Some holidays are movable: if the date coincides with Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be moved to the previous Monday. Those that coincide with Thursday and Friday will be delayed to the following Monday.
July 9th Independence Day
August 21st General Jose de San Martin pass to “immortality”
October 16th Cultural Diversity Day
November 20th Sovereignty Day
December 8th Immaculate Conception
December 25th Christmas Day
Argentina has a religious calendar that is for people who are members of certain religious group who are exempt from going to work on those dates.
Religious Holidays
September 1st Festival del Sacrificio (Islam Religion)
September 21st and 22nd Jewish New Year (Judaism)
September 30th Atonement Day (Judaism)
October 2nd Islamic New Year (Islam)
BOLIVIA
July 16th Dia del departamento de La Paz (holiday celebrated only in La Paz)
August 6th Independence Day or locally known as “Dia de la Patria” it is commonly celebrated with big parades and dances especially in cities like La Paz and Sucre. Also a military parade is performed.
November 2nd All Saints Day
December 25th Christmas Day
BRAZIL
September 7th Independence Day
October 12th Children´s Day or Virgin Mary Day
November 2nd Day of the dead
November 15th Proclamation Day
December 25th Christmas Day
CHILE
In Chile it is common for a holiday to fall two days in advance of the weekend and have people take off a block of four days, something that is known as a “Finde.”
August 15th Asuncion de la Virgen Maria
September 18th and 19th Independence Day – Fiestas Patrias. In practice, the celebration goes for an entire week. We guess that Chile was especial happy to be rid of Spain’s rule as compared to the rest of South America.
October 9th Columbus Day
October 27th Reformation Day
November 1st All Saints Day
December 8th Inmaculate Conception
December 25th Christmas Day
COLOMBIA
July 3rd. San Pedro y San Pablo Day
July 20th Independence Day
August 7th Batalla de Boyaca
August 21st La Asuncion de Maria
October 16th Race Day (dia de la raza)
November 6th All Saints Day
November 13th Cartagena Independence Day
December 8th Inmaculate Conception
December 25th Christmas Day
ECUADOR
August 11th Independence Day
October 9th Guayaquil Independence Day
November 2nd Day of the dead
November 3rd Cuenca Independence
December 25th Christmas Day
PARAGUAY
August 15th Fundacion de Asuncion
September 29th Boqueron Victory Day
December 8th Caacupe Virgin Day
December 25th Christmas Day
PERU
July 28th and 29th Independence Day- one of the busiest times in Peru for travel; prices rise in expectation of the highly tourists activities. The main attraction is the military parade. Also in some cities school parades are customary.
August 30th Santa Rosa de Lima
October 8th Batalla de Angamos, when Peru lost sovereignty of the sea against Chile, it was a sea battle.
November 1st. All Saints Day (Dia de Muertos, or Dia de todos los Santos). This is a time when many will visit their ancestors at the local cemeteries while it is accompanies with carnival festivities.
December 8th Immaculate Conception
December 25th Christmas Day
URUGUAY
Only 5 of these holidays (January 1, May 1, July 18, August 25 and December 25) imply a mandatory paid leave for workers. Most of the other days are only observed by schools and some public sector offices.
July 18th Constitution Day
August 25th Independence Day
October 16th Dia de la Raza
November 2nd Day of the dead
December 25th Christmas Day
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