1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. South America Travel
Time, Electricity and Business Hours

All time is measured from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT.) Times are listed as GMT minus (-), hours as 0000. Some countries observe Daylight Savings Time (DST) in summer, except for Paraguay where is observed in winter to gain an extra hour of light.

Many countries or regions within the country observe the siesta. Business begins about 8 am, continues to noon, closes until 2 pm or later, and then reopens until 8 or 9 pm. Where this is the case, I've written siesta, and times of observance change locally.

Banks, government offices and many businesses are closed on Holidays and Festivals

Country Time Electricity Business Hours
Argentina GMT-0300 220V, 50Hz Buenos Aires - 8-5pm; provinces siesta
Holidays and Festivals
Bolivia GMT-0400 La Paz and Potosi 110v, 50Hz;
rest of Bolivia 220V, 50Hz.
Check before using electrical appliances. Expect blackouts and keep a flashlight with you
Siesta; restaurants 8-10 pm; No business on Sunday
Holidays and Festivals
Brazil GMT-0300, plus 3 more times zones
DST
Rio and São Paulo - 110 or 120V 60Hz;
Manaus and Salvador - 127V;
Recife, Brasilia and other cities - 220V.
Check before using electrical appliances.
Government and shops 9-6pm M-F and 9-1pm on Saturdays; Shopping malls 9-10pm; provinces vary
Holidays and Festivals
Chile GMT-0400;
Easter Island - GMT-0600
DST
220V Santiago - 9-6pm; Banks and some government offices, morning only. Siesta elsewhere
Holidays and Festivals
Colombia GMT-0500 110V, 60Hz Holidays and Festivals
Ecuador GMT-0500
Galapagos- GMT-0600
110V, 60HZ Holidays and Festivals
Falkland Islands GMT-0400
DST in Stanley
220V/440V, 50 Hz Government offices 8-12, 1:15-4:30pm. Shops 8-7 or 8pm, less on weekends
Holidays and Festivals
French Guiana GMT-0300   Siesta
Holidays and Festivals
Guyana GMT-0400 Georgetown - 110V; elsewhere 220V
Be prepared for blackouts
Business closes by 3:30pm
Holidays and Festivals
Paraguay GMT-0300
DST in winter
220V, 50 HZ Banks 7:30-11am; Government offices 6:30-11am in summer; Shops siesta
Holidays and Festivals
Peru GMT-0500 220V, 60Hz
Arequipa - 220V, 50Hz
Siesta; 24 hour supermarkets in Lima.
Suriname GMT-0300 127V Government and business 7-2pm; Shops 8-4pm weekdays, 8-1pm Saturdays Holidays and Festivals
Uruguay GMT-0300 220V, 50Hz Siesta. Banks and government offices by season: mornings in summer, afternoons in winter Holidays and Festivals
Venezuela GMT-0400 110V, 60Hz 8-noon, 2-6pm; Shops 9-6 or 7pm. half day on Saturday
Holidays and Festivals


Travel Articles Feature Articles by Topic Discuss South America on the Forum
Travel Planner Photo Gallery A - Z Index of Resources

Copyright © Bonnie Hamre 1998 - 2003

Explore South America Travel

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. South America Travel
  4. Plan Your Trip
  5. Travel Tips
  6. Time, Electricity and Business Hours in South America

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.