Time in South America
South America is closer to Europe in time than many people expect: most of the continent sits between UTC-5 and UTC-3. Colombia, Ecuador and Peru use UTC-5, Venezuela and Bolivia UTC-4, and Argentina, Uruguay and most of Brazil – including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro – use UTC-3.
Daylight saving time is now rare in the region. Brazil, Argentina and, since 2024, Paraguay no longer change their clocks, which leaves Chile as the main country that does, moving its clocks in the southern spring and autumn – the opposite of Europe and North America.
Countries in South America
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
VenezuelaFrequently asked questions
How many time zones are there in South America?
Countries in South America currently use 5 different UTC offsets, from UTC−6 to UTC−2, a spread of 4 hours.
Which country in South America has the most time zones?
Brazil has the most, with 4 time zones.
Where is it earliest and latest in South America right now?
The clocks are furthest ahead in Brazil (UTC−2) and furthest behind in Ecuador (UTC−6).
Which countries in South America use daylight saving time?
1 of the 12 countries listed here change their clocks, including Chile.