Time differences between the US and Latin America (and why they change)
Working between the United States and Latin America has a big advantage over working with Europe or Asia: the working days overlap almost completely. The catch is that the differences change twice a year, because the US uses daylight saving time and most Latin American countries do not.
The key idea
From early March to early November (US summer), the US clocks move one hour forward. Since Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, Central America, Brazil and Argentina keep the same time all year, the difference with the US changes by one hour on those dates. In 2026 the US changes on March 8 and November 1; in 2027 on March 14 and November 7.
Differences with New York and Miami (Eastern Time)
| City | US winter (Nov–Mar) | US summer (Mar–Nov) |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City, Guatemala, San José (Costa Rica), Tegucigalpa, San Salvador | 1 h behind | 2 h behind |
| Bogotá, Lima, Quito, Panama City | Same time | 1 h behind |
| Caracas, Santo Domingo, San Juan, La Paz | 1 h ahead | Same time |
| Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Montevideo, Asunción | 2 h ahead | 1 h ahead |
| Santiago de Chile | 2 h ahead (Nov–early Mar) | Same time (Apr–early Sep); 1 h ahead in Sep–Oct and March |
For Chicago or Houston (Central Time), subtract one hour from the Eastern Time column relationship: Mexico City has the same time as Chicago in winter and is one hour behind in summer. For Los Angeles, Mexico City is two hours ahead in winter and one hour ahead in summer.
Best meeting windows
US and Mexico / Central America
Almost the whole working day overlaps. A practical rule: schedule between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM Eastern, which covers 8:00 or 9:00 AM to 2:00 or 3:00 PM in Mexico City depending on the season. Keep in mind that in Mexico the main meal is often between 2:00 and 4:00 PM.
US and Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama
The easiest pair. Any time between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Eastern works for both sides. In summer, remember that a 9:00 AM Miami call is 8:00 AM in Bogotá.
US and Brazil, Argentina
The South American day runs ahead. A 4:00 PM call in New York during the US winter is 6:00 PM in Buenos Aires and São Paulo, the end of the day. Prefer 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Eastern. From the West Coast, aim for the morning: 8:00 AM in Los Angeles is 12:00 PM in Buenos Aires during the US summer and 1:00 PM during the US winter.
Tips from experience
- Use the city, not the country. Mexico has four time zones (Cancún is UTC−5, like Bogotá; Tijuana follows US Pacific time). Brazil has four; Manaus is one hour behind São Paulo.
- Some border cities in Mexico still change their clocks. Tijuana, Mexicali, Ciudad Juárez and others along the US border follow US daylight saving rules.
- Write times in both formats when needed. Many Latin American professionals use the 24-hour clock in writing. "15:00 Bogotá / 3:00 PM Miami" avoids AM/PM confusion.
- Check national holidays. Holy Week (Semana Santa) slows down most of the region; Mexico, Colombia and Argentina have many Monday holidays.
Example invite
Miami 10:00 AM · Mexico City 9:00 AM · Bogotá 10:00 AM · Buenos Aires 12:00 PM
In the planner you can add all four cities and the tool shows each local time and whether it falls inside working hours for the exact date you choose.