Skip to main content

The Top 10 Must Visit Cities in South America

Let’s cut straight to it: The Top 10 must visit cities in South America are…
Favela Rio

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

This huge seaside city is most famous for its’ iconic Christ The Redeemer statue, Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain, Favelas and the iconic Carnival festival. You’ll find colour and confusion at every turn – this is one very vibrant, chaotic, somehow chaotically beautiful, crazy city to visit. No visit to South America would be complete without a few nights in Rio! As such, this is also one of the most expensive cities to stay on the continent. Hotels don’t come cheap and the standards aren’t particularly high – but its worth the sacrifice to see and experience Rio for yourself.

la paz

La Paz, Bolivia

La Paz will have your head spinning almost as soon as you land – and it’s not just due to the altitude at (3660m above sea level). The city is absolute chaos and there’s something to see, hear, witness, or watch at every turn. Trust me when I say you’re in for some serious people watching opportunities.

Cusco_Peru_skyline

Cusco, Peru

Situated in the Peruvian Andes is the charming Cusco – also known as the gateway to Machu Picchu. With Spanish Colonial architecture and cobblestone pathways, Cusco is sure to please the eye. There’s also a great food scene (Peruvians love potatoes – I hope you do too) and plenty of charming hotels darted around the city.

overview-quito

Image Credit: Getintravel.com

Quito, Ecuador

The Ecuadorian capital flies a little under the radar for a city that dates back 500 years. In fact the whole country tends to be overlooked to some extent, in favour of its’ more popular neighbours… but don’t be fooled, Quito has a lot to offer visitors, particularly by way of Spanish Colonial architecture and oh, so many churches.

four seasons buenos aires

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is as close to European as you will get without being in Europe itself. There’s plenty to see and do here, warranting at least 2-3 nights in the city. Don’t miss these 9 great things to do in Buenos Aires!

sao paulo

São Paulo, Brazil

Let the numbers speak for themselves: this is the 12th largest city in the world, most populous in Brazil, AND the Americas. AKA this place is huge. If you want a city skyline that seems to never end, here it is.

cartagena

Cartagena, Colombia

If you want a time warp, here it is. Cartagena is located on the Caribbean coast of Columbia and is home to 16th Century plazas, colourful buildings, and a beach attitude to life. If you want to go where the foreign crowds aren’t, this is one of your best bets. You’ll surely meet plenty of locals here, as it is a popular beachside destination for Columbians year-round (with a tropical climate).

Pelourinho-Salvador-Brazil

 

Image Credit: Vayaadventures.com

Salvador, Brazil

Mostly known for its’ Portuguese architecture (pictured above), Salvador, in the state of Bahia, is one of Brazil’s huge-but-somehow-quaint-and-charming coastal cities. If you’re planning to explore more beyond the hotspots and venture further into any one country, Brazil might just be your ticket to a good time!

Valpo

Image Credit: Vayaadventures.com

Valparaiso, Chile

If there is one thing I got wrong when visiting Chile last year, it was to spend too much time in Santiago and not enough time (or any time at all) in nearby Valparaiso on the coast of Chile. This is a city that literally looks as if it has been painted on a canvas – the above picture says it all!

Over to you – do you have plans to visit South America? Join the conversation below 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Road Tripping Dartmoor National Park

Exploring Dartmoor in the Vauxhall Mokka X United Kingdom Petting a wild pony in Dartmoor National Park probably wasn’t the best idea. It lunged for my hand, attempting to bite. There’s a reason these furry ponies are called “wild!” Dartmoor has sometimes been described as the ‘last wilderness’ of the United Kingdom. Its vast open landscape is home to a variety of unique features — wet peaty bogs, stunted oak forests, rocky outcroppings called “tors”, and icy mountain waterfalls. If you’re looking to escape London for a while, Dartmoor National Park is an excellent place to relax and enjoy the serenity of nature. The park is only a 4-5 hour drive away from the hustle & bustle of the city. My friends at Vauxhall loaned me their new Mokka X SUV for the trip, a fun city-friendly turbo diesel with 4×4 capability that can handle off-the-beaten-path adventures. Wild Dartmoor Ponies Lone Hawthorne Tree at Sunset Exploring Dartmoor In Autumn Autumn in Dartmoo...

Everything you NEED to Eat in Prague – Your 2020 Prague Food Guide

Ahhh Prague. The land of classical music, baroque architecture, and wheat in every form imaginable. Traditional Czech and Prague foods are made up of somewhat unglamorous but undeniably indulgent staple foods. It is a cuisine that is filling for the heart and soul (and sometimes the colon). Although they have access to fruits and vegetables imported from Morocco and southern Europe, you will still find that their response to a salad is a tomato slice. Here is our foodie guide to Prague that covers everything from traditional dishes to navigating Prague’s unique restaurant scene. *When looking for the best price and biggest selection of hotels in Prague check prices on Booking.com, we’ve found they are the best option and have a great cancelation policy. Best overall hotel in Prague – MOODS Charles Bridge Hotel It’s in a great central location close to Old Town & the Charles bridge, great views, and tons of restaurants & shops at your doorstep. P...

Penang’s Street Art in 15 Photos

A short 1.5 hours away by flight from Singapore, Penang’s capital, Georgetown was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2008. Penang is a popular city in Malaysia and it’s easy to see why. People flock over for its famous street food :  char koay   teow (stir-fried rice noodles) and assam laksa , to say the most popular among the list. Penang is also known for its vibrant street art scene . From mural paintings that combine with real items, as well as wrought-iron caricature installations, it’s fun to explore Georgetown by foot! The weather in Penang can get very warm though, so arm yourself with portable fans and body wipes! Penang’s Art Scene – Wall Mural Paintings Very famous by now, Ernest Zacharevic is the young and talented, Lithuania-born artist behind the main street wall murals in Georgetown. His work was the reason why I’d made Penang a destination! Zacharevic’s work depicts everyday Malaysian life with the locals as models....