Tourist Info
South America
Is the planet's 4th largest continent, includes (12) independent countries and (3) major territories; the Falkland Islands, Galapagos Islands and French Guiana.
Hotels in South America
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Places to Visit in South America
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Falkland Islands
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Guyana
- Paraguay
- Peru
- South Georgia
- Suriname
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Top 10 Attraction List of The Community's Favorite Destinations in South America.
1.Buenos Aires ( Argentina )
Buenos Aires is often called the "Paris of South America" -- and for good reason. With their wide boulevards, imposing buildings, and noble neighborhoods, the two cities have much in common. Yet of course Buenos Aires is still unique: Only those who have visited the expansive city of 2.8 million will be familiar with the hectic pace of the pedestrian area Florida, the relaxed atmosphere in the cafes and restaurants of the bohemian neighborhood San Telmo, and the tourist trap of colorful La Boca - the neighborhood known as the birthplace of tango that was promptly turned into a theme park. Thanks to the stream of Italian and Spanish immigrants, Buenos Aires has a decidedly European flair. Nowadays, the city - having recovered relatively well from its 2001 economic crash - comes off as modern and confident. The former harbor Puerto Madero has become one of the nicest promenades in the world, lined with renovated warehouses and new office buildings, while new and stylish bars and restaurants cluster the streets of Palermo. The extensive Parque Tres de Febrero in Palermo and the La Recoleta cemetery - where the revered Eva Peron is buried - are ideal locations to take a relaxed stroll to recover from the bustle of the city.
Buenos Aires Metro Map ( Save for Zoom )
2.Rio De Janeiro ( Brazil )
Rio de Janeiro Samba, beaches, bossa nova, Guanabara Bay, Funk Carioca, Carnaval, and Christ the Redeemer-one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World"-are all well-known icons of A Cidade Maravilhosa, the "marvelous city." Nonetheless, Rio is a portrait of all of Brazil's contradictions. The gorgeous coastline of the Atlantic rainforest drapes down the hillsides, which are covered with a vast labyrinth of favelas (shanty towns) and spill onto the loveliest urban beaches in the world, lined with the very chic apartments of Brazil's wealthiest class. Both classes have one thing in common: a lust for life that makes for some of the most vibrant popular culture and most spectacular public events worldwide. First , there is Carnaval, of course, which draws thousands to the Sambódromo, where samba schools compete for the prestigious title. New Year's Eve also draws international attention to its beaches as revelers, dressed in white, bring offerings to Iemanjá-"queen of the waters"-while live mega-music shows rock the public along Avenida Atlântica to brilliant fireworks explosions. Sports activities abound, with excellent conditions for sailing, surfing, skin and scuba diving, hang gliding, beach volleyball, and, of course, soccer -- fútbol, as everyone in Brazil knows it. The more than 11 million inhabitants are famous for their love of music, which can be enjoyed in the many nightclubs, restaurants, and theaters -- or even in little sidewalk cafés.
Rio de Janeiro Metro Map ( Save for Zoom )
3.Cusco ( Peru )
Cusco On the massive stone walls of Incan Coricancha temple towers a Catholic church, and in the city center sumptuous colonial buildings stand on top of Inca foundations. Each house and each stone in the historical center of Cusco tells the story of the Incas' ancient civilization and their repression by the Spanish conquerors. It takes just a short stroll for this city's rich history to cast its spell on you. Cusco is the starting point for tours to Machu Picchu and the holy valley of the Incas, which makes it a must on any tourist's Peruvian or, indeed, South America itinerary. Accordingly there are many expensive restaurants on the central Plaza de Armas; along the small Procuradores alley, also called "Gringo Alley," pubs and pizzerias throng together. During the day, this bustle can be avoided by taking a stroll through the Inca ruin Sacsayhuman to the north of the city (warning: the thin air here may pose a problem). At night, it's best to stay on Cusco's well-lit and crowded streets
4.São Paulo City ( Brazil )
The state of São Paulo is considered the "economic motor" of Brazil, generating 30 percent of the nation's GNP. Its capital city, also called São Paulo, is the largest city in Brazil and all of Latin America -- the greater metropolitan area has 22 million inhabitants. It is vast and diverse, with everything from botecos-unpretentious sidewalk bars for lazy conversation or piquant banter and a cool caipirinha, the national drink-to a plethora of museums and art galleries and restaurants from various traditions. In addition, music venues for all tastes, from chorinho, samba, and Música Popular Brasileira (also called "MPB") in the Vila Madalena to jazz in Higienópolis, hip-hop and rap in Butantã and various electronica clubs all over the city feature national and international stars as well as local virtuosos. The literature scene is also in full bloom, with the opening of the new Museu da Língua Portuguesa at the Estação da Luz next to the Pinocateca do Estado and its planetarium of poetry, where the words of the nation's greatest poems are projected like stars onto the domed ceiling while recordings of musicians and poets recite their interpretations. Free music in one of São Paulo's many parks is also a favored weekend attraction. The efficient bus and subway system is useful for reaching the major neighborhoods of interest for visitors: downtown, Avenida Paulista, Jardins, Vila Madalena, and the thriving Japanese neighborhood of Liberdade.
São Paulo Metro Map (Save For Zoom)
5.Cartagena ( Colombia )
Colonial Cartegena bursting with colour and history, is one of the hottest, most vibrant and beautiful cities in South America. The emerald in the crown of Colombia, it combines superb weather, a sparkling stretch of the Caribbean – with coral islands within easy reach – and an abundance of tropical fruit. Nuggets of history can be found in its fine architecture, exquisitely preserved colonial mansions and in every palm-shaded courtyard of this most romantic of places, which also has an impressive literary legacy. Together with its excellent museums, fine dining and lively nightlife, it’s a place not to be missed.
6. Brazil
Brazil is an exercise in superlatives: fifth-largest country in the world, occupying nearly half of the continent of South America; home of Carnaval, the world's biggest street party; winner of the most World Cup soccer championships; home of the world's largest rainforest; and home of the Amazon, the world's largest river in both volume and length. It even has the biggest cashew tree on the face of the planet, according to The Guinness Book of World Records. The country started with a healthy intermingling of African, Portuguese, and indigenous peoples and cultures, later adding other European immigrants such as the Italians in the south and the Dutch in the north, all of which give Brazil an impressive diversity of cultural life, music, and arts, not to mention culinary traditions and religious practices. São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil, is a thrilling urban center, drawing national and international commerce and tourism. Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, was designed in the shape of an airplane by the architects Oscar Niemeyer, Lúcio Costa, and Israel Pinheiro. Brazil considers itself the country of the future, but Brazilians joke that that future never seems to arrive. Distressingly, Brazil's excess extends to the misery as well, with Brazil ranking high in income inequality. From the lush Atlantic rainforests to the semi-arid sertão to the Pantanal wetlands teeming with animal life, Brazil also boasts an uncanny diversity of geographic climes. National transportation by bus is excellent; plane travel is generally more expensive.
7.Bogota ( Colombia )
Up in a towering Andean valley the Colombian capital is a shocker - instead of cocaine cartels and car bombs, visitors find the welcoming cobble-stoned Spanish-colonial La Candelaria neighborhood. It's built for long walks: drop by the café of the mustachioed face of Colombian coffee icon Juan Valdez and check out the city's best attractions: the Gold Museum and artworks of Fernando Botero, in which everyone is impossibly plump. Afterwards ride a streetcar up Monserrate mountain for a meal with volcano views. Most visitors choose mid-range, mid-sized hotels in the ritzy districts Zona Rosa or Parque 93 (a 20-minute taxi ride to the north). Here you can join families and young couples strolling to open-air cafes, sushi bars, and all-night salsateca dance bars. On weekends, locals love getting out. Four hours north, Villa de Leyva is a 16th-century colonial town with hiking trails and arty posada B closer to Bogota, Zipaquira is a massive salt mine-turned-cathedral you can visit. If you're staying in town over the weekend, plan on biking. The center-spanning Ciclovia is a Sunday event in which some roads are closed and bikes take over the central boulevards.
Bogota Metro Map ( Sve for Zoom)
8.Salvador de Bahia ( Brazil )
A place where learn to be happy because of being on earth and where to be sad because the injustice is hard to fight.
Axé, or "life force," characterizes Salvador da Bahia, a gem of the Brazilian northeast that mixes colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers. Salvador is Brazil's third most populous city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Salvador's tragic past as Brazil's first slave port has been transformed into a joyful celebration of African culture with capoeira troupes (the Brazilian martial arts brought to Brazil by Angolan slaves), drum and percussion schools, Candomblé and Umbanda religious centers, and street parties with live music. In the Pelourinho, the historical center of the city, you will find throngs of dancers almost every day of the week. In traditional white lace dresses and draped in beaded necklaces with the colors of the African deity Orixá, Bahianas serve and devour acarajé, spicy fritters of ground black-eyed peas and filled with dried shrimp, in front of any one of the city's dozens of churches. Stroll the strands of Salvador's urban beaches or take a ferry to the gorgeous island of Itaparica, just off the city's coast. Salvador's pearl is Carnaval, which even The Guinness Book of World Records admits is the biggest street party in the world. Unlike Carnaval in Rio, where revelers watch the impressive dance schools pass from a distance, in Salvador the masses join the many schools, dancing and singing behind the famous Trio Eletricos-trucks on which bands rouse the masses into a joyous frenzy of dance and song. Public transportation is fast and convenient, taking visitors to the many tourist attractions: the famous market Mercado Modelo, the artists' neighborhood Pelourinho, the Elevador Lacerda which connects the old town with the lower town, the spectacular Catholic Church Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, and more.
Axé, or "life force," characterizes Salvador da Bahia, a gem of the Brazilian northeast that mixes colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers. Salvador is Brazil's third most populous city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Salvador's tragic past as Brazil's first slave port has been transformed into a joyful celebration of African culture with capoeira troupes (the Brazilian martial arts brought to Brazil by Angolan slaves), drum and percussion schools, Candomblé and Umbanda religious centers, and street parties with live music. In the Pelourinho, the historical center of the city, you will find throngs of dancers almost every day of the week. In traditional white lace dresses and draped in beaded necklaces with the colors of the African deity Orixá, Bahianas serve and devour acarajé, spicy fritters of ground black-eyed peas and filled with dried shrimp, in front of any one of the city's dozens of churches. Stroll the strands of Salvador's urban beaches or take a ferry to the gorgeous island of Itaparica, just off the city's coast. Salvador's pearl is Carnaval, which even The Guinness Book of World Records admits is the biggest street party in the world. Unlike Carnaval in Rio, where revelers watch the impressive dance schools pass from a distance, in Salvador the masses join the many schools, dancing and singing behind the famous Trio Eletricos-trucks on which bands rouse the masses into a joyous frenzy of dance and song. Public transportation is fast and convenient, taking visitors to the many tourist attractions: the famous market Mercado Modelo, the artists' neighborhood Pelourinho, the Elevador Lacerda which connects the old town with the lower town, the spectacular Catholic Church Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, and more.
9.Lima ( Peru )
Lima has long been a stopover for international visitors to Peru on the way to Cusco or the Amazon -- a mere transfer lounge of eight million people. That's not the case any longer as hordes of visitors are descending upon Peru's capital, the largest city to benefit from Peruvian culture. Lima is a place of contrasts. The city itself is draped dramatically over Pacific cliffs while wide beaches, now being cleaned up, wait below. Adobe pyramids dating back thousands of years sit alongside glass-fronted skyscrapers in the never ending battle between the past and the present. The colonial center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to Republican mansions, remarkable cathedrals, a pulsating Chinatown, and a convent set over a vast series of catacombs. Some of the best pre-Colombian archeological and history museums are only steps away. Many consider Lima's dining scene the best in Latin America. Visit rustic beachside cevicherias or dine on Novo Andina cuisine with Chilean wines in a Miraflores bistro. After dinner, head to the bars and clubs in Barranco or Larcomar to dance until dawn on a pisco sour-fueled binge. If you still haven't seen enough, head just outside the city to the Caral pyramid complex or the summer fashion scene at Asia Beach.
10.Argentina
Argentina is almost a continent of its own: This enormous country stretches from the snow-capped Andes to subtropical forests and is most easily conquered via domestic flights or long rides in the "Coche-Cama" buses. The never-ending pampas, South America's grassy steppe that occupies the heart of the country, is home to the cattle that fuel both Argentina's economy and its national pride. Vegetarians have a hard time in this land of steak. Near the southern tip, visitors are drawn to the Los Glaciares National Park and the sharp peaks of Perito Moreno Glacier's ice formations. The lake district surrounding the city of Bariloche is Argentina's version of the Alps; it's a paradise for hikers, fly fishers, and landscape photographers. Further north, the hills surrounding Mendoza produce the country's best wines. Amid the mountain range of the interior lies the city of Córdoba, a college town with a historic cathedral. Dry, rocky landscape defines the country's northwest. In Argentina's most northern corner, the Iguazú Falls offer an unforgettable spectacle. The starting point for most travelers is the capital, Buenos Aires - the "Paris of South America" - in and of itself reason enough to visit the country.