The 17 Best Cities in South America to Visit in 2025
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I’ve spent a significant amount of time in South America over the years visiting every country, and pretty much every major city on the continent.
I see a lot of generic lists claiming the best cities in South America are simply the big names. For example, Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires.
And whilst I have a number of positive things to say about both cities, there are better places on the continent.
Argentina’s wine capital Mendoza is barely known amongst westerners, whilst Ushuaia and El Calafate offer a breathtaking slice of Patagonian paradise.
Bolivia’s La Paz is one of the most interesting cities on earth with its rich indigenous culture and crazy witchcraft markets, whilst the former Inca capital of Cusco in Peru is one of my favourite cities in the world, with a combination of an awesome cultural experience and its close proximity to mind-blowingly beautiful mountains and archeological wonders, Machu Picchu included.
Paraguay’s capital Asuncion has a lot to offer for the intrepid explorer who values a more authentic cultural experience (and incredible food) over crowded tourist hotspots, whereas Venezuelan capital Caracas is far safer than it once was and offers a very interesting and unique adventure given its recent troubled history.
At the end, I’ll add in an extra list talking about the cities in South America that aren’t worth your valuable time, including some big names which I found to be really disappointing, and in some cases dangerous.
But to start with, here are the spots I recommend checking out during your next South America trip. I’ve been to every city on this list and can share what they’re really like from firsthand experience.
Best Cities in South America to Visit
1) Ushuaia, Argentina
Highlights:
- Fantastic winter scenery
- Incredible nature
- Ultra safe
- Lots of wildlife
Lowlights:
- Expensive
Ushuaia is the top South American city in my view, because it has the full package.
World class nature nearby? Tick. Breathtaking surroundings? Tick. The city itself has an all-round good vibe? Tick. And safety? Well this is the safest city in South America. You’re about as likely to find crime here as you are to find a penguin in the Sahara Desert.
Tierra del Fuego National Park is a remote wildlife paradise where you can immerse yourself in nature for as long as you desire. The Beagle Channel offers boat tours which take you through some unique landscapes and gives you a glimpse of sealions and cormorants alongside other creatures. Martial Glacier is a beginner-friendly place for trekking through snowy terrain and being rewarded with spectacular views.
These are some of Ushuaia’s best activities. But you can also enjoy the city itself. There’s a very European feel to the place.
For food, it’s a little trickier to find a budget Argentine asado here. But they make up for it with Patagonian lamb which was one of my girlfriend’s culinary highlights during our latest 9-month South America adventure. When she finished, they even gave her more for free.
Aside from being a little on the pricy side, Ushuaia doesn’t have any real downsides. And that’s what makes it South America’s best city in my view.
We found an Airbnb an hour’s walk from the centre where we stayed in the host’s flat. Sure, it wasn’t luxury (and there’s plenty of luxury if you have the budget for it), but it was a good way to keep costs down, leaving us with more to spend on activities.
Recommended visit time: 4 days
2) Cusco, Peru
Highlights:
- Fun culture
- Great hub for some incredible nearby places
- Very cheap
- Safe
Lowlights:
- High altitude can make you ill
- Generally cold
Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire up until 1532. Almost 500 years later, and it remains one of South America’s most significant cities.
Cusco is great. If you take a free walking tour as we did, then you will be able to learn about the history, see the Inca ruins that remain today and even receive a few freebies. We were given small llama figures each and the opportunity to sample traditional Peruvian beverages.
Inca ruins are dotted around the city, from the impressive Qorikancha which confusingly seems to have a million different spellings, to Saqsaywaman on the outskirts, Cusco is an archeologist’s dream.
But one of the best things is the overall vibe. Almost every day we would see dances and cultural performances in the Plaza de Armas (Cusco’s stunning main square).
Then you have the surroundings. From Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), to Ausangate, to the Sacred Valley, to a little-known place called Machu Picchu, Cusco is the perfect base to view some of the world’s most incredible landscapes.
Like Ushuaia, Cusco deserves being listed as one of the continent’s top cities because you can remove day trips to the surrounding spots, and you’re still left with an absolutely fantastic place to visit in its own right.
And like Ushuaia, budget-friendly Cusco only has one real downside. In this case it’s the altitude.
Make sure you spend a few days acclimatising here.
Recommended visit time: 1.5-2 weeks
3) El Calafate, Argentina
Highlights:
- Great base city for incredible nearby landscapes
- Lots of tour options
- Safe
Lowlights:
- Expensive
- The city itself doesn’t have much going on
El Calafate is a bit different to the previous two cities on this list. You don’t come here to see the city itself.
It’s pleasant enough, but very small and not a place with a lot going on.
You come to El Calafate to visit the surrounding areas. And wow, they really make this a special place to visit.
We did three day trips from El Calafate.
The first was to Perito Moreno Glacier, perhaps the most stunning sight I have ever set eyes upon in my lifetime. A large glistening chunk of ice surrounded by mountains and greenery.
Every so often, we saw a large block of ice fall from the glacier and crash into the water below. Very cool to see firsthand.
Then you have Torres del Paine. This is a long trip as it’s actually across the border in Chile, but just like Perito Moreno, this is one of the most spectacular sites on earth.
And lastly we have El Chalten. Personally we thought it was a little disappointing compared to the other two destinations. However, many people love going there for multi-day hikes. And you may feel the same way.
We just didn’t see it as being on the same level as Perito Moreno, Torres del Paine, or Ushuaia which is where we came to El Calafate from.
The scenery is better in those places, and as non-hikers, perhaps we weren’t the correct target audience for El Chalten.
The only reason why El Calafate isn’t the best city on the continent is because it puts all its points into being a great day trip spot, and none into being great in its own right. But the day trips are serious bucket list stuff which is why it is so high on this list.
Recommended visit time: 3-4 days
4) Mendoza, Argentina
Highlights:
- Great parks
- Amazing place for wine lovers
- The best steak in Argentina
- Reasonably safe
- Lots of amenities
Lowlights:
- Lots of large ditches by the paths
There’s a strong Argentina theme towards the top of this list. And if you’ve spent a few months in the country seeing all the highlights as we have, you will understand why.
If I could live anywhere in South America, I would choose Mendoza. It’s a lot warmer than the top three cities on this list, and has some of the best steak I’ve ever eaten, more specifically at El Asadito in the city centre.
Parque General San Martin is a massive green space with all sorts going on from crafts markets to food fairs, and a scenic lake where people row around in kayaks. It reminded me of the sort of parks I saw in Tokyo. It’s large, peaceful and has a lot going on.
Mendoza is the epicentre of Argentina’s wine region. You can take a vineyard tour here, and we speak from experience when we tell you it’s a lot of fun. Just being lots of water because you will sample a lot of wine, and Mendoza is often sunny which makes dehydration a possibility.
My beloved Southampton threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Leicester thanks to a 98th-minute Jordan Ayew winner on the day we did the tour, so I was pretty miserable going into it, but it still turned out to be a really fun afternoon.
Mendoza is also a good base from which to see Mount Aconcagua, South America’s highest peak. You will need several weeks to hike up there, but seeing it from a distance is easy from a day tour.
Mendoza should be a must-visit on an Argentina itinerary. I’ve been twice now, and would happily go back there even without anything major that I haven’t already seen.
Recommended visit time: 4 days-1 week
5) La Paz, Bolivia
Highlights:
- Really fun culture
- Unique activities on offer (Witches’ Market and cholitas wrestling)
- One of the world’s cheapest cities
- Decent accommodation for low prices
Lowlights:
- Chaotic and noisy
- Traffic is crazy
- High altitude can be problematic
- Fairly cold
Quite possibly the wackiest city in the world. La Paz is pure chaos, but it’s also really great fun. It’s definitely a place for a short visit rather than living if I’m honest…
Can you image a city where witchcraft is openly practiced and human sacrifices still take place in the 2020s? Well that city really exists, and it’s called La Paz.
The Witches’ Market sells all sorts of potions, black magic devices, and trinkets used as donations to the Pachamama (Mother Earth) which you may see locals burning on stoves, particularly in more remote parts of neighbouring city El Alto.
Most shockingly of all, you can find dead llama fetuses hanging from the ceiling. And they’re pretty graphic. They’re also used as tributes to the Pachamama, or sometimes buried under buildings to grant luck during construction.
Elsewhere, you have the cholitas: indigenous ladies who are easily distinguishable with their giant puffy skirts, bowler hats and pigtails.
Cholitas are tough cookies. Many sit on the streets for 12+ hours per day selling fruit and vegetables in challenging conditions. La Paz is a cold city, and the highest major city in the world which makes altitude a struggle here.
I went to see cholitas wrestling which takes place in the evening, and it’s exactly what it says on the tin: cholitas… wrestling each other.
To be honest the wrestling was fun for 15 minutes, but I got bored quickly and ended up playing FIFA Mobile on my phone by the end. It’s pretty repetitive. But I’m no wrestling fan, so perhaps not the target audience for this. I’d still recommend checking it out for the cultural experience however.
Now Bolivia is Latin America’s cheapest country, and La Paz is ultra cheap too. You can get a half-decent hotel for £10 (US$13) and meals for £1 (US$1.30 roughly).
It’s the uniqueness of the place that gives La Paz its charm. This city is like no other on earth, and the cultural experiences here are incredible.
Recommended visit time: 4 days
6) Bariloche, Argentina
Highlights:
- Fantastic lakes and mountains
- Incredible nature
- Great chocolate
- Safe
- Well-connected with other parts of Argentina
Lowlights:
- Expensive
- Not the friendliest people
Just like Ushuaia and El Calafate, Bariloche is part of Argentinian Patagonia. And being in Patagonia means it’s a pretty incredible place.
There’s a big alpine feel to Bariloche. The views on top of Cerro Campanario reminded me of Slovenia’s Lake Bled. The image at the bottom of this section will show you what I mean.
It isn’t just the views that feel Central European. Bariloche is also home to some great chocolate shops. We got carried away every day stopping in pretty much every one at least once.
Some of the shops will give free samples. Others won’t, but it’s worth sampling the choccies to see what fits your personal tastes best.
If you want my recommendation, that would be Fabrica de Chocolates. They had a very helpful English-speaking staff member, and the best chocolates in the city. Rapa Nui is perhaps the most popular chocolate shop, and I would rate it as second-best behind Fabrica de Chocolates.
Fabrica de Chocolates is located here. Not on the location you will see on Google Maps.
Bariloche is good fun, and pretty safe. Wrap up warm and you’ll have a good time here.
Recommended visit time: 4 days
7) Medellin, Colombia
Highlights:
- Interesting history
- Popular nightlife spot
- Great base for Guatape
- Easy to meet other travellers
Lowlights:
- Not the safest place
- Bit rough around the edges
- The food is pretty poor here
Medellin is pretty rugged. There’s a lot of cool stuff there, but you will have to peek underneath its rough underbelly to find the highlights.
The former world’s most dangerous city (during Pablo Escobar’s reign of terror in the 1990s) is now a big tourist spot. And for good reason.
Comuna 13 is a fascinating place to visit. This huge slum was once the heart of Colombia’s drug wars. Now you can take a free walking tour as I have done twice, and learn all about its transformation from warzone to an arts hub, popular with break-dancers, aspiring rappers and graffiti artists.
The first time I went, my guide had firsthand stories of the suffering his family went through during the Escobar days. You can really learn a lot here.
On a lighter note, Pueblito Paisa is good fun. A typically Colombian small town with an upbeat vibe, topped off by the really fun trovadores: traditional singers who take turns to rhyme lyrics with a comical twist.
Then you have Guatape, one of Colombia’s best viewpoints and an easy day trip from Medellin.
I’ve been to Medellin twice now, and put together this 4-day itinerary to maximise your experiences in “the city of eternal spring”, so-called for its moderately warm climate, albeit with large rainy spells throughout the year…
Medellin is cool because of its history and transformation. It’s one of those South American mega cities that deserves at least a few days of your time.
To be honest, the food isn’t great, and it’s not as safe as anywhere in the Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and South Brazil). But overall, Medellin is a lot of fun.
You can even participate in the popular language exchange “Gringo Tuesdays” where locals and foreigners connect and learn from each other for a few hours before the event turns into a party.
No prizes for guessing what day that takes place on!
Recommended visit time: 1 week
8) Puerto Iguazu, Argentina
Highlights:
- Close to Iguazu Falls
- Calm city with a nice vibe
- Safe
- Lots of restaurants around
- Easy access to Brazil and Paraguay
Lowlights:
- Not the cheapest city
- A long journey from elsewhere in Argentina
- No major attractions beyond Iguazu Falls
Yep, it’s Argentina again. And this time we’re back with a fairly small city in the north. Puerto Iguazu borders two neighbouring countries: Paraguay and Brazil. It’s well worth crossing into both countries via the Iguazu border crossing which I wrote a guide on.
Puerto Iguazu is the best of the three border cities sharing what is known as the “Triple Frontier” border. Foz do Iguacu in Brazil isn’t so great, and Paraguay’s Ciudad del Este is pretty horrible if I’m honest with you. A very run-down place known mostly for cheap shopping. The nearby Saltos del Monday waterfalls are cool though, and a tourist-free alternative to Iguazu Falls.
Anyway, Puerto Iguazu is where I recommend staying when you visit the spectacular Iguazu Falls. They’re the main reason to come here, but the chilled vibes are a good reason to spend a couple of days here.
Be sure to also take a day trip across the border into Brazil and see Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side too.
You can check out the Triple Frontier monument, from where you can see both Paraguay and Brazil from Argentine soil at the same time. Pretty cool for fellow geography nerds.
Otherwise, just take it easy, eat some nice steak, and get some nice treats from El Arbol bakery. They have a fantastic selection of sweet goods there.
They also sell cooked meals, but I recommend avoiding these. I found the dinner to be really bad there.
Puerto Iguazu scores some more plus points by being very safe. You come for the falls, and stay for the vibes. Fun place.
Recommended visit time: 2 days
9) Asuncion, Paraguay
Highlights:
- Some of the best steak in the world
- Authentic culture with few tourists
- Relatively safe
- Affordable
Lowlights:
- Lacks major tourist attractions
- Not great accommodation options
- Poorly connected unless flying from major South American cities (Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Lima etc)
Looking for an authentic local experience with friendly people, incredible food, and no real tourists around? Then you’re looking for Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay.
Now if you just want bucket list attractions, then this isn’t the city for you. But otherwise, Asuncion is a chilled place with a lot of activities to offer.
The highlight is undoubtably finding an all-you-can-eat steakhouse for little more than £10 (US$13) where they do absolutely incredible steak. And yes, it really is unlimited.
The downside is that these places are so good, I always feel sick afterwards from overeating.
The best restaurants are Paulista, Acuarela and Brasa y Leña. Be sure to check them out.
Asuncion also has some of the largest, cleanest and best-equipped supermarkets in Latin America. A plus point for comfort-seekers. Superseis is the one I visit most frequently.
Seeing the president’s workplace (Palacio de los Lopez), visiting a mausoleum where Paraguay’s most prestigious individuals are buried (National Pantheon of Heroes), and walking along La Costanera are some of the best things you can do in Asuncion.
Fun day trips include to the wildlife-rich Chaco, the chilled lake town of Aregua (famous for its delicious strawberry festival every winter) and the popular beach resort of San Bernardino.
I’ve been to Asuncion numerous times, and always enjoy it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have great international connections right now which could mean a challenging journey to reach it.
Recommended visit time: 4 days
10) Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
Highlights:
- Slow-paced and relaxing
- Very safe
- Nice food and wine
Lowlights:
- You can see everything in a day
- Not the cheapest city to visit
Take a ferry from Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires, and you will soon end up in Uruguay’s border city of Colonia del Sacramento.
Colonia is great for a day trip. It’s scenic, it’s chilled and it’s super safe. A great example of why Uruguay is one of the safest countries in South America.
During my second visit, we took a free walking tour. I’ll be honest though, it wasn’t that interesting. The city is still nice though.
Colonia’s selling point is the fact that it’s a chilled spot from where you can walk around the small town, see the colonial buildings, and walk along the small beaches when the sun comes out.
You can do a day trip from Buenos Aires. And that’s what I recommend, unless you plan to head further into Uruguay.
Colonia is small but cool. A day here is all you need to see everything. Stay longer if you wish to wind down however.
Recommended visit time: 1 day
11) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Highlights:
- Lots going on
- Some really nice areas (Palermo, Recoleta)
- Fantastic local cuisine
- Accommodation isn’t expensive
- Well-connected with other cities and countries
Lowlights:
- People aren’t very friendly
- Paths often covered in dog waste
- Food is pricy
- A handful of unsafe spots
You may be surprised to see Argentina’s capital so low down this list. Don’t get me wrong, Buenos Aires is a cool city with a lot going on, but I’ve been a couple of times now and stayed for around a month, it just doesn’t have the same vibe that other cities on this list have.
In Buenos Aires you will find great steak with few issues, you can see tango dancing at Plaza Dorrego, explore the spectacular European architecture, and visit world famous celebrity favourite Cafe Tortoni.
For fellow football fans, this is the home of Boca Juniors and River Plate, perhaps the two biggest clubs in the world outside of Europe. Although it can be pretty tricky to get tickets these days. Especially for the Superclasico between the two teams.
River Plate is slightly more accessible for tourists than Boca.
There’s certainly a lot you can squeeze into your Buenos Aires itinerary. So why the low ranking?
In all honesty, I didn’t love the feel of this place. The people are pretty frosty and amongst the least-welcoming in South America. The city feels pretty dreary, and it just isn’t as safe as other parts of Argentina.
Also, there seems to be an unwritten rule where dog owners must never clean up after their pets. I’ve never seen anywhere with paths so full of dog waste.
Don’t get me wrong, Buenos Aires is cool and definitely worth a visit. I just feel there are better South American cities with fewer drawbacks.
Recommended visit time: 1-2 weeks
12) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Highlights:
- World famous tourist attractions
- Spectacular city for sunrise by the beach
- Lots of food options
- Can be a lot of fun when it goes right
Lowlights:
- One of South America’s more dangerous cities
- Accommodation is expensive and not great quality
- Beaches are absolutely packed
- Uber is terrible, and buses are too dangerous to risk
- You’re never far away from a favela
If we ranked the best cities based only on the positives, Rio would be towards the top of this list. However, that’s not the case, and when we factor in the negatives, Rio is still pretty cool but also not an elite South American city.
This is the home of Christ the Redeemer, one of the Seven World Wonders, iconic Sugarloaf Mountain, and the world-famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches.
You can also take a favela tour if you’re feeling brave, but be sure to go with a guide. It can be incredibly dangerous to enter a favela without a trusted local.
I’ve been to Rio twice now, and it’s a fun city. But we can’t shy away from the elephant in the room here: crime.
Violent crime is common in Rio. The favelas (without guides) are no-go zones where tourists have been shot for entering by accident.
I never felt entirely safe in Rio. You’re always looking over your shoulder, and can’t fully enjoy the experience as a result. Criminals know that where there are tourists, there is money.
The “arrastão” is popular here, where a group of thieves (often armed) go on a robbing spree in a popular area, and I’m always hearing stories of these taking place, often on the beaches.
Even away from the crime, the tourist hotspots are jam-packed. Christ the Redeemer is impossible to see without thousands of other tourists jostling for the best photo positions. Sugarloaf Mountain can take hours to access due to long queues, and Copacabana Beach is so busy that almost every square foot has a tent or person on it by the afternoon.
I will say that Copacabana is really awesome at 5am for sunrise however. I could count the number of people we saw at that time (under 20 during a 30-minute stay).
There are lots of cool things in Rio, and it’s absolutely worth a visit. But this isn’t a Latin America beginner city, and I’d recommend some of the safer cities here before you tackle Rio.
Recommended visit time: 1 week
13) Arequipa, Peru
Highlights:
- Beautiful scenery
- Calm and quiet
- Good base for visiting Colca Canyon
Lowlights:
- Not as eventful as other cities on this list
- Prone to earthquakes
Arequipa is one of the most scenic cities in South America, if not the world. The colonial architecture and surrounding mountains give Arequipa some real charm.
It’s pretty safe from a crime perspective at least. Although I must admit it was pretty scary when my phone started making loud alarm noises like nothing I’d seen before, which it turned out was an earthquake warning.
I never felt the earthquake, and it seems major tremors are rare here, but that was a little unsettling.
Arequipa is home to the scenic Santa Catalina Monastery which costs £9 (US$13) to enter. You also have the Museo Santuarios Andinos where you can learn all about Andean history, and even see the mummy of Juanita, an Incan child who was sacrificed to the Gods.
Unlike in La Paz, I’m not aware of human sacrifices still being a thing in Arequipa, or even elsewhere in Peru. But it’s a fascinating bit of history to learn about from a bygone era.
In some ways history is just like travel. You learn about rules, laws and environments completely different to what you’re used to. And it’s fun to gain knowledge on such opposing ways of living to your own.
Arequipa is also a great base for visiting Colca Canyon on a day trip. I would say that Colca Canyon is similar to Chile’s Valle de la Luna. The lunar-style landscapes are the main draw of both places.
This is a charming city to visit on your way to or from Cusco, and I’d recommend finding a few days for it in your Peru trip plan.
Recommended visit time: 3 days
14) Caracas, Venezuela
Highlights:
- Incredibly interesting history
- Unique experience with few other tourists around
- Much safer than you would expect
Lowlights:
- Very expensive
- Supermarket prices can be absolutely crazy (read on to see how much)
- You cannot criticise the government or their allies without risking arrest
- Hard to get by without speaking Spanish
- Difficult to get cash here, and most foreign cards won’t work (bring US dollars)
I love Caracas. It’s a very different city to others on this list, because Caracas isn’t a particularly beautiful city, and it isn’t a great hub for day trips like some of the others on this list.
So why do I recommend Venezuela’s capital so highly?
Well Caracas is a really interesting cultural experience where you will most likely see zero other tourists, and you can look into a place that has a totally different feel to anywhere else in South America, due to the extreme crime and poverty suffered in recent years, and propaganda promoting leader Nicolas Maduro, his predecessor Hugo Chavez, and international allies such as Iran, Cuba and Russia.
Now I was under the impression that this would be one of the most dangerous cities I had visited. Wrong. Since 2021, Venezuela has become far safer as criminals fled the country, ironically because it became so poor that there was nothing left to steal. That, and the fact that the government finally got tough on the bad guys.
I was shocked to be able to walk around Caracas at night, see families playing football in the park and people dancing in the squares.
Our Airbnb host in Caracas showed us a lot of the city, and really changed our views on what we thought would be a near-no-go zone.
Seeing all the pro-regime propaganda is really interesting. In the west we’re told about how awful the Venezuelan government is (it turns out yeah, they’re pretty bad), and it’s fascinating to see them portrayed as heroes all over the capital (the locals hate them, but can’t say this openly).
Caracas is also the only city in the world where we saw supermarkets selling a single packet of crisps for US$29 and a box of Corn Flakes for US$22. These were just two of many crazy price tags we encountered. All this in a country where pensioners can earn as little as US$2 per month.
I recommend getting a local guide here to show you the city properly and really teach you about the context. Because Caracas is one of the most eye-opening places in the Americas.
Venezuela is not a beginner travel destination. I wrote about all you need to know before going there.
Recommended visit time: 4 days
15) Salta, Argentina
Highlights:
- Fun Andean culture
- A few good places to visit nearby
Lowlights:
- Not as safe as most other cities in Argentina
- Hard to find a good asado here
Yes it’s another Argentina entry on this list, but Salta is very different to the other cities.
Salta is located up in the country’s northwest, right by the Andes mountains. And you can feel the Andean vibe straight away. Salta feels much more like a Peruvian city than one in Argentina.
The people are mostly indigenous, and you will see some in traditional clothing.
They even sell coca candy here, a popular “remedy” for altitude sickness that you’ll find all over Peru and Bolivia. Although I don’t really believe in it. Every time I’ve consumed coca candy or leaves, I’ve noticed zero difference, and it isn’t backed by science…
Salta is a gateway to its own rainbow mountain, as well as the Salinas Grandes which are a series of cool-looking salt flats.
I’ll be honest though, the rainbow mountain was pretty bland in real life (many online photos are highly edited) and not a patch on Vinicunca in Peru. You can see my picture below.
The salt flats were also a little underwhelming, especially having been to Bolivia’s spectacular Uyuni.
If you’ve never been to Uyuni before, you may still enjoy them. But Uyuni is far superior.
Salta is also near a really cool town called Cafayate. Cafayate has some of Argentina’s most famous alfajores at a shop called Calchaquitos. They’re delicious and absolutely live up to the hype!
We also flagged down a taxi driver to take us to some nearby sand dunes for just £9 (US$13) both ways. We had the dunes to ourselves and enjoyed watching the sun set with no one else to be seen.
Recommended visit time: 4 days
16) Quito, Ecuador
Highlights:
- The equator monument is really fun to visit
- Nice historical centre
- Not too expensive despite using the dollar
Lowlights:
- A pretty dangerous city
- Uber from the airport isn’t cheap (US$20+)
A city I almost omitted from this list, because I was almost mugged there.
But I need to look at this objectively. Did I have a great time in Quito? No, because of the mugging incident. But is it still a good city? Yes, there’s a lot of cool stuff there, and it would be a great place without the not-so-small issue of violent crime.
Quito is cool. The neo-gothic Basilica del Voto Nacional is an impressive place to see, the historic centre is a nice place to potter around in, and that’s before we talk about my favourite spot: the Mitad del Mundo monument.
“Ecuador” means “equator” and “Mitad del Mundo” means “middle of the world”. There’s a giant monument to mark this spot, and the location is actually inaccurate by around 200 metres, but there’s a larger complex surrounding the monument with indigenous houses, museums, and even a place to grab a (very refreshing) beer at one of the stalls nearby.
Just around the corner, is the real middle of the world, where water spins in a different direction on either side of the equator, and the sun will always rise and set at exactly 6:00.
But crime is why this city doesn’t rank higher up this list. Within moments of arriving at my hostel after flying in from Bogota, staff told me it was too dangerous to visit the shop 20 metres away. The sun was beginning to set, and it wasn’t even dark yet at this point.
I noticed on my first morning how most stores are locked, and to purchase something you will need to ask staff to hand it to you through the bars.
I was told by a tour guide that the hill El Panecillo, famous for its giant Virgin Mary statue on top, is a total no-go zone in which you will definitely be robbed if you don’t take Uber to get there and back.
Ecuador is not safe. And Quito is a big reason why. Sure, you can visit and maybe nothing will happen to you. But the risk is moderate. And that’s the only reason why Quito isn’t much higher on the list, because it’s still a great city.
Recommended visit time: 3-4 days
17) Lima, Peru
Highlights:
- World famous food scene
- Great beaches for surfing
Lowlights:
- Not much to offer if you aren’t a foodie or surfer
- Not necessarily unsafe, but can be a bit dodgy in patches
I didn’t like Lima personally, but that may be because I’m not a foodie, and this is definitely a city for foodies.
Lima is home to many of the world’s best restaurants including Central, ranked number 1 in 2023.
Many of these restaurants, including Central, specialise in Peruvian cuisine. Ceviche (a seafood dish with peppers, onions and lime mixed in) is the most popular food in Peru, but they also love corn, potatoes and even beef hearts (known as anticuchos).
The Miraflores and Barranco neighbourhoods are where most people stay in Lima. They’re more upmarket areas which are near the coast. Unlike most capital cities across the world, Lima is known for having good beaches, which are popular spots for surfers.
The historic centre is interesting for a day or so, but I wouldn’t quite put it on the same level as Cusco or Buenos Aires which both excel in this area. The catacombs at the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco were my personal highlight. It’s pretty spooky seeing hundreds of skulls lying down there.
I put Lima on this list, because you may well love it, even if I didn’t. I’m not going to pretend I love Lima if I’m honest, but if you’re a foodie or a surfer (of which I’m neither), then you may find this is one of your favourite South American cities.
Recommended visit time: 4 days
And 5 Cities That Aren’t so Great
Now that we’ve covered the best cities in South America, I’ll briefly go over a few other major ones I’ve been to on the continent that really underwhelmed for various reasons.
1) Sao Paulo, Brazil
Brazil’s financial capital is pretty gloomy. If you love graffiti and decay, then perhaps Sao Paulo is the place for you.
It was surprisingly difficult to find decent food here. And service was often appalling.
Sao Paulo is infamous for being home to “Cracolandia” (“crack land” in English) where drug-addled zombie-like individuals roam the streets in their thousands creating an unsafe environment for locals and visitors alike.
As for positives, there aren’t many if I’m honest. Sao Paulo is boring and gloomy. One to avoid.
2) Bogota, Colombia
Colombia’s capital is also notoriously gloomy. It rains a lot here, the skies are generally grey, and you’ll be lucky if you ever find a building without graffiti on it.
Like Sao Paulo, Bogota is also pretty dangerous. You don’t want to step outside the touristy spots here. Violent crime is high and there’s a very tense atmosphere in Bogota. It feels like you’re always one moment of misfortune away from running into an unsavoury character or two.
Bogota does at least have Monserrate, a cool mountain which is pretty easy to hike up. The views are great if you’re lucky with the fog subsiding.
I like Bogota to some extent, but it’s a city with a lot of downsides.
3) Guayaquil, Ecuador
Ecuador’s most famous port city was dangerous even before my July 2022 trip. Now however, it has blown into the centre of conflict between the country’s drug cartels and the government.
I liked Santa Ana Hill, the only place I was brave enough to visit. It was at least guarded by armed police, and I took Uber there and back. But Guayaquil is just too dangerous to visit now.
4) Encarnacion, Paraguay
One of Paraguay’s biggest cities is Encarnacion in the south. It shares a border with the Argentinian city of Posadas.
Encarnacion has beaches. And in theory, it should be a really good summer holiday spot. But the beaches were not quite worth coming all the way here for, and Encarnacion is otherwise pretty boring and rundown.
It is at least a good base to visit the Jesuit Missions from.
The bus station is pretty ropey, and you have a few shady characters lurking around there at night.
Unless you want to visit the missions, or cross to Posadas, there’s no good reason to come here. San Bernardino is a good spot for beaches, and it’s only an hour from Asuncion.
5) Santiago, Chile
Chile’s capital is one of the worst South American cities. It’s expensive, rundown, covered in graffiti, most windows are covered up with metal grates, it’s cold here. This list goes on…
I was tear gassed during a riot here in 2022. The city is home to regular protests from far-left agitators who often destroy property and attack police.
As for positives, there are very few. Some nice hilltop views across the city, but really there are far more negatives than positives here, and it’s a city best avoiding.
More Posts on South America
- The Safest Countries In South America In 2025: Ranked
- Best Countries In South America To Travel To: Ranked
- Central America Or South America: Which Is Better To Visit?
- What Are The Best South American Countries For First Timers?
- What Are The 10 Safest Cities In South America In 2025?
- The Ultimate 6 Month South America Itinerary On A Budget
