When putting together a South America travel itinerary, you have to consider exactly what you are looking for because there are so many different sides to this surprisingly diverse continent. Before I visited South America, I thought, “they all speak Spanish, the countries must be pretty much the same.”
I was wrong in so many ways. Did you know that the most widely spoken language in South America is Portuguese? Did you know that Chileans and Argentinians can hardly understand each other even though they are neighbours?
So, what are you looking for on your South America travels? Is it fiestas, reggaeton, and beaches? Is it mountain climbing, skiing, and hiking? What about historical sites, lost cities, and ancient cultures?
With world class beaches, snow-capped mountains, arid deserts, and the one and only Amazon Rainforest, think about exactly what you want out of a trip to South America. Get out your map, and follow along as this South America travel guide walks you through the top spots in every corner of the continent.
In each country, I’ll give you the top spot, an off-the-beaten-path location, as well as some honourable mentions to help you plan your next South America trip. As a bonus, find a myth busted/confirmed about each country at the end of each section.
Colombia
Let’s start at the top, geographically speaking. You’ll be hard pressed to find a country in South America that has warmer and more energetic people than Colombia. They are overly friendly and they might just have the greenest landscape on this list.
Is safety a concern in Colombia? To be honest, kind of. It depends where you are and what you’re doing. That said, I, nor anyone I know, has ever been physically harmed while traveling or living in Colombia. However, I, and many people I’ve met, have been robbed in Colombia.
And despite being robbed (my backpack was stolen on a long bus ride from the large storage compartments only accessible from outside the bus), Colombia is still one of my favourite countries in South America. I would go back in a heartbeat. In fact, I have been back since then, and I would go again without hesitation. It’s a wonderful place.
Suggested Stop: Medellín
In Medellín, the city of eternal spring, you can get a taste of what life is like in a South American city. It’s big, it’s sprawling, but it’s comfortable. Medellin is the de facto world capital of reggaeton, and the nightlife in El Poblado and Laureles will likely leave the nightlife in your hometown looking like a sad attempt at evening fun.
During the day, take a free walking tour to learn about the city’s history and the rise and fall of the infamous Pablo Escobar. And get out of the city to explore some of the charming towns that are within one or two hours’ drive from the capital of Antioquia. Guatapé is a must-visit. Climb the 708 steps to the top of a ginormous rock overlooking an incredible weaving landscape of water and forested islands. The view is beyond worth it.
Ascend the escalators of the Comuna 13 neighbourhood to see the city’s thriving arts and music scene in what was once a dangerous slum, but is now a tourist hotspot. Dance the night away, let your knees go weak with the Paisa accent, and enjoy the vibrant city in the centre of Colombia.
Off-the-beaten-path: Salento
This is one of the most charming towns I’ve been to in all of South America. I don’t know if it’s completely fair to call it an off-the-beaten-path destination because the town is kind of catered to tourists, but because of its beauty and the fact that it isn’t really near anything else, we’ll go with that.
The hike through the wax palms of Valle de Cocora is fairytale-esque (just check the homepage of my freelance website for a glimpse) and the heart of Colombia’s coffee triangle gives you many options to get up close and personal with the production process of your morning pick-me-up.
The whole town is serenely beautiful (it was the inspiration for the movie Encanto) and be sure to try the trout while you’re there. And the massive patacones!
Honourable Mentions
- Bogotá: the country’s capital, and tons to do, but maybe a bit too big and hectic
- Cartagena: Caribbean coast with a beautiful historic walled city, but very touristy
- Palomino: hippie backpacker party town
- Tayrona Park: most stunning beaches I saw in all of South America
- Tatacoa: red and grey ‘deserts’ with stunning rock formations
- Ciudad Perdida (Lost City): if you’ve got the time and money, this hike is supposed to be spectacular
Myth busted: No, Colombians don’t all do cocaine. In fact, it’s kind of taboo. Pablo Escobar and the cocaine trade in the 80s and 90s really f*cked up a lot of sh*t in the country. Word of advice, understand how serious that situation was and that most Colombians hate drugs. Tread lightly if you decide to bring up the topic.
Ecuador
Let’s be stereotypical for a second, just to get a broad understanding of what Ecuador is like. Picture the stereotypical Colombian that likes to dance, party, and have fun, and then picture the stereotypical Peruvian with a poncho and a pan flute. Ecuador, sandwiched between these countries is kind of a mix of the two. You have traditional Andes villages and you also have some of that Colombian vibrance.
Ecuador is a nice transition between Peru and Colombia but has a feel that is uniquely, Ecuadorian.
Suggested Stop: Galapagos Islands
I hate to look over the “real” part of the country but if you’re only going to visit South America once, it’s gotta be the Galapagos Islands for Ecuador. The islands are a champion of diversity in the animal kingdom with birds, reptiles, and mammals that you won’t find anywhere else. It’s pricey, but if you have the budget for it, don’t miss out.
If you can’t afford Galapagos, have a look into Isla de la Plata (also known as “The Poor Man’s Galapagos”). A lot of the animals that call the Galapagos Islands home, also venture over to Isla de la Plata. There is no accommodation on the island so it’s only accessible via daytrips from the mainland, but is well worth it if you want a little taste of Galapagos without the price tag.
To get to the Galapagos Islands, you’ll have to fly from one of Ecuador’s big cities: Quito or Guayaquil. Trust me, don’t even think about it. Go to Quito. The flight is a touch shorter from Guayaquil but don’t even entertain going there. Ecuadorians don’t go to Guayaquil because of its dangerous reputation. Quito, on the other hand, has tons to do and will certainly leave you awestruck.
Quito kind of sums up the transition I was mentioning in the intro to this section. A beautiful UNESCO World Heritage historical centre, with all the conveniences of a modern city in other areas. There is a lot to do in Quito, including standing on the line that the equator runs through.
And how do you get to Galapagos? Check out the post I wrote for my friend Claire.
Off-the-beaten-path: Otavalo
This is a charming mountain town just a couple hours north of Quito. It’s home to the famous Saturday market that sprawls into the streets, and one of the most famous day-hikes that you can do in the country (Cuicocha).
I had no idea what to expect from Otavalo. I arrived planning to spend one night but I ended up staying a week, I really loved it.
Honourable Mentions
- Quito: if it wasn’t for the Galapagos, this would be the place to go
- Cuenca: Quito and Guayaquil compete for the title of Ecuador’s 2nd best city, they both know Cuenca is number one
- Baños: the extreme sports and adventure capital of the country
- Quilotoa Loop: 3-5 day hike in the Ecuadorian Andes
- Chimborazo: Chimborazo is the tallest mountain on Earth as measured from the Earth’s core (Everest is tallest from sea level)
- Montañita: backpacker surfing and party town on the Pacific Coast
- Vilcabamba: super hippy town in the lush southern region
Myth confirmed: Does water really spin different ways when you flush it in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere? You’ve gotta come to the equator to see it for yourself, plus, what happens if your drain is directly on the equator? Don’t miss the Museo de Sitio Intiñan, which is the real site of the equator and not where the huge monument is mistakenly sitting.
Peru
Peru takes my top spot for best travel country in South America. The diversity of landscape, culture, and history make this an incredible country for the open-minded adventurer. Add in the delicious food and friendly prices and you can easily spend months here, as I did. That said, breaking this down into just a handful of recommendations was tough — but when push comes to shove and you have to pick just one place, there’s no other choice.
Suggested Stop: Cusco
The old capital of the Incan empire is the hands down best choice if you are only going to see one part of the country. There is so much to do and see around Cusco it will blow your mind. The obvious highlight is Machu Picchu but there are so many other sites in and around the city that will take your breath away.
Of all the places in this South American guide, Cusco is the place to extend your stay. It’s a great city that has a wonderful balance of modern comforts and strong Andean culture. You’ll see women walking the streets in their traditional dress with wrapped bundles of goods, or children, over their back as their strong legs carry them up and down the hills.
Here are just some of the things you can do in and around Cusco:
- Machu Picchu
- Inca Trail (finishes at Machu Picchu)
- Salkantay Trek (finishes at Machu Picchu)
- Rainbow Mountain
- Saqsaywaman
- Sun Temple
- Trek to Ahdjfgfhd mountain
- 7 lakes trek
- Sacred Valley
- Ollantaytambo
- Pisac
- Salt Pools
Every. Single. One of those on the list would be the number one highlight and a must-see spot pretty much anywhere else on the continent. And they are all in and around just one city in Peru. Plan your trip as you like, but seriously, give yourself as much time in Cusco as you can. There is plenty more to do that isn’t on that list, and you will fall in love with the city. Despite its obvious tourist attractions, it doesn’t feel too touristy. The central plaza, yes of course, but the city still feels like a local travel spot. You’ll love it.
Off-the-beaten-path: Huaraz
This was hard. There is so much to see and do in Peru, but if I have to suggest somewhere else to visit, it’s gotta be Huaraz.
The city itself is not particularly stunning, though I spent two months there and was very comfortable. The reason you go to Huaraz is for the hiking. I think Cusco and Patagonia are the only other areas of the continent that can compare with the hiking on offer in Huaraz.
Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and glacier lakes, Huaraz is a hiker’s paradise at a fraction of what hiking like this would cost in the Alps, or the Rockies, or even the Himalayas.
There are probably 1,000 hikes you can do in and around the region, all uniquely beautiful. Here are some of the highlights:
- Laguna 69
- Santa Cruz Trek (3-4 days)
- Huayhuash Trek (6-12 days)
- Wilcacocha
- Paron
- Mateo
Honourable Mentions
- Chachapoyas
- Cajamarca
- Lima
- Nazca Lines
- Huancacho
- Lagunas (Amazon)
- Arequipa
Myth confirmed: Yes, it’s true. Peruvians do eat guinea pigs (cuy) — and they love it. They don’t do it all the time though. It’s usually saved for special occasions. The most coveted part of the animal? The brains.
Bolivia
If the vibe of Ecuador is a mix between Colombia and Peru, then you might say Bolivia has a similar feel to its neighbours Peru and Argentina. Although I’d say that Bolivia is closer aligned to Peru, parts of southern Bolivia used to belong to Argentina and the similarities there are apparent — think wine and good meat.
This mix is representative of the people as well. Throughout Bolivia I found the people to be more open, friendly, and warm than what I was used to in Peru. Although I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Bolivians are as open and welcoming as their neighbours in northern Argentina (really, it blew me away the warmness of the people there).
All in all, Bolivia is somewhat of an intermediary between Peru and Argentina and is grossly underrated as a travel destination.
Suggested Stop: Uyuni
The salt flats in Uyuni are something you aren’t going to see in many other places. Depending on the season, it will either be a white, barren wasteland (where you can take some hilarious “perspective photos”), or in the wet season (December to February) it turns into a gigantic mirror that covers hundreds of square kilometres. Both make for some jaw-dropping views and incredible pictures.
The general option for visiting the Uyuni salt flats is on either a 2-day, or 3-day tour. I did the 3-day/2-night option and I can highly recommend it. Along with the salt flats you will stop at many lookout points, see a red lake, flamingos, sulphuric geysers, and a cactus island that produced the iconic photo below.
The cheapest way to book the tour is to make your way to Uyuni by bus (I don’t think you can fly there), and then walk around town and find a tour operator that is leaving the next day. This will not be hard to do, I promise you. There are so many different agents selling spots on the tours that it would be mighty impressive if you couldn’t find one.
I went in September 2022, and with some expert haggling got the 3-day tour for about 700 Bolivianos (US$100). That might be tough to get, and prices may have gone up, so expect to pay a little bit more than US$100 for the tour. Not included in the price is entrance to some of the parks, so be sure to bring some cash with you on your trip. There won’t be any ATMs once you leave Uyuni for the salt flat tour.
Off-the-beaten-path: Sucre
This was my favourite place in Bolivia. It’s a beautiful city with stunning architecture and most of the city centre is painted white. I ended up settling down for a couple weeks in Sucre because I liked it so much. There isn’t a ton to do, but if you need a few days to relax after your Andean adventures, Sucre is the perfect town to spend a day or two (or more) in the charming town plazas.
One day-trip worth checking out is to Crater Maragua and La Garganta. The “crater” is a very intriguing land formation and La Garganta is a very impressive waterfall. This waterfall is more impressive during rainy season (Dec – Feb). The day includes a few other stops and a very nice hike on an old Incan road that takes about 2 hours to complete.
Honourable Mentions
- La Paz
- Tarija
- Cochabamba
- Isla del Sol
- Potosí (very cool experience in the active silver mine that made Potosi the richest city in the world in the late 1500s)
Myth confirmed: Bolivia is the coca leaf capital of the world. In fact, there’s a museum dedicated to it in La Paz. You can find coca leaves in abundance in all corners of the country. I find that it slightly improves my focus, provides a bit of energy, and suppresses my appetite. The effects aren’t profound but certainly noticeable. You’ll see some of the puffiest cheeks in your life in Bolivia as they chomp down on this local favourite.
Chile
From the Atacama Desert in the north to Patagonia in the south, Chile has miles of coastline to its name and hosts a very diverse stretch of landscape. It’s also one of the most developed and economically strong countries in South America.
The people of Chile are fantastic. They have a more alternative vibe to them — picture punk rockers. This is a generalization of course but you’ll see more people wearing leather jackets and dressed in black in Chile than I bet you did in any other Latin country.
I was torn when deciding where to recommend for Chile. Patagonia is without doubt the most stunning part of the country, but it’s also the most expensive — and similar experiences can be had on the Argentinian side for much cheaper. As well, Atacama is one of a kind, but if you do the Uyuni tour in Bolivia, some of the landscape there are quite similar to what you see in Chile.
I want something uniquely Chilean, and with that in mind I’ve arrived at my decision.
Suggested Stop: Valparaíso
Only a couple hours outside of the capital city, Santiago, you’ll find the impressive city of Valparaíso. Built on the coastline and on top of rolling hills, Valparaíso is a network of around 45 hills, each home to its own little neighbourhood.
Staircases crisscross the various streets and alleyways and the best thing to do in the city is allow yourself to get lost in the network of hills, streets, stairways, and cable cars, all while gazing at the incredible murals around each corner.
Valparaíso is the self-proclaimed street art capital of the world. I mentioned that Chileans have a bit of an alternative vibe to them; Valparaíso is the most alternative place in the country. They call themselves hippies, but I don’t quite agree with that label. They aren’t so much tree-hugging environmentalists as they are emo-dressed counter culturists. I loved this city.
Off-the-beaten-path: Conguillio National Park
If you want to do some mountainous trekking, but don’t want the crowds of Patagonia or the price tag, Conguillio is a great alternative. It sees very few tourists, relatively speaking, and it surrounds the active Llaima volcano with beautiful lakes, forests, and outdoor activities ready for you to enjoy. Renting a car is the best way to get to and around the park. You can choose to camp or rent one of the cabins that are available.
I have to admit that I haven’t actually been here, but it looks like the ideal off-the-beaten-path stop.
Honourable Mentions
- Santiago
- Atacama Desert
- Torres del Paine
- Puerto Montt
- Easter Island
- Punta Arenas
Myth busted: I’m sorry to say, but the hearty meal, chili, does not come from Chile. And neither do Chileans really love spicy food. You will find some fantastically hearty meals in the country, but if you wanted to come to the birthplace of ground beef, beans, and tomatoes, you’re best to head north to the Mexico-USA border.
Argentina
You can’t go very far in Argentina without seeing remnants of their recent World Cup Championship. Whether it’s Dibu Martinez’s leg save in a shop window or a pinned-up poster of Messi asking, “Que mira’ bobo?,” the nostalgia is fully alive and well in Argentina. I can’t think of a country that is more fanatic about football than Argentina. Seriously, it can’t be healthy.
The landscape is insanely stunning from North to South, the food is hearty and delicious, the culture is attractive (as are the people), and the infrastructure makes travelling around quite easy — albeit the distances are huge. Oh, and due to the economic crisis, it’s cheap if you have foreign currency.
Argentina feels like a home away from home to me. If you are looking for somewhere in South America to settle long term, Argentina is hard to beat. Imagine going out to a fancy steak restaurant, ordering a bottle of local red wine, and only paying a fraction of what you would do in Europe or North America. Bang for buck is Argentina’s travel motto.
Suggested Stop: El Calafate (Patagonia)
Since I suggested we skip Chilean Patagonia, we’ve got to go to Patagonia on the Argentinian side. Truth is, you can cross over quite easily (unless you’re Australian – seriously look into the visa requirements of getting into Chile if you’re Australian), so if you do want to see the Chilean side it won’t be that hard from here.
Patagonia stretches for over 2,000km in Argentina so there are hundreds of places to visit, if not thousands, but I had to narrow it down to just one. El Calafate is home to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier, a seriously stunning sight that if you are in the area you cannot miss. There are tons of hiking opportunities around there as well, and El Calafate has an airport and quite a developed township with everything you need.
Be aware that travelling by land in Patagonia can be difficult. There are buses, but they’re expensive. The most popular way to travel around here is by hitchhiking, which can be very hit or miss. You’ll need patience, time, and to practice your thumbs up to get ready for the adventures that await.
Off-the-beaten-path: Salta
Up in the boonies of Northern Argentina you’ll find Salta. This is home to the best empanadas in the world, a charming city, and magnificent surrounding landscapes. Much closer to Bolivia than it is to Buenos Aires, this city has some of the friendliest strangers I’ve experienced in my whole life. There’s a reason why they call it Salta la Linda.
Prices are cheaper up here than most of the rest of the country and you aren’t going to find it packed full of foreigners like you will in Patagonia or even Buenos Aires. While in Salta make sure to check out their own Rainbow Mountain, and a visit to La Casona del Molino is a must — get there early (by Argentinian standards) because there’ll be a line and enjoy a looooong sobremesa to catch the song and dance that starts to sprout up around midnight.
Honourable Mentions
- Mendoza
- Bariloche
- Buenos Aires
- Iguazu Falls
- El Chaltén
Myths confirmed: They are absolutely insane about football, the grilled meat (carne asada) is unbelievable, the Malbec wine is sublime, the empanadas are to die for, and the women are stunning. Welcome to Argentina.
Uruguay
I’ll be honest, Uruguay didn’t leave a massive impression on me. It’s tucked into the east coast of South America between Brazil and Argentina, perhaps acting as mediator between those two fierce football rivals. Don’t sleep on Uruguay, though, they won the first ever World Cup.
If you surf, you’ll love the country’s east coast. If you don’t surf, the beaches are still nice, but there isn’t a whole lot more going on in this country from what I saw. It’s also expensive — prices reminded me of being home in Canada.
Uruguay. It’s worth a visit, but don’t go out of your way.
Suggested Stop: Punta del Este
Surfer or not, this is a beautiful beach town and a bit of a playground for South America’s wealthy. That doesn’t mean everything is crazy expensive. Basic accommodation is affordable by Uruguayan standards.
I went in winter (June), so it was pretty quiet and I had the beaches pretty much all to myself. During this time the beaches appear untouched, but you know that can’t be the case with the high-rise apartments overlooking the swell. Punta del Este was my favourite spot in Uruguay.
Off-the-beaten-path: Colonia del Sacramento
This isn’t really off-the-beaten-path, but the options are quite limited in this small country. Regardless, this was my 2nd favourite place in Uruguay and is worth stopping for a night if you can take the ferry directly here from Buenos Aires.
It’s a charming colonial town as the name suggests and is even doable on a day trip from Buenos Aires if you only wanted to dip your feet into Uruguay. The ferry from the Argentinian capital is only an hour.
Honourable Mentions
Honestly, I don’t have any honourable mentions after Colonia and Punta del Este. Sorry Uruguay.
The capital, Montevideo, had nothing much to see or do other than the impressive building pictured at the start of this section. Outside of stopping in just to say you’ve been there, I wouldn’t make a point of going there. I’m sure there are some hidden gems in Uruguay, but I’d need to search a little bit more to find them.
Myth confirmed: I heard it mostly from Uruguayans, but people told me that there isn’t a lot to do in the country and more than one Uruguayan told me not to bother visiting. I tend to agree. If you’re in the area, yes, go for it — I still enjoyed my time there. If it’s out of your way, don’t worry about it. You won’t miss much.
Brazil
Brasil! I have to go back to see more. It’s a gigantic country with a range of landscapes, regions, cultures, and foods. In two months in Brazil, I only made it as far north as São Paolo, which means I still have most of the country to see.
I have to say, while I was impressed with Brazil, I was a little bit underwhelmed. I guess it just didn’t match the image that I had in my head of lively people, music in the streets, and lots of smiling and laughing. A Brazilian told me that the reason for that is because, “you were only in the South of Brazil. The people are not very friendly there. They are more German.”
I wouldn’t call the people unfriendly that I met, but they definitely weren’t as open as I was expecting. I’m told that the Brazil I have in my head I am more likely to find in the north, where the culture is richer and the area is poorer, generally speaking.
That said, there were some beautiful spots in the south that I can highly recommend if you find yourself in that area of Brazil.
Suggested Spot: Florianopolis
Florianopolis is a city, it’s an island, and it’s a way of life. It’s very green and has a ton of hiking through the lush mountains looking over the coastline. It also has magnificent beaches on all sides of the island. The main city of Florianopolis is big, has everything you want, and includes a bustling nightlife.
Florianopolis is where many Brazilians dream of living. You could spend weeks exploring the island and falling in love with it. It’s a little bit more expensive than other places in Brazil, but it’s worth it. It’s a favourite vacation spot for many Brazilians for good reason.
Off-the-beaten-path: Foz do Iguaçu
I’ve seen a lot of waterfalls in my travels, and when I think of the most impressive ones I’ve seen, my shortlist is Niagara Falls in Canada, Gocta in Peru, and Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil.
Iguaçu actually straddles a 3-way border between Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. You can access the waterfalls from Brazil or Argentina. I only saw them from the Brazilian side because the Argentinian side was closed for repairs when I was there. But wow, how stunning this array of waterfalls is.
People may argue over which side of the falls is better to see, and I think it would be worthwhile to see both if you have the time. I can say though, that these falls were seriously jaw-dropping from the Brazil side. There are over 200 distinct falls at Iguaçu and the width and height of this formation are both bigger than Niagara Falls, although Niagara has a higher volume of water cascading to the bottom.
If you plan on going to Argentina or Paraguay as well, Foz do Iguaçu is a logical entrance or exit point for Brazil.
Honourable Mentions
As I mentioned, I’d head north if I could do it again. Actually, I’d start in Rio de Janeiro and head north from there, working my way up slowly with Salvador as an intermediary destination before reevaluating where to go from there.
São Paolo was interesting, but I didn’t love it and never felt completely comfortable — not from safety concerns but just that I bounced around a few hostels and hotels without ever really finding somewhere I wanted to stay more than a couple nights.
São Paolo nightlife, however, is a lot of fun. Head to Madalena to dance and barhop the night away.
Myth confirmed: I debated which way to take this, but I couldn’t help myself. It’s true. Brazilian women really do have “massive tits and ass” as a Brazilian friend of mine so eloquently put it. I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. And they know how to shake them as well.
Paraguay
I’ll be back here soon so maybe I can give a better description. My first impression though wasn’t amazing. Paraguay felt weird. It didn’t have the life or exuberance that you find in most of South America. A thought I actually had while in the country was that everyone here feels like movie extras or NPCs.
It was odd, but I’ll be back there shortly and will update this once I get a better feel for the country.
Why am I going back? Well, Paraguay has the best residency program for digital nomads from what I can see. If you want more information on that let me know, but of everywhere I researched, Paraguay was the friendliest so I’m going back with an open mind and will hopefully see things that I missed the first time around.
UPDATE: I still wouldn’t suggest coming to Paraguay as a tourist — there isn’t a lot to do. That said, this country surprised me so much the second time around. The people are so friendly, inviting, and authentic. I’ve never been to a country where it is easier to make local friends. This was something really special.
As well, Asuncion is a very comfortable city to live in. I could easily live in Asuncion and in fact I will be back here many times. It’s too hot in the summer, but aside from that it is incredibly green, and again, the people make it a wonderful place to live.
I have learned that my first impression of Paraguay was based on the fact that I stayed in a very undesirable part of Asuncion. This second time around I stayed in Las Lomas, and what a difference that made. It’s a wonderful area and I would recommend staying here or in Villa Morra.
Suggested Stop: Asunción
Again, I don’t really have much to offer here. I went for a concert, and immigration at the border only gave me 5 days entrance to the country so admittedly, I didn’t see much. That said, they have great steaks in Paraguay and it’s the home of yerba mate.
I’ll come back to update this when I return in December 2023.
As noted above, my views have changed significantly. To visit, don’t bother. But if you want somewhere comfortable to live, even if just for a month or two, I couldn’t recommend Asuncion enough. It’s quite compared to other South American capitals, but the influence of Guaraní, Brazilian, and Argentinian culture gives Paraguay a very unique feel.
The people though, simply the best.
Off-the-beaten-path: Ciudad del Este
I guess I’m only putting this here to keep with the format of the rest of the article. I was only in Ciudad del Este for like one hour. From this city you can cross the bridge into Brazil. On the Brazilian side is Foz do Iguaçu!
Honourable Mentions
I suppose just like its -guay amigo Uruguay, I’ve got nothing here for Paraguay. Will update if anything changes.
Myth confirmed: Guaraní is indeed spoken a lot here in Paraguay. They often speak with a mix of Spanish and Guaraní making it almost impossible to follow along. Their currency is also called the Guaraní. It’s an indigenous language that is still going strong. This group is credited with the first use of the delicious yerba mate.
Conclusion
I haven’t seen it all, but the parts of South America that I’ve been to are truly remarkable and have me itching to get back. I’m trying to get a visa to enter Venezuela, but as a Canadian that is turning out to be pretty difficult. I also have not been to Suriname, Guyana, or French Guiana, nor do I know many people who have so if you go please let me know and perhaps I can add your experience to this guide.
South America as a whole, though, is incredible. From surf beaches to snow-capped Andes mountains to the wonders of the Amazon rainforest and deserts scattered across the continent, South America is somewhere that will honestly capture your heart.
Take normal safety precautions and I promise you’ll love the continent.
Happy travels!
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