A fascinating Continent, South America is always a popular destination for the most different types of travellers. Are you a backpacker travelling on a shoestring? You will find plenty of things to do in Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay as well as the rest of South American countries. Are you a luxury holidaymaker? You will love the high-end resorts of Rio de Janeiro and the luxury restaurants in Buenos Aires among the other things.
Many places in South America have the reputation of being dangerous. Unfortunately, for some it’s true, but luckily, things are changing.
Colombia, for example, used to hold a terrible reputation but it seems the safety situation has been improving, especially as long as kidnapping is concerned.
In Brazil, I found Rio de Janeiro has improved compared to years ago, while Fortaleza has certainly become worse.
Like for most places you visit out of your comfort zone, use some caution. Namely, don’t show off expensive jewellery, don’t display a large amount of cash when in the street, wear some safety clothes to hide cash, credit card or your ID, be careful to pickpockets on public transport or in crowded areas and at the same time try to avoid isolated districts especially at night.
In general when travelling abroad but especially when hitting sensitive countries, it’s recommended to purchase a travel insurance. World Nomads is one of the most popular for the wide range of activities included, the possibility to buy it when still at home or if you are already travelling and claim online from wherever you are.
South American cuisines are heavily meat-centric, but their lush greenery and vegetation is a great source for vegetarians, who will find plenty of veggies and fruits to revel in.
Argentina is famous for their steak and huge cattle farms, and Brazil for their churrasco (barbecued meat) popular all over the country. While meat is by far the favourite ingredient, there are many other foods you can try in South America.
Some of these are the empanadas and yerba mate tea in Argentina, pasties filled with meat or veggies, fish-based ceviche in Peru, feijoada in Brazil, arepas sandwiches in Venezuela, dulce de leche sweet a bit everywhere, and many others.
From Peru’s Machu Picchu to Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and Pantanal to Argentina, South America is a never-ending source of fascinating travel destinations. These are some of the most popular:
Some of our articles and guides will help you plan your trip to South America and decide what to see.
Despite their homonymy, the statue of Iracema doesn’t sit on Iracema beach but in Mucuripe, a beautiful stretch of white sand where fishermen every morning moor their jangadas, traditional fishing boats, after a night spent off the Atlantic shores. Here they sell their daily catch to early customers who rush off no later than 6 am …
In Brazil, natural wonders are literally around every corner. While visiting the northern state of Ceara, I enjoyed a tour around the coastline of its capital, Fortaleza. Few words can describe the awe you feel when staring at the views of Jericoacoara, a hippie-like resort at about 300 km from the city. Wherever I watched, be it a …
When I booked my ticket to Rio de Janeiro, I had only one thing in mind (well, apart from the handsome surfers hanging around the beach): Ipanema’s Feira Hippie, the artisan market that every Sunday sets its stalls in Praça General Osorio, in the exclusive Ipanema district. I’m a big fan of open markets, and …
Wandering about beautiful Fortaleza, the capital of the Brazilian state of Ceará, I stumbled on this church that captured my attention for its elegant simplicity. Its bright white and light blue tones, inevitably reminding Portuguese Catholic style, are a clean, pleasant sight to be enjoyed against the azure sea on the horizon. This is Igreja …
The gorgeous Iguazu Falls lie within Argentinian territory in Misiones province on the border with Brazil. Covering the border between three states, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, Iguazu waterfalls are spectacular and often a must in the best South American tours. These falls are made up of 275 individual waterfalls that stretch for over two miles. The thundering …
Incredibly fascinating, follow our tips for this fantastic 2 weeks in Peru itinerary and you will fall in love with this beautiful country!
While Machu Picchu certainly is its biggest tourist draw and often completes the itinerary of a cool tour to South America, there are many more things to do in Peru that travelers often ignore. From visiting the beautiful capital Lima to the Amazon Rainforest to hiking in Pastoruri Glacier, this southern American country offers an …
If you want to travel to South America and discover everything it has to offer, booking one of the best South America tours is one of the best options available for you. South America is rich in diverse cultures, the cuisine is incredible, there are over 100 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the biodiversity will …
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The country of passion par excellence, Argentina introduced tango, one of the most sensual dances, to the world. Breathtaking natural landscapes, a fascinating culture, and mouthwatering dishes are only a few of the reasons to visit Argentina, one of the favorite destinations in a South American holiday. Read on and get inspired for your next …
“Abacaxi, óleo de coco, camarão, lagosta!” Pineapple, coconut oil, grilled shrimps, lobster. These the main products offered by the noisy and familiar street vendors populating Brazilian beaches and exploring Fortaleza you are bound to experience that. Everything about them seemed to shout, their colorful hat, their dancing-like allure under the unforgiving sun and their broad …
Even after getting mugged and deciding I wasn’t going back to the beach, I had a quick trip to the cultural pride of Fortaleza in northern Brazil, the Dragão do Mar, or Sea Dragon, where I always enjoy hanging around and just observe what they have planned for the day. Dragão do Mar, in fact, …
On my very second day in Brazil I was mugged in Fortaleza while strolling along one of my favorite beaches, Beira Mar. Before you think “You should have known Brazil is dangerous”, let me tell you that yes, I know many Brazilian cities bear a very sad record when it comes to street crime, but …
It does look unusual for a market, but at first sight you probably won’t imagine this colonial building was created as the city’s public jail, nonetheless. Today Fortaleza’s Emcetur – Centro do Turismo, in Rua Senador Pompeu 350, hosts the Museum of Art and Culture of Ceara and a handicraft market mainly devoted to textiles. Along …
My stroll around Mercado Central, the essence of Ceara’s art and craft in the heart of Fortaleza, northeastern Brazil, right next to Nossa Senhora da Assunção. Rest assured that here you can find literally anything, from food to clothes to shoes to hammocks to kitchen towels.
The last time I was in Brazil I visited as much as I could of the region I was. Every morning is my fixed date with the beach close to where I live, and when I didn’t go it meant I was hitting the roads to discover yet other natural wonders of this state of Ceara, …
I’ve already written about the tragic story of Iracema, so yesterday, while I was vagabonding around Fortaleza city center, finding a tribute to the very much cherished writer José de Alencar was a true moment of joy. I would have liked it to be a cozy one, between me and the writer, but being in …
If you are moving to Fortaleza or staying there for longer than a holiday, then you can find your way to a good quality of life starting from having long walks on the beach every morning and carrying on to discovering its local delicacies. One of the Fortaleza foods you can’t miss is the delicious …
What can I do, Brazil is inspiring me the healthiest of the lifestyles. Ok, let’s spill it out, I’ve been becoming increasingly obsessed with a healthy lifestyle, from diet to alternative medicine to walks on the beach, which happen every day, first thing in the morning, at 6am. For some reason I still need to …
I’ve already mentioned that the history of Brazil has left indelible marks still visible today, signs that have reached to us through literary pieces, traditions and architectural work. During one of my frequent expeditions aimed at unearthing Fortaleza, I “stumbled” on the huge church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção. Obviously, since this is the church …