Travel After Coronavirus: Underrated Beautiful South American Cities

We’re all suffering lockdown fatigue – and travel has never looked so appealing. That trip you’ve always wanted to make to South America? It’s time to get planning. Here are our suggestions of places to visit far from the crowds – the lesser-known cities that have just as much to see and do, but at your own pace.

Cali, Colombia

Cali is often left off a tour of Colombia, ahead of Bogotá, Medellin and Cartagena, not least because it’s eight hours south by car from Bogotá. It does, however, have an international airport, so you could always come here first. Renowned for its salsa dancing, Cali is home to must-visit clubs such as La Topa, where you’ll mingle with locals and watch their nifty footwork. They are also tolerant of beginners, so why not take a few salsa lessons before you hit the dancefloor? Various hotels offer free salsa lessons and organise trips to the top clubs. Also worth a visit while you’re here is the San Antonio neighbourhood, a quaint pocket of the city with great cafes, boutiques and art galleries.

La Ermita, a gothic church, seen from the Ortiz Bridge in Cali

Arequipa, Peru

View of Arequipa cathedral, with the volcanoes in the background

Bariloche, Argentina

Bariloche is well known as a destination, but not on the scale of, say, Buenos Aires or Mendoza. Plus, the vibe is rather different in this northern Patagonian city. Surrounded by the Andes mountains, channelling Swiss-style architecture, and with its own chocolate production, it feels remarkably like Zurich’s unofficial twin city. Mirroring the European beauty spot, Bariloche is the place to come for skiing, snowboarding or alpine hiking – Cerro Catedral and Cerro Otto are the most popular mountains. As for accommodation, a room with a view is a given here; opt for a lodge at the edge of the lake in nearby towns and villages. Elsewhere, the Road of Seven Lakes – stretching 190km (118mi) from Bariloche to San Martin – is one of the most scenic drives in the country.

Cerro Catedral, a mountain in Nahuel Huapi National Park in Patagonia

Fortaleza, Brazil

You’ve probably heard of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, but what about Fortaleza? Sitting on the Atlantic Ocean in the northeast of Brazil, it has been described as a city in the middle of a nowhere coast, but it brings with it a fabulously laidback attitude. It’s a city that’s big on sun and nightlife, and you can enjoy both on 25km of gorgeous white beaches. Fortaleza is also a gateway to some of Brazil’s most spectacular and remote scenery: Jericoacoara, with its aquamarine freshwater lagoons amid vast white sand dunes, is five hours’ drive away, while a further 7 hours north takes you to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.

Fortaleza, in the northeast of Brazil, boasts 25km of sandy beaches

Cuenca, Ecuador

The Unesco World Heritage-protected Galápagos Islands are Ecuador’s most famous asset, having inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and hosting a diversity of unique wildlife. But it means Cuenca, in the southern highlands of mainland Ecuador, is often overlooked. If architecture and history pique your interest, the Museo Pumapungo, a cultural museum and archaeological site, will introduce you to open-air Inca ruins and teach you about local culture, while the blue-domed Nueva Catedral stands as a reminder of Spanish colonialism.

The Nueva Catedral in Cuenca harks back to Spanish rule

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.