Cities & Towns in South America

Brasília is a unique example of urban planning brought to fruition in the 20th century. It represents the living expression of the principles and ideals advanced by the Modernist Movement and effectively embodied through the urban and architectural planning of Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer.

Situated in the Peruvian Andes, Cuzco (Cusco) developed into a complex Incan urban center with distinct religious and administrative functions. When the Spaniards conquered it in the 16th century, they preserved the basic structure but built Baroque churches and palaces over the ruins of the Inca city.

Quito, Ecuador's capital, sits high in the Andean foothills. Constructed on the foundations of an ancient Incan city, it’s known for its well-preserved colonial center, rich with 16th- and 17th-century churches and other structures blending European, Moorish and indigenous styles.

With its earthen constructions unique to the Caribbean, Coro is the only surviving example of a rich fusion of local traditions with Spanish Mudéjar and Dutch architectural techniques. Founded in 1527, it was one of the first colonial towns and has some 600 historic buildings.

El Calafate is a city in Argentina, situated on the southern border of Lake Argentino, in the southwest part of Santa Cruz Province, near the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. It is an important tourist destination as the hub to visit different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park.

El Chaltén is a small mountain village in the Patagonian region of southern Argentina, near;the border with Chile. It is a popular base for hiking numerous trails, such as those leading to the base of surrounding peaks and glacial lakes, including Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.

The Historic City of Sucre, first capital of Bolivia, was founded by the Spanish in the first half of the 16th century. Its many well-preserved 16th-century religious buildings illustrate the blending of local architectural traditions with styles imported from Europe.

Founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro Preto was the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil’s golden age in the 18th century. With the exhaustion of the gold mines in the 19th century, the city’s influence declined but many churches, bridges and fountains remain as a testimony to its past prosperity.

Founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese, Olinda’s history is linked to the sugarcane industry. Rebuilt by the Portuguese after being looted and burned by the Dutch, the harmonious balance between the buildings, gardens, churches, convents and chapels all contribute to the town's charm.

Rio de Janeiro's dramatic landscape is punctuated by a series of forested mountains that tower over the city and cascade down to the coast where the steep cone shapes of Sugar Loaf and Corcovado frame the wide sweeps of Guanabara Bay that shelters this spectacular city from the Atlantic Ocean.