Cities & Towns in South America

Situated in the Peruvian Andes, 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.

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 leading to the base of surrounding peaks and glacial lakes, including Cerro Torre, Fitz Roy and Lago del Desierto.

Fray Bentos is the capital of the Río Negro Department. Its port on the Uruguay River is one of the nation's most important harbors. The Fray Bentos industrial complex was built in the mid-nineteenth century to process meat produced on the vast prairies nearby.

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.

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.

Ollantaytambo is a town and archaeological site located at the northern edge of the Sacred Valley. It was a military, religious and agricultural center. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Peru, it was a stronghold for the Inca resistance and is the only Inca town that is still inhabited.

Manzana de las Luces ("Block of Enlightenment") is where in the late 17th century the Jesuits built their residence, the Saint Ignacio Church and adjoining College. It is located in Monserrat, a neighborhood that features many of the historic and important public buildings in Buenos Aires.

Leticia is Colombia's southernmost municipality and a major port on the Amazon River. It lies at the point where the borders of Colombia, Peru and Brazil meet. It is the capital of the Colombian department of Amazonas.