South America Travel Stories

Aug 21, 2018 • 5 min read

Most travelers on a debut tour of Peru struggle to tear themselves away from the evocative ruins of Machu Picchu. But the so-called "lost city of the…

Aug 15, 2018 • 7 min read

Quilombos have existed in Brazil since the country started importing Africans as enslaved labor – back then they were self-sustaining communities of…

Aug 8, 2018 • 5 min read

Not only does Colombia have great coffee, fruit galore and a lively music culture, it’s also one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Its…

Aug 7, 2018 • 5 min read

More demanding than southern Peru’s Inca Trail and lesser known than neighboring Cordillera Blanca, the Cordillera Huayhuash suits most better as a…

Aug 6, 2018 • 5 min read

You want a fun and local experience while you travel. But you also want to give back, to do something to benefit the communities you visit. Is it possible…

Aug 3, 2018 • 5 min read

As the sun sets over Rio de Janeiro's beaches, the city's sun-kissed cariocas (locals) head home to wash off the sand and prepare for a night out on the…

Aug 3, 2018 • 4 min read

It's a rare visitor who doesn't fall hard for the alluring beauty of Rio de Janeiro. Known as the cidade maravilhosa, the "marvelous city" stretches…

Aug 1, 2018 • 4 min read

While many head to Peru to explore rainforests and mountain ranges, the country's dramatic northern coast is a wonder of its own. Combine surf and…

Jul 25, 2018 • 5 min read

The first date, the first kiss, the first fight, the first trip – these rites of passage form the foundations of an early relationship. Travelling…

Jul 11, 2018 • 7 min read

Every city around the world has a local food culture that embodies the unique essence of the place. While some have become iconic on the global stage –…

Jul 11, 2018 • 7 min read

Travelling these routes inspires wonder and awe in those willing to shrug off the discomforts and heart-in-mouth moments they entail.

Jun 25, 2018 • 6 min read

Summer temperatures in Rio regularly top 40°C (104°F), leading locals and tourists to crowd the nearby beaches and forest waterfalls to escape the heat…

Jun 14, 2018 • 7 min read

Who says you have to leave the confines of your city to find an adrenaline fix? Here our Lonely Planet locals share a selection of adventurous endeavours…

Jun 7, 2018 • 5 min read

In Patagonia it’s the silence that hits you first. Then the landscapes – the snow-dusted mountains rising up like dollops of whipped cream; the shimmering…

May 12, 2018 • 3 min read

It's the most famous hike in South America – perhaps the world – and a must-do, life-changing experience. Hiking the Inca Trail through the Sacred Valley…

May 9, 2018 • 5 min read

Six years ago, Lonely Planet Local Agnes Rivera traveled south along the Pacific Coast and landed in Lima, Peru. Quickly charmed by the capital city’s…

May 2, 2018 • 6 min read

Historically, paradise on earth has cost the earth: Persian emperors constructed opulent private gardens (pairidaēza – from which the word ‘paradise’…

Apr 24, 2018 • 5 min read

If the hipster craft revival movement had a capital, it might look something like Arequipa, a southern Andean city anchored by knitters, bakers and…

Apr 18, 2018 • 5 min read

Strolling through Paraty feels a little like you're revisiting a bygone era – horse-drawn-carts jolt their way along cobblestone streets, boats hover…

Feb 27, 2018 • 4 min read

It should come as no surprise that the top wellness spots in Latin America have ancient roots. Renowned civilizations such as the Maya and Inca have long…

Feb 16, 2018 • 7 min read

Wine has long been a draw for travellers the world over, and we’ve all seen the recent rise in craft-beer tourism, but now travel in search of supreme…

Feb 13, 2018 • 5 min read

Romance isn’t off limits once you have children – you just need to work harder to make it happen, and that goes for when you’re travelling too.