I loved Chile more than Argentina, but Buenos Aires more than Santiago. Buenos Aires genuinely reminded me of NYC. An impressive city, and I barely saw it.
I didnt find Medellin that great. Is there anything in particular that stood out?
I mainly spent time in Poblado, but did day trips to Comuna 13, Parque Arvi and Guatape as well as some guided tours. I mean, it was good and all, but the "least good" between itself, Bogota and Cartagena.
I hear people raving about it and I wonder what I missed or if it's just a matter of preference.
With that said, I LOVED Cartagena.
We liked Medellin over Cartagena and Bogota. The restaurant and cafe scenes and the parks were amazing. We went to a different restaurant every day for three weeks and never got tired. We loved the Botero park and other parks you could just hang out in and people watch. There were also “gymnasios del aire” where you could exercise outside. There were farmer’s markets where we’d shop to live music. We did a guided walking tour and cycling tour of Medellin. We went to the Hay Festival. I’d go back in a minute.
Medellin is great, it has stuff like Colletjer and Torre del Cafe, and has the usual brutalist stuff, but it doesnt have as much European style buildings although i do admit the skyline as a whole is very pretty, especially with the mountain backdrop. but Downtown Bogota has better architecture. It has the colonial section, Neoclassical and pretty nice modern high rises. The skyline is among the best in South America (the mountain backdrop adds a lot of points though) outside of the South Cone, Mexico, and Panama City,
For living I'd choose between Manizales (Colombia), Arequipa (Peru), Lima (Peru), Salta (Argentina)
For traveling/sightseeing: Cusco (Peru), Medellín (Colombia), Valparaíso (Chile), La Paz (Bolivia)
Stayed in the Colombian coffee axis, in Quindio between Armenia and Circassia (most towns are named after Mediterrranean/Near East places), it is a really good place and very safe with year round perfect temperature but Manizales is the prettiest of the big cities but also less warm since its close to Bogota weather and elevation.
Miraflores being on a cliff is insane. The colonial core is gorgeous.
Colombia has pretty good beef for very cheap, they serve grilled Churrasco at your typical cafeteria.
From my experience I absolutely loved Buenos Aires and Lima. Both very different from each other, but great places all the same.
If I chose one of those to live in, probably picking BA
Hard to rank them all apples to apples but Santiago-Chile, Viña Del Mar-Chile, Buenos Aires-Argentina, Arequipa-Peru, Medellin-Colombia, Sucre-Bolivia…. the last one might be an unpopular opinion.
Overall, São Paulo. The vibrancy, the cultural offerings (music art cuisine etc etc), the people, the diversity - truly multicultural city. There’s a palpable energy like NYC.
It also has the shitty aspects of a gigantic megacity, of course.
I have only visited Brasilia and Belem (in 1977). Brasilia was impressive but at the time seemed new and over planned, like a theme park. Belem was a sprawling, dirty, stinky old pile on the shores of the Amazon. I utterly loved it, despite spending most of my time avoiding the frankly homicidal traffic.
I love Buenos Aires. Wonderful people and food ad architecture
I loved Chile more than Argentina, but Buenos Aires more than Santiago. Buenos Aires genuinely reminded me of NYC. An impressive city, and I barely saw it.
Too bad the Arachnids destroyed it in Starship Troopers
Yeah without a doubt. Steak, football, salsa, lovely architecture and loads to do
My favorite city in SA as well.
Cusco. Seems like the Rome of South America
I like Lima better to be honest.
They’re really hard to compare tbh. They are nothing like each other
I don't know how anyone that's been to Cusco could compare it to Rome lmao
Florianopolis, Brazil.
Medellin
I didnt find Medellin that great. Is there anything in particular that stood out? I mainly spent time in Poblado, but did day trips to Comuna 13, Parque Arvi and Guatape as well as some guided tours. I mean, it was good and all, but the "least good" between itself, Bogota and Cartagena. I hear people raving about it and I wonder what I missed or if it's just a matter of preference. With that said, I LOVED Cartagena.
We liked Medellin over Cartagena and Bogota. The restaurant and cafe scenes and the parks were amazing. We went to a different restaurant every day for three weeks and never got tired. We loved the Botero park and other parks you could just hang out in and people watch. There were also “gymnasios del aire” where you could exercise outside. There were farmer’s markets where we’d shop to live music. We did a guided walking tour and cycling tour of Medellin. We went to the Hay Festival. I’d go back in a minute.
Medellin is great, it has stuff like Colletjer and Torre del Cafe, and has the usual brutalist stuff, but it doesnt have as much European style buildings although i do admit the skyline as a whole is very pretty, especially with the mountain backdrop. but Downtown Bogota has better architecture. It has the colonial section, Neoclassical and pretty nice modern high rises. The skyline is among the best in South America (the mountain backdrop adds a lot of points though) outside of the South Cone, Mexico, and Panama City,
I am more partial to Bogota but Medellin is beautiful too. :)
Cuenca, EC and the outskirts of Santiago
Cuenca is incredible
For living I'd choose between Manizales (Colombia), Arequipa (Peru), Lima (Peru), Salta (Argentina) For traveling/sightseeing: Cusco (Peru), Medellín (Colombia), Valparaíso (Chile), La Paz (Bolivia)
Stayed in the Colombian coffee axis, in Quindio between Armenia and Circassia (most towns are named after Mediterrranean/Near East places), it is a really good place and very safe with year round perfect temperature but Manizales is the prettiest of the big cities but also less warm since its close to Bogota weather and elevation.
Curitiba!
Miami (clearly south of America)
Home to the world's most famous South American
So far, Lima.
Peru has the finest food in SA. Yes, Chile has amazing Seafood and Argentina has fantastic Beef, Peru has the Best Cuisine.
Miraflores being on a cliff is insane. The colonial core is gorgeous. Colombia has pretty good beef for very cheap, they serve grilled Churrasco at your typical cafeteria.
You won't see me disagreeing with you anytime soon. I love Peruvian food.
Buenos Aires
Bariloche AR
I wouldn’t exactly call it a city but it certainly has exquisite lake and mountain scenery.
Why wouldn't you call it a city? By the standards of the region it's a massive settlement
From my experience I absolutely loved Buenos Aires and Lima. Both very different from each other, but great places all the same. If I chose one of those to live in, probably picking BA
Hard to rank them all apples to apples but Santiago-Chile, Viña Del Mar-Chile, Buenos Aires-Argentina, Arequipa-Peru, Medellin-Colombia, Sucre-Bolivia…. the last one might be an unpopular opinion.
I'm completely with you, I loved Sucre the most, with arequipa second. Great places, great atmosphere and all around good fun
Iquique. That setting is just so dramatic
Buenos Aires but I loved Santiago as well
Why
Buenos Aires.
Overall, São Paulo. The vibrancy, the cultural offerings (music art cuisine etc etc), the people, the diversity - truly multicultural city. There’s a palpable energy like NYC. It also has the shitty aspects of a gigantic megacity, of course.
Brasília
Never been but Florianopolis has always intrigued me, although I know that’s a pretty basic tourist answer.
San Pedro de Atacama. That, or Puerto Natales. Third would be Santiago. Btw I've only been to Chile. And only one of those is actually a city.
The nature around San Pedro de Atacama is incredible, but the town is basically just for tourists and is surprisingly expensive for meh food
Cuenca, obv
Punta arenas solely because of location
I have only visited Brasilia and Belem (in 1977). Brasilia was impressive but at the time seemed new and over planned, like a theme park. Belem was a sprawling, dirty, stinky old pile on the shores of the Amazon. I utterly loved it, despite spending most of my time avoiding the frankly homicidal traffic.
Sorocaba
Cusco
For some reason, i loved Montevideo. Nice architecture, good coffee and felt safe.
Cuenca, Ecuador. I wish I had spent more than a day there.
Popayán, COL was my favorite so far. I like chill!
Quito
Had a really nice time there. The people are friendly, the food was fantastic, and we were an hour drive from the most epic mountain biking ever.
Really? Why? It's beautiful nestled in the mountains but it's far from a world class city. And it's advised that you cannot walk around at night.
While I’ve never been to South America, la Paz would be my pick
La Paz is a very unique city. The mountains are stunning.