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Best castle destinations in South America

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Cartagena
Walled city of Caribbean color
7.2
The Castillo San Felipe de Barajas crowns the Hill of San Lázaro, 41 metres above sea level. Construction began in 1639. In 1741 Admiral Blas de Lezo repelled the British fleet of Edward Vernon from its walls. A maze of tunnels runs inside and only some are open. UNESCO listed it in 1984.
Highlights:
  • 🍉 Photograph the vibrant Palenqueras fruit vendors
  • 🛡️ Explore Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas fortress
  • 🏰 Walk the historic Walled City and soak in colors
Bahia
Vibrant coastlines and Afro‑Brazilian rhythms
7.3
The Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra in Salvador guards the entrance to the Bay of All Saints. A first Portuguese fortification probably stood on the site in 1501. Governor João de Lencastre had it converted into a star shaped polygon around 1702. It now houses the Nautical Museum of Bahia and a banded lighthouse.
Highlights:
  • 🍲 Taste acarajé and moqueca at local stalls
  • 🎭 Attend a vibrant Afro-Brazilian carnival parade
  • 🏛️ Explore Salvador's historic Pelourinho district
Santiago
A vibrant city between mountains
7.4
Manuel Olaguer Feliú designed two stone forts on Cerro Santa Lucía in 1816. Each could hold eight or twelve cannons. Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna remodeled the hill in 1872 with a road, a gas lit chapel and a park with fountains. The hill reaches 629 metres and rises 69 metres above the city.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Stroll through the colorful alleys of Barrio Bellavista and enjoy local art
  • ⛪ Explore the historic Plaza de Armas and its stunning cathedral
  • 🚠 Ride the cable car up Cerro San Cristóbal for sweeping city views
Chile
Land of dramatic climate contrasts
8.3
Spain began the Valdivian fort system in 1645 to protect the southern approaches to Peru. The Niebla fort faces Corral at the northern entrance of the Valdivia River. Chilean patriots led by Thomas Cochrane captured the whole system in 1820. The system includes about 17 bastions around Corral Bay.
Highlights:
  • 🗿 Visit the iconic Easter Island moai statues
  • 🌋 Hike to the summit of the active Villarrica Volcano
  • 🏜️ Explore the surreal landscapes of the Atacama Desert
Peru
Ancient wonders meet diverse landscapes
7.6
The Real Felipe Fortress was built in two phases, from 1747 to 1774 and from 1776 to 1811. It stands in the Monumental Zone of Callao to defend the main port. Its grounds cover 70,000 square metres. Coastal batteries repulsed a bombardment led by Admiral Guillermo Brown in 1816. It houses the Peruvian Army Museum.
Highlights:
  • 🏯 Discover the ancient ruins of Cusco’s Sacred Valley
  • 🛶 Take a boat tour on Lake Titicaca’s floating islands
  • ⛰️ Hike the Inca Trail to the majestic Machu Picchu
Medellín
The City of Eternal Spring
7.4
Architect Nel Rodríguez built El Castillo in 1930 in a medieval Gothic style inspired by castles in France's Loire Valley. Industrialist Diego Echavarría Misas bought the house in 1943. It became a museum in 1971 and now holds nine rooms of porcelain, stained glass, antiques and paintings. A garden surrounds it in El Poblado.
Highlights:
  • 🌺 Stroll through the Botanical Garden and its orchid collection
  • 🎨 Explore Comuna 13’s colorful murals and vibrant street art
  • 🚡 Ride the Metrocable to Parque Arví for panoramic views
Viña del Mar
Garden City by the Pacific
7.1
German trader Gustavo Adolfo Wulff bought the land in 1904 and built a house there in 1906. Architect Alberto Cruz Montt turned it into a castle around 1917 with a tower on rocks connected by a bridge. The city bought it in 1959. It became a National Historical Monument in 1995.
Highlights:
  • 🏰 Explore the historical Wulff Castle by the sea
  • 🌸 Visit the iconic Flower Clock near Caleta Abarca beach
  • 🏖️ Relax and sunbathe at the popular Reñaca Beach
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