Best slow travel destinations in South America
Best slow travel destinations in South America
Quiet passenger rail corridors and traditional agricultural valleys in South America
Remote southern Patagonian towns and a coffee-growing region in Colombia both reward slowing down considerably, one shaped by genuine remoteness and limited transport, the other by a culture built around growing, picking and drinking coffee at an unhurried pace.
The destinations on this list range from remote southern towns where distances naturally force a slower itinerary to coffee-growing regions where staying on a single farm for several days reveals far more than a quick tour.
Staying on a working farm rather than in a town hotel tends to deepen the experience considerably in coffee-growing regions specifically. Local farm stays increasingly offer short courses in picking and processing. Staying in one place for an extended period also tends to deepen the experience considerably more than a quick visit.
Lists by region
Town in Peru
Máncora
Sun‑kissed beaches and vibrant nightlife
Turquoise beaches and good waves draw surfers and kite surfers to more than 30 beach resorts. Air temperatures average about 84 degrees Fahrenheit. The Humboldt Current keeps the sea between 70 and 79 degrees. The Pan-American Highway serves as the town's main street. Cool windy nights arrive from June to September.
City in Uruguay
Colonia del Sacramento
Timeless Streets on the Río de la Plata
Portuguese settlers founded the town in 1680 and it changed hands with Spain many times. UNESCO has listed its Barrio Historico since 1995. The irregular street plan dates from the Portuguese era. Visitors reach it by a ferry crossing of roughly 1.5 hours from Buenos Aires. A lighthouse and Calle de los Suspiros reward wandering.
Town in Brazil
Paraty
Colonial Charm and Tropical Beauty
Portuguese colonists formally established the town in 1667. Cars and trucks are banned from the historic centre, so visitors walk or cycle its colonial streets. Around full moons high tides briefly flood the district. Cachaca production is central to local identity. UNESCO listed the area in 2019 as a mixed site.
Town in Colombia
Villa de Leyva
Timeless Cobblestones and Andean Skies
Founded in 1572, the town centres on a Plaza Mayor of about 3.5 acres. It is believed to be the largest entirely cobbled square in South America. Cool dry weather at 7,051 feet has helped make the area a wine region. A near complete marine reptile fossil is displayed in a museum built around it.
City in Bolivia
Sucre
White City, Rooftops and Colonial Calm
Many colonial style houses are painted white, which earned Sucre the name White City of the Americas. At 9,150 feet it is the second highest capital in the world after Quito. UNESCO inscribed the historic city in 1991. Its university, founded in 1624, is described as the second oldest public university in the Americas.
Village in Colombia
Barichara
Colombia's most beautiful colonial gem
Francisco Pradilla y Ayerbe founded the town in 1705 and its centre keeps an 18th century layout. Streets, houses and temples are built with yellow stone. The cathedral rests on ten carved monolithic columns about 16 feet tall. Colombia declared the historic centre a national monument in 1978. Guane lies about 5.6 miles away.
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