The largest city in Brazil, Sao Paulo (or Sampa as it is also often called), offers an intense cultural experience. Tropical plants, charismatic people, and lively, bright colors, sounds and scents surround every traveler here, from the moment they step from the plane. It is a melting pot city, and has large, integrated populations of Italian and Japanese cultures among others. This fusion of culture has created beautiful combination art, culinary scene, and music that are well worth exploring.

The Cathedral de Santa Cruz is an exquisite, ornate cathedral dating back 400 years. From the top of the clock tower, you have a panoramic view of Santa Cruz. The Museo de Arte Sacro is located inside of the cathedral. You will discover ancient relics of silver and gold and one of the smallest books in the world. The volume is the size of a thumbnail. The Lord’s Prayer is inside in several different languages. The Modern Art Museum offers both temporary and permanent modern art exhibits.

Uruguay's capital city is an eclectic mix of Neoclassical and colonial architecture, African influences, and modern European flair. Government buildings, including Palacio Salvo (home to the Tango Museum of Montevideo) and the Legislative Palace (made up of almost 30 different types and colors of marble) are a good representation of the look and feel you'll experience when walking the streets of Montevideo. Ciudad Vieja, the oldest part of the city and now a beautiful neighborhood.

Paraguay's capital and economic center, Asuncion ranks among the youngest cities on the continent, with more than half of its residents under 30 years of age. An Asuncion vacation impresses with neatly preserved colonial architecture, eclectic cuisine, pleasant plazas, and big-hearted locals. Beyond the city's historic center, a tour of Asuncion reveals sprawling suburbs filled with giant shopping malls and trendy nightclubs.

Bogotá is Colombia's beating heart, an engaging and vibrant capital cradled by chilly Andean peaks and steeped in sophisticated urban cool. The city's cultural epicenter is La Candelaria, the cobbled historic downtown to which most travelers gravitate. Here, a potpourri of carefully preserved colonial buildings is home to museums, restaurants, hotels and bars, peppered amid 300-year-old houses, churches and convents. Attractions and events are here in Bogota.

The historic heart of the city is Plaza Matriz, which is watched over by Iglesia La Matriz. Begun in 1837, it's the fifth church to occupy this site since the construction of the original chapel in 1559. In nearby streets, luridly lit 'cabarets' (read: brothels) and liquor stores testify that port life in Valpo is still very much alive.

The second city of Colombia, Medellín has transformed itself perhaps more than any other city in the world. Today the city is modern, innovative, and just generally lovely. Nicknamed the “City of Eternal Spring” for its nearly perfect weather, you’ll find plenty of parks and plazas where you can enjoy the sunshine with a fresh juice from a street food vendor and a couple of empanadas. Make sure you learn all about the city’s past and present.

Also called Plaza Mayor, this broad square is the historical center of Lima and the most logical starting point for sightseeing. Most of the buildings from the original city were lost in the earthquake of 1746 - the only original structure standing in Lima's Plaza de Armas is the bronze fountain in the center, built in 1651. Its buildings reconstructed following the quake, Plaza de Armas is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along with the cathedral, the square is surrounded by the Archbishop'

San Andrés is Colombia’s Caribbean island and it’s a popular vacation location. In this article we look at 17 top things to do in San Andrés. San Andrés is so different from Colombia that you will think you are in another country. In addition, San Andrés is located closer to Nicaragua than it is to Colombia. The island of San Andrés is a popular vacation place from the mainland of Colombia. Also, the archipelago with several other islands is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.