Highlights of Across the Southern Cone

Below are some of the major travel highlights for Across the Southern Cone. For more in-depth attractions of each country on this route, click on the country names below or select a route to see the highlights on this section of the journey. Click on the icons below to focus on specific types of features (click again to return to all).

In-depth highlights: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay


Natural	History	Wildlife	Trekking	Cities	Religious Monument	Boat Journey	Rail Journey	Diving	Cultural	Adrenaline	UNESCO WHS

Cultural attractions of Across the Southern Cone

Mendoza
Mendoza is one of Argentina's most popular cities for travellers, who are attracted to its laid back atmosphere, wide leafy avenues and lively cafe and bar-laden plazas. The Mendoza region produces 70% of the wine made in Argentina and it's a great place to tour some of the major wineries and do wine tasting, particularly of the Malbec grape unique to Argentina. The spectacular mountainous landscapes around Mendoza are also ideal for trekking and horse riding.

Mendoza

Mendoza is one of Argentina's most popular cities for travellers, who are attracted to its laid back atmosphere, wide leafy avenues and lively cafe and bar-laden plazas. The Mendoza region produces 70% of the wine made in Argentina and it's a great place to tour some of the major wineries and do wine tasting, particularly of the Malbec grape unique to Argentina. The spectacular mountainous landscapes around Mendoza are also ideal for trekking and horse riding.

Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is one of the great cities of South America - a vibrant, cosmopolitan and culturally fascinating metropolis. It has a strong European influence borne from large scale immigration from Spain, Italy and France and some excellent and grandiose 19th century architecture along its wide avenues. Buenos Aires has several distinctive neighbourhoods. San Telmo is the artists quarter with some great restaurants and bars and a wonderful Sunday market. The Italian barrio of La Boca is famous for its colourfully painted buildings, street tango shows and the passion and spectacle of the football games of the Boca Juniors team. Palermo and Recoleta are the fashionable districts, the latter famous for the grandiose tombs at La Recoleta Cemetery, resting place of Eva Peron. Back in the city centre, Plaza de Mayo is surrounded by important historical buildings including the presidential palace, site of the mass demonstrations in support of Peron in 1945. It is at night when Buenos Aires comes alive though, with the bars, tango shows and nightclubs keeping the city pulsating until the early hours.

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is one of the great cities of South America - a vibrant, cosmopolitan and culturally fascinating metropolis. It has a strong European influence borne from large scale immigration from Spain, Italy and France and some excellent and grandiose 19th century architecture along its wide avenues. Buenos Aires has several distinctive neighbourhoods. San Telmo is the artists quarter with some great restaurants and bars and a wonderful Sunday market. The Italian barrio of La Boca is famous for its colourfully painted buildings, street tango shows and the passion and spectacle of the football games of the Boca Juniors team. Palermo and Recoleta are the fashionable districts, the latter famous for the grandiose tombs at La Recoleta Cemetery, resting place of Eva Peron. Back in the city centre, Plaza de Mayo is surrounded by important historical buildings including the presidential palace, site of the mass demonstrations in support of Peron in 1945. It is at night when Buenos Aires comes alive though, with the bars, tango shows and nightclubs keeping the city pulsating until the early hours.

Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in the world. Known as the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvellous City), its setting is almost unparalleled - crammed between stunning white beaches and soaring mountains with the peaks of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Corcovado guarding its bay. The 1,300-metre long cable car ride to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain gives you spectacular views across the city and Guanabara Bay, which are matched by those on Corcovado on top of which lies the magnificent statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Back in the city, Rio's famous beaches (Ipanema, Copacabana and Leblon) are filled with sun worshippers, the colonial part of the city has many historic buildings and museums and the picturesque barrio of Santa Teresa is known as 'The Montmartre of Rio'. Its at night when Rio really comes alive though, with the samba bars of Lapa and the bars and restaurants of Ipanema and Copacabana filled with live music, energy and people having fun. The whole city goes wild with parades and parties in the week leading up to the Mardi Gras Carnival every year in February. The contrast between the opulent downtown and the poverty in the hillside favelas can be seen on a tour of Rocinha (the largest in South America). Another must-see attraction is a football game at the world famous 95,000 seat Maracena Stadium to experience the unique Brazilian football atmosphere. For quiet time away from the city's bustle, the beautiful Botanical Gardens or tropical rainforest of Tijuca National Park provides a welcome break from the concrete jungle. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in the world. Known as the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvellous City), its setting is almost unparalleled - crammed between stunning white beaches and soaring mountains with the peaks of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Corcovado guarding its bay. The 1,300-metre long cable car ride to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain gives you spectacular views across the city and Guanabara Bay, which are matched by those on Corcovado on top of which lies the magnificent statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Back in the city, Rio's famous beaches (Ipanema, Copacabana and Leblon) are filled with sun worshippers, the colonial part of the city has many historic buildings and museums and the picturesque barrio of Santa Teresa is known as 'The Montmartre of Rio'. Its at night when Rio really comes alive though, with the samba bars of Lapa and the bars and restaurants of Ipanema and Copacabana filled with live music, energy and people having fun. The whole city goes wild with parades and parties in the week leading up to the Mardi Gras Carnival every year in February. The contrast between the opulent downtown and the poverty in the hillside favelas can be seen on a tour of Rocinha (the largest in South America). Another must-see attraction is a football game at the world famous 95,000 seat Maracena Stadium to experience the unique Brazilian football atmosphere. For quiet time away from the city's bustle, the beautiful Botanical Gardens or tropical rainforest of Tijuca National Park provides a welcome break from the concrete jungle.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea