Add some colour to your trip with these destinations in Latin America! After three years of travelling in the area, here’s a little guide to the most lolly-hued towns I’ve seen.
9 x where to go over the rainbow!
Valparaíso, Chile
If I had to describe Valparaíso in two words I’d say: murals and quiltros (the local slang for ‘street dogs’). The dogs are so loyal in Valparaíso that if you give food to them they’ll basically follow you to your home country. And they are around everywhere, just like the graffiti and street art.
This colourful and charming port city – probably the most vibrant one of Chile – is only 1,5 hour away from Santiago by bus. Therefore it makes for a perfect weekend break or day trip, just to get away from that white-collar vibe in Santiago.
Antigua, Guatemala
Oioioi, Antigua is such a difficult city to resist! This Central American sweetheart is only an hour away from the capital of Guatemala, but it just has so many more charming features to offer. The difference is already notable upon entering the city. If you drive into of the Calle Orientes of Antigua from the ‘highway’ you instantly know it when you’ve made it to this colonial gem: the cobblestones will make you and that taxi shake for sure!
Apart from the colourful walls, there are more interesting features. It’s the lack of screaming advertisement, the uneven sidewalks, the super friendly people, the local craftsmanship, the ice vendors with their tiny wagons, the ever smoking and majestic volcanos backdrops and those dog food bowls for strays outside the cafes that makes this city shine the brighter.
The villages of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Argentina
Cruising the northern area has been a personal favourite in Argentina. At the foothills of the Andes in the province of Jujuy, nearby the deserts of Chile and Bolivia and far away from the green pampas, it feels like a bunch of artists has been colouring the area of Quebrada de Humahuaca with a non-stop going on effort throughout the ages. Every mountain, every hill and every rock is painted in bright red, yellow, purples and green – sometimes all of them together striped side by side.
But apart from their mountainous backdrop, the little towns in here are quite colourful too. Try to visit the little villages of Humahuaca, Uquía, Tilcara, Maimara and Purmamarca. They all ooze a different vibe, yet are united by their gorgeous backdrop and folklore.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
No matter how long you’re planning on staying in Buenos Aires, I bet you’ll never have enough time to see all of its street art and graffiti in town, especially as the outlook on the walls just keeps on changing every now and then.
Palermo Soho is a great place to start if you want the see the best colours of Buenos Aires. But don’t skimp on La Boca either. Yes it’s touristy. Some would even say a tourist trap. And yet you’ll still want to visit this colourful neighbourhood that bounces on the beat of the tango.
Eat a chorípan in here at El Gran Paraíso, see the stadium that made Maradona famous (and vice versa), drink a coffee or two at one of the many open-air restaurants and soak up the vibe.
Read here about where to go in BA if your pockets are nearly empty! Or where to see the best murals and street art!
Willemstad, Curaçao
Caribbean vibes baby! So many zones of capital Willemstad are colourful, but the ‘Handelskade’ (literally: the quay of trade) around the Queen Emma Bridge provides by far the most postcard iconic views.
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Trinidad, Cuba
Whatever your plans are when going to Cuba, make sure to include Trinidad in your itinerary. This little city is Cuba’s best preserved colonial and its most colourful city by far. Houses over here date from the 19th century and the cars can be traced back to the fifties. So this city basically is a photographers’ box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get; every street is another treat.
I visited Cuba in 2014 and although the country still felt slightly frozen in time back then, I’m pretty sure it has changed a lot ever since. If you’ve recently been to Trinidad, let me know how it looks like these days!
Granada, Nicaragua
Due to its tempting colonial buildings, Granada is nowadays a popular hot spot for a relaxed stay in Nicaragua. Its vivid colours brighten the mood. While there, make your way slowly through the lolly-hued streets and watch life as it goes by in this ultimate romantic city.
See here where to start your day in Granada!
Izamal, Mexico
And it was all yellow! ↓
Izamal is a super cool and cute town east from Mérida and all its houses are painted in just one colour: yellow.
Apart from strolling its streets there’s little to do in Izamal. The best thing I can recommend you to do is enjoying a great lunch at Kinich Izamal. Two blocks north from the main square you’ll find this lovely gem. Women dressed in the local, embroidered clothes welcome you and will seat you in a very lush patio.
Here’s some more info for the foodies about the restaurant
Cartagena, Colombia
Whether you’re a history buff, into architecture or just love cute streets, Cartagena de las Indias (yes that’s the full city name!) is your absolute place to be in Colombia. The jewel of the Colombian Caribbean was founded in 1533 and is one of the oldest cities in the Americas.
That means you still can see and feel the history everywhere through its architecture, city walls, cobblestone streets, canons and maritime decorations. But it’s especially one asset of the walled city that won’t go by unnoticed: the pastel and flower adorned doors and its bright shining knockers, called aldabas.
Learn more about Cartagena’s charmings street and door knobs in here!
Here’s where to find those colourful streets:
