From stargazing in the Chilean desert and exploring a relatively unknown pre-Incan citadel in Peru, to checking out Rio’s vibrant nightlife, South America has something to offer for all travelers
Atacama Desert, Chile Te world’s driest non-Polar desert is also one of the best places on earth to indulge in a little stargazing, and more and more visitors are being captivated by Atacama’s celestial charms. Spurred by increasing visits from enthusiasts, Chile’s government launched an ‘Astroturismo Chile’ initiative alongside a 10-year roadmap that aims to triple its astro-tourist numbers by 2025. As the primary stargazer’s hub, Atacama is likely to become even more of a tourist hotspot. Indeed, with observatories such as ALMA and Cerro Paranal having recently opened their doors to the public, its potential is — quite literally — astronomical.
Christ the Redeemer statue, Rio de Janeiro. Right: the Atacama Desert
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Te Olympics may be over, but Rio is still trying to lure international visitors on the back of coverage generated by the event. To that end, new hotels are still opening post- Olympics. Explore the new Mama Shelter boutique hotel, Yoo2 on the beach and the recent Hilton, too. In fact the city now has a veritable oversupply of rooms, meaning some extremely keen pricing even in the newest and swankiest of these funky boltholes. Add these to the perennially popular beaches, pumping nightlife and vibrant culture, and there’s never been a better time to visit Rio.
