This beautiful beach town has just been voted the best in South America

From the lush jungles, through the snow-capped highlands of the Andes, and finally to the vast Pacific and Atlantic coasts, South America is one big placeand there’s no shortage of incredible cities and natural wonders to discover.

If you’re planning a trip to the bottom half of the continent, chances are you’re wondering where to start:

Maybe Caracas and its beautiful city beaches? Medellin and are colorful comunidades? Or if you love architecture, isn’t Buenos Aires the right destination? What if we told you there is a South American city that controls? all of these boxes – and what else?

The most important city in South America is…

Every year, as the World Travel Awards are held, we hold our breath as we wait for them to announce the top destination for each continent. They are the Oscars of Tourism after all, and since their launch in 1993 they have rarely gotten travel trends wrong.

This year, a single South American city won the prize three prizes in the main category, crowned Leading City Break of the continent and Leading Beach Destination, And Leading festival and events destination.

Certainly, there’s nowhere else this could have been bagged but Rio de Janeirothat one shining tropical pearl in Brazil’s gem-encrusted crown:

Earlier this year we reported on how Rio was the main driver behind Brazil’s record-breaking tourism comeback, attracting the vast majority of the country’s expected 5 million annual visitors, so we can’t exactly say we’re surprised.

What makes a city ‘wonderful’?

What makes Rio great, you ask? In the current political climate, some may not entirely agree that diversity is a strength, and that’s fair enough, but when it comes to this vast metropolis in the heart of the Atlantic Forestbetter words have never been spoken.

There are several layers to Rio, from affluent Copacabana, known for its towering apartment blocks and palm-tree-lined beach, to a bohemian, hilly neighborhood of Santa Teresa, with its iconic yellow tram and colonial mansions, to lively Lapa, full of samba circles and art murals.

Rio is like an infinite palette of colors, and you would grow old before you saw all it has to offerand that’s exactly what makes it so inherently fascinating:

Whether you fancy a taste of the local way of life: have a drink on the sidewalk ‘boteco‘, mundane altars of beer and laughter – or take a journey back in time into the opulent, Portuguese Royal Cabinet of Reading, Rio and its many contrasting facets will draw you in.

Beautiful beaches everywhere you look

It was called the ‘Wonderful City’ Leading beach destination in South AmericaAfter all, don’t worry, it has a host of beautiful beaches to back it up.

Rio is a coastal conurbation sandwiched between jungle and sea, and if you fly there hoping to get a tan, enjoy one caipirinha on golden sandand escape your fast life at home, no matter how temporarily, you have come to the right place.

The most famous of them all is Copacabana, with a long stretch of white sand bordered by an azure sea, and it is nothing short of the quintessential Brazilian beach experience:

People blasting music from their speakers, beach vendors selling seafood fritters and refreshing drinks, and beach soccer balls flying around.

On the more upscale side, Ipanema is where Rio’s upper middle class typically congregates, and the overall elegant feel, series of luxury hotels on the beachand boutiques reflect that.

Away from the busy Southern Zone, undeveloped Prainha is the favorite spot for Rio’s youth, especially water sports enthusiasts: expect big waves, untouched stretches of Atlantic forest and no skyscrapers for miles.

Rio’s hidden gems

Aside from vibrant neighborhoods and beautiful swimming areas, Rio effortlessly combines cultural attractions and natural wonders like no other city.

In the morning you can take the cable car across favelas and lush hills to the Sugarloaf Mountain viewpoint, then spend the afternoon visiting the historic São Bento Monasteryone of the oldest in South America.

Rio is a global capital best known for its liberal vibe and paradise beaches, but let’s not forget that it’s also an unsung cultural hotspot. It was founded as early as 1565 and for history buffs there are plenty of colonial treasures to unearth.

Our personal favorite is Paço Imperiala royal palace originally built to house the Portuguese royal family, at a time when they moved to Rio: it features a grand exteriorrichly decorated rooms and libraries, and a characteristic courtyard.

2 important things to know about Rio before visiting as an American

Take your personal safety seriously

As an American, there are a few things you should know before planning a trip to South America’s postcard city.

First, there is the issue of safety. As much as some travel publications and bloggers like to downplay Rio’s security problem, you should know that it is so very realand it can affect tourists, especially those who are not careful enough and do not follow local guidelines.

There is no doubt that Rio is beautiful, but we must also recognize that the crime rate, even compared to other Brazilian cities, is high. Petty crime is widespread, especially in areas frequented by tourists, as is violence.

The US State Department considers Rio to be one Level 2 destinationmeaning that Americans aren’t exactly discouraged from visiting, but are advised to take some extra precautions – and that’s advice worth taking very seriously.

• Avoid walking alone in dimly lit areas at night, or even on deserted streets during the day
• Avoid displaying valuables such as expensive new iPhones, jewelry, watches, and money in public
• Be vigilant of your surroundings and your own belongings when visiting a public beach
• Do not visit favelas by yourselfespecially without a recognized guide, or without guidance from a local you trust
• Don’t follow Google Maps blindly: it’s programmed to give you the shortest route possible, and sometimes that can mean walking through sketchy areas
• Never try to resist an armed robbery

You need an e-visa to enter Brazil

Finally, you need to know the visa rules for Americans traveling to Brazil as tourists have changed since April 2025. Simply bringing your valid passport to the airport is no longer sufficient to board.

You need a Brazilian e-Visa, and it’s not something you can obtain in a few seconds while you wait for your boarding gate to show up. It may take about 5 working daysand a lot of documents are required, so you are advised to apply for these some time in advance.

You need:

• A valid US passport
• Recent bank statements show a minimum balance of at least $2,000
• Letter of intent describing your travel plans
• Proof of return journey

The application cost is $80.90and the visa itself is valid for a maximum of 10 years. During the validity period, you can enter Brazil for a maximum of 90 days per year.

Apply directly via the official e-Visa portal for Brazil here.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior head writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60 countries to his name (and is currently weaving stories from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.