Nine Reasons to Visit South America Right Now

Quito's Old Town Has a Brand-New Face

No longer just a crossroads for U.S. travelers heading to the Galapagos or Amazon, Ecuador's historic capital city Quito is experiencing something of a rebirth these days. Enshrined as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1978, Quito's renaissance has only taken root over the past decade—fueled largely by a $500 million investment in renovations to the city's historic Old Town.

The star attraction of Quito's delightfully dizzying warren of cobblestone streets and Spanish colonial architecture is Casa Gangotena, a newly restored mansion-turned-boutique-hotel with sweeping views of the photogenic Plaza San Francisco. Casa Gangotena sports page after page of five-star reviews on TripAdvisor and a central location that simply can't be beat. It's also committed to working with residents and neighboring businesses. Casa Gangotena participates in a local initiative called Heritage Guardians, through which guests meet locals and experience their lives and traditions during special "life-seeing" experiences. And since 2009, the hotel has shared costs with a neighboring museum to pay for the daily upkeep of Plaza San Francisco and Calle Cuenca.

Why Now: Because Quito's old airport was located in a residential area nearly 10,000 feet above sea level, U.S. airlines were skittish about flying directly into it. The recent opening of Quito's new international airport, located about an hour away from the city proper, has changed all that for the better.

Brazil Gears Up for the World Cup and the Olympics

Brazil will be front and center on the world stage in the coming years, with the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016. The county has already invested a reported $13.3 billion in infrastructure improvements for World Cup-related projects, including stadium and airport renovations.

City and state governments, meanwhile, are reportedly putting more than $12 billion into Olympic-related improvements. A much-needed new rapid bus transit system in Rio de Janeiro, the TransCarioca, is expected to start operating soon.

Why Now: The FIFA World Cup and corresponding infrastructure improvements make Brazil is the South American country to visit in 2014.

Explora's Two Decades of Luxury Adventure

With luxe lodges in some of South America's most remote and unspoiled terrain—Patagonia, the Atacama Desert, and Easter Island (Rapa Nui)—Explora dominates the world of upscale adventure experiences on the continent. Last year marked the company's 20th anniversary, but the Explora experience remains as fresh as ever.

Why Now: With the Explora Passport program, you will receive a 10–15 percent discount if you visit more than one lodge or program on your trip.

Peru's Sacred Valley Remains Relatively Uncrowded (for Now)

Arrivals at Machu Picchu surged from 1.7 million in 2010 to 2.3 million in 2011, according to the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism. And while visitors to the mysterious ruins are capped at 3,500 people per day to protect the site, the rest of the Sacred Valley is not so well protected.

Now a new international airport set to be located between Machu Picchu and Cusco is stirring fears that the region will swell with more visitors than it can handle sustainably. The airport's detractors also express concern over local corruption and potential environmental damage to the area's delicate ecosystem.

Why Now: Chinchero-Cusco International Airport could open as soon as 2017, which gives you a relatively short window to explore Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley sustainably, before it's completely overrun with tourists.

The Clouds Are Waiting for You

Central and South America have well-deserved reputations for producing top-notch eco-lodges. We've already mentioned Explora, but another luxe lodge that deserves your attention is Ecuador's Mashpi Lodge, nestled deep inside a 42,000-acre protected reserve in the Andes.

This self-described "cocoon in the clouds" puts you right in the middle of a biodiversity hot spot. The allure, of course, is the opportunity to observe the cloud forest's unique ecosystem up close.

Why Now: May, September, and some December bookings are currently being offered for 25 percent off the regular price.

The Skies Are Opening in Colombia

Last January, the United States and Colombia jointly implemented a new open-skies agreement that will rapidly grow travel between the two countries.

Why the big fuss about Colombia? It's a country on the rise in both raw tourism numbers (it saw an 8 percent increase in air passengers through the first 10 months of 2012) and in prestige. Last year, the port city of Barranquilla was awarded the title of 2013 American Capital of Culture, making it the first Colombian city to earn such an honor.

Why Now: The open-skies agreement has made it easier than ever for U.S. travelers to visit Colombia.

TAM Joins Oneworld Alliance

Two of South America's biggest airlines, Chile's LAN and Brazil's TAM, have formed a mega carrier serving virtually all of the continent's major tourist destinations.

The newly formed LATAM Airlines Group (the holding company created for the merger) will bring the entire LATAM group to the Oneworld alliance. TAM will join on March 31.

Why Now: If you're a Oneworld member, the second quarter of 2014 and beyond looks like a good time to head south on the newly merged mega airline.

The Dreamliner Takes Off at Last

Only a handful of airlines in the world fly Boeing's newest "it" plane, the 787 Dreamliner, and South America's LAN is one of them. The 787 is designed to fly nonstop on routes that previously required a connection, cutting flight times by about two to four hours.

Why Now: With the Dreamliner reducing flight times on long-haul routes, travel to South America is becoming increasingly convenient.

The Dollar Is Still Strong in South America

In South America, you can live and travel a little more cheaply than in other popular hot spots like Europe and Asia. Countries such as Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Ecuador are high bang-for-your-buck destinations where the cost of traveling is low compared to the return on investment. Spectacular scenery, ancient ruins, a vibrant culture, and (if you're so inclined) luxury can all be had for a lot less than comparable experiences in many other destinations.

Why Now: Exchange rates fluctuate and inflation can change the economic outlook quickly, but right now South America remains a real bargain for U.S. travelers.

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