South America

6 Safe Places to Visit in South America

Nick Wharton — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 08:00:09 +0000

South America often gets a bad rap when it comes to perceptions of how safe it is. Just the mention of the continent can conjure up images of unstable political landscapes, and high levels of crime and violence. But while there are some parts of South America that are blighted by problems of this nature, the vast majority is perfectly safe to visit.

Make sure you follow basic travel safety measures like not wearing flashy clothes or jewelry, only carrying small amounts of cash on you, and avoiding secluded and poorly lit areas at night. And as with any destination, it always pays to take sensible precautions, research your destination, and make plans based on this information. (See also: 4 Affordable Destinations That Are Safer Than You Think)

Here are six South American destinations that are safe to visit.

1. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Sometimes referred to as the Paris of South America, you'll immediately notice that there's a distinctly European vibe to Buenos Aires. The outdoor cafes, and Italian-, German-, and Spanish-influenced cuisine all offer a nod to the city's history of European settlers.

Learn to tango in the home of the famous sensual dance, sample the delicious wine that the country has earned a burgeoning reputation for, and don't miss out on asado (barbecue) at one of the bustling parrilla eateries. Restaurants here frequently don't even open until 11 p.m. and clubs stay open until the sun comes up. This is a city that simply does not sleep.

Argentina has no travel warnings currently issued by the Department of State.

2. Medellin, Colombia

Formerly, Colombia was the battleground for some of the most violent and feared drugs lords the world has ever seen, including the likes of Pablo Escobar. However, Medellin has worked hard to clean up its reputation in recent years, with dramatic effects clearly evident.

Colombia's third largest city has won numerous awards over the past decade in recognition of its innovations in contemporary urban design. It's one of the trendiest vacation destinations in South America, with visitors arriving to check out the "City of Eternal Spring," thanks to its year-round moderate temperature.

While Colombia has a level two travel advisory, Medellin is not mentioned as somewhere to be wary of. (See also: 8 Travel Warnings You Shouldn't Ignore)

3. Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay

Uruguay is often overshadowed by its larger and more popular neighbors, and is often seen as a day trip by visitors to Argentina. But it has its very own laid-back charm that's well worth exploring, and Colonia del Sacramento is the ideal place to start.

This sleepy city is really one for fans of the quiet life, with its historical architecture, cobblestone streets, and small town feel. The perfectly preserved historic quarter is by far the biggest draw, with its mixture of Spanish and Portuguese colonial buildings making for a picturesque destination.

Crime is extremely rare here and travel advisory levels are currently at their lowest, with no warnings whatsoever. (See also: 7 Common Travel Myths That People Need to Stop Believing)

4. Santiago, Chile

Chile's capital and largest city is a contemporary, cosmopolitan, and classy metropolis. The central zone sprawls out from the vast Palacio de la Moneda, with many of the streets completely pedestrianized. In districts like Providencia, you'll find refined restaurants and high class hotels.

The fact that Santiago sits in a valley surrounded by mountains and hills means it offers plenty of opportunities to escape the city center. This diversity allows you to head out into the elevated, leafy parks and vantage points that offer spectacular views of the city.

Chile has no travel warnings and a level one safety advisory.

5. Florianopolis, Brazil

Far removed from the madness of megacities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, lies the lesser known city of Florianópolis. The majority of the city lies on an island just off Brazil's Atlantic Coast, but remains connected by two bridges. "Floripa," as it's known locally, is a laid back, artsy, surfer haven that's long been a popular vacation destinations for Brazilians in the know.

The energetic city center is packed full of international restaurants, trendy coffee shops, and lively bars. Comprising landscapes as diverse as luscious white sand beaches, areas of rich forests, lagoons, and waterfalls, Floripa is also a natural wonderland that allows you to escape the city at leisure.

While some parts of Brazil have relatively high crime rates, these are mainly concentrated in specific areas and the travel advisory levels currently stand at two, with no specific mention of Florianópolis. (See also: 7 Ways to Manage Your Travel Anxiety)

6. Copacabana, Bolivia

One of the largest lakes in the whole of the South American continent, the inimitable Titicaca is so big it straddles the borders of both Bolivia and Peru. Unusually for a lake of this size, it's also at great altitude, lying in excess of 12,500 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountain range. There are many villages and towns on the shores of the lake, but probably the most popular is the Bolivian town of Copacabana.

In truth, the town itself isn't much to behold, but everything here centers around the lake. It is an imposing body of water, stretching out as far as the eye can see. You can hike the surrounding hillsides for incredible views, head to the indigenous village on the Isla del Sol to experience the local culture, and learn about ancient Inca traditions.

Bolivia has a travel advisory level of one and Copacabana and is generally considered extremely safe.

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This article is from Nick Wharton of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Best Stock Markets in the World in 2015

Tim Lemke — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 13:00:54 +0000

It seems sensible to invest primarily in U.S. stocks, because of their generally reliable returns, familiarity, and a sense of patriotism. But sometimes, getting big investment gains requires thinking more globally.

Despite global economic problems, the stock markets of many countries have been on a tear. Which markets are seeing the biggest gains? Here are 10 to examine, along with a couple of honorable mentions.

(Note that there are many countries that would have been on this list were it not for a large global selloff in August, triggered by concerns over the growth of China's economy.)

1. Argentina

It's a little strange, because Argentina's economy is not in particularly good shape, but the stock market in Buenos Aires is up more than 30% this year, in part due to optimism that October elections will help the country with its economic woes.

2. Hungary

This European nation has been in the headlines recently due to its response to the refugee crisis, but a series of economic reforms and some tax changes have helped spur the Hungarian economy faster than any other nation in the European Union. The Budapest Stock Exchange is up 27% since the start of 2015.

3. Jamaica

The small island is home to some of the fastest sprinters — and one of the fastest-growing economies, after years of tepid growth and debt problems. The nation has also been helped by a campaign to urge Jamaicans living elsewhere in the world to invest in the Jamaican stock market. The Jamaica Stock Exchange Market Index is up more than 27% this year.

4. Iceland

It's been hailed as one of the better economic turnaround stories in recent memory. The nation that was burned by the financial crisis is now back, with a 26% rise in its stock market this year. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the devaluing of currency during the financial crisis actually helped Iceland recover faster.

5. Denmark

The Danish currency has fallen in value, so stocks are up due to the ease of selling Danish products abroad. The Copenhagen 20 Index, which tracks the top Danish blue chip stocks, is up 25% this year.

6. Ireland

The Irish Stock Market Overall Index has seen a 22% bump in 2015, thanks to a surging economy that has seen more than 6% growth in gross domestic product in each of the first two quarters of the year.

7. Botswana

This landlocked African country has been hailed as a model of economic growth, with money coming from diamonds, minerals, tourism, and now even retail. The Botswana Gaborone Index, which tracks companies based in Botswana, is up 13% in 2015.

8. France

The CAC 40 Index, which tracks top French stocks, was doing tremendously up until the middle of August, when the most recent global downturn took place. The Index was up nearly 40% but fell back to its current level of about 9% growth in 2015.

9. Russia

Despite sanctions and war, the Russian economy has grown in 2015, and investors have made out well. The nation's MICEX Index showed a 23% rise since a low point at the start of the year.

10. Pakistan

If you like roller coaster rides, you'll enjoy the performance of the Karachi KSE100 Stock Exchange. The market lost 20% of its value in February and March, but rebounded to give investors a solid 5% return on the year.

Honorable Mentions

These two markets didn't quite make the cut, but they've done well, too.

Portugal

If you began investing in Portuguese stocks at the start of 2015, you got in at a good time. The PSI 20, which tracks the main Portugal-based companies, hit a trough in January and was up 30% by April. It's come back to Earth a bit since, but is up 4% this year.

Vietnam

The Ho Chi Minh Stock Index has been up and down in 2015, rising 18% in the first half of the year before dropping in the last two months. It's still up 4% this year.

Do you invest in any of these booming markets? How has your portfolio performed?

This article is from Tim Lemke of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: