Colonia del Sacramento

It's hard not to fall in love with Colonia del Sacramento, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of South America's most beautiful cities. Founded in 1680, the city was subject to a long series of wars and pacts between Spain and Portugal, which eventually gave up its claim. Its many small museums are dedicated to the story of its tumultuous history. Like Cartagena, Quito, and Cusco, Colonia offers the best of an old colonial city, with wonderfully preserved architecture, rough cobblestone streets, and an easy grace and tranquillity evident in its people and pace. There are more bicycles than cars here, which adds to the serenity of this roughly six-by-six-block Old City that juts out on a small peninsula into the Río de la Plata. Colonia is often the first (and sometimes only) destination in Uruguay most visitors see; it's easily done as a day trip from Buenos Aires, or makes a convenient gateway to the country if arriving from Argentina.