Argentina: Mendoza wine estancias
Score: 79
"The city of Mendoza, capital of Mendoza province, is a pleasant walking city with lots of cultural activities and nice parks. The province's wineries are elaborate and welcoming, with very well-informed tour personnel. Amazing number of first-rate restaurants in both the city and countryside. View of the Andes is a great background to the wineries."
"The green of the wine estates in the middle of the arid desert is moving. The people are very welcoming, excellent tourist information is available, accommodations range from boutique hotels to simple posadas. Good food—and excellent wine, of course."
"Entrepreneurial initiatives have generated tourism appropriate in scale and character for the region."
"My only concern is that Mendoza is early in the tourism cycle and could ultimately experience overdevelopment."
Brazil: Paratí, RJ
Score: 76
"Between the emerald green Bocaina Mountain National Park range and the magnificence of clear-water Ilha Grande Bay lies a rare beauty that has remained almost unchanged for over 250 years. Stone-paved streets, baroque churches, rain forests, and colonial houses. Paratí has more than 60 islands and around 300 unforgettable beaches."
"Lovely and well-preserved colonial town; nearby coastline spectacular; despite proximity to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo, this feels authentic and non-touristy."
"Car-free and beautifully preserved."
"Well-trained guides and educational programs for locals and visitors would assist with the area's maintenance and protection."
Colombia: Colonial Cartagena
Score: 65
"Legendary both for its history and its beautiful Spanish fortress. Cartagena's walls and fortifications are a monument to its rich past."
"Much of original fort area architecture remains."
"My favorite Spanish colonial city in the new world because it has always been lived in rather than restored and preserved in aspic."
"People seem to be happy with their city, and you feel that as visitor."
"Nice boutique hotels."
"The hotels that have been developed have been sympathetically done and have helped to restore some of Cartagena's buildings—but creeping change of buildings from local businesses to tourism risks ousting the local population from the historic center."
Ecuador: Cuenca
Score: 68
"Full of baroque sights, very nice surroundings, but rather 'ordinary' colonial city, with no special atmosphere. Spa tradition, hot springs, volcanic hinterland, favorable location close to Peru border."
"Cuenca is an interesting mix of old and new. Aesthetically beautiful, but with all the problems of a growing Latin American city."
"A nice colonial city, but still full of traffic, noise, pollution, etc. Tourism development is appropriate."
"Local inns in remodeled grand old homes were lovely—among the most beautiful I have seen in that part of Latin America, and in keeping with local aesthetic styles."
"Architecture and setting are big assets, but seems poorly managed as a tourist destination, if managed at all. Local guides can be a breath of fresh air, as not as jaded or expensive as those in Cusco, Quito, etc. Traffic is horrendous—typical of many smaller heritage site-cities in Latin America."
Guatemala: Antigua
Score: 66
"Real historical capital of Guatemala; unique remnants of huge baroque sights."
"Antigua's monuments, churches, and central square retain their charm and magic."
"Not an easy town to get to know, but that's good in a way: not too many signs and billboards to intrude on the historic architecture."
"While the city could do more to improve the quality of the sidewalks and other minor details, too much 'improvement' and restoration could destroy the charm of the city."
"A quaint city that has become inundated with foreigners learning Spanish."
"Foreigners integrate into the local community and observe its rules."
"Unpredictable appearance of crime."
Peru: Colonial Arequipa
Score: 64
"A beautiful and well-kept colonial city."
"Climate and lack of Cusco-like tourism circus are appealing."
"Doesn't get deluged with visitors the way Cusco does. Tourism plays a small role here overall, but a vital one."
"Much of the colonial architecture has become run-down; while restoration efforts are going on, it feels like they continue to fall behind in the capital."
"A wonderful city, but has been seriously damaged by earthquakes in the last decade."