Quito, Ecuador

Built on a carpet of ancient Incan ruins, Ecuador's bustling capital was the first city to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In historic Old Town, superbly preserved baroque churches and monasteries exemplify the fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous influences.

Modern Quito is alive in the city's sleek, contemporary art museums and thrillingly modern Telefériqo cable car experience.

- Frommer's Travel

Cusco, Peru

The undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas, Cuzco is the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city and the gateway to Machu Picchu. Cosmopolitan Cuzco thrives with a measure of contradiction.

Ornate cathedrals squat over Inca temples, massage hawkers ply the narrow cobblestone passages, a rural Andean woman feeds bottled water to her pet llama while the finest boutiques sell pricey alpaca knits.

- Lonely Planet

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Its neoclassical architecture, cafe culture, and international vibe give the city a strikingly European feel, earning it the nickname of "the Paris of South America."

But Buenos Aires is also decidedly Argentine, with its tango salons, creative clothing boutiques, and culinary focus on local staples such as Pampas grass-fed beef.

Whether you're looking for designer fashion, exquisite cuisine, or nightlife that doesn't stop, this vibrant metropolis leaves little room for disappointment.

- Frommer's