Hip Destinations

“With Latin America becoming an ever more fashionable destination, I’ve put together my very top tips for where’s hip to travel this year. From old fashioned glamour to table dancing Cartagena-style, I’ll show you Latin America’s most up-and-coming destinations and unmissable party hotspots! Dancing shoes at the ready…”
Megan Parkinson, Former JLA Travel Consultant.

1. Buenos Aires, Argentina

A ‘hip list’ would not be complete without the famous Buenos Aires. Spanish colonialists landed in Buenos Aires back in the 1500s and it has attracted immigrants from France and Italy, giving the city a distinctly European feel. Like Paris, only with a Latin twist! This Euro-Latin fusion means you can enjoy stylish bars and pavement cafes or go to the opera, then dance the tango until the sun comes up.

2. Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena is a stunning colonial city, steeped in history and romance. By day it’s a joy to potter around the walled colonial centre with its narrow winding streets, historic architecture, churches and numerous plazas, but it is when the sun goes down that the party really gets started. Cartagena is heaven for music lovers. Take in the merengue and salsa in the bars or listen to the African-inspired drum beats in the city squares. If you are feeling more energetic you can continue to Boca Grande and party until dawn. The most popular place here is Mr. Babillios, a restaurant and home to table dancing Cartagena style – there is no dance floor here so after dinner patrons climb up onto the large oak tables and dance the night away. Usually they remove the dishes first!

3. Panama City, Panama

By most measures, Panama City is a modern metropolis of soaring glass and steel skyscrapers. A city with firm roots in international banking and trade, it stands on the threshold of two hemispheres. However, on closer inspection the city offers so much more. Important sights include the famed Panama Canal, an engineering marvel that links the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the colonial part of the city known as the casco antiguo, and Panama Viejo, the old city founded by the Spanish in 1519 which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When it comes to nightlife, there are few nationalities that rival the fun loving nature of Panamanians! Partying is a national pastime and this is reflected in the vast array of bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

4. Punta Del Este, Uruguay

Back in the 1950s the southern beaches of Uruguay were considered some of most glamorous destinations in the whole of South America, attracting the likes of Brigitte Bardot, Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. Today Punta del Este’s twenty miles of pristine beaches, luxurious hotels, restaurants and bars continue to draw the rich and famous from around the world and it is fast becoming known as the Saint-Tropez of South America.

5. Trancoso, Brazil

Once a sleepy fishing village situated on the miles of Brazil’s tropical beaches in the state of Bahia, today Trancoso is a very different place! Frequented by celebrities including Naomi Campbell, Gisele Bündchen and Diane von Furstenberg, it is considered to be a seriously glamorous party town where sexy Brazilian beats play out on even the mellowest of beaches.