Longitude: 79.9° W
When to go: December to May
Weaving down the streets of Trinidad, a colonial city in Cuba, colour can be found everywhere. A maze of cobbled alleys, restaurants, bars, and museums—it is eye-catching no matter which road you take. Houses are painted in bright colours with equally vibrant doors contrasting against them. There’s a bright yellow church, Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco, and up the twisting, spiral staircase of the Palacio Cantero there’s a wonderful panoramic view of the golden bell tower in front of the green mountains. Colorful vintage, American cars line the streets and when the city comes to life in the evening, the Plaza Mayor buzzes to the sound of salsa and fills with people soaking up the vibrant atmosphere.
Longitude: 79.9° W
When to go: Spring and fall
Thirteen historical homes line East Bay Street in Charleston, South Carolina, each painted a different pastel color. Stories abound as to why the candy-colored houses were painted these various shades of the rainbow. Some say it was so that intoxicated sailors could remember which house they were staying in while others say it was to distinguish different storefronts.
Longitude: 79.6° W
When to go: October
The deep red hue of cranberries once made them a valuable trading commodity not just as a food source but also as a dye. There are many cranberry producers in Canada but at Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery they offer year-round tours of the process. Later in the harvest the farm offers “The Cranberry Plunge.” Outfitted in chest-waders, plungers can spend ten minutes wallowing in the bog living out their cranberry-bath dreams.
Longitude: 79.6° W
When to go: Mid-December to mid-April
Candy-colored details can be found in every corner of El Otro Lado Private Retreat. This magical jungle paradise also operates the Portobelo Bay Foundation which works to make sure that visitors to the island bring benefits for the local community. The Foundation runs an art gallery featuring colorful local work and guests can take an art class guided by a local artist, giving visitors the chance to experience local life and meet local people.
Longitude: 79.9° W
When to go: June to September
A small bohemian area with colorful wooden houses and cobblestoned streets in the port town of Guayaquil, Las Peñas has attracted many famous faces over the years such as Pablo Neruda, Ernest Hemingway, and Che Guevara. From Las Peñas, take the four-hundred-plus stairs of Cerro Santa Ana, once a slum but now transformed into a colorful climb of shops and cafés leading up to Plaza de Honores where you’re rewarded for your ascent with spectacular views.
Longitude: 79.5° W
When to go: Mid-December to mid-April
Steeped in history, the beating heart of Panama City is the hippest place to be. Rooftop bars, trendy hotels, and cool cafés line streets covered in murals. The colonial Casco Viejo—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is pulsing with energy and you can feel it in every step.
Longitude: 78.4° W
When to go: Mid-August
After sundown for a few days in August, in celebration of its independence from Spain, Quito explodes with color and light in multiple locations around the Centro Historico. Installations of colorful lights or whole choreographed dancing films are projected onto the façades of major landmarks such as Plaza del Teatro or Capilla Museo de la Cuidad. In collaboration with Lyons in France, a master in light festivals for over 160 years, French artists work with locals to produce the visual pieces. The festival draws thousands of people onto the streets to marvel at the lights and celebrate Ecuador’s independence.
Longitude: 77.3° W
When to go: Mid-December to May
With shimmering, crystal-clear water, and colorful coral reefs, the Caribbean Sea is a backdrop for everything in the Bahamas. On dry land, the Nassau Straw Market, the most renowned open-air market in town, stocks every kind of souvenir, from colorful textiles to goatskin drums. Each year, at the end of April, over fifty thousand people flock to Nassau to attend Road Fever. Part of the Junkanoo carnival, the all-day party is filled with nonstop live entertainment and energetic cultural events. People in feathered costumes in every shade imaginable fill the streets.
Longitude: 79.1° W
When to go: Mid-December to mid-April
About 50 mi/80 km east of Miami lies a collection of islands known as Bimini. Made up of three islands (North Bimini, South Bimini, and East Bimini) and surrounded by the clearest azure water, the small area is one of the most beautiful and untouched parts of the Bahamas. At only 7 mi/11 km long, North Bimini is home to Alice Town, a collection of shops, restaurants, and bars on one long road—The King’s Highway—which connects everything, including several powdery beaches. A highlight of a visit to Bimini is the sea. Explore gritty shipwrecks, colorful coral reefs, and swim with neon fish in the crystal-clear water. A short boat ride brings you to South Bimini, where you can drink from the famed Fountain of Youth and hike an epic nature trail surrounded by citrine palm trees.
Longitude: 77.0° W
When to go: All Year
Cobblestoned sidewalks are lined with grand homes in beautiful and historical Georgetown, in Washington D.C. From luxurious shops to tasty restaurants and buzzing bars, this part of the city is bustling with tourists and locals. The real magic is on the side streets where old-fashioned row homes are painted a host of pretty colors.
Longitude: 77.0° W
When to go: All year
Nicknamed Black Broadway, U Street was the hub in D.C. for African American culture. This heritage is reflected in the street’s colorful murals. For a taste of history, visit Ben’s Chilli Bowl and tuck into the legendary dish that Barack Obama, Ella Fitzgerald, and Martin Luther King Jr. have all enjoyed.
Longitude: 77.0° W
When to go: Mid-March to early April for cherry blossoms
Washington D.C. is home to multiple gems of color and life. Built in 1886 as a place of worship, the Friendship Baptist church was transformed into an arts center formerly known as Blind Whino, now called Culture House, and may be one of the city’s most distinctive gems. The building’s façade is a mix of Victorian and Romanesque architecture, but what stands out is the paint job it received in 2012 from the artist HENSE. Covered entirely in a mural of blue, pink, red, yellow, and greens, with the blend of old architecture and bold paint, Culture House is an artwork in itself. Another color injection happens every spring with the cherry blossom bloom, and if you’re making a trip to the District, it’s worth timing it with these springtime legends. The bloom usually happens in late March or early April and the best places to see them are at the Tidal Basin and along the water of East Potomac Park.
Longitude: 75.4° W
When to go: January to March
Within the walls of Cartagena’s Centro Historico is an explosion of color and spirit with vivid walls, doors, and balconies at every turn. Outside the walls, barrio Getsemaní bursts with rich façades, beautiful graffiti, and lively cafés. Walk through these neighborhoods to fully experience the colors, flowers, and flavors that are Cartagena. And stop to admire the flamboyantly painted buses with their pulsating salsa beats that add even more color to these atmospheric streets.
Longitude: 73.9° W
When to go: All year
A former salt mine, Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá was transformed into a Roman Catholic cathedral in 1953 after local miners and church officials persuaded the Colombian government to convert it into a place of worship. Around 600 ft/183 m below ground, colored lights illuminate the cavern, giving a beautiful royal hue to the cathedral walls.
Longitude: 75.1° W
When to go: All year
Every building in Guatapé is so brightly painted that Lonely Planet has wondered whether it is “the most colorful town in the world,” but what sets it apart from other colorful places are the zócalos, panels or designs on the lower part of each building that range from a simple picture to telling a story. Here the winning feature is the details.
Longitude: 73.9° W
When to go: All year
Bright and beautiful murals line the walls of the expressway Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass—or DUMBO, as the area is better known. Beginning in 2012, eight artists were invited to the Brooklyn area to beautify the space. What’s left now is a public outdoor gallery that brings the community together in a truly unique way.
Longitude: 73.9° W
When to go: All year
Brick walls have become canvases in the gritty Lower East Side of Manhattan. Famous artists such as Tristan Eaton, Sonni, and even Banksy have left their mark. From dancing skeletons to spray-painted hearts and a mural of Audrey Hepburn, it’s hard to walk down the street without passing a new creation.
Longitude: 74.0° W
When to go: June to August
One of the most street-art-friendly cities in the world, Bogotá is bursting with color. Neighborhoods such as La Candelaria, Avenida El Dorado, and the downtown area are covered in murals from local and international artists. Once illegal, vibrant graffiti art and murals can now be found and celebrated on every edge of the city.
Longitude: 73.5° W
When to go: September to November
Most days it looks like any other river, but for several weeks each year, Caño Cristales becomes the “River of Five Colors.” When seasons transition from wet to dry and the water level hits a particular mark, aquatic life comes alive, and the star of the show, the Macarenia clavigera plant, fills the blue river with vibrant reds, pinks, and purples.
Longitude: 73.9° W
When to go: All year
If you find yourself in New York’s iconic station, be sure to look up, as a luminescent mural of the night sky shines over those who walk through Grand Central’s main concourse. The original mural was completed in 1913, a beautiful work of art, but soon after its reveal, a commuter noticed the constellations were back-to-front. Brushed off as artistic vision, claiming this perspective is looking down from the heavens, the mural was left alone. When it was renovated in 1944, the new mural paid tribute to the first by keeping the constellations as they were and adding the blue-green background.
Longitude: 73.6° W
When to go: All year
Cool and arty, Le Plateau-Mont-Royal has public art, relaxed restaurants, pretty residential streets, and a weekly drumming festival when thousands gather in Mount Royal Park to play drums and relax to the beats. What more could you ask for?
Longitude: 73.6° W
When to go: All year
Saint-Laurent Boulevard is a constantly evolving living museum. Covered in enormous murals by artists from around the world, it oozes personality. Time your visit for June and you’re in for a treat as artists take part in Montreal’s Mural Festival, painting over the previous artworks and changing the area’s identity.
Longitude: 71.6° W
When to go: December to March
Murals on the walls, pastel-hued houses, mosaic steps, and several stacks of shipping containers make the port city of Valparaiso one of the most colorful cities in the world. Valpo to its residents, it’s located an hour and a half northwest of the capital, Santiago. The city’s street-art scene began as a form of political expression. It was the social media of the day, with graffiti artists painting powerful and thought-provoking artworks in an attempt to shift people’s beliefs. As for getting around a city that stretches across forty-three hills? That’s an adventure in itself, but catching one of the brightly colored funiculars will save a few steep climbs.
Longitude: 72.6° W
When to go: All year, early morning for best light
Waves gently lapping at marble for more than six thousand years have carved out these wondrous marble caves. Located in a cluster of rock islands on a remote glacial lake, the bright blue melted glacier water is reflected by the marble, creating a stunning sight on the cave walls and lake floor.
Longitude: 73.7° W
When to go: All year, but January to March for the best weather
Castro in Chiloé could be a poster for perseverance, surviving multiple attacks, earthquakes, fires, and tidal waves, but the people of Chiloé’s capital keep going. Richly colored churches, buildings, and the famous palafitos, wooden stilt houses, brighten the horizon and invite you to explore all the island has to offer.
Longitude: 71.9° W
When to go: March to November (dry season)
Rainbow Mountain in Peru is a sensory experience, appearing as a layer cake of colors that intensify the closer you get to them—but you’ve got to work for the reward. Part of the Vilcanota mountain range in the Peruvian Andes, Montaña de Siete Colores, as it’s known in Spanish, appears in its rainbow glory thanks to the minerals in this sedimentary rock: chlorite for the green, ferric sulphide for the yellow, and oxidized limonite for the red. Although Latin America has many rainbow-colored rocks, this is one of the most brilliant, and accessible. That said, Rainbow Mountain sits at 17,000 ft/5,200 m in elevation, which is only slightly lower than Everest Base Camp. That means that hiking to the top is an adventure into thin air, and one that, for most of us, doesn’t come easily. There are various ways to access Rainbow Mountain, from a nine-day trek to a van-ride and single-day hike. For day hikers, it’s a gentle upward slope, but the altitude makes every step a challenge. Local Quechua people, adorned in colorful shawls and traditional dress, offer horse rides to the top. For all those who make it, an impressive look at Rainbow Mountain and its surrounding similarly colorful cousins, is the reward. As anyone who has attempted this hike knows, the journey is truly the destination.
Longitude: 71.4° W
When to go: January to March
What started as a winter playground with toboggan runs in 1963 has over the years transformed into an all-season wonderland resort with the crowning jewel of Hôtel de Glace. Intricately carved from ice, the hotel is a marvel of art and ingenuity. Enter the grand hall, with impressive sculptures and carvings, and move on to the chapel where stained-glass-style ice windows adorn the walls. Rooms are made almost entirely of ice, even the furniture, aside from a layer of wooden blocks and the bed’s mattress. Guests are provided with warm sleeping bags since the room temperature is between 23 and 27°F/-5 and -2°C. Hôtel de Glace boasts over forty rooms and themed suites with décor that changes yearly to match the hotel’s greater theme.
Longitude: 71.5° W
When to go: All year
A stroll through the Monastery of Santa Catalina in Arequipa fills the visitor with a sense of calm and contentedness. The walls and cloisters are painted a deep and earthy ochre or a rich and vibrant blue. In the convent’s early days, nuns were allowed luxuries such as furniture and servants.
Longitude: 65.6° W
When to go: All year, best on moonless nights
As you paddle your kayak beneath the mangroves of Laguna Grande in Puerto Rico each stroke causes a mini explosion of fireworks under the water. This is bioluminescence caused by tiny algae living in the water here. As the algae are disturbed they light up in the most magical way.
Longitude: 67.8° W
When to go: December to February
Outdoor adventure lovers will fall in love with Chile’s epic views. The Atacama region in the north of the country is home to mind-blowing varied landscapes, including geysers, volcanoes, and salt flats. Looking out over Chaxa Lagoon, it’s impossible not to be amazed by the pale blues, pinks, and whites of the scenery. This lagoon sits within a salt flat, and is particularly special due to its natural inhabitants—the elegant pink flamingos that call this serene watering hole home. From the edge of the lagoon you’ll be close enough to see every feather, the spindlyness of their legs, and even watch them in flight. From Chaxa Lagoon, winding roads carve their way through salt flats, lunar landscapes, bright yellow grasses, steep mountains, and red rocks before emerging at Chile’s Altiplantic Lagoons—Miscanti and Miñiques. To see them you’ll need to wrestle with high altitudes (they’re located 13,000 ft/4000 m above sea level) but the breathlessness is worth it when you see the mesmerising blue lagoons surrounded by desert and snow-capped mountains. It’s a great place to spot vicuñas (similar to llamas) which often play by the shores of the lakes, lapping up the water.
Longitude: 69.9° W
When to go: January to April, November to December
Home to the first hospital, university, cathedral, monastery, and street of the New World, it’s no wonder that Santo Domingo has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But, the real showstopper is Calle Jose Reyes, a street located in Zona Colonial, lined with the brightest buildings and vibrant homes.
Longitude: 68.8° W
When to go: May to December
Locals will tell you that there is a solid reason as to why Willemstad is so doused in color. It dates back to the early 1800s, when the then Governor Albert Kikkert blamed his terrible migraines on the bright sun reflecting off the white buildings. Issuing a decree to paint all structures any color other than white, a colorful Willemstad was born.
Longitude: 68.2° W
When to go: January to July for the most flamingos
Kaya Grandi is bright with Caribbean hues, but the color trip to Kralendijk is worth more than the architecture alone. Close by is the Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary, one of the largest flamingo breeding grounds in the Western Hemisphere with over ten thousand birds, so treat yourself to a rainbow stroll and end with a sea of pink.
Longitude: 66.1° W
When to go: February to June
Cobblestoned streets and candy-colored houses almost vanished in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico in the 1940s. Buildings became decrepit and the government threatened to tear down the colonial city. Ricardo Alegria, an anthropologist, came to the rescue and created the colonial zone, preserving the colorful streets and keeping them from ruin.
Longitude: 66.9° E
When to go: March to June or September to October
Samarkand is a city bursting with colorful mosques, mausoleums, and madrassas. One of the oldest cities in Central Asia, it lies almost at the very middle of the historic Silk Road. This central position made the city a crossroads of two world cultures, something which is still apparent in the architecture, food, and culture of the city today. Blue and turquoise are the dominant colors. The Registan, also called Registon Square, is a huge plaza surrounded on three sides by madrassas, with towering blue-tiled minarets and glinting cyan domes. The marble façades of the ancient buildings are coated with magnificent mosaics and majolica with geometric, floral, and epigraphic motifs. A little further on, the Bibi Khanum Mosque was once one of the largest mosques in the Islamic world. It features an abundance of blue tilework, with an impressive arched entry gate and ornately patterned aquamarine domes. While nearby is the Guri Amir, a mausoleum for the ancient conqueror Timur. The magnificent tomb, with its azure dome and intricate, gilded interiors is a precursor to the Taj Mahal, which was built by Timur’s descendants.
Longitude: 66.6° W
When to go: February to May
Pristine swirls of green and blue water against the sugary white sand beaches make the Los Roques archipelago seem a perfect deserted island. Found 103 mi/166 km north of Venezuela’s coast, Los Roques was established as a National Park in 1972 in order to protect its stunning coral covered walls, huge coral pillars, underwater caves, and fish of all sizes and colors. On land, the islands are laid back and more than charming.
Longitude: 65.5° W
When to go: All year
With its colorful market and adobe houses, the village of Purmamarca in northwestern Argentina is colorful enough. Yet it is the hills behind the town which are truly spectacular. Layers of red, pinks, golds and greens have stacked up on top of each other as sediments from different ancient rivers and seas have settled here. A path leads from the town on a short hike around the hills offering fabulous views of the colorful mountains and the weird rock formations within them.
Longitude: 68.2° W
When to go: April to June (colder temperatures but it’s the dry season)
A bricklayer turned civil engineer, Freddy Mamani established a new form of colorful architecture in one of the world’s highest cities. Known as New Andean Architecture, his geometric-like designs add color to the city and are inspired by Aymaran textiles—richly colored fabrics—and ancient architecture from the imperial capital of Tiwanaku. Interiors match the distinctive exteriors, so when you find yourself admiring one of his buildings, be sure to step inside.
Longitude: 64.3° W
When to go: May to October
As you walk the wharves of Lunenburg’s Old Town, it’s still possible to hear a blacksmith’s hammer at work. Established in 1773, it’s one of only two North American UNESCO World Heritage urban communities, full of vibrant old buildings and a ship-studded harbor.
Longitude: 68.1° W
When to go: May to October
Home to a range of bars, shops, restaurants, and museums, Calle Jaen in La Paz is one of Bolivia’s best-preserved colonial streets. Brightly plastered homes line the cobblestoned lane, and sandwiched in between are fabulous museums such as Museo del Litoral and Museo Casa de Murillo. The picturesque bohemian road is a meeting point for writers, poets, and artists to come together in the many cafés and gallery spaces in the area. With only pedestrian access, Calle Jaen offers a calm walkway to explore the city of La Paz.
Longitude: 67.7° W
When to go: May to October
In the Altiplano, a wide plateau high up in the Andes, sits a salt lake that shines red-orange. Surrounded by rugged landscape and mountains, the lake provides a rich contrast to its harsh environment, reminiscent of a Salvador Dalí painting, which coincidentally is the name of a nearby desert. Algae and microorganisms in the water give the lake its dramatic hue, and islands of white borax deposits create an intense contrast with the water. Due to the area’s high mineral content, many lakes on the Altipano are blessed with deep colors, but this is the only red one; others tend to be deep blues and greens, and there’s a turquoise Laguna Verde. A rare species of flamingo is also found at the lake—so rare, in fact, that in 1924 it was thought that the Puna, or James’s Flamingo, was extinct, but in 1957 it was discovered again, sharing a habitat with the Chilean flamingo.
Longitude: 65.7° W
When to go: May to October
As one of the highest cities in the world, Potosi is nestled in the mountains at just over 13,000 ft/4,000 m above sea level. Once a small silver mining village and the richest city in the world, Potosi has been shaped by its past. In the city center, red-tile-roofed buildings line the streets and can be seen from the tower of La Compania de Jesus. And brightly painted homes surround the lively plazas.
Longitude: 67.4° W
When to go: January to April for the best chance of the reflection
Remnants of a dried-up prehistoric lake, Salar de Uyuni covers more than 4,050 mi2/10,500 km2 and is the world’s largest salt flat. An awesome phenomenon, with wide, desolate views of white stretching in every direction, it becomes even more surreal at certain times of the year. When nearby lakes flood, a thin layer of water covers the flats, creating the world’s largest reflecting pool. The landscape turns into a mirror of the pure blue skies above and all of a sudden you’re walking in the air. It’s possible to spend the night at a salt hotel in the town of Uyuni. Rooms, walls, and furniture are all made from the mineral. Known for its healing properties, the all-encompassing presence of salt creates a calm, spa-like atmosphere.
Longitude: 61.8° W
When to go: November to May
St. John’s, a small bustling Caribbean town, is the soul of Antigua. The center of life for locals, St. John’s is constantly buzzing. Markets along the harbor front are piled high with fruits and flowers while Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay are brightly colored shopping areas with many restored traditional buildings. For great views of the island head to the ruins of the eighteenth-century Fort James and Fort Barrington.
Longitude: 60.0°W
When to go: June-September
A gateway into the Brazilian Amazon, Manaus is 6 mi/10 km away from Encontro das Águas, or “Meeting of the Waters,” where the Rio Negro and Rio Solimões converge but don’t merge. The Rio Negro waters are black, due to decaying plant matter, and the Rio Solimões are coffee colored. Different temperatures, speeds and density keep the two water flows separate, so when they run into the same channel, there is a divide that’s visible from space.
Longitude: 62.8° W
When to go: December to April
This eighteenth-century sugar plantation is home to a beautifully preserved Great House. The contrast of bright Caribbean skies against the sunshine yellow of the shutters is a study in warmth. Now it’s a hotel, and you can wake up enjoying its old-world charm, along with incredible views of volcano Mount Liamuiga.
Longitude: 61.3° W
When to go: November to April
The southern tip of the Grenadines is home to the island of Petit St. Vincent that is teeming with magic at every step. But, the real showstopper happens in the early morning when the sky is painted with violet and mauve turning into fuchsia and magenta before slowly melting into citrus hues. And as the sun begins to rise from behind the clouds, the sea turns a deep shade of blue.
Longitude: 61.2° W
When to go: January to May
The Buccoo Reef in Trinidad and Tobago was rated as the third most spectacular reef in the world by Jacques Cousteau. The vibrant underwater oasis is brimming with sea life. Located just beyond the reef is a shallow white sand tide pool, called The Nylon Pool by Princess Margaret in 1962. According to locals, the transparent waters will rejuvenate anyone who is lucky enough to swim there.
Longitude: 61.6° W
When to go: January to May
Submerged 16 ft/5 m below the water, a ring of children stand tall in the Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada. The sculpture is one of many placed under the surface to help enhance the reefs in the area. Algae and coral cover these statues, creating a place for marine life to call home.
Longitude: 59.5° W
When to go: December to April
From Bridgetown to Speightstown to Silver Sands Beach, the colorful Caribbean island of Barbados is full of local flavor and culture. In Bridgetown, bright buildings line the streets and beaches of the UNESCO Heritage Site. Speightstown is home to Cobblers Cove Hotel, a stunning pastel-pink hotel surrounded by lush palm trees and dotted with baby-pink-striped umbrellas. Down the road, The Lobster Pot serves up the tastiest fresh seafood, while Little Bristol Beach Club offers the quintessential backdrop for sunset, as the sky turns from lapis to honey before the sun sinks below the sea.
Longitude: 57.8° W
When to go: October to April
Approaching Port Stanley by boat, the rugged landscape and often-gray sky make the colorful town of Port Stanley really stand out. Once you disembark and stroll around, noticing the red mailboxes, brightly painted maritime houses, and friendly locals, there’s a sense of small-town Britain, but also that you’ve stumbled into something pretty spectacular. With only a few thousand residents and its remote location, Port Stanley is a world in itself. Around the island, there are multiple spots to see penguins, and you can’t leave before tasting the local Diddle-Dee Jam.
Longitude: 58.9° W
When to go: March
Celebrate spring in Guyana with the happy, rainbow-filled Phagwah, or Holi, a Hindu Festival of Colors. Brought to the Guyanese by their Indian ancestors, the revelers dress in white and carry water guns filled with abeer, a colored powder, to cover friends and strangers with vibrant hues. Spring and all the colors are in the air.
Longitude: 58.4° W
When to go: April to September
A myriad of colorful homes can be found dotted along the hilly landscape of San Jeronimo. Loma, one of the oldest barrios of the city, sparkles as rays of sunshine reflect off brightly painted yellow and orange buildings, while eclectic mosaics mirroring the vibrant houses climb the city’s staircases.
Longitude: 58.4° W
When to go: March to May
Buenos Aires’ vibrant and bohemian neighborhood La Boca is the place to watch talented tango dancers on the cobblestones, pick up some souvenirs, or sit at one of the street restaurants and enjoy an Argentine steak and a delicious glass of Malbec. The direct translation of the area’s name is “the mouth,” as it’s situated at the mouth of the River Riachuelo. El Caminito is the most colorful area—a slightly ramshackle pedestrianized street of rainbow houses, shops, and murals. Once a shipyard, the dockworkers living here constructed their homes from leftover materials such as planks, sheet metal, and corrugated iron, and covered them in whatever paint they could get their hands on. Often there wasn’t enough of the same color to cover an entire house, so you’ll see plenty of houses with a patchwork-style paint job. Close by is one of the most famous football stadiums in the world, La Bombonera. If you speak Spanish you’ll know that translates as “a box of chocolates”—a reference to the shape of the stadium. When top team Boca Juniors aren’t playing at home, the stadium is the place to catch global superstars performing live, which in the past have included Madonna and Elton John.
Longitude: 56.3° W
When to go: July to October
Off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada’s most eastern province, is an archipelago that belongs to France. Just a ninety-minute ferry ride from Newfoundland’s town of Fortune, you’ll still need to pack your voltage adapters and bring Euros. The ferry arrives on the island of Saint-Pierre, where the streets are as colorful as the tumultuous history of the islands. For many years it swung back and forth between French and British rule, until in 1816 it officially became French, and has remained so ever since. During the prohibition, it was a popular spot for smuggling alcohol into the United States, drawing interest from high profile criminals, including Al Capone who spent time at the—still running—Hotel Robert.
Longitude: 56.0° W
When to go: December 31
At noon on December 31 in the city of Paramaribo, Suriname, people pack the streets to start ringing in the New Year, or Owru Yari, which actually means “Old Year.” Bold colors are everywhere—in the clothing, decorations, and vibrant fireworks—as people flock to celebrate around the temple of Arya Dewaker with its burnt-orange roof.
Longitude: 54.4° W
When to go: All year
On sunny days when there is a strong flow of water, magic happens at Iguazú falls. The sun hits the water’s mist in such a way that it creates a multitude of rainbows. From the higher viewing platform, you can stand above them, surrounded by the lush greens of the Amazon with colorful butterflies flitting through the delicate wildflowers around you, and you might just think this is nature hitting perfection. With 275 different falls, the highest 269 ft/82 m, Iguazú Falls is the largest waterfall system in the world. It spans the Argentinian and Brazilian borders and it’s worth seeing it from both sides to get the full Iguazú experience.
Longitude: 53.1° W
When to go: January to March
The world’s longest carnival lights up the streets of French Guiana for more than three months. With over-the-top street parades and a never-ending party, the whole country almost comes to a stop between January and March. Each Saturday evening, touloulou carnival queens, dressed in elegant dresses, vibrant wigs, and intricate masks, lead the dancing through the streets until dawn.
Longitude: 52.7° W
When to go: All year
Jellybean Row might sound like a quaintly named street, but it is in fact the term given to the brightly painted houses and businesses that are found all over the city of St John’s. The vibrant paint job began in the 1970s as a way to bring life to an aging downtown, but residents loved the look and so the style spread across neighborhoods, splashing the entire town with color.
Longitude: 46.1° W
When to go: June to September
The small Greenlandic town of Narsaq looks like it’s constructed from rows of brightly colored Monopoly houses. Orange houses sit next to blues and greens and yellows. Historically, each color represented the profession of the person living there—so if you needed a doctor you’d know exactly where they lived.
Longitude: 56.1° W
When to go: October to March
Named for, as well as designed and constructed by, Emilio Reus, a Spanish entrepreneur in the nineteenth century, Reus al Norte is a historic barrio in Montevideo, Uruguay. The modern architecture pops against the large urban background of the capital city, with a big splash of color. Pastel pink, sea-foam green, and lilac houses with pretty arched windows, contrasting doors, and small balconies overlooking the streets, can be found in the area.
Longitude: 49.8° E
When to go: Once the sun has set
Amid the cypress-lined boardwalks and bistro-filled streets of Baku, Azerbaijan, stand the iconic Flame Towers—a trio of skyscrapers called South, East, and West—constructed in 2007. Standing between 460 and 600 ft/140 and 182 m high, the towers were designed by renowned architectural firm HOK and, as the tallest of the three is the tallest building in the country, they can be seen from most vantage points of the capital city. Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, has left a deep mark in the history of Azerbaijan, known as the “region of eternal fires,” and fire temples are still common across the country. This inspired the development’s flickering design. But where does the color come into it? Visit during the day and you’ll find the structures clad in illuminating orange- and blue-tinted glass; visit at night and you’ll find the façades have been brought to life by more than ten thousand LED lights. Displaying the movement of fire and a kaleidoscope of colors, the screens are visible from the farthest points of Baku. Probably one of the best free light shows in the world.
Longitude: 43.2° W
When to go: All year
Perched on a steep slope overlooking Rio’s famous beaches and coastline, Santa Marta is probably the city’s most well-known favela: It was even featured in a Michael Jackson video. An artistically painted section in its Zona Sul is thanks to the local community working with two Dutch artists, Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn. As part of a Favela Painting project in 2010, twenty-five locals received training and employment to complete the project in one month, painting over thirty-four houses and covering 1.7 ac/7,000 m2 with a vibrant design that starts in a central public space and fans out in a wave of color over the neighboring homes.
Longitude: 43.2° W
When to go: December to March
Rio’s largest favela is home to over one hundred thousand people who live in colorful houses stacked up on the mountain. Here, favelas are like towns within the big city, with their own schools, shops, and industries. Take a tour to learn about life here—proceeds support inspirational businesses within the communities.
Longitude: 43.2° W
When to go: December to March
It seems fitting that a colorful country like Brazil is home to one of the most vibrant staircases in the world. In 1990, Chilean artist Jorge Selarón began renovating the dilapidated steps outside his home, covering them with bright fragments of tiles. He focused on blue, green, and yellow to complement the country’s flag. He described the steps as a “tribute to the Brazilian people” and it became a project that took over his life. There are over two hundred steps, covered in more than two thousand tiles, from over sixty countries—many of which were sent by people from all around the world.
