Chefchaouen is a small city in the Rif mountains in the north-west of Morocco. It is famous for its gorgeous blue alleys and blue-washed buildings. Millions of travelers visit it for its photo studio like alleys where you can take some perfect photos easily. Is it beautiful? Yes! But is it worth a visit? For me, the answer is NO or you may need to think it twice. It is located a little bit far away from major cities. From Fes, one-way bus is over FIVE hours. The town is really tiny and you can probably finish everything in 3-5 hours. And other than pretty blue alleys and buildings, I did not find too much to impress me.

The medina of Fes, Morocco’s former capital and third largest city, is made up of a far-reaching network of pedestrian roads – straight and winding, cobble-stoned and paved and gravel. Yes, the medina of Fes is the largest car-free area in the world. Donkeys are main ‘mode’ to transport goods and solid wastes in its narrow streets. Like most medinas in Morocco, be prepared to get lost.

My second visit to Buenos Aires and actually this time was my farewell to South America. After over four-month backpacking, I felt a little bit exhausted and found the excitement gain from traveling was diminishing at that point. So I decided to take a break from backpacking and return to my sweet home in Phoenix. But still I had couple of days to explore Buenos Aires’ passion for Tango!

I have visited many other waterfalls before, including Niagara Falls. So I thought, well, Iguazu was just another waterfalls to put on my ‘been-to’ list. I was WRONG again! When I came face to face with the astounding Iguazu Falls, I was turned into a raving fan of its natural beauty and pure magic – a chain of hundreds of waterfalls nearly 3km in extension! This is one of the most beautiful natural wonders I’ve ever seen and something not to miss when traveling in South America! Bonus, no heavy hiking or physical activities are required there. So bring your family, your kids there!

Just a one-hour ferry ride from Buenos Aires, Colonia del Sacramento is located at the tip of a short peninsula with a strategic position on the north shore of the Río de la Plata. “Colorful colonial houses, picturesque cobblestone streets, the sweet smell of fresh water, and ancient fortification.” This sentance describes what to expect in Colonia.

Buenos Aires is the capital city of Argentina and is one of the largest cities in South America. Locals like to claim that their city really is the ‘Paris of the South’. The city has a long seafaring history and was influenced by Spanish colonisers, British capitalists and Italian immigrants, creating a vibrant mix of architecture, food and culture. With a great climate, friendly people, tasty food and for a very reasonable price. Buenos Aires is truly a world-class city. Plus, its public transit system is the best in South America (even better than many of the cities in the States) and the only city I visited where Google Transit works!

So I was in southern Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park are the region’s top highlights. After completed my hiking adventures in Paine, Chile, I continued my exploration to the Argentinean Patagonia region searching for more dramatic natural wonders like Perito Moreno Glacier in El Calafate and Mount Fitz Roy in El Chalten. For stingy backpackers, Patagonia from the Argentinean side is as stunning as from the Chilean side, but costs much cheaper. I was recommended by not one but many backpackers I met on the way to skip the expensive Paine but directly venture to Argentinean side of Patagonia. I did not regret visiting Paine but Argentinean food is so much better than Chilean food for sure!

Ushuaia, the southmost city in the world, I went there primarily to hunt for a last-minute Antarctica cruise deal. Although I did not fulfill my goal to visit Antarctica, I experienced the beauty of nature around Ushuaia. Yes, the city has more than Antarctica cruise lines! For those whose budget does not allow a cruise trip, you should still visit Ushuaia. It won’t let you down!

Oh, Mendoza, how I could express my love for you! In the middle of the mountains, Mendoza is South America’s top wine region, with fabulous hotels and world-class restaurants, and a vibrant local culture. While Mendoza is good for solo travelers, in my opinion, it’s better to come with your partner, your significant other, your love, your boo or bae, whatever you’d like to call the person, bring him/her to Mendoza please! A perfect place for honeymoon, anniversaries or just a relaxing and romantic vacation!