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7 February 2026

Latin America's next wave: six neighborhoods getting talked about in 2026

The Latin American neighborhoods our editors are visiting this year.

By 50 Best Neighborhoods Editorial

Every few years, a new neighborhood in Latin America breaks through. Roma Norte did it in the 2010s. Palermo Soho did it before that. These are the six districts our editors are watching in 2026.

1. Laureles, Medellín. The cooler, more local sister of El Poblado. The best evening walk in Colombia right now.

2. Getsemaní, Cartagena. The Getsemaní of ten years ago was a backpacker quarter. Today it is arguably the most interesting walled-city-adjacent neighborhood in Latin America.

3. Barranco, Lima. Barranco has been 'the next thing' for a decade, and it is finally living up to it. The bar and restaurant scene is now serious.

4. Bellavista, Santiago. Santiago's bohemian heart continues to punch above its weight. The best murals in South America.

5. Barrio Italia, Santiago. Antique shops and design workshops in a neighborhood that feels hand-crafted.

6. La Floresta, Quito. Quito's quietly excellent bohemian district is one of our editors' favorites in the Andes.

City guides for all six are live on the site. The common thread: warmth, walkability, and the kind of neighborhood identity that tourist districts can never manufacture.

Tags: #latin-america#cities