South America Travel Trivia: Capitals, Culture & Curiosities

March 14, 2026

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South America: Capitals, Culture & Curiosities

This game has three rounds with 10 questions (each round is a different category). Play solo or use it host your own trivia with friends, family, and frolleagues. Answers are instantly revealed.

ROUND 1: CAPITALS

1. Rio de Janeiro stopped being the capital of Brazil in 1960. Which city became the capital? Salvador Brasília Recife Fernando de Noronha

2. Chile’s capital is also a popular male first name in the Spanish-speaking world. What is it? Santiago Fernando Facundo Martín

3. Cuzco was the capital of the Inca Empire. What country is it in? Ecuador Peru Bolivia Argentina

4. What won’t you find in Colombia’s capital, Bogotá? High elevation A historic district known as La Candelaria Piedra del Peñol A museum dedicated to gold

5. Of all Brazil’s states, Amazonas is the largest. What is the capital of Amazonas state? São Luis Manaus Natal Fortaleza

6. Sucre is the constitutional capital of Bolivia but La Paz is the de facto capital. What does “de facto” mean? In reality” or in practice as opposed to by law* By popular vote By tradition A temporary arrangement agreed upon by multiple parties

7. Quito is the only capital city in the world starting with Q. Which country is it in? Venezuela Bolivia Paraguay Ecuador

8. What are the two closest capital cities in South America? Montevideo & Buenos Aires Paramaribo & Cayenne Paramaribo & Georgetown Montevideo & Lima

9. Which is the capital city that’s closest to the world-famous Iguazú Falls? Caracas Asunción Sucre Buenos Aires

10. Paramaribo was founded in 1603 by the Dutch and it is the capital of…? Suriname Guyana French Guiana Paraguay

ROUND 2: CULTURE

11. Where would you be most likely to hear vallenato music? Chile Colombia Paraguay Uruguay

12. Where are you most likely to get served medialunas for breakfast? Ecuador Suriname Argentina Venezuela

13. In Brazil, what is a berimbau? A beach sarong A musical instrument A greeting A big hug

14. Which of these men is not an Argentinian football legend? Diego Maradona Lionel Messi Mario Kempes Javier Milei

15. What is Colombia’s national sport? Tejo Football Basketball Horse riding

16. Where are you most likely to eat moqueca, a sizzling shrimp stew? Brazil Bolivia Ecuador Paraguay

17. Which country in South American has won the most women’s international beauty pageants? Colombia Venezuela Brazil Uruguay

18. Where are you most likely to eat ceviche & drink a pisco sour cocktail? Lima, Peru Montevideo, Uruguay Asunción, Paraguay Paramaribo, Suriname

19. The Panama hat actually has its origins in Ecuador. True or false? True False

20. In Chile, eating with your hands is polite and widely accepted. True or false? True False

ROUND 3: CURIOSITIES

21. What won’t you find on Brazil’s flag? A starry sky Corn on the cob The national motto (Ordem e Progresso) A yellow rhombus

22. The Mar del Plata Canyon is nearly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Which country is it off the coast of? Brazil Argentina Uruguay Ecuador

23. Chile’s Atacama Desert is a celebrated stargazing destination. What is the name of the astronomical facility that began operating there in 1998? Very Large Telescope Too Many Stars For You That’s One Big Sky Oh My Heavens

24. The only two countries that do not share a border with Brazil are…? Peru & Guyana Ecuador & Chile Chile & Uruguay Uruguay & Paraguay

25. What is the smallest country in South America by both population & land mass? Suriname Guyana Bolivia Uruguay

26. Buenos Aires has a neighborhood with colorful buildings known as La Boca. What does “La Boca” translate to in English? The wine decanter The nose The mouth The horse

27. It took almost two centuries to construct this walled city starting with C which has a namesake in Spain. Which city is it? Cartagena, Colombia Cayenne, French Guiana Cuenca, Ecuador Caracas, Venezuela

28. When are you most likely to receive yellow underwear as a gift in Peru? On your birthday New Year’s Eve for good luck When starting a new job When you turn 10 years old

29. There is an oasis in the middle of a desert in South America called Huacachina, which means ““woman who cries” in Quechua. What country is it in? Peru Argentina Chile Ecuador

30. Lençóis Maranhenses is one of the most famous national parks in Brazil. What does “lençóis” mean in Portuguese? Açai trees Hunters Jaguars Bedsheets

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Capitals, Culture, Curiosities

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South America

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South America: Capitals, Culture & Curiosities

South America: Capitals, Culture & Curiosities

Rosie Bell