Central & South America attractions

Tumbling 280 feet (85 meters) from dense jungle, Chorro el Macho waterfall is a scenic highlight of the Anton Valley (El Valle de Anton). Included in many guided tours of the area, the waterfall offers visitors a chance to spend time in the lush forest that blankets the Anton Valley, which is the crater of an extinct volcano.

Morro Branco’s seaside cliffs appear strikingly red from a distance, but up close you can see they have a number of pink, cream, and beige hues that together form their distinctive overall color. These eroded sand cliffs, known as the Labyrinth, have served as a filming location in several productions.

Surrounded by leafy tropical trees in the verdant Colombian countryside, south of Bogotá, Hacienda Coloma is an elegant coffee estate offering tastings and tours meant to educate you about how coffee is made. It's a must for coffee lovers, gardening fans, and anyone who just wants to get away from the city for a bit of quiet.

The rivalry between the River Plate and Boca Juniors soccer teams is one of the fiercest in football. By showcasing photos, jerseys, and silverware from the club’s long history, River Plate Museum (Museo River Plate offers insight into one half of the epic rivalry.

Located just a few hours south of Medellin, the town of Jardin is referred to as the Garden of Colombia. Colonial buildings here are surrounded by lush green landscapes that encompass mountains and plantations responsible for producing some of the country’s best coffee beans.

These interconnected villages of Farellones and El Colorado—located only one hour from Santiago—comprise one of the most popular ski resorts in the country, both because of their proximity to the capital and their location among the snow-capped peaks of the Andes. As opposed to Valle Nevado, El Colorado is recommended for beginner and non-skiers.

Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Modern Art (Museu de Arte Moderna) offers one of Brazil's foremost collections of modern and contemporary art, with roughly 12,000 works housed within its concrete and glass-fronted facade. Highlights of the permanent collection include works by Di Cavalcanti, Maria Martins, and Bruno Giorgi.

Often called the River of Five Colors or the Liquid Rainbow, Caño Cristales is one of the world's most beautiful rivers. Set in Serranía de la Macarena National Park, the water flows over vibrant aquatic plants that bloom for several months of the year—a natural phenomenon resulting from three diverse ecosystems converging.

This whitewashed colonial church, built by Franciscans in 1732, sits alongside the city’s famous Recoleta Cemetery. Buenos Aires’ elite often stage weddings here, and tourists come to see the church’s six baroque altars, including one overlaid with Incan ornamentation and engraved silver from Peru.

If neighboring Copacabana feels a little too hectic, head northeast along the promenade until you reach the wonderfully relaxed Leme Beach (Praia do Leme), which offers a calmer experience of Rio de Janeiro’s iconic seafront—and no less impressive views. It boasts soft sands, big waves, and views of Morro do Leme mountain.

For the ultimate end-of-the-earth adventure, ride the End of the World Train (Tren del Fin del Mundo), the world’s southernmost train. Leave from outside Ushuaia and follow the historic convict train route into the heart of Tierra del Fuego National Park, passing beech forests, peat bogs, and reminders of the timber-felling worksites of Ushuaia prisoners from the early 20th century.

An atmospheric tango venue in the heart of tango legend Carlos Gardel’s neighborhood, Catulo Tango treats guests to an intimate tango experience. With 10 costumed dancers taking to the stage, accompanied by live musicians and tango singers—the performance is a fitting tribute to the city’s tango legacy.

Towering above Costa Rica’s northwestern plains, Miravalles Volcano is the highest peak in the Guanacaste province. The dormant peak’s microclimate makes it one of the best birdwatching spots in Costa Rica, while its refreshingly cool air offers respite from the tropical humidity of the nearby beaches.

In the upper Amazon basin, in the heart of the Chachapoyas region, the bi-level Gocta Waterfalls(Catarata de Gocta) tumble from a dizzying height of 2,529 feet (771 meters). They are approachable by hiking or horseback riding. Known only to locals until 2002 when a German explorer discovered it, the falls are a relatively new attraction for visitors to Peru.

Credited with kick-starting the now-legendary music scene of Rio’s Lapa district, Rio Scenarium is one of the city’s most popular venues. Join the locals who come to hear some of the best samba, forró, baião, bossa nova, and gafieira music performed by established local acts and up-and-coming bands.

Opened in 1856, Solís Theatre is a longtime cultural touchstone in Uruguay. Visit the theater to see opera, ballet, theater, and classical music performances. Even if you don't attend a show, stopping by to view the neoclassical building, designed by Italian architect Carlo Zucchi, is a must-do in Montevideo.

Gorlero Avenue (Avenida Gorlero) is Punta del Este’s main street, running through the heart of the peninsula. Named after Juan Gorlero, the first mayor of Maldonado, and also known as Calle 22, the palm tree–studded boulevard is lined with shops, restaurants, bars, and cafés.

Manaus, the largest urban area in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, is also the most important port in the state of Amazonas. The Port of Manaus is as far up the Amazon River as oceangoing cruises can get, and it serves as a gateway to adventures in the rainforest.

The Kavanagh Building is one of the city's architectural masterpieces, situated on the edge of Buenos Aires' famous Plaza General San Martin. Once the tallest building in Latin America, its rich history and captivating design make it a must-visit stop on any sightseeing itinerary for architecture enthusiasts and curious travelers alike.

At Temaiken Biopark—the only AZA accredited zoo in Argentina—more than 7,400 animals representing 300 different species live in enclosures that represent their natural habitats. Unlike traditional zoos, there are no bars or cages between you and the animals, only natural barriers such as moats or hedges.

Occupying a prime position at the main entrance of the UNESCO-listed Old Town Cartagena, La India Catalina Monument is a bronze rendering of the daughter of a local chief, who was abducted at age 14 from her home in Galerazamba. Once she’d learned Spanish, she had to accompany the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Heredia as an interpreter and pacifying presence in interactions between the Spanish and Indigenous groups.

The spectacular natural landscapes surrounding the small town of El Chaltén have earned it the title of Argentina’s trekking capital—and the trail leading to Laguna Torre makes it easy to see why. The name refers to the hiking route and the glacier lake, which is part of Los Glaciares National Park, a frozen wonderland with UNESCO World Heritage status.

This massive stadium, which seats some 55,000 sports fans, was built in 2013 to host the World Cup in 2014. Teams from Spain, Nigeria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands have all graced the green of this iconic field. In 2016, Fonte Nova Stadium again posed as a global soccer stage during the Summer Olympics.

Brazil’s most famous landscape architect, Roberto Burle Marx, left his legacy all over the country, and his own estate is undoubtedly one of his masterpieces. The former banana plantation, which Marx bought together with his brother in 1949, was transformed into intricately designed gardens that take 18 gardeners to care for.

Situated on the colorful Ruta de Las Flores, Apaneca is the second-highest town in El Salvador. Cafes and restaurants fill the area, serving fresh coffee, meats, and produce sources from the many mountainside farms. With ample hostels and homestays, it’s an excellent basecamp for ecotourism excursions like hiking and ziplining.

Located in the moder Puerto Madero neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Madero Tango is a dance hall with many extras. The building offers panoramic views of the old port, and its nightly show guides guests through the evolution of tango, from its golden age to today, with a live orchestra, electronic music, and the fusion of genres.

In the heart of Mendoza’s Uco Valley, Fair Trade and organic winery Domaine Bousquet leads the way in ethical wine production. For the past 25 years, they’ve continually sought to improve on their methods, from recycling anything they’re not able to reuse to irrigating their vineyards in the most efficient way possible. With enough room for a whopping 2.5 million liters of wine—not to mention a backdrop of the often snow-capped Andes—the winery’s diverse tastings and on-site amenities are more than worth checking out.

“Garzas” is Spanish for herons, and you’ll see the birds roaming freely in the Andalucian-style courtyard of the Presidential Palace (Palacio de las Garzas) in Panama City. The African herons were a gift celebrating the completion of palace renovations in 1922. The President of Panama lives in the upper floors of the building.

Spanish conquistadors laid claim to the land now known as Panamá Viejo (Old Panama Ruins) on August 15, 1519, making it the oldest permanent European settlement on the Pacific. A stark juxtaposition to modern Panama City across the bay, the ruins of Old Panama include a cathedral and several stone buildings and walls.

At just under 1,500 feet (450 meters) above sea level, the Garibaldi Pass might be tame by mountain pass standards, but the views are anything but. A panorama sweeps across the enormous Lake Fagnano (one of the largest glacial-formed bodies of water in the world) and the Magallanes-Fagnano fault between the Scotia and South American plates, along with neighboring Chile.