Central & South America attractions

The Wire Opera House (Ópera de Arame) is one of Curitiba’s most recognizable buildings and an excellent example of modern architecture. Built entirely of glass and steel pipes, the theater is nestled in a lush green space surrounded by a lake. It can seat up to 2,400 spectators and hosts performances ranging from classical to popular.

Rising more than 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) above sea level in northern Peru’s Cordillera Blanca mountain range, Pastoruri Glacier is a vast ice wall with towering peaks for a dramatic backdrop. It’s a rare tropical glacier—and one that’s melting very quickly. While it remains a top destination for visitors to Huaraz, part of the experience is seeing how climate change is transforming the ice in real time.

One hundred million years ago, before Patagonia was peppered with glaciers and snow-capped peaks, it was a vast expanse of lush forests where dinosaurs roamed. La Leona Petrified Forest—a 2,000-acre (810-hectare) depression in the Earth that’s amazingly frozen in time—pays testament to this epoch, giving you the chance to walk through prehistoric Patagonia, complete with huge trees and dinosaur bones.

The Pirangi Tree is a record holder—at 500 yards (457 meters) in circumference, it’s the largest cashew tree in the world. To put that into perspective, it’s the same size as 70 cashew trees. The Pirangi Tree has been its own forest for many years, and visitors can collect cashews from it as they wander underneath its ancient branches.

Located on the main square of Manaus, the Palace of Justice (Palácio de Justiça) was built during the golden years of Brazil’s “rubber boom” in the late 19th century. The palace, with its grand architecture inspired by the French Second Empire and Neoclassicism, is a testament to just how wealthy the region was during its heyday.

In a city as grand as Rio de Janeiro, it’s perhaps surprising that a small church is one of its most captivating sights. Sao Francisco da Penitencia Church (Igreja São Francisco da Penitência) is known for its dazzling gold interiors. Dating from 1726, it is also one of Brazil’s oldest churches and a shining example of baroque style in the middle of modern Rio.

Though relatively small, Genovesa Island is one of the most interesting in the Galapagos archipelago. Composed entirely out of a shield volcano, the horseshoe-shaped island is home to such geologic wonders as the Great Darwin Bay, which was formed out of a collapsed volcanic structure, and Lake Arcturus, a saltwater crater lake that lies at the center of the island.

Temple of the Dragon (Huaco el Dragon) is an immaculately preserved Chimú temple just outside Trujillo. The pyramid-shaped adobe structure features intricate frieze murals depicting rainbows, dragons, and figures that have valiantly stood the test of time. Less known than other Chimú sites, this anti-seismic temple is an engineering marvel.

The brainchild of Oswaldo Guayasamín, Ecuador’s most renowned and beloved artist, the Chapel of Man is a museum dedicated to chronicling the history of mankind through the artist’s most powerful works. Inspired by an Inca temple, Guayasamín designed this massive hilltop monument as a tribute to Latin America’s native populations, showing the history of human suffering and violence.

Costa Rica is famous for its above-ground attractions, including rainforests and volcanoes, but the Cavernas del Venado prove that the small Central American country’s beauty isn’t just surface-level. The subterranean caverns—whose name means Deer Caves—contain waterfalls, stalactites and stalagmites, an underground river, and some weird and wonderful wildlife. They can be explored on guided tours.

Capilla de San Eduardo (San Eduardo Chapel) is one of Bariloche’s most-loved buildings. Established in 1938, the neo-Gothic chapel was built from local stone and cypress logs, and designed by Alejandro Bustillo, the same architect behind the Hotel Llao Llao next door. The chapel lies within the Nahuel Huapi National Park and offers excellent views inside and out.

Chile's Atacama Desert is the driest desert in the world, but it's far from a barren wasteland. Instead, the vast and arid landscape offers plenty to see and explore, including hot springs, lagoons, salt flats, and active geysers. The Atacama also has some of the world's best stargazing opportunities thanks to its high altitude and lack of light pollution.

The single-story winery building seems dwarfed by the majesty of South America’s highest mountain chain, the Andes, towering behind it, but that was the idea. It was designed to be minimalistic—Andeluna Cellars is proud to grow their wines at altitude, and they want you to drink in the view, not just their produce.

One of Santa Cruz’s most peaceful and tranquil settings, El Garrapatero Beach is a tropical paradise, stretching for almost 2 miles (3 kilometers). Surrounded by beautiful mangrove trees, the beach is home to an array of birds, most notably, flamingos and mockingbirds. You may also find marine iguanas, shrimp, Galapagos penguins, and oystercatchers among the white sands and crystalline blue water.

Rising up from San Martin Park, the Hill of Glory (Cerro de la Gloria) is one of Mendoza’s most recognizable landmarks. Perched on a small hill, the 14-ton bronze monument was designed by Juan Manual Ferrari to honor the Army of the Andres, who fought during the 19th-century Battle of Independence.

A rectangular eye at the center of the urban hurricane that is São Paulo, Republic Square (Praça da República) might have seen better days, but the plaza still holds on to its importance as a focal point for cultural life in the city. Built in 1889 to commemorate a new era in the city’s expansion and development, the square served as the primary location for concerts, political protests, and other gatherings.

St. John’s Cathedral dates back to the early 1800s and is the oldest Anglican church in Central America. The cathedral, located in Belize City, is known not only as a house of worship, but also as a symbol of Belize’s colonial past. It was built by slaves with bricks brought to the country as ballast in ships from Europe.

The colorfully painted Presidential Palace is the official residence of the President of Bolivia. Locally the mansion is known as Palacio Quemado, which means “Burnt Palace,” a reference to it nearly burning to the ground during a fieryxa0 uprising against the country’s leadership in 1875. The palace has been architecturally enhanced several times since.

Santiago's Club Hípico is the most famous of the city’s horse race tracks. Dating back to 1870, it's Chile’s oldest racetrack and home to South America's oldest, and most prestigious, stakes race, the Clásico El Ensayo, making it the best place to see thoroughbred horse racing in the Chilean capital.

Discover the intellectual heart of Buenos Aires at the National Library. From its brutalist architecture to its extensive collection, it offers a window into Argentina's history and literature. Whether you're a history buff, a literature lover, or seeking a serene space, this library promises a captivating experience.

The 17th-century San Ignacio de Loyola Church is nestled in the heart of Monserrate, one of Buenos Aires’ oldest neighborhoods. Visually, the church makes an impression with its two towers and marble-white facade. Inside, it's awash with golden grandeur. Its temples, tunnels, and cloisters testify to centuries of history.

The Estadio Boca Juniors, locally known as La Bombonera, is the Buenos Aires home for Argentine soccer (football) team Boca Juniors. The 2-floor Passion for Boca Juniors Museum (Museo de la Pasión Boquense) is housed within the stadium and chronicles the team’s history, dating back to their modest beginnings as a neighborhood club in 1905.

San Ignacio Miní, one of five Jesuit missions that comprise the Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the most complete and impressive ruins site in Argentina. Founded in 1611 to convert indigenous Guaranis to Catholicism, the mission was left to the elements when the Jesuits departed in 1767.

Mark your visit to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, with a trip to the End of the World Museum (Museo del Fin del Mundo). The museum consists of two locations—the Founding Headquarters and Old Government House—both of which feature exhibits exploring Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego’s natural and Indigenous history, including collections of taxidermy, artifacts, archaeological finds, historical archives, and even shipwreck remains.

Boasting a prime location on Bolivar Square (Plaza Bolivar), the Palace of Inquisition (Museo Histórico de Cartagena de Indias) museum is housed in an 18th-century mansion that was once the headquarters of the Spanish inquisition. Not for the feint of heart, the museum exhibits diverse artifacts that range from torture devices and paintings to pre-Colombian statues and ceramics.

El Misti is a soaring stratovolcano near Arequipa, popular with experienced trekkers and climbers. From the 19,101-foot (5,822-meter) above sea level summit, peer over the peaks of neighboring volcanoes. The volcano features a symmetric conical shape, characteristic of rotating layers of lava and debris from eruptions. El Misti’s last eruption was in 1985.

Tebenquiche Lagoon (Laguna Tebenquiche is a vast salt lake with a unique appearance. The lake is so shallow that its underlying lunar-like salt bed is clearly visible from the surface. Since there is so little water and often so little movement, the lake acts as a mirror, reflecting the surrounding mountains.

The Jade Museum (Museo del Jade) proves that Costa Rica is as rich in history and cultural offerings as it is in biodiversity. The museum, located in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose, showcases more than 1,000 years worth of artifacts from Mesoamerica dating from 500 BC to 800 AD—including pre-Columbian jade, wood, and ceramics.

Situated in the Mindo Nambillo Cloud Forest Reserve, the Nambilla Waterfalls (Nambilla Cascadas) are a series of waterfalls connected by scenic hiking trails through the surrounding verdant rainforest. Here, look out for several species of bird, before swimming, paddling, or diving into the waterfall pools.

The third largest cathedral in Brazil took 40 years to build—construction began on the Gothic-Roman structure in 1939 and continued until late 1979. Designed by French architect George Mounier and said to be inspired by Germany’s Cologne Cathedral, the Metropolitan Cathedral remains one of Fortaleza’s most distinctive landmarks.