Central & South America attractions

Guatemala’s Estación Biológica las Guacamayas (EBG), named for the country’s endemic scarlet macaw, is an ecotourism-focused environmental research and conservation center. Its mission is to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of Laguna del Tigre National Park in the Maya Biosphere Reserve of Petén. The name means Las Guacamayas Biological Station.

This large sand dune, located in the center of Natal, has become the main symbol of the city and the state of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil. Gracing the front of most Natal postcards, Morro do Careca rises 394 feet (120 meters) from the ground at the southern end of busy Ponta Negra beach—one of Natal’s most popular destinations.

Sabandía is marked by rural plains, rolling hills, and historic landmarks, making this southern Arequipa province in Peru a draw. Among the highlights are the district’s traditional shops and restaurants, and the chance to see the Sabandía Mill, built in 1621 with the region’s signature white volcanic rock (sillar) and populated by animals such as alpaca and peacocks.

Admire vintage and classic motorcycles in a relaxed atmosphere at Harley Motor Show. Not a typical museum, this attraction is a themed restaurant and bar for motorcycle enthusiasts or anyone looking for a novel dining experience.

The National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología Dr. David J. Guzmán) houses two floors of Mayan and Salvadorian historical artifacts and cultural exhibits from pre-Columbian times. Visit for insights into Mesoamerican death rituals, crafts pieces of the past, and historical tidbits. It's conveniently located in the Zona Rosa area of El Salvador’s capital city, San Salvador.

From historic pieces like John Paul II’s Popemobile to more solemn items, such as dangerous weapons used in the Salvadoran Civil War, the El Zapote Barracks Military Museum is filled with collections that make for a great half-day history lesson on El Salvador’s past. Plus, the museum is housed in old barracks and its entrance is guarded by military soldiers.

Located outside of Paipa, Manoa Park (Manoa Parque) is an adventure theme park for the whole family. Choose to suit up for the ziplines and ropes courses, or opt for a ride on horseback or via electric car, motorcycle, train, or boat. There's also a giant chess board, inflatables, and large labyrinth.

El Pilar is an ancient Mayan city located at Belize’s border with Guatemala. It’s a Middle Preclassic and Late-Classic Mayan site, which is currently under excavation by the University of California. The site is believed to contain 20 or more plazas and hundreds of other structures spread out over more than 50 acres. Visitors will find several easily navigable trails here.

The CIGS Zoo is run by the Brazilian Army and serves as a safe haven for animals rescued from traffickers and hunters. The site houses a variety of animals that have been rescued (or displaced from their natural habitats due to development), including jaguars, monkeys, tapirs, sloths, and many species of birds and Amazonian fish.

The golden sands of Caixa d’Aco Beach are located in Porto Belo in Brazil’s Santa Catarina state. Though small, this beach is a favorite spot for travelers and locals. Travelers can wander along the pristine, if rustic, beach on foot and enjoy a taste of paradise or catch stunning sunsets while swimming or kayaking on calm waters.

Stretched out over an entire block, the lovely El Carmen complex includes a church, a Carmelite convent and a museum that includes the most important collection of colonial art in Trujillo. Its white facade, punctuated with bright red trim is a colonial masterpiece, a fitting home for the baroque and rococo paintings inside.

One of the best-preserved Mayan cities in Petén, the elevated ruins of El Ceibal peer out over the Pasión river. The site’s elegant ceremonial structures date to 900 BC, the earliest in the Mayan world, and remarkably detailed altars and stelae were carved after AD 800, when the rest of the empire had already collapsed.

One of Recife’s most unique cultural attractions is found in an unexpected location. Housed in an 1850s former prison along the Capibaribe riverfront, the House of Culture (Casa da Cultura de Pernambuco) is a lively art and handicrafts market, where local artisans, musicians, and street food vendors gather to sell their goods and celebrate Recife’s rich cultural heritage.

Animal encounters await at safari-style Ponderosa Adventure Park. The sprawling and arid Guanacaste landscape is home to African animals including zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, and ostriches, which you can see up close during guided tours. Opportunities for kayaking, ziplining, and horseback riding make this a top spot for adventurous visitors of all ages.

Covering more than 2,000 square miles (3,350 square kilometers), the landscapes of Paracas National Reserve span desert and ocean. The terracotta cliffs overlooking the Pacific are a spectacular sight, while the rich diversity of wildlife also inspires wonder—time your visit right and you can spot Humboldt penguins, humpback whales, sea lions, and Peruvian boobies.

Set inside the palace of an aristocratic Argentinian family, designed by French architect René Sergent, the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo showcases an impressive collection of tapestries, paintings, sculptures, porcelain and other art and design pieces, predominantly from Europe and Asia. Most of the collection spans the 16th to 19th centuries, and the interior is part of the draw.

The reason why Arequipa is known as is the "White City" is because many of the area's buildings have been constructed using the volcanic rhyolite stone sillar. Take a guided tour along the Sillar Route (Ruta del Sillar) to learn about this distinct material and the skilled workmanship used to carve it, as well as seeing some impressive sillar sculptures.

One of Rio de Janeiro’s top viewpoints, the Pedra do Telégrafo offers beautiful vistas overlooking the coast and prime selfie backdrops, thanks to an optical effect that makes visitors look like they’re hanging off the edge of a cliff. Located in western Rio’s Pedra Branca State Park (Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca), it’s an excellent nature escape.

Once you’re up there, it’s easy to see why Devil's Door (Puerta del Diablo) was used as a sacred site by the Mayan Pipil people. Overlooking Los Planes de Renderos, it’s made up of massive boulders that almost feel as if they’ve parted themselves just to give way to panoramic vista views of El Salvador.

Parque Nacional do Iguaçu has many highlights, but the Devil's Throat (Garganta del Diablo) section of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Iguacu Falls is a top contender. It's one of South America’s most spectacular natural sights and a compelling reason to visit the park and Foz do Iguacu. Walk to the falls via the 0.7-mile (1.2-kilometer) Trilha das Cataratas (Waterfall Trail).

One of the natural wonders of southern Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego, Isla Martillo is most famous for its resident Magellanic penguins, hundreds of which call this small island in the Beagle Channel home. Some boat tours let you disembark and walk among the birds on the pebble beach, from which you can admire views of snow-capped mountains.

Every year, Barranquilla hosts the Barranquilla Carnival, a celebration so fabulously flamboyant that it’s UNESCO–listed, so it’s no surprise that the Colombian city has an entire museum dedicated to the history and traditions of the revelry. Even if you’re not in Barranquilla for the celebrations, Museo del Carnaval lets you experience carnival year-round.

Considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world—and home to some 350,000 volumes, the largest collection of Portuguese–language works outside of Portugal—Rio de Janeiro’s Royal Portuguese Reading Room (Real Gabinete Português de Leitura) is an architectural and intellectual wonder. Located in the city’s Centro neighborhood and open to all, it’s well worth venturing in to discover.

An active conical volcano in Los Nevados National Natural Park, the cloud-wrapped and glacier-covered Nevado del Ruiz offers sweeping views of Colombia’s coffee triangle. Vegetation thins as the 17,320-foot (5,279-meter) summit nears, and endangered Andean condors wheel on updrafts. Rivers tumble downwards from snow fields on their way to the lush farmland far below the park boundary.

Travel centuries back in time with a visit to Buenos Aires’ El Zanjon de Granados, the site of one of the city’s earliest settlements. It was built over a series of tunnels, cisterns, and sewers above a river and eventually left to disarray. Now, it is a gorgeous museum depicting the history of Buenos Aires—a must-see for all visitors.

Linking the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean via Central America, the Panama Canal Railway follows a picturesque path across the Isthmus of Panama. Well-appointed train coaches let you ride in style through tropical rainforests alongside the Panama Canal. A popular option for cruise passengers docking in Panama, a ride on the Panama Canal Railway offers an up-close look at this important route.

Set in Providencia, a chic suburb on the outskirts of Santiago, the Costanera Center is a massive development featuring offices, two luxury hotels, and a mall that spans six stories. It's a great place to go to watch a film, do a bit of shopping, or simply grab a bite and people-watch.

A relaxing visit to the local hot springs in the uplands of La Fortuna is a must, and Kalambu Hot Springs Water Park offers the chance not only to sit and soak, but also to have some wet and wild fun. Visitors can relax in thermally heated pools near the base of the Arenal Volcano, while enjoying the thrills you’d expect at a modern waterpark.

Amusement park rides bring color and excitement to Parque del Café, a theme park about coffee and Colombian culture in the department of Quindío. Set up among the region’s coffee plantations, Parque del Café celebrates its subject through museum exhibits, interactive experiences, and performances. Fun and thrills surround the site’s educational core, making the most of the park’s lush hillside scenery.

Ranked among Costa Rica’s most beautiful and easy-to-reach beaches, Playa Flamingo lures with its sugary shorelines and Pacific sunsets. Come for comforts such as lodging and plenty of outfitters for sailing and snorkeling among the family-friendly waves, and appreciate that it's less developed than neighboring Tamarindo.