Central & South America attractions

This former post office turned cultural center is one of the largest in the world, and a beautiful example of French Second Empire architecture. The building itself covers an entire Buenos Aires city block, and inside it’s full of art galleries, events spaces, and the Ballena Azul concert hall, known for its exceptional acoustics.

The Blue Lagoon (Lagoa Azul) is one of the most popular beauty spots on Ihla Grande. Even though it's not technically a proper lagoon, the body of water is so-called for its calm and shallow cerulean waters, which are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

With just the right conditions, both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea are visible from the top of Barú Volcano, Panama’s highest point at 11,398-foot (3,474-meter) elevation. The vast park of Barú Volcano National Park covers not only the summit of this active volcano, but also its various craters and even more hiking trails that enable visitors to see them.

Brazil’s second-largest arena—Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã stadium takes the top spot—is the place to go for sporting events and musical performances in the capital. The Arena BRB Mané Garrincha has hosted games from the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics, as well as concerts by world-renowned artists, from Beyoncé to Bruno Mars.

Among the many attention-grabbing buildings of the Esplanada dos Ministérios, Itamaraty Palace (Palácio do Itamaraty) stands out with its dramatic series of concrete arches, which tower over a reflecting pool dotted with floating gardens. Aptly nicknamed the “Palace of the Arches,” it’s home to the Foreign Ministry and is part of Brasilia’s Federal District.

Just a quick drive from Ushuaia, Argentina, Vinciguerra Glacier is a Patagonian pearl that hiking enthusiasts don’t want to miss on their trip to the “end of the world.” Situated in the Martial Mountains, an invigorating hike around the glacier takes you past a brambling stream, lush greenery, and, best of all, the ethereal ice caves.

Powdery sand and turquoise water lend Samara Beach its laid-back charm, and make this Nicoya Peninsula shore town a favorite for locals and in-the-know visitors alike. Gentle waves and sparse crowds offer a low-key contrast with buzzy surf beaches up the coast, instead offering a family-friendly shoreline ideal for swimming, body surfing, and relaxing in the shade of a palm tree.

With three volcanoes to scale (Cerro Verde, Izalco, and Santa Ana), hiking trails through the jungle, and a crater lake to explore all within its grounds, Cerro Verde National Park combines great views with booming biodiversity. Lying just 40 miles (64 kilometers) from San Salvador, the park is truly an outdoor adventurer’s dream, whether you’re climbing volcanic peaks, birdwatching in the wilderness, or kayaking on the lake.

A brief hike through Santa Cruz’s majestic cactus forest leads you to The Cracks (Las Grietas), a popular Galapagos Islands swimming destination for locals that often gets overlooked. The aptly named volcanic crevices are known for their crystalline brackish waters, perfect for laidback aquatic exploration.

Brazil’s National Congress (Congresso Nacional) building looks more like a futuristic space center than a government building. Part of architect Oscar Niemeyer’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed design, the Brasilia landmark features a central 28-story twin tower—the city’s highest building—flanked by a pair of convex and concave domes, which house the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, respectively.

Tacama Vineyard (Hacienda Bodega Tacama) has been making wine and traditional Peruvian pisco since the 16th century, making it one of the oldest wineries in South America. You can wander among rows of lush green vines, visit the cellar to learn more about the production processes, and sample special varieties of pisco and white wine during a tasting session led by a sommelier.

Brasilia’s grand monumental boulevard is the centerpiece of architect Oscar Niemeyer’s modernist cityscape and a highlight of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed city. At the eastern end of the Monumental Axis, the Esplanada dos Ministérios features a series of manicured lawns flanked by 17 homogenous buildings, the sites of Brazil’s federal ministries.

Located on an island south of Panama City, Fuerte Amador Cruise Port is an important stopover for cruise ships entering and exiting the Panama Canal. Ten minutes away by car, Panama’s capital city is a vibrant metropolis with energetic nightlife, historic architecture, and some of the country’s finest museums.

Far from the tourist center of La Fortuna, the village of El Castillo offers a more secluded place to view Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano. Arenal Observatory Lodge and Spa, one of the few hotels on this side of the mountain, offers impressive views of the volcano, plus well-maintained hiking, horseback riding, and mountain-biking trails.

After hiking through Pucón’s national parks, the Termas Geométricas are the perfect place to soothe aching muscles. Part of Villarrica National Park, the naturally heated and cooled pools are shrouded by native forest interspersed by waterfalls and natural springs, and connected by red wooden walkways.

Named after the laughing gulls that used to breed here, Laughing Bird Caye National Park is now home to abundant animal life thanks to its protected status. Known as a snorkeling and diving paradise where you can explore the Belize Barrier Reef, the national park is a popular day trip destination from Placencia as overnight stays are not allowed.

The colorful, diagonally striped houses of the Santa Marta Favela cascade down the steep hillsides above Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro, housing a community of residents living in a challenging socioeconomic environment. Courtesy of Dutch artists Dre Urhahn and Jeroen Koolhaas’ Favela Painting Foundation, the artwork is meant to draw attention to populations that are traditionally excluded or overlooked, including that in Santa Marta.

Dedicated to the history and culture of the UNESCO-listed Jesuit Block (Manzana Jesuítica) in Cordoba’s historic center, the Museo Histórico UNC traces more than 400 years of history of Argentina’s oldest university. Exhibitions range from the grand 19th-century Graduation Hall to a collection of antique books dating from the 17th century.

Mundo Alpaca is dedicated to all things alpaca, showcasing why the creature has such an important role in Peruvian society. Visitors can interact with the complex’s resident alpacas and llamas, watch weaving demonstrations, and learn about what goes into making alpaca wool into finished products.

Glimpse Panama’s wild side at this ecotourism complex in Gamboa, complete with darting hummingbirds, forest canopy observation platforms, and lush trails. Its location on the jungle-flanked Pipeline Road has long been famed among bird-watchers. Whether you’re watching aquatic birds in Calamito Lake from a waterside deck, or spotting monkeys swinging through trees, there’s plenty for nature lovers to see and do.

Carved into the heart of the Andes Mountains and departing from the village of Alausi, Ecuador’s historic Devil’s Nose Railroad (Nariz del Diablo) showcases both nature's grandeur and human engineering brilliance. While the train is currently closed, you can still experience the area’s outstanding scenery and vibrant culture.

Reigning supreme over Southern Chile, the 3,500-year-old Villarrica Volcano is an active volcano home to a 1.2-mile (2-kilometer) wide crater that spurts huge clouds of smoke and vivid orange lava. At its foot is Villarrica Lake, around which several lovely towns offer stunning views of the volcano and serve as the perfect base for climbing, hiking, skiing, and watersports.

So-called because of the unknown depths it reaches, Brazil’s Lagoa Misteriosa (Mysterious Lagoon) is one of Bonito’s most impressive natural wonders. The lagoon shimmers in various shades of blue due to the presence of rocks and sediment containing lime, while its crystalline waters offers visibility of up to 131 feet (40 meters).

If you’re cruising to Costa Rica, you’ll almost certainly dock at the Puntarenas Cruise Port, the ideal jumping-off point for day-long excursions along the country's Pacific Ocean Coast. Explore the rain and cloud forests around Monteverde, or visit Poas Volcano and Carara national parks from this major Costa Rican cruise port.

Jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean on a peninsula, Punta Tombo is a nature reserve where the most famous residents are Magellanic penguins. Roughly a million of these birds flock here to mate and nest annually, but it’s also home to oystercatchers, cormorants, seals, and guanacos.

Museo Interactivo Mirador combines fun and education in more than 350 interactive science, art, and technology exhibits. You can also enjoy a workshop, a live demo, or a 3D film, before grabbing lunch at one of the on-site cafés or strolling the expansive gardens.

The largest of the South Shetland Islands, King George Island (Isla Rey Jorge) is the first stop for many travelers making their way to Antarctica. Its scenic bays—which include Maxwell, Admiralty, and King George Bays—are home to much of the unique wildlife and scenery that draws intrepid travelers to the frozen south.

Wrapping around an artificial lake in northern Medellín, Parque Norte is an expansive theme park filled with rides and games for kids and adults alike. Attractions include mini bumper cars for little kids, a "prehistoric jungle" filled with massive replica dinosaurs, and a thrilling Kamikaze ride that slings visitors upside down and back again.

This low-lying sliver of an island is an uninhabited and unspoiled paradise. The east side is strung with coconut palm-fringed beaches while the west end is covered by ziricote trees that serve as a nesting ground for a colony of rare red-footed boobies. Offshore reefs offer numerous snorkeling and diving opportunities.

Nestled among the spectacular desert landscapes of northern Argentina is the Hill of Seven Colors (Cerro de los Siete Colores), a must-see spot in the Indigenous province of Jujuy (pronounced huh-hoy). The rock serves as the backdrop to the quaint village of Purmamarca, which looks straight out of the Wild Wild West.