Manatees graze turtle-grass beds and mangroves in this marine reserve near Belize City, which was established in 2002 to protect the threatened mammals. While it’s illegal to swim with manatees in Belize, tours of Swallow Caye offer the chance to see the animals in their natural environment. Boat trips to Swallow Caye are strictly regulated to ensure they don’t disturb or hurt the manatees.
Built around 1730, Moral House is a solid example of stylized baroque architecture. The house’s name has nothing to do with ethics, but instead comes from the ancient moras (mulberry) tree in the central courtyard. Today, the building is known for its collection of maps, religious art, and Peruvian coins that date back hundreds of years.
Enter a pristine forest in northern Costa Rica and explore the offerings at Cinco Ceibas Rainforest Reserve and Adventure Park. Adventure meets sustainability with activities like horseback riding, a canopy boardwalk, and river rafting—all designed for minimal impact to the environment.
Snow meets big skies at Santa Isabel Volcano, whose towering 16,240-foot (4,965-meter) summit can be reached without technical climbing skills. Instead, trekkers walk up through ecosystems from woodland to paramo wetlands to rapidly melting glaciers. Santa Isabel Volcano is less active than nearby Nevado del Ruiz, which is sometimes closed due to eruption risk.
Among Chile's youngest wine regions, the San Antonio Valley is growing in popularity and is particularly celebrated for its pinot noir and sauvignon blanc. This cool-weather region is blessed by crisp winds from the Pacific Ocean, which helps create the perfect conditions for grapes to ripen slowly.
One of the best places for outdoor recreation in all of São Paulo, Villa Lobos Park (Parque Villa Lobos)—located next to the Pinheiros River, west of the city center—combines areas of natural beauty, sporting facilities, and cultural programming. Named for Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, the green space has peaceful trails, a library, an amphitheater, and even an orchidarium.
Tumbling 100 feet (30 meters) down a forested cliff face, surrounded by farmland, the Ogi Waterfall is a popular half-day trip from nearby Bajawa. It’s not possible to swim, as the water’s power is harnessed for irrigation, and the turbulent pool at the base of the falls is fenced off, but you can get close enough to feel the impressive breeze on your face.
Perched on the banks of the Suquía River in Córdoba, the Bicentennial Civic Center is unmissable thanks to its unique cement-and-glass architecture. Nicknamed El Panal (The Honeycomb), the structure is a modern contrast to the historical architecture of Córdoba’s center, which dates back hundreds of years.
The highest point in the city, Monumento Natural Cerro Ñielol (Cerro Nielol Natural Monument) draws visitors with its panoramic views over Temuco. Set among 221 acres (89 hectares) of native forest, Cerro Ñielol is a popular hiking spot and a peaceful oasis in the city.
Located at Itaipu Dam (Barragem de Itaipu), one of the largest providers of hydroelectric energy on the planet, Itaipu Biological Refuge is dedicated to rescuing and researching the wildlife of this tropical region. Animals inhabiting the area include jaguars, harpy eagles, marsh deer, monkeys, snakes, anteaters, and skunks.
The Museo de Antropología e Historia de San Pedro Sula opened in 1994, providing a space to reflect on how the different peoples of the Sula Valley have developed Honduran culture over the centuries. Its 26 rooms hold exhibits charting the history from Pre-Columbian times through the modern day, including a unique exhibit on Palestinian immigrants.
One of the largest open-air museums in Brazil, Carambei Historical Park (Parque Historico de Carambei) explores the story of the Dutch people who immigrated to Brazil. Highlights include a recreation of Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands, a Memory Museum that explores Dutch history and culture, and some tranquil ponds and lakes to wander.
Get to know the cultural history and heritage of Chiloé and its people at the Regional Museum of Ancud, also known as Museo Chiloé. The museum’s collection traces the development of the Chilean archipelago, starting from the first inhabitants who settled there more than 6,000 years ago.
Luna Jaguar Hot Springs is a Mayan-themed spa hidden away in the Honduran mountain countryside. Small falls and the enveloping jungle give the outdoor thermal baths a tranquil setting, perfect for relaxation. Hot and cold mineral springs are the star attraction here, while there’s a range of spa services on offer, too.
A series of human footprints preserved by volcanic ash, the Footprints of Acahualinca serve as reminder of the early civilizations that lived in what today is Nicaragua’s capital, Managua. The Acahualinca archaeological site and museum showcases these fossilized footprints and teaches us about the people who left them behind.
Thrills await at Peñón del Águila Adventure Park, just outside of Córdoba, Argentina. The theme park offers an array of activities spread across 494 acres (200 hectares) of Argentinean wilderness. Ziplining, rock climbing, and hiking are just some of the choices the outdoor haven has to offer.
Within the 5.1 million-acre (2.1 million-hectare) Maya Biosphere Reserve, created by UNESCO in 1990 is Tikal National Park, El Zotz and Naachtún-Dos Lagunas Biotopes (Uaxatún), Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo National Park, and El Mirador National Monument—along with some 200 other Mayan ruins, mountains, rivers, cenotes, hiking trails, and lakes including Lake Petén Itza, gateway to the reserve.
The expansive San Antonio Plaza, which overlooks the mountains of Medellín, was inaugurated in 1994 as a cultural center. The plaza was struck by tragedy the following year when a bomb detonated during a concert and killed innocent people. Today, the square functions as an important memorial to Medellín’s turbulent past.
With more than 55 attractions—which include gravity-defying water slides, a water rollercoaster, and a 180° surf pool—it’s easy to see why Thermas dos Laranjais is Brazil’s most-visited water park. The family-friendly park has something to entertain all ages and draws huge crowds year-round.
Easily reached from both Santa Ana and San Salvador, the Guajoyo River is a major tributary of the Lempa River, which flows into the Pacific south of San Salvador. The tributary itself only runs for 8.5 miles (14 kilometers), and is best known to tourists as the country’s top destination for white-water rafting.
While the Inca Trail is the most popular trail amongst travelers hiking to Machu Picchu, it’s often crowded, and at times, difficult to acquire permits in time. Luckily, the serene Quarry Trail is an alternative route that winds its way above Ollantaytambo, offering quiet off-the-beaten path moments and breathtaking views of the Sacred Valley of the Inca.
Temuco’s Museo Regional de la Araucanía may be small, but it’s home to an excellent collection of exhibits and artifacts. Inside the century-old landmark, the works on display shed light on the Indigenous peoples of the Araucania region, as well as the Spanish colonists.
Discover Chiloé’s wild side at Tantauco Park (Parque Tantauco) in the far south of the archipelago’s Greater Island of Chiloé (Isla Grande de Chiloé). It’s located at what’s considered the northern border of Chilean Patagonia. Thanks to the remarkable biodiversity of its Valdivian temperate rainforest, the park is a top ecotourism destination.
On the coast of San Clemente del Tuyú, amid the wooded headlands of Punta Rasa peninsula, the Termas Marinas Thermal Water Park offers an idyllic setting for relaxation. Fed by natural hot springs, the park features thermal baths and hydrotherapy pools, as well as slides, water play areas, and activities for the whole family.
The Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB) is a leading art and cultural institution with multiple branches around the country. The location in Brasilia is housed in one of artist Oscar Niemeyer’s many modernist buildings, and behind its sweeping concrete facade, you’ll find art galleries, film and theater venues, and a café.
Located in the Amazon basin along the banks of the Yolosa River, La Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary is a privately run organization that has offered refuge to over 350 animals rescued from illegal trafficking and abuse. These monkeys, bears, ocelots, tortoises, and birds roam the 30-acre (12-hectare) nature reserve freely, and are cared for by a team of volunteers.
Set in a colonial farmhouse, Botucatu’s Coffee Museum showcases São Paulo state’s coffee trade from its 19th-century origins to its emergence as one of Brazil’s biggest exports. Exhibits include traditional machinery and original records, as well as various beans and brews, making this a must-see for any engineer or historian.
Set amid unspoiled countryside, the Malanage Hot Springs are one of Indonesia’s most magical geothermal experiences. A cool river rushes over forest-girded rocks and joins with steaming hot water from a volcanically heated spring, creating a natural spa that’s warm in some spots, hot elsewhere, and even cool in places.
The islands of Chiloé are filled with historical treasures, but the Museo de Arte Moderno Chiloé (MAM) offers an alternative view of cultural life in the archipelago. As Chiloé Island’s only contemporary art museum, its mission is to promote and preserve contemporary art by hosting rotating exhibitions of Chilean and international art and by supporting artists through residencies.
Among the world's deepest canyons, the Cotahuasi Canyon is famed for its rugged landscape, which features mountains, deep gorges and gushing waterfalls. While its natural sights are spectacular, it also attracts visitors for its local culture and history, and offers a less-trafficked alternative to the ever-popular Colca Canyon.
