The focal point of the small port town of Salaverry on Peru’s north coast, Playa Salaverry boasts unique black sands and water ideal for wave-jumping. Consistent swell makes it an ideal place to try surfing for the first time or hone your skills, while the hill behind it is a popular place to go sandboarding at sunset.
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.
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.
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.
With its striking red-and-white facade that looks out over Plaza Independencia, the Museo Casa Padilla is one of San Miguel de Tucumán’s most notable 19th-century buildings. Inside, visitors can both admire a traditional colonial home and browse an impressive collection of European and Asian paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and antique furnishings.
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.
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.
Hidden in limestone bedrock beneath the sacred ruins of Petén are the cavernous Ak'tun Kan Cave, which is Mayan for “Cave of the Serpent.” Inside the serpentine subterranean complex is an underground waterfall and plenty of impressive stalactites, stalagmites, and unusually-shapedxa0rock formations.
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.
At the heart of Cachi, a small town hidden in the mountains of the Calchaquí Valley, Plaza 9 de Julio is the epicenter of community life. The tree-lined plaza is also the first stop for visitors to Cachi and home to the town’s two most important landmarks―Iglesia San José and the Cachi Archeological Museum (Museo Arqueológico de Cachi “Pío Pablo Díaz”).
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.
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.
A major draw of visiting the Amazonas region is the incredible variety of living creatures that are unique to the river and rainforest. Anyone who might be a bit hesitant to go trekking into the jungle to meet them in their natural habitat can get a peek at the Amazon Natural Science Museum (Museo De Ciencias Naturais Da Amazonia).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The rugged beauty of Nevado Tres Cruces National Park (Parque Nacional Nevado Tres Cruces) draws visitors to the high desert of Chile’s Atacama region. With soaring peaks— including Chile’s highest, Ojos del Salado—and lagoons, the park is home to an array of wildlife, such as flamingos in summer, vicuñas, guanacos, giant and horned coots, and, occasionally, condors and pumas.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The yellow-painted façade of Iglesia San José, with its simple cross and trio of church bells, stands at the heart of Cachi on Plaza 9 de Julio. The adobe church dates back to the late 18th century and is a national monument renowned for its cardon wood ceiling and richly decorated altar, the work of local artisans.
Nestled in the heart of Brazil, Rio Quente’s Hot Park is the country’s largest water park—and the world’s only hydrothermal water park. Here, nature’s warm wonders meet exhilarating man-made adventures. This aquatic wonderland offers a blend of relaxation and excitement, making it an ideal destination for families, thrill-seekers, and nature enthusiasts alike.
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.
Some of Argentina’s most striking landscapes can be found at La Payunia Provincial Reserve, one of the largest volcanic areas in South America. The 1,100-acre (445 hectare) nature reserve is home to hundreds of extinct volcanoes, as well as prairie lands, lakes, and lava fields. The Rio Grande courses through the reserve’s basalt and lava flows, volcanoes, and caves.
