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.
Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara is as much an icon of Latin American history as he is a contentious figure of guerrilla warfare, and the historical Route of Che (Ruta del Che) follows his final days in Bolivia through to his capture and execution. Follow in the footsteps of Guevara along the roughly 500-mile (800-kilometer) course that links sites of interest in southeast Bolivia.
Boasting the title of Códoba’s highest peak, Cerro Champaquí towers above the province from its perch 9,153 feet (2,790 meters) above sea level. Whichever of the several ascent options you choose—each cater to different abilities and difficulty levels—you’re guaranteed to encounter granite formations, mayten forests, panoramic views of valleys and mountains, and a lagoon shrouded in ancient legend.
Connecting the cities of Barranquilla and Santa Marta, Parque Isla Salamanca features mangrove swamps, forests, and beaches on the estuary of the Magdalena River. It’s a nature lover’s paradise, thanks to the wealth of wildlife that calls it home: numerous bird species, leatherback and painted turtles, the crab-eating raccoon, and Mexican anteaters.
In Baños, a mountain town known for its exhilarating range of outdoor adventures, you can add to the fun at this amusement park. Drive around a go-kart track, shoot water at your friends and family from motorized boats in a lake, and enjoy the surrounding landscape.
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.
A sunshine-bright facade makes the 1916 Yellow House (Casa Amarilla) a cheerful landmark in San Jose’s Otoya neighborhood. Home to Costa Rica’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, the building is closed to the public but still merits a quick detour, especially since the Yellow House is strolling-distance away from a handful of other sites.
Ilha dos Aquarios is a venue with a difference; it’s an open-air nightclub and event space set on an island located between Porto Seguro and Arraial d'Ajuda. Ilha dos Aquarios is also home to five aquariums, which harbor sharks, stingrays, and 15 species of fish.
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.
Perched at one of the Ecuadorian town’s highest points, Mirador Las Antenas in Baños offers panoramic views of the lush Andean Highlands surrounding it. The area is also home to the famous Manos de Dios (Hands of God) Bridge—a bridge featuring two enormous hands as supports—a favorite spot for fun photos with fantastic views.
Zoológico de Barranquilla represents the diversity of Colombia’s wildlife through a wide range of animal enclosures. Along with seeing animals from other continents, such as tigers, elephants, and lions, you’ll encounter native Amazonian species such as tapirs, jaguars, and monkeys. The zoo is also dedicated to rehabilitation at its veterinary center.
A cool highland region studded with megalithic villages, coffee and clove plantations, soaring volcanoes, geothermal hot springs, and fascinating tribal cultures, Ngada Regency sits at the heart of Flores island. Travelers generally base themselves in the capital, Bajawa, to visit Bena Traditional Village and soak in hot springs, but adventurers head further afield.
Feira do Largo da Alfandega is a market that brings together the best of Florianopolis’ produce and handicrafts in one place. It takes place several times a week and has vendors similar to those you’d find at a typical farmer’s market; sample everything from spicy sausages and sugarcane juice to fresh fish, exotic fruit, and classic Brazilian street food.
The tropical rainforest of Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (Reserva Biosfera Río Plátano) stretches from mountain summits to the edge of the Caribbean Sea—the UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest protected region in Honduras. Within the forest are petroglyphs, pre-Columbian sites, trails to hike, rivers to raft, and remote campsites with sweeping views of a landscape few travelers will ever experience.
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.
In the remote highlands of northern Chile, Laguna Roja (Red Lagoon) is an otherworldly body of water with a deep crimson hue. Surrounded by rugged landscapes and shrouded in mystery, this unique natural phenomenon is a hidden gem. Visiting Laguna Roja lets you experience one of Chile's most enigmatic and surreal natural wonders, far from the beaten path.
Just south of Salvador de Bahia, the rural villages and tranquil sandy beaches of Tinharé Island (Ilha de Tinharé) are an idyllic retreat from the city. Reachable only by boat, the small, car-free island is home to some of Bahia’s most beautiful beaches and spectacular snorkeling spots.
On the outskirts of Ecuador’s adventure capital of Baños, AnimalPark is a family-friendly attraction home to both domestic animals and African lions. Hands-on activities here range from bottle-feeding calves and collecting freshly laid eggs to admiring the region’s lush landscapes from viewpoints and watching live shows featuring horseback riding.
Poking out from a carpet of carob trees, forming the largest dryland forest on South America’s west coast, are the eroded tops of brown pyramids—all that remain of Sicán tombs once packed with gold. Archaeologists say over 90% of Peruvian gold in private collections was looted from what is now the Batán Grande archaeological complex.
Running for some 715 miles (1,150 kilometers) from its source in Salta, the Salado River (Rio Juramento) is famous for its Class III rapids, which offer a medium level of intensity that’s ideal for white-water rafting and kayaking.
Paseo de las Musas is a lovely pedestrian thoroughfare festooned with manicured floral arrangements, welcoming plazas, and a striking monument with nine statues of ancient muses from Greek mythology and four white columns that tower 20 feet (6 meters) over the park.
The fantastically ornate Municipal Palace is a Republican-style administrative building with a festive four-story clock tower and soaring parallel arches gracing the center of town. This elegant building is so lavish, it cost 30,000 pounds of gold to build in 1919.
There are few places outside Buenos Aires that capture the spirit of tango as well as Patio del Tango (Tango Patio) in Medellin, a restaurant and performance venue that thrums with the passionate energy of the Argentine dance. Medellin’s connection to tango is due largely to Carlos Gardel, arguably the most famous tango singer in history, who tragically died when a plane crashed in the city in 1935 and whose legacy is treasured here.
On the forested flanks of Mombacho volcano, high above the cobbled streets of the colonial city of Granada, the family-run Hacienda El Progreso is where Nicaraguan coffee was born. This coffee plantation and ecotourism hot spot is best known as a lead supplier for Nicaragua’s biggest coffee chain, Café las Flores.
Renowned for its architectural fusion, the 17th-century Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of Córdoba. Said to be the oldest church in the city, it is most notable for the shape of its vault, which was designed by its boat-builder architect to resemble an inverted ship’s hull.
The opulent, European-style architecture of Palacio Portales pays testament to Bolivia’s mineral boom. The brainchild of tin baron Simón Patiño, this early 20th-century mansion is home to a sumptuous selection of imported treasures such as Italian tapestries, chandeliers, luxurious silks, rock crystal lamps, and marble from Tuscany. Plus, the gardens were inspired by the Palace of Versailles and designed by Japanese horticulturalists.
At the center of Chiclayo is the city’s main square, the Parque Principal (also known as Plaza de Armas). Spanning the compact area between the city’s double-domed neoclassical cathedral and the Republic-style city hall, this attractive green space buzzes with activity, music, and food vendors at all times of the day.
Bring your kids to Park do Gorilao to let off some steam at the complex that's part old-fashioned amusement park and part modern games complex. Located within the Novo Shopping Mall in Ribeirão Preto, the park has everything from roller coasters and arcade games to bowling lanes and a 7-D cinema.
Originally built by the Spanish in the 1740s as a fort to ward off pirates, today the Fortaleza La Polvora is a military museum and popular tourist stop in Granada. This sturdy medieval fortress consists of several lookout towers connected by stone walls with a huge arched main gate and the views from the tower make it worth the visit.
Though some call Bariloche "Argentina's Switzerland," the area stands on its own. Bellavista Hill translates to "beautiful view," and it delivers on that promise. The top-down view is a panorama of mountains, lakes, and little islands in the lakes that seem to form a jigsaw puzzle. Most summit Bellavista in two and four hours.
