Central & South America attractions

Planned by Francisco Pizarro back in 1535, the pedestrian street Jirón de la Unión in the historic center is still one of the city’s most lively streets. Taking a stroll along this atmospheric thoroughfare, with its many cafes, boutiques and theaters is a great way to experience the city as a local.

Learn about the history of Chilean wine production, sample full-bodied reds, and explore underground cellars at Undurraga, an award-winning, internationally recognized vineyard outside of Santiago. The winery’s gardens, designed by Pierre Dubois in the 19th century, appeal to nature lovers and wine buffs alike.

With its incredible biodiversity, Tortuguero National Park (Parque Nacional Tortuguero) is among Costa Rica’s most visited attractions. The park is best known for its sea turtles, with clusters of green, hawksbill, leatherback, and loggerhead turtles who lay their eggs in the sand. You can also spot more than 160 mammal species and countless birds.

Mercado Central de San Pedro (San Pedro Market) is one of the best places to experience the vibrancy of everyday Andean life in Cusco. This large and popular city market is where locals shop for food—there are hundreds of potato varieties and hot traditional meals—and any other household item under the sun.

The Santiago skyline is dominated by San Cristobal Hill (Cerro San Cristobal), a forested mountain rising 2,821 feet (860 meters) above the city. The site is protected as part of the Santiago Metropolitan Park (Parque Metropolitano), one of the most famous city parks in Chile. Today, the park serves as a scenic escape above the smog that can grip Santiago on winter days, and offers fantastic views across this city of 6.5 million to the Andes Mountains.

Canary yellow with white trim, the baroque La Merced Church (Iglesia de la Merced) is one of Antigua’s few colonial churches to survive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Inside its thick walls are notable artworks such as a sculpture of Jesus carrying a golden cross, which is paraded through the streets on Palm Sunday and Good Friday.

Open since 1883 and ranking among South America’s largest wine producers, Concha y Toro Winery is one of Chile’s most famous winemakers. The winery has vineyards all over the country and produces a huge variety of wines, including the world-renowned Don Melchor cabernet sauvignon. Its Pirque winery is a favorite Maipo Valley destination for oenophiles.

While the plump proportions of Fernando Botero’s sculptures have earned him international acclaim, it’s his generosity that’s made the artist Colombia’s favorite son. At the peak of his fame, the artist donated more than 150 pieces worth $200 million to the Colombian government—you can enjoy all of this art for free at Museo Botero.

Clear water, grottos, and saunas make up the Baldi Hot Springs complex, whose 25 different pools are heated by the Arenal Volcano and surrounded by the Costa Rican jungle. Progressing down the side of the mountain, the thermal pools at the top are the hottest, and they cool down as you go. Waterfalls, slides, and hidden spots mean there’s something new around every corner.

For a day of pampering, drive from Quito through the Amazon rainforest to this privately-owned hotel spa and resort. Set on 625 acres (253 hectares) between the Cayambe and Antiisana volcanoes, Termas de Papallacta Spa features several natural thermal baths and nature trails along the banks of the Papallacta, a gentle river that flows across the property.

Mirante Dona Marta offers some of the best views of Rio de Janeiro, usually with smaller crowds than the city’s better-known viewpoints. From its lookout point, you can take in Rio’s most recognizable landmarks, including the Christ the Redeemer statue, Sugarloaf Mountain, Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers), Maracanã Stadium, and Pedra da Gavea.

Plumes of steam from more than 60 geysers and hundreds of fumaroles erupt several feet into the air at the geyser field of El Tatio, high in the Andes in northern Chile. El Tatio isn’t the largest geyser field in the world, but with a backdrop of snowcapped mountains, it’s perhaps the most picturesque.

White-sand beaches, swaying coconut palms, and sapphire-blue water bring travelers to secluded Tortuga Island in the Gulf of Nicoya, where there’s just enough infrastructure to enjoy a day by the sea. It’s a prime spot for swimming, snorkeling, and basking in plentiful sunshine, as spider monkeys play in the jungle that wraps the pretty shoreline. Getting there is half the fun—boat trips to Tortuga Island take in beautiful coastal scenery.

Nestled in a valley at the foot of a volcano 57 miles (92 kilometers) north of Quito, Otavalo is a highland community of indigenous locals famous for their weaving skills and colorful textiles. The local Otavaleños who sell their wares at the daily market wear traditional clothing and have maintained their culture, way of dress, and identity.

As one of the most expensive strips of real estate in Latin America, Avenida Paulista is Sao Paulo’s most famous thoroughfare. What started out as a residential street lined with neoclassical mansions is today a modern hub of business, culture, and entertainment.

Nestled in the lush interior of Rincon de la Vieja National Park, these rustic hot springs are fed by a naturally heated river that flows from a nearby volcanic peak. Slather on the mineral-rich mud, and then soak it off in a variety of steam pools, all while surrounded by the untamed Costa Rican rain forest.

Situated on Guanabara Bay, just a few miles opposite Rio de Janeiro, Niteroi offers a mesmerizing blend of natural beauty and cultural attractions. Nicknamed “The Smile City,” it fulfills expectations with its unrivaled viewpoints, vibrant art scene, and landmarks like the Contemporary Art Museum.

Situated grandly atop downtown São Paulo’s Vale do Anhangabaú like a concrete wedding cake, the century-old Theatro Municipal still shines as an example of the city’s place at the vanguard of art in Latin America. Opened in 1911, the ornate showplace—styled in the tradition of the great European opera houses—has welcomed Maria Callas, Isadora Duncan, Duke Ellington, and Mikhail Baryshnikov to its stage.

Antigua Central Park (Parque Central) is considered one of the most beautiful parks in Guatemala. It’s the main outdoor area in town and where people go to sit, stroll, or meet up for an afternoon of relaxation and nice weather. From Central Park you have a superb view of the Agua Volcano, which towers over Antigua.

With its parched desert plains and wind-sculpted topography, it’s easy to see how Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna) earned its name. The sharp sandstone peaks, glittering salt deposits, and crater-like depressions make for some dramatic photographs, and watching the sunset over the valley is an unforgettable experience.

Named after German physician and archeologist Dr. Francisco Fonck Foveaux, who was based in Chile, the Fonck Museum covers the full spectrum of pre-Columbian cultures. The site’s most famous features are undoubtedly two original moai statues from Easter Island, which greet you as you enter the cultural institution.

Paseo Gervasoni encapsulates the eccentric, colorful tangle of Valparaiso’s cityscape. This short cobblestone pedestrian street is lined with bright and bold murals, 19th-century mansions, and a cluster of cafés, bars, and restaurants. The views from Paseo Gervasoni are some of the best in the city.

In the Ecuadorian wilderness just outside Baños, Casa del Arbol Swing is a seismic monitoring station that has capitalized on its perfect mountaintop location next to the Tungurahua Volcano by installing a treehouse with a rope swing. The Swing at the End of the World, as it’s often called, offers thrills with an unobstructed view of the volcano.

Nestled in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, Floriano Peixoto Square, commonly known as Cinelandia, is a historic public space and meeting point surrounded by architectural gems like the Municipal Theater and National Library. Its landmarks reflect Rio’s 20th-century modernization and play a central role in Brazil's cultural life.

The site of an ancient Mayan city's ruins, Altun Ha boasts an immaculately preserved central plaza surrounded by temples—you might even recognize some of the structures from Belizean beer labels and banknotes. Unlike many archaeological sites, you can climb the main pyramids for sweeping views of the location (which dates all the way back to 1000 BC) and the tropical jungle it’s shrouded in.

Housed in an ultra-modern structure designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, Rio’s Museum of Tomorrow (Museu do Amanhã) uses interactive exhibits and state-of-the-art simulators to explore the ecology, sustainability, and the future of our planet.

Bohemian Bellavista—sandwiched between San Cristóbal Hill and the Mapocho River—is one of Santiago’s most walkable neighborhoods, known for varied nightlife, some of the city’s most colorful street art, and numerous boutiques. A particular Bellavista highlight is La Chascona House-Museum, Pablo Neruda’s former residence.

Pouring down a hillside in Rio’s South Zone, the 1-square-mile (2.6-square-kilometer) Rocinha favela is crammed with a colorful maze of cement buildings, tin roofs, and upwards of 180,000 residents living in challenging socioeconomic conditions. The district is considered the largest favela in Brazil, complete with a culture and history of its own, and has entered a period of renaissance, with urban gardens, community art projects, and educational services revitalizing the neighborhood little by little.

On Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos, the Charles Darwin Research Station is a great way to take in some interesting facts about the wildlife of the archipelago in between relaxing on the beach and sipping a piña colada. The station offers information on local conservation, habitats, and other relevant statistics, and is home to a tortoise breeding center.

Barra da Tijuca (Barra) is one of Rio de Janeiro’s newest neighborhoods. It earned its nickname as the Brazilian Miami for its gorgeous sandy beaches and palm-fringed boulevards, which are flanked by mega malls and glass-fronted skyscrapers.