Central & South America attractions

With its jumble of colonial buildings, cobbled lanes, and pastel-painted façades, Pelourinho (or “Pelo” as it’s known to locals) is Salvador da Bahia’s oldest and most colorful neighborhood. Despite a dark past—Pelourinho was the location of Brazil’s first slave market—the historic district is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the buzzing heart of the city.

Designed by landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, Ibirapuera Park is Sao Paulo’s answer to New York’s Central Park. As the largest park in the city center, Ibirapuera encompasses 13 playing courts, jogging and cycle paths, a lake, several modernist buildings, and two of Sao Paulo’s most significant art galleries.

Nowhere captures the sultry and sexy beauty of Argentinian tango quite like La Ventana, one of Argentina’s most famous tango halls. In La Ventana’s intimate setting, guests can enjoy an evening of Argentine tango and live music, with more than 30 performers on stage.

With its rolling lakelands, quinoa woods, and cloud forest set against a jagged skyline of rocky peaks, the El Cajas National Park is a natural playground for adventurous travelers. Notable highlights include the Tres Cruces and Avilahuyco viewpoints, Lake Toreadora, the Taitachungo Lagoon, and Lagartococha.

Located in downtown Santiago, the Central Market (Mercado Central is a great place for visitors to get a peek into the hustle and bustle of local life. Its wrought iron interior houses fruit and vegetable vendors, a fish market, and multiple restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious, authentic, and affordable meal.

The simple, whitewashed exterior of San Pedro Apóstol de Andahuaylillas gives no hint as to the mesmerizing murals within, which depict biblical scenes imbued with Inca symbols. Along with lavish embellishments such as a gold-leaf altarpiece, these have earned the church the moniker Sistine Chapel of the Americas.

Whether you're a nature enthusiast, fitness lover, or seeking a tranquil escape, Rio de Janeiro’s Flamengo Park (Aterro do Flamengo) is the place to be. Spanning a long stretch of Guanabara Bay, the sprawling urban green space has 300 acres (121 hectares) to enjoy and explore.

Ausangate Trail is a remote and challenging trek in the Sacred Valley that features spectacular scenery—soaring mountains, picturesque villages, lakes, and lush jungle—minus the crowds. While the Inca Trail is crowded and typically booked far in advance, this trek is a flexible and adventurous way to explore the Andean landscapes around Cusco.

Framed by the crashing waves of the Pacific and the imposing Rano Raraku volcano, Ahu Tongariki is perhaps the most photogenic of the moai (monolithic human figures) on Easter Island. With 15 statues, it’s the largest ceremonial site in Rapa Nui National Park and a must-visit for history buffs and photographers.

Hailed as the San Francisco of South America, Valparaíso’s Historic Quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its beautiful buildings, street art, and steep hills. Visit to admire the historic architecture and take a vintage funicular up the summits of the cerros, where you’ll find trendy cafes and bars.

As the largest island of the Galapagos, Isabela Island is one of the most intriguing tropical destinations in the world. More than a million years old, the island is composed of six volcanoes, all of which but one are active. The unique geology draws visitors looking to see the surface uplifts, as well as the incredible tuff cones created by the volcanoes.

Art and architecture fans will pass a happy hour or two at Valparaíso’s Baburizza Palace (Palacio Baburizza). Today, the former residence boasts an exceptional fine arts collection showcasing both Chilean and European artists from the 19th to the 20th centuries. Considered one of Chile’s most important visual art collections, it’s well worth a visit.

When Portuguese sailors entered Guanabara Bay in January 1502, they spotted Pedra da Gavea and thought its shape resembled the topsail of a ship, which gave the mountain its name. The granite peak rises 2,769 feet (844 meters above sea level and plummets almost directly down toward the sea from within Tijuca National Park.

With deserted beaches, rocky isles, and glittering waters, and bordered by the snow-capped peaks of the southern Andes, Lapataia Bay serves up some of Patagonia’s most enticing views. Located at the very end of the Pan-American Highway, it’s one of the many highlights of the Tierra del Fuego National Park.

Presiding over the grand Plaza de Mayo, the Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana) is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Argentina. This 19th-century neoclassical cathedral is the church where Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio—now Pope Francis—performed mass before he was elevated to the Vatican in 2013.

Actun Tunichil Muknal, commonly known as the ATM Cave, is a popular adventure attraction outside San Ignacio in Belize’s Cayo district. Here, visitors experience an Indiana Jones-type excursion, hiking into the rainforest and across rivers to reach the cave, before wading through tunnels and passageways to see its stalactites and stalagmites. But Actun Tunichil Muknal is also a Maya archaeological site and sacred place, with artifacts and human remains visible to intrepid visitors.

Santiago's Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana) is considered one of the finest examples of religious architecture in South America. This is the cathedral’s fifth incarnation (not including numerous additional touch-ups) since a church was first dedicated on this spot in 1561. The structure has dominated the west side of the Plaza de Armas for centuries and serves as the heart of the city.

The cultural heart of the historic San Telmo barrio, Plaza Dorrego is the second-oldest square in Buenos Aires. Today the colonial square remains a lively hub of bars and cafés, with many historic venues holding tango shows and live music. On Sundays, the plaza hosts the vibrant San Telmo antiques market.

Long and narrow, the tiny island of Caye Caulker perches just off the coast of Belize, split in two by a narrow tidal pass where clear blue water rushes between the halves of the island. With this unique formation—protected by a barrier reef and with an elevation barely above sea level—it’s a place closely linked to the ocean, drawing travelers who want to stay as close to the sea as possible.

Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is often mistaken for “The Lighthouse at the End of the World,” made famous by novelist Jules Verne. Verne was actually inspired by the San Juan de Salvamento lighthouse, further east, but it’s a fitting description nonetheless: Les Eclaireurs is the last landmark many sailors see as they sail south to Antarctica.

Mist-draped hillsides in the Cocora Valley lend a dramatic backdrop to the world’s tallest palm trees—native wax palms that soar up to nearly 200 feet (60 meters). Views abound along hiking trails that wind between the valley’s palm groves, farm fields, and low-lying jungle. Options range from short strolls to all-day adventures, making this one of the most popular destinations for outdoor exploring in Colombia’s UNESCO–listed coffee region.

On the island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, San Pedro Town is the main settlement. This is where the bulk of the island’s eateries, shops, nightlife, and businesses are located. The better beaches are farther away from the settlement, but the water and views are still beautiful, and numerous docks dotting the shoreline provide ample swimming opportunities. The streets are always coated with a thin layer of sand, and there’s plenty of greenery.

The multi-hued cone of Tunupa Volcano rises 17,457 feet (5,321 meters) above an expanse of white salt. Though reaching the frigid summit requires some mountaineering, a more accessible viewpoint at 15,500 feet (4,724 meters) offers sweeping views of Uyuni Salt Flat (Salar de Uyuni).

Rising sharply off the coast of San Cristóbal island, this rock formation’s distinctive shape was formed when a lava cone split in two, forming a narrow channel in between. Also known as Kicker Rock, the site is a popular day trip for snorkelers and divers to see Galápagos and hammerhead sharks, turtles, rays, sea lions, and colorful reef fish.

Overlooking Quito’s Independence Square, the grand Presidential Palace is currently the seat of government of the Republic of Ecuador. Built in the French Renaissance and Spanish Baroque architectural styles, the colonial mansion once served as headquarters of Gran Colombia, a short-lived republic that stretched from the top of South America and the bottom half of Central America—after the Battle of Pichincha in 1822.

One of South America’s most active volcanoes, Sierra Negra on Isabela Island has a vast molten crater, which is the second largest caldera in the world. The huge shield volcano erupts about every 15 years, with the last eruption occurring in 2005. Since then several geological and thermal events have been visible to hikers.

Costa Rica’s largest lake is also its most famous. Taking its name from the neighboring Arenal Volcano, which looms over its eastern shore, the lake affords a prime view of the active volcano, as well as providing plenty of fun for outdoor adventurers. Lake Arenal is more than a pretty face, too: the human-made reservoir is also a hydroelectric dam that provides sustainable power for Costa Rican residents.

Despite its tree-lined shores, tiny islets, and blue-green waters, Gatún Lake (Lago Gatún),, is actually a man-made lake, integral to the functioning of the famous Panama Canal. And yet, despite its artificial status, the lake now serves as an important protected space for wildlife (thanks to primate sanctuaries on several islands), as well as a prime spot for freshwater fishing.

Home to the world’s largest Japanese population outside of Japan, the district of Liberdade was settled in the early to mid-twentieth century by Japanese immigrants brought to Brazil to work in the coffee plantations around Sao Paulo. Today, it attracts foodies and Paulistano manga and anime enthusiasts, who can be seen dressed up in cosplay.

This glacial lake in the south of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego National Park entices outdoor enthusiasts with its fishing spots, Patagonian forest hikes, and shoreline campsites. Crossing the border into Chile, where it becomes Lago Errazuriz, the area is also a convenient launch point for wider Andean adventure.