Central & South America attractions

The textile mill at Awana Kancha—or the Palace of Weaving—is a culture-rich stop between Cusco and the Sacred Valley. The artisan outpost gives visitors the chance to observe traditionally dressed women weaving textiles made from the wool of alpacas kept in the outdoor yard and to take a photo op hand-feeding the animals.

Constructed in 1910 at the height of Latin America's frilly neoclassical-meets-art-nouveau architectural wave, the graceful Palacio de Bellas Artes still strikes an imposing figure amidst modern Santiago's cold skyscrapers. Its ornate stone facade and permanent artistic merit make it the perfect home for the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Museum of Fine Arts), with its paintings, sculptures, and drawings dating from the colonial period to present day.

Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, and few locations showcase that diversity like Palo Verde National Park. A must-visit destination for nature lovers, the Guanacaste park offers a wetland alternative to Costa Rica’s rainforests. Its river channels, mangroves, and open wetlands draw abundant birdlife, alongside some of the most impressive crocodile sightings in the country.

Tumbling downhill from Costa Rica’s central mountains, the Sarapiqui River (Rio Sarapiquí) is a jungle-fringed playground. Alternating flat water and big waves mean there’s something for nearly every group here—boat trips on the Sarapiqui River range from family-friendly wildlife cruises to rafting on Class III–IV whitewater rapids.

El Yeso Dam (Embalse El Yeso), which was built in 1964, created a turquoise reservoir that can hold more than 253 million cubic meters of water. Though just a couple hours outside of Santiago, the snow-capped mountains that surround the site are more reminiscent of rural Patagonia than of the bustling metropolis.

The Raqch’i Inca archeological site is a well-preserved collection of ancient structures that shed light on the lifestyle of the Incas. The site's highlight is the Templo de Viracocha, hailed as one of the holiest shrines in the Inca Empire. There are also many ruins of former houses and storage units.

A serene, verdant oasis in the midst of bustling Rio de Janeiro, the city’s Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico) offers a chance to see and learn about both Amazonian and imported flora. It’s home to more than 7,000 species of tropical plants, as well as an important research facility and botanical library. The garden also boasts a range of wildlife, from toucans to marmosets.

Hailed as Valparaiso's most picturesque passage—and nicknamed the Balcony of Valparaiso—Paseo 21 de Mayo winds through street-art smothered neighborhoods and the colorful houses of Cerro Playa Ancha. Its elevated location also gives you sweeping panoramas of Valparaiso's UNESCO-listed historical center and the ocean beyond it.

Cerro de la Cruz is a lush hill on the northern edge of Antigua marked by a massive stone cross. From a scenic overlook, enjoy expansive views of the city’s grid of pretty terracotta rooftops laid out at the base of the magnificent Volcán de Agua.

Looking out to the stunning Lake Umayo, about an hour outside Puno, is one of Peru’s more enigmatic pre-Inca archeological wonders. Sillustani is a burial ground marked by perfectly hewn stone towers (called chullpas) that stretch toward the high-desert sky were built by the local Aymara-speaking Colla people, around 1300 AD.

The snow-capped cone of Osorno Volcano is one of Chile’s most recognizable landmarks. Towering over Lake Todos Los Santos and Lake Llanquihue in the Andean mountain range, Osorno is the starting point of Chilean Patagonia and is a magnet for adventurous outdoor enthusiasts who come here to ski, hike, and trek.

The epic massifs at Torres del Paine National Park (Parque Nacional Torres del Paine) draw visitors to an area of unspoiled beauty in the wilderness of Chilean Patagonia. But while the granite towers are a well-known symbol of the park, the landscape offers many additional natural wonders to admire; glittering lakes, glaciers, and ancient forests sit beneath the snow-capped spires of the Cordillera del Paine.

With close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and a unique mix of clay and sandy soils, the Casablanca Valley is one of Chile’s top wine-producing regions, despite its relatively new arrival on the scene. The first vines were planted in the mid-1980s—more than 100 years later than some of the country’s other notable wine areas.

Watched over by the mighty peak of Aconcagua Mountain—among the highest peaks in the world outside of the Himalayas at 22,837 feet (6,961 meters)—Aconcagua Provincial Park is a dream for hikers, with remote valleys, glacial lagoons, and towering peaks, all with sweeping views of the Andes Mountains.

The city of Manaus lies at the confluence of two great rivers, the Solimões and the Rio Negro. Due to the different colors of the two rivers, it's possible to see precisely where they meet, which is what makes the Meeting of Waters, or Encontro das Aguas, a checklist must-do for visitors to Manaus.

Set near the convergence of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, Itaipu Dam (Barragem de Itaipu) is considered one of the World’s Seven Modern Wonders, clocking in at 4.5-miles (7.2-kilometers) long and 65 stories high. With a maximum flow up to 40 times more powerful than nearby Iguassu (Iguaçu) Falls, the dam’s hydroelectric power plant produces roughly 20 percent of Brazil’s electricity.

One of Buenos Aires’ oldest public squares, Plaza San Martin is a pocket of greenery, shaded by ancient jacaranda and magnolia trees. This area bridges the gap between the central Retiro train and bus station and the lively shopping hub of Florida Avenue.

As well as offering respite from Cartagena’s Caribbean heat with its leafy trees, Bolivar Square (Plaza Bolivar) is home to both the Palace of the Inquisition museum and the Gold Museum (Museo de Oro Zenu). In between museums, sample Colombian coffee and snacks from street vendors and admire the eponymous statue of Simon Bolivar at the square’s center.

Red wine and red-hot tango are two of Argentina’s top exports, and few places do both as well as El Querandi, one of the most famous tango venues in Buenos Aires. The historic restaurant and wine bar is popular with tourists, who frequent the legendary dinner tango shows, and serves up an acclaimed menu of Argentine cuisine and local wines.

Perched on a narrow ridge on the edge of the Rano Kau crater, Orongo Ceremonial Village was the ritual center of the tangata manu, or birdman, cult. Home to remnants of stone houses that were used in the annual birdman ceremony and thousands of petroglyphs, it also offers views of the ocean and offshore islets called motus.

With a legacy dating back to the 1890s, Café de los Angelitos is one of the most historic and atmospheric tango venues in Buenos Aires. Once a favorite hangout of tango legends Carlos Gardel and José Razzano, the café was immortalized in their 1944 song “Café de los Angelitos.”

Cat lovers are in cat heaven at Kennedy Park in Miraflores. Home to litter-ally dozens of cats, this lovely landscaped green space is a surreal experience, especially for unwitting passersby who suddenly encounter cuddly cats receiving cuddles from strangers. Aside from the friendly felines, Kennedy Park also attracts musicians playing instruments and artisans selling their handiwork.

Flanked by the looming peaks of Sugarloaf Mountain and Papagaio Peak and dotted with over 100 islands, Guanabara Bay provides a dramatic backdrop to the city of Rio de Janeiro. Brazil’s second-largest bay, Guanabara is home to the cities of Niteroi and São Gonçalo, the Port of Rio de Janeiro, and Rio’s two airports.

Around 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) south of the shores of Ambergris Caye, Hol Chan Marine Reserve is the most-visited snorkeling and diving area in Belize. Part of the Belize Barrier Reef, the reserve covers about 3 square miles (7.7 square kilometers) and is divided into zones according to marine habitat.

An escape from the urban jungle of Medellín is only a gondola ride away. Arvi Park (Parque Arvi) and Piedras Blancas Park (Parque Piedras Blancas), neighboring parks in the mountainous countryside east of the city, are crisscrossed by hiking trails and dotted with lakes, scenic lookout points, and wildlife museums.

Forestal Park (Parque Forestal), the natural green lung of Santiago, provides a peaceful break from the frenetic bustle of Chile’s capital city. Stretching from Central Market to Plaza Italia, this area offers walking paths shaded by leafy trees and two popular museums: the MAC (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo) and Palacio de Bellas Artes.

At the Santa Rita Winery (Viña Santa Rita) in the scenic foothills of Alto Jahuel, you can explore Chile’s winemaking tradition dating back hundreds of years. Wander through old world vines, sample full-bodied Chilean wines, and tuck into a meal at the winery’s fine dining or casual restaurants.

Just off the coast of northern Colombia, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park is home to a wealth of endangered flora and fauna as well as the world’s highest coastal peak. Dominated by mountains and popular among hikers, this UNESCO-recognized national park is home to bird reserves, archaeological ruins, and indigenous villages.

Catarina is a colorful Nicaraguan village overflowing with so many flowers that these friendly florals outnumber the locals. Throughout the town, you’ll find gardens, nurseries, and flower baskets handwoven by Catarina’s skilled artisans. Catarina is a breath of fresh air for travelers looking to escape Nicaragua’s busy cities.

This small museum is devoted to jade, the precious green gemstone that has been mined and revered in Mesoamerica since ancient times. Exhibits provide information on ancient mining of the mineral and include pre-Hispanic jade pieces. It also encompasses a workshop where jade jewelry and decorative objects are created and sold.