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Its widely sought-after beach scene readily conjures references to Copacabana, the girl from Ipanema, and the itsy bitsy Brazilian Bikini, but there is more to Rio de Janeiro than its 23 swaths of golden sand. The city is also known for its vibrant Carnival celebrations, swaying samba beats, stunning architectural splendors, and great museums, not to mention its gourmet culinary scene. See our Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
Santiago may be Latin, but it feels European, both in its historic appeal and in its contemporary flair (and, in that most European way, in its charming and incongruous combination of both). Hints of the city’s 16th-century Spanish roots remain in mission-style buildings and grand, neoclassical churches. At the same time, shiny skyscrapers and a clean, efficient metro system reveal the city’s rapid economic growth. The opening of a glossy cultural center in 2006 marked the beginning of a newfound pride – a pride that has continued to evolve through the city’s burgeoning culinary, shopping, and nightlife scenes.
The spectacularly well-preserved, mid-15th-century Incan city of Machu Picchu lay lost in the mountains and hidden behind a tall wall of grass until Yale archeologist Hiram Bingham introduced it to the world in 1911. Now, the dwellings, temples, and aqueducts are open to public exploration. Hike the Inca Trail or travel by train to walk in the footsteps of the mighty Inca rulers who, according to popular theory, called this settlement home.
The daunting sheer granite pillars of legendary Torres del Paine National Park, quirky Magellanic penguins, and the San Rafael Glacier are among Chile’s must-see natural spectacles.
Over 2000-miles off Chile’s coast, exotic maoi (stone-carved, coral-eyed statues) and bird-themed petroglyphs reveal some of this Polynesian island’s – called Rapa Nui by the locals – history. See our Chile Travel Guide
The small and charming country of Uruguay has one of the lowest poverty rates and one of the highest literary rates in all of South America. Attractions include the European-style capital of Montevideo, the glamorous beach resort of Punta del Este and the historic town of Colonia del Sacramento.
Landlocked Paraguay rarely receives as much attention of some of its other, more famous, Latin neighbors. Democratic since the early ‘90s, the country is still wracked by poverty and drugs. Its natural landscape – marshes, forests, desert, and the Chaco (the grassy plains of the west) – occasionally lure seasoned South American travelers.
Colombia has had a place on the world stage for many years – unfortunately, more for its political instability and drug trade than for its historic cities or scenic coastal plains and jungles. While drugs and civil strife remain an issue in remote sections of the jungle, towns like Cartagena with its UNESCO-recognized colonial architecture and beaches, tend to be safe for travelers.
These small, often overlooked countries (none of which have well developed tourist infrastructures), have strong roots in non-Spanish-speaking Europe – Guyana was once a British outpost, Suriname a Dutch colony, and French Guiana remains an overseas department of France to this day. Lush tropical rain forest is a trademark of all three. Individually, Guyana is best known for its spectacular Kaieteur Falls, Suriname for its ethnic diversity, and French Guiana for its mountainous Highlands.
Most visitors to Guatemala come for the remarkable Mayan architecture of Tikal, which dates as far back as 600 B.C. Crime and poverty keep all but the most intrepid travelers out of the rest of the country – a mishmash of forests, mountains, and tropical coastline.
Now that the 12-year civil war is over (it ended in 1992) and the eruption of the Santa Ana Volcano in 2005 are safely tucked away in the history books, it’s again possible to visit the small country of El Salvador. Come to experience its coffee plantations, volcanic mountains, the cloud forests of Montecristo National Park, and its Pacific beaches.
The mysterious, 250-acre Mayan city of Copán with its temples, sculptures, and over 1,000 striking hieroglyphs is the crowning gem of Honduras, a country marked by jungle forests, mountains, beaches, and, unfortunately, crime (the nation is one of the poorest in Central America). Outside of the major cities, basic public services are hard to come by.
Although poverty, corruption, and the danger of the occasional natural disaster (hurricane, volcanic eruption) remain, by and large Nicaragua – the largest of the Central American countries – is safe for travelers. In additional to being an affordable Latin getaway, the nation’s allure lies in its natural riches: bioluminescent bays, mangrove forests, coral reefs, volcanic peaks, beaches, and tropical jungles.
