Things to Do in Central And South America

This Catholic church in the heart of Paraty’s Historic Center is not only the largest in the town—it is also the most popular. Travelers flock to this impressive example of colonial architecture that stretches over an entire block and was built on donated land. Despite it’s beauty, the bell towers and temple of Our Lady of the Remedies remain incomplete. In addition to exploring the chapels, visitors can partake in local festivals during Holy Week and wander the halls of upstairs art galleries year round.

The Flamengo district of Rio de Janeiro offers a comfortable, middle class, downtown alternative to trendy beaches and resorts. Far less crowded than Rio hot spots like Copacabana or Ipanema, Flamengo is still located close enough to be a short cab ride away. The neighborhood’s main highlight is Flamengo Park, a grassy section of reclaimed shoreline that faces Guanabara Bay. The water here isn’t safe for swimming, but the walking trails throughout the park are packed with joggers, walkers, and locals in the morning and late afternoon, not to mention that the Flamengo beach offers sweeping views of Guanabara Bay, Sugar Loaf Mountain, and Christ the Redeemer. There’s also a wide selection of local restaurants and steak houses for a leisurely lunch or dinner on the town. A benefit of the neighborhood’s location is that late night venues are a cab ride away if you want to party all night—yet the neighborhood itself is quiet enough if you’d prefer a mellower night.

The history of Founder's Mansion dates back to the early days when the Spanish first occupied Peru. Originally owned by Arequipa’s founder, Garcí Manuel de Carbajal, it was purchased by Spaniard Juan Crisóstomo de Goyeneche y Aguerreverre and used as a country estate for ecclesiastical and civil dignitaries of the era. As the years passed, the building became dilapidated, until 1981 when it was purchased by a group passionate about Arequipa’s heritage. Visitors can still take in 16th-century architecture, and the mansion is predominantly composed of ashlar stone and thick walls with artwork, numerous vaults, antique furniture and colonial-style rooms.

These two connected villages, only an hour away from Santiago, comprise one of the most popular ski centers in the country, both because of their proximity to the capital and their high number of ski runs.

Ranging up to almost 11,000 feet (3,352 meters) above sea level, and with numerous ski classes available for those who need a refresher course, El Colorado is an ideal place to bring the family for a quick jump-start to the season. Nearly 70 runs graze the mountain in total, which receives an average snowfall of 15 feet (4.5 meters). Full equipment is available to rent.

With a BBQ grill, local supermarket, cozy pub, and coffee shop on the terrace (which boasts 'Swiss-Alpine' cuisine), the resort offers plenty of munchies post-piste—with scenic views to boot.



Photo courtesy of Dario Alpern via Wikimedia Commons.

The dramatic centerpiece of the Plaza de las Naciones Unidas, the Floralis Generica is a giant 18-ton aluminum flower sculpture that has become one of Buenos Aires’ most instantly recognizable landmarks. The quirky art installation was erected in 2002 in the parkland that bridges the city’s Palermo and Recoleta districts and features a striking mirrored finish that dazzles under the sun and glows red in the evening hours. Designed by Argentine architect Eduardo Catalano, the futuristic monument was envisioned in homage to his home city and was gifted to the public by him.

Most uniquely, the remote controlled sculpture is programmed to open and close its six petals with the sun, so that the flower is in bloom during daylight hours before closing up at sunset. Each morning (the petals open at 8am) and night crowds of locals and tourists gather in the park to watch the 20-minute spectacle, as the 66-foot-high flower changes color with the setting sun and slowly closes up its 43-foot-long petals as darkness sets in. The most remarkable of Buenos Aires’ many street art pieces, the Floralis Generica also pays tribute to the city’s most memorable dates. For 4 nights a year the flower remains open in celebration of the May Revolution on May 25th, the start of spring on September 21st, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.