Things to Do in Central And South America

Irtra Mundo Petapa is more than just another theme park; it’s the largest theme park in Central America, and also features botanical gardens, Guatemalan history, and a zoo. Exceptionally clean and well maintained, the park even features an Olympic sized swimming pool for beating the midday heat, and a towering, 175 ft. “skyscraper” with a thrilling vertical drop. Parts of the park are devoted toward preserving a slice of Guatemalan history, and quieter parts of the sprawling park are built in an old, 1950s style of small Guatemalan villages. You’ll also find a zoo on site with dozens of species of mammals, as well as 60 species of birds that flit and squawk in the aviary. Before you leave the park for the day, be sure to ride the ferris wheel that towers above the park, where the view looks out over Guatemala City and the surrounding volcanoes beyond. Even the grandiose rainbow archway is an entertaining sight, and the Irtra Mundo Petapa is a guaranteed day of family fun.

Iguazu Falls, the largest waterfalls system in the world, are truly awe-inspiring to behold, spanning the border between Brazil and Argentina. Though Brazil boasts better views of the falls, Argentina is blessed with about 80 percent of this natural marvel’s 275 separate cascades. Paved trails and catwalks wind their way around the falls—sometimes reaching within an arm’s length of the water—and a free train connects the main trailheads.

The best way to experience the Argentinean side of Iguazu Falls is by hiking the surrounding trails. The Upper Circuit Trail offers outstanding views over Mbigua Falls and the Iguazu River before dropping toward the Bernabe Mendez Falls. The Lower Circuit Trail has more viewpoints, as well as access to activities such as boat trips, white-water rafting, and a free ferry to Isla San Martin. A guided tour will help you find the best trails and can take you deeper into Iguazu National Park, or on ATV tours and hiking excursions in the area.

The park’s entry fee includes unlimited rides on the Jungle Train to different trailheads, as well as ferry service (depending on the water level) to Isla Martin. You can visit the park a second day for half price; be sure to get your ticket stamped after the first day. 

Iguazu National Park is located 10 miles (17 kilometers) from Puerto Iguazu. Buses run from Puerto Iguazu to the park every half hour during park hours. If you're coming from Buenos Aires, take a 90-minute flight or a 24-hour bus ride.

Iguazu Falls is accessible year-round. For the best weather and the smallest crowds, plan to go between July and October or February and April. Morning visits reward with rainbows in the ever-present mist of Devil’s Throat.

Devil’s Throat, whose 14 thundering cascades comprise the tallest and most famous part of Iguazu Falls, is best viewed from the Devil’s Throat Walk, which takes you right up to the brink of the water. If that’s not close enough, you can also take a boat ride that glides right under the falls.

Built on an authentic Inca foundation, this humble museum in the heart of Cusco houses an impressive collection of Incan artifacts. Hundreds of examples of handmade goldwork, pottery, textiles and queros line the halls of this truly memorable spot and offer travelers a rare look into the nation’s ancient past. 

Visitors will find plenty to explore inside the Inca Museum, but its outdoor courtyard, where Andean weavers showcase their skills, is also worth checking out. Travelers can purchase handmade items directly from the artists, who provide demonstrations of old-school techniques and answer questions while they work. It’s a chance to experience ancient artistry in real time and take home a piece of the tradition, too.

Although less famous than its nextdoor neighbor Copacabana Beach, Ipanema holds its own with quiet charm and considerably cleaner surroundings, and it does it without skimping on any of the white sands, blue waters, or local character that give Rio de Janeiro’s beaches their claim to fame.

Ipanema Beach (Praia de Ipanema) is on the ritzy side of Rio, backing onto an upper-class neighborhood full of high-end hotels and classy dining establishments. Although it’s easy to spend a day lounging on the sand (chair and umbrella rentals are available), those looking for a more immersive experience will find it on a guided city tour that combines a stop at Ipanema with other top Rio attractions such as Sugarloaf Mountain, the Statue of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor), the Lapa neighborhood, or the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. Bike tours offer a popular way to cover more ground in less time, while private tours ensure that you see everything on your list in comfort.

The easiest way to visit Ipanema is on a guided tour, many of which include door-to-door transportation from your hotel. Otherwise, catch the metro to Ipanema/General Osorio or take any of the buses marked “Ipanema” from Centro.

The beach is open and crowded year-round, but plan your visit during Rio’s warm season—December to March—to enjoy the water. Visit in the morning for smaller crowds and less heat, or head to the beach in the evening to watch the sun set over the Atlantic.

From boldly patterned, knitted ponchos to bright, intricately woven textiles or chullo hats made from baby-soft alpaca wool; few visitors leave Peru without buying some of the country’s colorful handicrafts. The Andean region in particular is world-renowned for its dazzling textiles, incorporating unique indigenous designs with traditional weaving techniques and locally sourced materials like sheep, alpaca and llama wool. It’s possible to buy the products all around Peru, but for those looking to learn more about the region’s rich craftmaking heritage, the Interpretation Center of Andean Textiles in Cusco is a must. 

As well as admiring the elaborate designs and purchasing handcrafted clothing and gifts, visitors to the Interpretation Center of Andean Textiles can learn the origins and traditions of the age-old weaving techniques, used by local craftsmen for more than 2,000 years. Demonstrations of the wool preparation, dying and weaving techniques by skilled local weavers offers a unique insight into how the complex designs are created and the ladies are happy to share their inspirations behind the various patterns and color combinations, explaining how each Andean village has developed their own distinctive designs. 

Whether you want to admire traditional Peruvian handicrafts or enjoy some last-minute souvenir shopping, the Indian Market (Mercado Indio) is one of the best places to shop in Lima. Located at the heart of the Miraflores District, the market has dozens of stalls selling quality handmade arts and crafts.

 

Choose to browse the stalls of the Indian Market independently or opt for a private tour and combine souvenir shopping with a walking tour of Lima’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Exploring the market with a guide means you’ll gain insight into Peruvian culture and traditions while ensuring that you get the best prices and highest-quality goods.

 

The Indian Market is located on Avenida Petit Thouars at the northern end of Miraflores. Buses from central Lima stop on Av. Arequipa, just a short walk from the market.

 

The market is open daily but to avoid the crowds, visit on a weekday morning.

 

Popular souvenirs include brightly colored clothing, shawls, and rugs made out of alpaca wool; hand-carved wooden artifacts; solid silver jewelry; hand-painted ceramics; musical instruments; and paintings. Artists and craftsmen themselves run many of the stalls, and they are often happy to demonstrate their talents or explain how the items are crafted.

Located just over 100 kilometers from Rio, Ilha Grande is a piece of paradise in the warm waters of the Costa Verde (the lush, coastal region between Rio and São Paulo). Ilha Grande, the ‘Big Island,’ is sparsely populated with small villages with fishermen and small B&Bs. The island’s main village is Abraão, on the western shore, where passenger ferries land daily. With no cars allowed and mostly untouched by developers, Ilha Grande is the ideal island escape. Most of Ilha Grande is pristine Atlantic Rainforest, with endless options for hikes, panoramic viewpoints, hidden coves, and long white-sand beaches that seldom have crowds. The waters of Ilha Grande are warm and turquoise, making it a great place for snorkeling, swimming and other water sports. On the coast facing the open-ocean, waves can be large and attract surfers, and on the coast facing land, waters are usually calm and perfect for a dip. 

 

Besides hiking, the best way to get around to the many beaches of Ilha Grande is by boat. Water-taxis and day excursions bring visitors to the island’s best beaches, coves and snorkel spots. Most of the island’s accommodations are in Arbaão, but there are other guesthouses on the island’s more remote beaches, as well as campgrounds. 

For many travelers to Machu Picchu, hiking the Inca Trail through the Sacred Valley is as much a part of the bucket list experience as seeing the ruins themselves. It typically takes four days to cover the distance between Cusco and Aguas Calientes, with overnights at Huayllabamba, Pacamayo, and Huinay Huayna on the way. Shorter one- or two-day treks are also possible for more inexperienced walkers. To walk the trail, you need to join a group of fellow hikers led by a licensed guide. Trail permits are limited, with only 500 hikers permitted on the trail at any given time (including tour guides and porters), so you'll need to book ahead.

The city of Cusco serves as a base for trekkers heading out on the Inca Trail and is serviced by Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport. Most tours include pickup from Cusco hotels and the bus ride to Km82 along the railway between Cusco and Aguas Calientes, where the hike begins.

The dry season (June to October) brings the best weather and the biggest crowds to the Inca Trail; if you plan to hike during this time, be sure to book months in advance. The spring and fall shoulder seasons—May in particular—see fewer tourists and occasional rain. The winter months are prohibitively wet for most trekkers, and the trail closes for maintenance during February.

With the growing popularity of the Inca Trail (and the permit limits placed on it), visitors are considering alternative treks to Machu Picchu. These include the Lares trek, beginning in the town of Lares and finishing at the ruins of Ollantaytambo (a short train ride from Machu Picchu), and the Salkantay route, famous for its diverse scenery.

Located smack in the center of Petrópolis—the regal mountain town about an hour north of central Rio de Janeiro—the Imperial Museum offers fascinating insight to the lives of Brazilian royalty. Constructed in the middle of the 19th century as a summer home for Pedro I, the Imperial Museum still has the feel of a royal Brazilian palace. Walk past large, tapestry-adorned walls and through hallways of antique furniture, and let your jaw drop at the collection of crown jewels—where over 600 diamonds and 77 pearls adorn the imperial crown. 

In addition to the well-preserved building itself, there are thousands of artifacts inside the museum that outline the history of Brazil. Some of the documents date back to the days of Portuguese exploration, and there’s even the famous golden quill that was used by Princess Izabel, when she inked her name on the Lei Áurea bill to liberate Brazilian slaves. 

Each Sunday General Osório Square in Ipanema transforms into one of Rio’s most popular open-air markets, the Ipanema Hippie Fair (Feira Hippie de Ipanema). This particular market began in 1968 when a group of hippies hanging out in Rio got together to sell and swap their belongings. 

Today, the market comprises more than 700 vendors selling Brazilian folk art, jewelry, clothing and souvenirs. It’s one of the best places in town to find bargains on authentic Brazilian crafts and souvenir items, especially embroidered items, lace and ceramic figurines.

Hungry shoppers will find food stalls at the corners of the market selling local favorites like bacalhau (an omelet made from salted codfish), acarajé (mashed black-eyed pea croquettes stuffed with shrimp) and coconut candy.

Iñaquito Market, located in North Quito between Avenida 10 de Agosto and Rio Amazonas, is one of the city’s most colorful indoor markets and a great place to get a feel for the local pulse of Ecuador’s capital. The market’s stalls are stacked with colorful exotic fruits and vegetables, spices, medicinal ingredients, meats and fish. Ecuador’s climate makes it ideal for growing many types of fruit, and it’s worth a visit to the market if only to sample some of the more unusual varieties, like tree tomatoes, giant green guanábana (soursop), gooseberries, dragon fruit or granadilla (similar to a passion fruit).

Hungry market goers will find an entire “food court” area where the specialty is whole roasted pig, sliced and served with hominy, cheese-stuffed potato pancakes and avocado. Juice stalls will happily blend up exotic fruits purchased in the main market.

Operated by the Salesian Sisters, an order of nuns with missions in the Upper Amazon region, the Indian Museum (Museu do Índio) displays a collection of weapons, musical instruments, ritual masks, ceramics, tools and ceremonial clothing from the indigenous tribes of the Amazon rainforest, mostly from the states of Amazonas and Pará.

Apart from touring the collection to learn more about the region’s tribes, the museum also offers visitors the chance to shop for authentic índio handicrafts, like necklaces and baskets made from natural materials, in the small gift shop.

Travelers to Brazil rank a trip to Iracema Waterfall among the top destination for visitors in search of an ecological adventure. Stationed deep in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, a trip to see the thundering waters of Iracema is an ideal way to get up close with the indigenous wildlife while exploring the Urubui River. After hiking the surrounding trails that lead to this picturesque peak, head to the foot of the falls where shallow waters provide a welcome escape from the humidity and heat of the Amazon heat and a perfect place for a refreshing dip. 

Who would’ve thought an invisible line would be so hard to find? As the very name of the country describes, the Earth’s Equator bisects Ecuador into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres—although pinpointing the exact location of that line has been an ongoing challenge. For hundreds of years, it was believed the Equator bisected Ecuador at the Mitad del Mundo monument, but new data has revealed the site is off by a few hundred meters. The nearby Intinan Museum, it’s said, is the site of the real Equator, although GPS info seems to point out that neither spot is correct. Either way, regardless of the Equator’s exact location, this small museum north of Quito is still a fascinating stop. Try to balance an egg on a nail or watch water spin opposite ways, and while some of the exhibits might be staged, the concepts behind the gravity and physics are curiously entertaining. In addition to exhibits about the Equator, the Intinan Museum also offers a look at Ecuador’s culture—from the biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands to Amazonian tribes. There’s even the chance to take a photo with an ancient shrunken head, and while the somewhat kitschy Equator tricks are admittedly fun to see, it’s the authentic looks at Ecuadorian culture that defines this Quito museum.

Iguacu (Iguaçu) Falls, the largest waterfalls system in the world, are truly awe-inspiring to behold. Though Argentina boasts better trails around the falls, Brazil is blessed with the best views of this natural marvel’s 275 separate cascades, which span the border between the two countries. Take in full-frontal views of Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo), San Martin Island, and more from the short-but-sweet catwalks that wind their way around the Brazilian side of Iguacu Falls.

The best way to experience the Brazilian side of Iguacu Falls is by hiking the catwalks. Though less forested and natural than the Argentinean trails, you’ll find significantly better panoramic views of Iguacu Falls in all its unforgettable glory—and they even offer an elevator to a postcard-perfect viewpoint over Devil’s Throat, considered the most spectacular scene in the park. Ensure sight of the best vistas by joining a guided tour of Iguacu National Park; opt for a small-group tour that fills you in on the fall’s folklore and geologic history, or take a cruise right beneath the cascades. And only on the Brazilian side can you take a helicopter ride for aerial views over the falls or an above-the-falls rafting trip on the Parana River.

The closest Brazilian town to Iguacu National Park is Foz do Iguaçu. Catch a bus from town to the park for only a few dollars; buses and taxis also run directly from the airport. Foz do Iguaçu is a two-hour flight from Rio de Janeiro. Note that Foz do Iguaçu has more lodging, restaurants, and other traveler amenities than Argentina’s gateway-to-the-falls town, Puerto Iguazu. This side of the falls also offers guided tours to nearby sights such as Bird Park, Itaipu Dam, and the Brazil-Paraguay border.

Iguacu Falls is accessible year-round. For the best weather and the smallest crowds, plan to go between July and October or February and April. Morning visits reward with rainbows in the ever-present mist of Devil’s Throat.

Iguacu translates to “big water” in the Tupi or Guarani language—a fitting name considering that water tumbles over the cascades at a rate of 5,300 cubic feet (1,500 cubic meters) per second. That’s enough water to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in under two seconds!