Things to Do in Central And South America

The Puerto Quetzal Cruise Port is the starting point for cruisers looking to visit one of Guatemala's most popular destinations, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Antigua. Other than cruise ship passengers, few travelers pass through Puerto Quetzal, which is Guatemala's largest Pacific Ocean port and mainly visited by cruise liners heading to and from the Panama Canal or around Central America. At the cruise terminal, visitors will find an industrial port area with a small craft market, plus a number of options for day trips into the inland areas of Guatemala.

Praia do Forte is an area of spectacular biodiversity less than two hours by bus from Salvador. 

Like many beach towns in Brazil, Praia do Forte was once a small fishing village that became known for its beautiful stretches of coastline, diverse ecosystems, and wildlife.

Now a bustling eco-resort, Praia do Forte’s stunning beach and surrounding ocean and jungle is the main drawcard for visitors who come to relax and take advantage of the many adventure activities and whale & turtle watching.

Praia do Forte's high reef is well exposed at low tide, leaving warm pools of colorful fish and natural baths to loll about in. The area’s wide variety of marine life makes it an ideal spot for snorkeling and diving.

Over seven different species of sea turtle live in the surrounding waters. It's worth visiting the TAMAR project to see them in their natural environment and learn more about the project’s conservation work.

Medellin, now sprawling with more than three million people as Colombia’s second city, is fast becoming an ultra-modern conurbation of rapid transit, experimental architecture, and rising seas of skyscrapers. So it’s comforting to know that you can take the city train to a well-preserved (well, mostly fabricated) monument to Medellin’s quaint colonial past.

The absolutely adorable Spanish pueblito (“little town”) of Paisa, founded in 1978, crowns 80m (262ft) Cerro Nutibara, a natural landmark named for legendary Cacique (Chief) Nuibara. It would worth climbing just for the views. Today it is home to a perfect central plaza, surrounded by colonial adobes rescued from an actual Spanish outpost since flooded by the Penol-Guatape Hydroelectric Project. The beautifully restored buildings, complete with flower-draped wooden balconies and ceramic tejas tiles, is centered on the single cutest Catholic chapel you’ve ever seen.

While originally designed to depict businesses you’d find in a typical rural community—pharmacy, tobacconist, barber—as well as a school and city hall, have been largely replaced with souvenir shops, and the place is populated by a surprising number of mimes and living statues, especially on weekends.

Be sure to visit the Parque de Esculturas, next door, displaying the artistic inclinations of modern Medellin and Latin America, an interesting contrast to the idealized vision of the city’s colonial past.

Puerto Montt is located at the southern end of Chile’s Lake District, but you might feel like you have been transported across the ocean to Germany when you arrive. German settlers founded the city in 1852, bringing their architecture, customs and cuisine – and the influence is still apparent today. Squeezed among lakes, rivers and volcanoes, this small city offers enough outdoor activities to keep you busy for weeks.

How to Get to Puerto Montt
Puerto Montt is a tender port – you will actually get to shore via large, flat-bottomed tender boats that dock at the Puerto Angelmo fishing cove. From there, you can walk into the city. Buses for shore excursions usually pick up in the parking lot adjacent to the dock.

One Day in Puerto Montt
Like many smaller South American ports, visiting Puerto Montt is about enjoying the natural surroundings – there isn’t much to keep you in the city itself. 

Go water skiing on Lake Llanquihue or try your hand at fly fishing on the Maullin River. Soar 125 feet above ground on the Osorno Canopy Zipline while enjoying views of Lake Llanquihue and the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. Experience the thrill of rafting on class III and IV rapids on the Petrohue River. Canoeing, hiking and biking are all great options as well.

For those who prefer to relax, you can spend the day simply checking out the Feria Artesenal Angelmo arts and crafts market (one of the best places in Chile to pick up knitted sweaters and leather goods), picnicking on Pelluco Beach or exploring the nearby German village, Frutillar.

Port Information
The official language is Spanish, but limited English may be spoken by those working in the tourism industry. The local currency is the Chilean peso. ATM's are available throughout the city or you can look for a “casa de cambio” to change US dollars to pesos or cash traveler’s checks. Credit cards are widely accepted.

Potrerillos is an artificial lake surrounded by snow-dotted mountains and cypress forests on Mendoza’s doorstep. A dammed waterway on the Mendoza River, the lake measures 12 km long, 3 km wide (7.5 miles long, 2 miles wide). Popular as a day-trip and weekend destination from Mendoza, it’s the outdoor venue for rafting, paragliding and lakeside hiking.

The region has developed into a popular resort area, and a cluster of hotels, resort villas, clubs and sports facilities have sprung up to cater to day-trippers and visitors looking for outdoor activities. Choose from kayaking, guided treks, horseback riding, mountain biking and fly-fishing for trout.

Many travelers to Cuzco are familiar with the Inca, the native inhabitants of the Peruvian Andes who were brutally conquered by the Spanish. Fewer people, however, are familiar with the Moche, Nazca, Chimu, and Chancay whose histories date back for thousands of years. Though only a handful of sights remain from these cultures, their legacy remains through the various art forms which have survived throughout Peru’s many conquests.

When visiting Cuzco, the Pre-Columbian Art Museum is a private collection of over 450 pieces which highlight the art from these ancient cultures. Set inside of the Casa Cabrera—itself a masterful piece of architecture which was once a ceremonial house for the Inca—the 11 different showrooms highlight art which dates as far back as 1250 BC.

Fine pottery and ancient ceramics accompany sculptures of silver and gold. There is jewelry made from seashells and bone, and numerous carvings etched out of wood tell the story of Peru’s native people. Unlike a number of other museums, photography is allowed throughout the exhibit, and displays in English provide informative tips for gaining some deeper insight on the art. There is a small café as well as a store which are located within the complex, and the fact the museum stays open so late makes it a late-evening option for when other museums are closed.

Though not as large as the Larco Museum in Lima, the Pre-Columbian Art Museum is still a fascinating stop in Cuzco for those who appreciate cultural art.

With a population around 50,000, Puerto Madryn is one of the fastest growing cities in Argentina. While it was originally founded by Welsh settlers, little remains of that Welsh heritage today. Instead, it has become a major tourist destination for visitors looking to enjoy the beaches, wildlife and outdoor activities of the nearby Valdes Peninsula. 

How to Get to Puerto Madryn
Cruise ships dock about four miles from the center of town. Taxis are metered and are the best way to get into the city if you are not participating in a shore excursion organized by your ship.

One Day in Puerto Madryn
Visiting Puerto Madryn is really more about exploring the surrounding area than the city itself. It is the jumping off point for excursions to the nearby Valdes Peninsula, a wildlife sanctuary for birds and marine life. Visit sea lion colonies, spot sea elephants, drive past guanacos, foxes, armadillos and ostriches or hop on a boat to go whale watching. If you enjoy snorkeling or diving, head to Punta Pardelas Beach, one of the best scuba diving areas in the country. Hiking or biking are also great ways to spend a day on the Peninsula.

Another option is to join an excursion to the Punta Tombo Penguin Reserve, about two-and-a-half hours from Puerto Madryn, to get an up close view of Magellanic penguins and llama-like guanacos.

If you’d like to get a feel for the area’s Welsh roots, arrange a trip about 90 minutes out of Puerto Madryn to Gaiman, one of the few villages in the area to still maintain Welsh traditions.

If you do decide to stick around town, you might start your visit with a stroll along Almirante Brown Boulevard. Enjoy a variety of cafes, shops, beach activities and sweeping ocean views. Then, climb up to the Tehuelche monument for even better views of the entire area. Learn more about the flora and fauna of the region by visiting the Ecocentro, the Provincial Oceanographic and Natural Sciences Museum or the Paleontological Museum.

Port Information
The local language is a form of Spanish known as Castellano. While the official currency is the Argentinian peso, US dollars and Euros are widely accepted. Money can be changed at banks around the city and ATM's are available throughout town as well. Credit cards are also generally accepted, but it may be difficult to cash traveler’s checks.