Choose from 1,039 Fun Things to Do in Central And South America
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Volcano Lanin
With a summit at 12,388 feet (3,776 meters) Volcano Lanin ranks among the highest peaks in Patagonia. The volcano straddles the border between Argentina and Chile, where three quarters of it sits within Argentina’s Lanin National Park. Surrounded by plains and low hills, the snow-covered conical peak is visible from towns well over 100 miles away.
A trek to the summit of Lanin takes two to three days and requires crampons and other climbing gear. During the spring and summer months (November to April), it’s possible to take a sightseeing flight over the volcano. Softer trekking opportunities abound throughout the park for visitors who want views of Volcano Lanin but don’t necessarily want to summit it.
Practical Info
The closest access point to the volcano on the Argentine side is Junín.
Address: Neuquen, Patagonia, Argentina
From $ 108
Yaxhá
The third-largest archaeological site in Guatemala is not well known, overshadowed by the fame of neighboring Tikal. Archaeologists are only now sorting out the secrets of this city on the northern shore of Laguna Yaxhá, named “Blue-Green Water” for the lake’s unusual color. Founded around 800 BC atop a long, limestone ridge, the city was home to more than 40,000 people at its peak, around 250 AD.
Yaxhá’s sophisticated builders left behind more than 500 structures, including nine temple pyramids, two ball courts, forty unusually carved stelae, and numerous causeways. Climb to the top of Temple 216 for remarkable views over the lakes and rivers. While the city must have become quite isolated during the Mayan civilization’s (and Tikal’s) collapse between 800 and 900 AD, it continued to function well into the 1500s.
Today, Yaxhá is rarely visited, and therefore offers a peaceful and introspective experience of the Mayan world. Birders and wildlife watchers will especially appreciate the solitude, as well as the numerous crocodiles in the lake.
Yaxhá’s sophisticated builders left behind more than 500 structures, including nine temple pyramids, two ball courts, forty unusually carved stelae, and numerous causeways. Climb to the top of Temple 216 for remarkable views over the lakes and rivers. While the city must have become quite isolated during the Mayan civilization’s (and Tikal’s) collapse between 800 and 900 AD, it continued to function well into the 1500s.
Today, Yaxhá is rarely visited, and therefore offers a peaceful and introspective experience of the Mayan world. Birders and wildlife watchers will especially appreciate the solitude, as well as the numerous crocodiles in the lake.
Practical Info
You’ll need a 4WD to visit Yaxhá on your own. The main site is located about 12km (7mi) from the pavement, and it can be treacherous going in rainy season. Because the site is still relatively undeveloped, you’ll want to bring your own water and food.
Your entry fee covers all sites within Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo National Park, an enormous 37,160-hectare (144-square-mile) expanse that includes three other major sites: Topoxte, on the south shore of the Lake Yaxhá; Nakum, an ancient port on the Holmul River; and Naranjo, about 20km (12mi) north, Yaxhá’s long-time rival. While you can visit all of them, poor roads and worse maps make that an adventure best undertaken with a guide.
Your entry fee covers all sites within Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo National Park, an enormous 37,160-hectare (144-square-mile) expanse that includes three other major sites: Topoxte, on the south shore of the Lake Yaxhá; Nakum, an ancient port on the Holmul River; and Naranjo, about 20km (12mi) north, Yaxhá’s long-time rival. While you can visit all of them, poor roads and worse maps make that an adventure best undertaken with a guide.
Address: Yaxhá, Peten, Guatemala
From $ 100
Vina del Mar
Viña del Mar is Santiago’s closeby seaside cousin, just a little bit over an hour away on one of the country’s busiest highways. Viña, as it is commonly called calls itself the garden city, for the profusion of flowers, all over the city, and at Quinta Vergara, the large park there, as well as the iconic flower clock that faces the ocean walk so popular among locals and visitors.
In the summer, Viña fills up with Chileans as well as Argentines from just across the Andes, and international visitors as well. There are restaurants and nightlife, close proximity to more historical Valparaíso, and of course, the long Pacific coastline. Viña del Mar also has a casino and a couple of other points of interest, including a castle you can visit, and the aforementioned Quinta Vergara park, where the summer song festival is held ever February. And there are also a couple of museums, with the most famous being the Francisco Fonck Museum of Archaelogy and Natural History marked by a stone moai outside. The museum houses artefacts from many indigenous Chilean cultures, including the Rapa Nui (from Easter Island). It also has a large display on insects, including giant crickets, blue morphos butterflies and iridescent scarabs.
Practical Info
Even if you weren’t planning on going anywhere, be sure to check out the MERVAL, or local train. With a view unlike any other subway you’ve ever been on, straight over the Pacific Ocean, it’s well with the couple of dollars it will cost you.
Address: Vina Del Mar, Chile
From $ 18
Xocomil Water Park
Looking for the best spot to get wet in Guatemala? Check out Xocomil Water Park, located in the Retalhuleu Department of the country. Together with nearby Xetulul Theme Park, both parks welcome over one million visitors each year.
Xocomil is the largest and most visited water park in Guatemala and covers an area of 77,300 m3 and is designed around the recreation of a Mayan pyramid. In 1998, the World Water Park Association awarded Xocomil the best water park in the world for “innovation” and in 2008, it was awarded the Park of the Year award by Amusement Today Magazine.
The park has four different pools and two wave pools, one for adults, and one designed for children. Aguajal II is the wave pool designed for adults, where you can experience six different varieties of waves.
Rio Tumala is a great spot to float and the current will let you go for over 540 meters. Pass by the “Cannon Maya” where you will find replicas of five Mayan masks with spring water jets to give you a massage as you pass “The Mound”, which represents a traditional Mayan tomb surrounded by its riches.
Xocomil Water Park is home to 14 different water slides that can easily keep you busy for an entire day. El Chaparron, or “The Shower”, is a new attraction featuring slides, keys, jets, and more in the tallest tower, which routinely fills with water, creating a feeling of heavy rain, known as a “cloudburst” in Guatemala.
Other popular slides include El Caracol, El Regreson, El Samala, and the Xocomil Rapids, the largest slide in Central America, with five lanes and a launch platform 21 meters high. Don’t miss Xibalba, featuring two slides with fast high-speed free falls for adventure seekers.
Practical Info
Xocomil is located just over 100 miles from Guatemala City and Antigua. It is open only a few days per week, Thursday through Sunday. Day trips to Xocomil Water Park and Xetulul Theme Park are available from Guatemala City. For those who prefer to spend more than one day at the park, check out Hostels IRTRA, a complex located in San Martin Zapotitlan, Retalhuleu, which includes 699 rooms – the largest hotel in Guatemala.
Address: Retalhuleu, Guatemala
From $ 30
Vitacura
The name of this street, and the neighborhood that surrounds it, is synonymous with fairly close-in luxury in Santiago. It’s just to the north of sprawling (but also pricey) Las Condes, and contains some of the highest-valued real estate in the city, including world class hotels, restaurants, shopping, and one of the nicest urban parks you’re likely to visit in South America.
Shopping takes place on Vitacura itself, and then on two main tree-lined boulevards called Nueva Costanera and Alonso de Córdoba, where there is loads of shopping for clothing and home design, including international boutiques, and a couple of local stores. For restaurants, choose from several reservations-only, dress up restaurants on Nueva Costanera, many of which have won awards, including recently, Boragó, which was named one of the top 50 restaurants in South America. The other two Chilean restaurants also named are close by, Osaka, in the W Hotel on Isidora Goyanachea, and Ambrosia, a bit further up from Parque Bicentenario, a lovely park with waterfowl to feed, chaises to sit in (under umbrellas), a few running paths, and a dog agility park.
Vitacura is also home to two worthwhile museums, the Museo de La Moda (fashion museum) and the free Ralli art museum, both easily accessed by taxi from anywhere in Vitacura.
Practical Info
Staying in Vitacura means either long walks to the metro or taking a taxi. It’s a great place for business travelers, and families will feel right at home in its near northern-Californian vibe, where that vibe includes the toniest mall in the city, with a newly-opened luxury boulevard, with the most exclusive shops and restaurants.
Address: Santiago, Chile
From $ 50
West Bay Beach
Head to West Bay Beach and join the fun bustling center of life on Roatan. Here you’ll find luxurious and comfortable vacation rentals, intricate and fine restaurants, while the beach itself remains white-sanded and dotted with sleepy palm trees. Enjoy the clear water, play in the lolling surf, and experience the best of vacation in paradise.
With a live coral reef not 50 meters from the shore, West Bay Beach is a popular beach, but nothing in Roatan is crowded. Things move at a slower pace here, and expect your time at West Bay Beach to be a dreamy, serene one playing in the sand and surf. The West Bay Beach Mall lies behind you, and here you can find a variety of gift shop items and some of the best restaurants in all the island.
With a live coral reef not 50 meters from the shore, West Bay Beach is a popular beach, but nothing in Roatan is crowded. Things move at a slower pace here, and expect your time at West Bay Beach to be a dreamy, serene one playing in the sand and surf. The West Bay Beach Mall lies behind you, and here you can find a variety of gift shop items and some of the best restaurants in all the island.
Practical Info:
West Bay Beach is located on the southwestern tip of Roatan off of West Bay Road.
Address: West Bay Beach, West Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras
From $ 30
Wanda Mines
The Wanda Mines, home to some of the best agate, amethyst, quartz and topaz found in Argentina, make for a fascinating visit in the north of Argentina. Located less than 40 miles (60 km) from Puerto Iguazu in the rain forest along the Paraná River, this open pit mine is a delight for the eyes. Wanda, the town where the mines are located, was founded mainly by Polish settlers, and in fact, it was named after a Polish princess who had a fondness for gemstones.
The family-owned mine, where minerals are found near the surface, is especially interesting to enthusiasts of gemstones and collectors. Visitors to the mines learn about the formation of the gemstones, when lava coming from the core of the earth cooled and the trapped gas bubbles formed into crystals with amethysts, agates, topazes and quartz.
Mining companies, which have been operating since the 1950s, have guided tours to show tourists the variety of gemstones found in the area, the different parts of the mines, as well as workshops and showrooms where cut and polished stones are on display.
Practical Info
The Wanda Mines are located on National Route 12 in the Misiones Province, 40 miles (62 kilometers) from Puerto Iguazu.
Address: Ruta Nacional 12, Puerto Iguazu, Argentina
From $ 36
Xunantunich
Overlooking the beautiful Mopan River from a stunning hilltop, the ruins at Xunantunich are some of the most visited Mayan sites in the world. Located in the Cayo region, Xunantunich, which means "stone woman" in Mayan, dates back to the Classic Era, about 200-900 AD.
The complex is made up of 6 groups and about 25 different temples and palaces, and is dominated by the astonishing El Castillo, which stands 40m (130ft) tall, and from the top, provides an amazing view of the jungle canopy, the other ruins, and even past the Guatemalan border.
Learn about the incredible history of the Mayan inhabitants, the excavations, and the environment on the site, and stop into the visitors' center for more information.
Getting to Xunantunich can take a little bit of effort, and as the park closes at 4pm, you'll want to get a nice early start on your journey. The easiest way to get there is by bus going toward Benque Viejo del Carmen, letting the driver know where you're wanting to go. The bus will only make the stop upon request, so be sure to inform your driver. When you are dropped off, take a free ride on the hand-cranked ferry to cross the Mopan River, with a quick 1mi (1.6km) walk to the site.
If you're coming from San Ignacio, you can usually find a bus going to the ruins as well. Of course, most of the main cities have organized tours that provide transportation daily.
Address: Belize
From $ 125
Villa La Angostura
Villa La Angostura is a small town nearby well-touristed Bariloche, which also has the closest airport. Villa La Angostura is built on the north shores of lake Nahuel Huapi, and is the preferred Patagonian destination of wealthy Argentines as well as international travelers.
The area is great for cycling, fishing, horseback riding and hikes, such as the one to emerald-green Laguna Verde, around which there is a walking trail. The best views from near the town are from Mirador Belvedere, which is about 4 km away. From here, you can get a good view of lakes Correntoso and Nahuel Huapi. The road to the mirador (look out point) is also the starting point for walks to two waterfalls, 50-meter high Cascada Inacayal, and 35-meter high Cascada Río Bonito. Visit one or both on the same day.
Villa La Angostura is also the perfect jumping-off point to Parque Nacional Los Arrayanes, which is home to an undisturbed arrayán (Chilean myrtle) forest, and some of the trees are estimated to be 650 years old. Arrayanes have a reddish, peeling bark, grow close to water, and their trunks are cool to the touch.
Catamaran rides on the lake give the great views of the trees, which bloom white in the summer (January and February) You can walk or cycle the 12 km to the end of the trail as well.
Villa La Angostura is also the traditional starting point of the Seven Lakes (Siete Lagos) drive, which can take from one to three days, depending on park visits and lingering walks by the lakes. In the winter (June through September), the winter sports center and ski fields at nearby Cerro Bayo brings skiiers and other snow lovers to Villa la Angostura as well, for its 12 km of ski runs, including one uninterrupted descent of 6 km (more than 3 miles).
The area is great for cycling, fishing, horseback riding and hikes, such as the one to emerald-green Laguna Verde, around which there is a walking trail. The best views from near the town are from Mirador Belvedere, which is about 4 km away. From here, you can get a good view of lakes Correntoso and Nahuel Huapi. The road to the mirador (look out point) is also the starting point for walks to two waterfalls, 50-meter high Cascada Inacayal, and 35-meter high Cascada Río Bonito. Visit one or both on the same day.
Villa La Angostura is also the perfect jumping-off point to Parque Nacional Los Arrayanes, which is home to an undisturbed arrayán (Chilean myrtle) forest, and some of the trees are estimated to be 650 years old. Arrayanes have a reddish, peeling bark, grow close to water, and their trunks are cool to the touch.
Catamaran rides on the lake give the great views of the trees, which bloom white in the summer (January and February) You can walk or cycle the 12 km to the end of the trail as well.
Villa La Angostura is also the traditional starting point of the Seven Lakes (Siete Lagos) drive, which can take from one to three days, depending on park visits and lingering walks by the lakes. In the winter (June through September), the winter sports center and ski fields at nearby Cerro Bayo brings skiiers and other snow lovers to Villa la Angostura as well, for its 12 km of ski runs, including one uninterrupted descent of 6 km (more than 3 miles).
Practical Info:
Most visitors come to Villa La Angostura in the summer (January and February), when the southern cone is on summer vacation, but shoulder season (November to December or March to April) or ski-season (June to September) are great times to come as well. The town is easily accessed from Bariloche (1 hour 15 minutes, flights from Buenos Aires) with several daily buses, or from San Martín de Los Andes, which has daily buses in summer, though the frequency drops to three times a week in the low season. From Villa La Angostura you can also take the winding bus ride through beautiful beech forests across the border to Chile, finishing up in the city of Osorno.
Address: Villa La Angostura, Neuquen Province, Argentina
From $ 32
Zipaquira Salt Cathedral
Zipaquira's attractive Spanish Colonial center, built with the wealth of the massive nearby salt mines, was founded in the 1760s some 31 miles (50 km) north of the Colombian capital. Today the 'City of Salt,' replete with quaint cafes and souvenir shops, is Bogota's most popular day trip—you can even make it in an antique steam train.
You are here to see the famed Zipaquira Salt Cathedral, considered one of Colombia's 'Seven Wonders' and its architectural crown jewel. Climb to the Parque de Sal (Salt Park), just southeast of downtown, to enjoy the Plaza of the Miners' great views and evocative art. From here, you'll begin your journey 590 feet (180 meters) into the heart of an enormous salt mountain.
The structure was carved from the mines, using both heavy machinery and the most sophisticated sculpting tools, thanks to a team led by architect Roswell Garavito Pearl and engineer Jorge Enrique Castelblanco Reyes in 1995. It is most famous for its understated Stations of the Cross, but there are finer pieces of art dedicated to both the church and those who worked here long before it was built. While most of your time is spent wandering through the chill and colorfully lit cathedral, a film at the end of the tour delves into the gritty history of the mines. For an extra fee you can even mine a bit of salt yourself.
Practical Info
Admission to the Zipaquira Salt Cathedral for non-residents costs USD $18.50 for adults and USD $12 for seniors. Though still technically just a church, rather than a proper cathedral, some 3,000 of the faithful show up to Zipaquira for Sunday service, and several times that on religious holidays. Plan your visit accordingly.
Address: Cra 7, Zipaquirá, Colombia
Hours: Mon–Fri: 9am–4:30pm; Sat–Sun: 9am–5pm; Sun Mass: 1pm
Admission: Varies
From $ 32
Volcan San Pedro
Looming above the shores of Lake Atitlan and the village of San Pedro La Laguna, Volcan San Pedro is one of the region’s most accessible for volcano trekking. The views from the top make it well worth the effort of getting there.
Two routes lead to the volcano’s summit 9,908 feet (3,020 meters) above sea level. Both are strenuous, mostly uphill climbs through corn fields and coffee plantations, oak and pine forests. The volcanic soil coating the dormant peak is rich in nutrients, so many Guatemalans grow their crops along the volcanic foothills.
Practical Info
For safety reasons, hikers should never try to climb Volcan San Pedro alone. Bring a few buddies, or better yet, hire a guide to lead you to the top and back.
Address: San Pedro La Laguna, Sololá, Guatemala
Admission: 100Q
From $ 65
Villavicencio Natural Reserve
Villavicencio Natural Reserve is a great alternative or addition to the wine tourism that is the backbone of Mendoza’s tourist attractions. It is easily visited in a half-day tour, though at nearly 175,000 acres, if you have more time, you’d find much more to explore. A visit to the reserve usually starts with about an hour’s drive from Mendoza to the springs for which the reserve are named, and in fact, this is the source of much of Argentina’s bottled mineral water.
The reserve itself has a varied topography, with mountains ranging from 900 to 3200 meters in height and deep ravines between them. Wildlife spotting is likely here, including eagles, condors, rheas (relative to the ostrich), as well as herds of the llama-like guanaco. Lucky viewers may glimpse a puma. One of the highlights of the trip is the view over the Los Caracoles viewpoint, so named for the winding road seen below (caracol means snail), which is said to have 365 twists and turns.
There is also time to visit a nearby monument called Canota, which marks General San Martín’s crossing of the Andes along with 5,000 troops to Chile to liberate Argentina from Spain.
Practical Info
Bring a bottle to fill up with the natural spring water at the now-defunct old resort spa at Villavicencio.
Address: Ruta Provincial 52, Mendoza, Argentina
From $ 42
Witches' Market
Visit Cerro Cumbre, a mountain clearing of Bolivia that locals believe to be holy, and you will find the Witches’ Market. Also known as La Hechiceria and El Mercado de Las Brujas, it is a popular tourist attraction in La Paz.
Dozens of vendors line the streets, selling a variety of obscure and very strange products, ingredients and whatever else may be necessary to carry out traditional spiritual rituals from the Aymara world. The Aymara are indigenous people that live in the Altiplano and Andes regions, with nearly two million in Chile, Peru and Bolivia. Local witch doctors known as yatiri run the market, and goods sold include a variety of potions, dried frogs, medicinal plants like retama, and armadillos. Other products are owl feathers, dried turtles and snakes, herbs, candles, amulets, soaps, and various other folk remedies.
The meanings behind some of the products are intriguing. Dried frogs are used for good luck with money, and if you stick a cigarette in the frog’s mouth, your chances of getting rich will improve. Naked ceramic couples are believed to improve your sex life, while fixing issues like fertility and impotency, and Bolivian armadillos are affixed to the entrance of homes to deter thieves. And the cute ceramic couples embracing? Well, those are amulette d’amor, and they help improve your chances of getting married.
If you’re curious how to spot one of the witch doctors that frequent the market area, look for individuals wearing black hats and carrying coco pouches. These pouches have amulets, talismans, and powders that bring luck, beauty and fertility.
Practical Info
One of the best ways to experience Witches’ Market is on a small sightseeing tour of the area. If you plan to purchase products, bring local currency and verify custom regulations, as bringing something like a llama fetus internationally might get you in some trouble.
Address: Melchor Jimenez, La Paz, Bolivia, Bolivia
From $ 3
Yerba Loca Sanctuary
With its glacial ravines, rocky peaks and hillside meadows blanketed with wildflowers, the Yerba Loca Sanctuary presents a startling contrast to bustling Santiago and the natural reserve makes an easy day trip from the capital. Sprawling through the central Andes, the reserve is home to an impressively diverse landscape, with highlights including the looming peaks of Los Piches and El Altar, both reaching over 4,000 meters, the dramatic La Paloma Glacier and the picturesque pine, cypress and eucalyptus forests of the Villa Paulina valley.
Hiking, mountain climbing, horseback riding and camping are all popular pastimes for visitors to Yerba Loca and the protected reserve is also home to over 500 plant and animal species, including Chilean condor, culpeo fox, Darwin's leaf-eared mouse and the tiny cordilleran hummingbird.
Practical Info
The Yerba Loca Sanctuary is located 25km northeast of Santiago in central Chile and is open daily from 8:30am-6pm in winter and 8pm in summer. Adult admission is $2500 CLP.
Address: Santiago, Chile
Admission: $2500 CLP
From $ 185
Vina Casas del Bosque
The award-winning Vina Casas del Bosque winery lies within the Casablanca region of Chile. Casas del Bosque started as a boutique family winery in 1993 and now maintains 573 acres (232 hectares) of productive vines; the winery’s specialty is Sauvignon Blanc, but Chardonnay, Riesling, Syrah and Pinot Noir are also grown.
Considered one of the best wineries in Chile to visit, Casas del Bosque offers a variety of tastings and tours, lasting anywhere from 35 minutes to two hours. During the warmer season, visitors can tour the vineyards by bike or have a picnic lunch amid the vines. Come harvest time, guests become the harvesters while getting a behind-the-scenes look at how grapes are processed.
Restaurant Tanino, under the leadership of Chef Álvaro Larraguibel, serves a menu of dishes made from locally sourced ingredients and paired with Casas del Bosque’s wines.
Practical Info
On weekend afternoons Casas del Bosque offers free tram tours of the vineyards.
Address: Hijuelas Nº 2 Ex Fundo Santa Rosa, Casablanca, Chile
From $ 80
Wire Opera House (Opera de Arame)
The Wire Opera House (Ópera de Arame) is one of Curitiba’s most recognizable buildings and an excellent example of modern architecture. Built entirely of glass and steel pipes, the theater is nestled in a lush green space surrounded by a lake. It can seat up to 2,400 spectators and hosts performances ranging from classical to popular.
The Basics
The 29,000-square-foot (2,694-square-meter) Ópera de Arame is easily concealed by the lush greenery that surrounds it. Unless there is a performance on, visitors are welcome to enter the building for free and explore at their leisure.
Most city tours of Curitiba stop at the Wire Opera House as well as other key landmarks such as the Oscar Niemeyer Museum (Museu Oscar Niemeyer), Botanical Garden of Curitiba (Jardim Botânico de Curitiba), Tangua Park (Parque Tanguá), and much more. If you want to dive deeper into Brazilian history and culture, hop on a sightseeing and dinner tour to get a taste of the local cuisine and visit top attractions, including the opera house.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Ópera de Arama is a must-see for classical music and architecture lovers.
- Popular performances at the opera house sell out, so book tickets in advance.
- The opera house and its surrounding walkway are accessible to wheelchair users.
How to Get There
The Wire Opera House is located in the tranquil Pedreira Park, just outside Curitiba’s city center in the Pilarzinho neighborhood. You can rent a car and drive to the theater, where there is free parking on the premises. Alternatively, several city busses—including the tourism bus, Linha Turismo—stop near Pedreira.
When to Get There
Ópera de Arama is open until 8pm daily except Monday. It’s popular, so aim to visit in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds. The best time to visit Curitiba is during spring (September to December) and fall (March to June), when the weather is pleasant and there is less rain.
Construction of the Opera House
The Ópera de Arame was completed in March 1992, after only 75 days of construction. The design was a collaboration between Curitiba’s mayor at the time, Jamie Lerner, and architect Domingos Bongestabs. The location is a deactivated quarry just north of Curitiba’s city center and was built to work with—rather than against—the surrounding nature.
Address: Rua João Gava, 970, Curitiba, Brazil
Admission: Varies
From $ 64
Yanahuara
Within walking distance of Arequipa city center, the quiet Yanahuara neighborhood is most famous for El Mirador e Iglesia de Yanahuara, a scenic lookout point with sweeping views over Arequipa and the volcanoes in the distance. Much like the historic city center, Yanahuara’s architecture is dominated by sillar, a white volcanic rock, and the streets of the largely middle class residential neighborhood are dotted with pretty Spanish Colonial churches.
Apart from the main square with its mirador, there aren’t many out and out attractions in Yanahuara, but a visit to the neighborhood does offer a glimpse at what daily life is like for a typical middle class Peruvian. Set aside some time to wander the streets and duck into a tucked away restaurant for a local meal.
Practical Info
A round-trip walk from Arequipa’s city center will take around two hours, but if you’re pressed for time, you can also take a combi (minibus) directly to Yanahuara’s main plaza.
Address: Arequipa, Peru
From $ 47
Walichu Caves
Despite its being toward the ends of the earth, Patagonia has been settled by humans for 15,000 years. Though scant remnants of this era remain, on a tour of the stunning Walichu Caves outside of El Calafate, it’s still possible to find primitive drawings emblazoned on walls of the caves. Believed to represent stories of creation and tales of life in these hills, the drawings sat here forgotten for centuries until Perito Moreno discovered the caves in 1877. Today, while some of the drawings have been defaced, and others are modern replicas, they still tell a tale of primitive peoples who wandered this rugged landscape, where hunting, foraging—and even art—were staples of daily life. Aside from the actual drawings themselves, the setting surrounding Walichu Caves is arguably just as impressive, where rock formations line the shores of crystalline Lake Argentino.
Practical Info
The Walichu caves are set 5 miles from the city of El Calafate. Most tours will bundle the caves with a tour of El Calafate, and since reaching the caves means hiking across some rocky, rugged terrain, be sure to wear closed-toed shoes for making the short stroll out to the caves.
Did You Know? In addition to the drawings, it’s common to find fossils and ancient arrowheads when making the walk to the caves.
Address: El Calafate, Argentina
From $ 51
Vista Chinesa
With iconic landmarks like Sugar Loaf and Corcovado mountains, Rio de Janeiro has no shortage of famous lookouts, but if you’re looking for a unique view away from the masses, head to the Vista Chinesa. An oriental style pavilion perched at 380 meters on the Alto da Boa Vista, the Vista Chinesa (literally ‘the Chinese View’) is one of the most striking monuments of the Tijuca Forest, erected in 1903 to honor Rio’s Chinese immigrants.
Regarded as one of the grandest Chinese monuments in South America, the award-winning gazebo offers spectacular views over the city, spanning the coastal lagoons and mountaintops, including the Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches and Leblon. The easiest way to reach the Vista Chinesa is by taxi or tour bus, but adventurous types can also tackle the climb on foot or mountain bike - a steep yet scenic 6km trek that’s not for the faint hearted.
Address: Estrada da Vista Chinesa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
From $ 50
Xetulul Theme Park
Located in the Retalhuleu Department of Guatemala, Xetulul Theme Park is one of the largest amusement parks in Latin America. Together with the nearby Xocomil Waterpark, it is estimated that both parks welcome over one million visitors each year. Xetulul is capable of handling up to 12,000 visitors per day.
Xetulul Theme Park has been awarded both national and international prizes, helping it become one of the most-visited attractions for Guatemala and other Central America residents.
Opened in 2002, Xetulul is divided into various plazas and features architecture from countries that have influenced Guatemalan culture, including Guatemala, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. Each plaza features themed attractions, shows, and related restaurants.
Wander through Spain’s Square and take in the park’s representation of notable cities like Seville, Barcelona, Granada, and more. Jump on rides like El Galeon (Galleon) or Sillas Voladoras (Flying Chairs). Afterward, sit and sip on authentic Spanish “churros y chocolate.” Or take a leisurely stroll through France to La Gare de France and hop on the train to take a tour around the park. Enjoy European crepes and waffles, with perhaps the best cup of coffee you will find.
Those looking for live entertainment will be impressed with the number of live shows at Xetulul Theme Park. From street characters wandering the plazas to Flamenco dancers, magicians, and musicians, Xetulul offers numerous live shows to keep you occupied for an entire day.
Notable replicated landmarks at Xetulul include Tikal, Moulin Rouge, and the Trevi Fountain. In addition to the themed plazas, the park features two roller coasters. Avalancha is Central America’s largest roller coaster. It’s a steel coaster with eight inversions, making it one of the only roller coasters in the world with eight or more inversions. Choconoy is the second coaster and is more a family style roller coaster. Xetulul is also home to the only double-decker carousel in Central America.
Practical Info:
Xetulul is located just over 100 miles from Guatemala City and Antigua. It is open only on weekends – Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Day trips to Xetulul Theme Park are available from Guatemala City. For those who prefer to spend more than one day at the park, Xetulul offers Hostels IRTRA, a complex located in San Martin Zapotitlan, Retalhuleu, which includes 699 rooms – the largest hotel in Guatemala.
Address: Km 180.5 Carretera a Quetzaltenango por la Costa Sur, Retalhuleu, Guatemala
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