Things to Do in Central And South America

When standing in the streets of Santiago, surrounded by whistles and horns, the snowcapped Andes stand in the east as an invitation to escape. When city dwellers do choose to escape the city, a favorite spot is Baños Colinas set high in the Andean foothills. Here at a lung-testing 8,200 feet"”where even the air in the middle of summer has a welcome alpine chill"”travelers can slink into thermal springs that are naturally heated by the earth. The waters here have healing qualities and rich deposits of calcium, and you'll notice your skin is soft and smooth after this alpine soak with a view. Speaking of views, a popular activity in Baños Colinas is hiking amidst the hills, particularly the trail to a panoramic viewpoint of San Jose volcano. Serious alpinists can continue farther to the highest peaks and ridgelines, although most travelers are content with a day hike followed up by a soothing soak in the naturally heated pools. To extend the adventure into the night, bring a tent and sleeping bag to camp atop the hills"”cradled beneath a blanket of stars that bursts through the inky black night.

The white bell tower and baroque pediment of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar sits at the heart of the affluent residential enclave of Recoleta.

The baroque interior features a golden statue of the Madonna, ornate altars, lovely cloisters and a small museum of religious artifacts.

The basilica overlooks the Recoleta Cemetery, one of Buenos Aires' more unusual attractions. Follow the crowds to the grave of Eva Peron (Evita).

On weekends, Plaza Francia in front of the basilica comes alive with a large arts and crafts fair.

It's immediately obvious when you look on a map that Chile is a narrow country. From the salty shores of the Pacific Ocean, rarely is it more than 100 miles east to the snowcapped Andes. For urbanites living in Santiago, Baños Morales is a favorite spot for escaping to Chile's mountains"”leaving the heat of the lowlands behind and retreating into the hills. Here at an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet, visitors are surrounded by snowcapped peaks and glacially fed alpine lakes, as well as springs that are naturally heated by the rich, volcanic earth. While the town of Baños Morales itself houses no more than three dozen people, it's nearby Monumento Natural El Morado that draws hikers and travelers in droves. Hike the Sendero El Ventisquero trail that leaves from Baños Morales, and passes by hot springs, lakes, and vistas over the 3.5 mile trail. Horseback riding is a popular option for those who prefer not to hike, as is soaking in thermal springs to ease the achy joints. While here, take a deep breath of fresh mountain air that blows through the Andean valleys, and leave the city smog behind to commune with the natural beauty.  

The Chilean building boom of the late 1800s, spurred by rising silver, copper and nitrite prices worldwide, inspired some of the city's most marvelous architecture. Grand palaces were built with stern neoclassical facades fashionably adorned with touches of baroque and art nouveau frill. The finest of them all is at the heart of the ritzy Calle Dieciocho neighborhood: the Cousiño Palace.

Fortaleza is blessed with many spectacular beaches and Cumbuco Beach is no exception. Just 45 minutes drive from the city and attached to a small fishing village, the beach is distinguished by its rolling white sand dunes and empty stretches of sand lined with coconut trees.

Cumbuco Beach is a popular spot for kite surfing, sand boarding and buggy tours - the latter involving a hair-raising ride over the bumps and inclines that will leave you giddy and white-knuckled and most likely eager for more!

There are more sedate activities available including horse riding and boat rides, although the most popular activity is of course soaking up the sun on the beach.

The beach fills up with locals on weekends but there is little to do in the Cumbuco at night "“ you'll need to return to the city if you want to party.