Things to Do in Central And South America

Star-shaped Forte de Reis Magos (Three Wise Men Fort) predates the founding of Natal by nearly two years. The Portuguese began building the fort on January 6, 1598, the same day they celebrated Epiphany, hence the name and shape of the fort.

Natal, named after the Portuguese word for "˜Christmas', was founded 23 months later on December 25, 1599.

Religious considerations aside, the decision to build the fort at the mouth of the Potengi River was purely a strategic one. Located on a sand bar that is covered at high-tide and positioned at Brazil's easternmost point, Forte de Reis Magos was ideally placed to defend the continent from European and African advances.

The whitewashed and turreted fort walls were built to last and inside you'll find a chapel, a well, cannons and soldiers' quarters. If you don't come for the history, come for the views "“ its prime location at the tip of the peninsula affords fantastic vistas across the city to the south and the surrounding sand dunes.

Iglesia Santo Domingo, founded in 1534, is the oldest church in Cartagena and one of the first in the hemisphere. The original stone structure, finished in 1551, was so badly damaged by Sir Francis Drake in 1586 that a new church needed to be built; the current incarnation was finally completed some time during the 1700s.

The cool, spacious interior, with its imposing central nave lined with massive stone columns and inspiring marble altar are unusual, and certainly worth a look. Most travelers will spend more time on Plaza Santo Domingo, right out front, the spot to enjoy a little rest and relaxation of a premium-priced beverage. Surrounded by some of the city's finest architecture, and filled with umbrella-shaded cafe tables, the plaza is also a magnet for souvenir vendors. Be sure to bargain.

Being the largest of the Galapagos Islands, Isla Isabela is one of the most intriguing tropical islands in the world. Approximately 1 million years old, the island is composed of six volcanoes, all of which but one are active. The unique geology of the island has drawn visitors from all over the world to see the surface uplifts at Bolivar Channel and Urvina Bay, as well as the incredible tuff cones at Tagus Cove. Also enjoy the amazing wildlife that dominates Isabela, including the famous Galapagos tortoises, as well as hundreds of tropical bird species, penguins, marine iguanas, Darwin's finches, and cormorants. Also be sure to check out the tortoise breeding center.

Along with incredible flora and fauna to explore, visitors who wish to stay on Isabela will find the settlement of Puerto Villamil to be laidback and welcoming. The white, sandy beaches and quiet lagoons are the quintessential Galapagos experience.

Strategically located above the Pasión River, a once important trade route to the Gulf of Mexico, El Ceibal (also written "Seibal") is one of the best preserved of Peten's Mayan cities.

Archaeologists are in awe of elegant ceremonial construction dated to 900BC, among the earliest known monumental architecture in the Mayan world. Most visitors, however, will remember El Ceibal for its remarkably detailed stelae and sculptures, many carved after 800 AD, when the rest of the Mayan Empire was already in a state of collapse. Rendered in unusually hard stone, these detailed portraits and glyphs were influenced by foreign civilizations, and are unusually beautiful. This is why El Ceibal is sometimes called the "Mayan Art Gallery."

The city was built on several elevated terraces overlooking the river, and is relatively small, covering about one square kilometer (2.5 acres). Plan to spend two or three hours exploring.