Central & South America Travelers Recommend

Cusco is the central hub of the Sacred Valley, a magnet for lovers of Inca handicrafts and ruins, colonial charm and churches. Get to know Cusco and its famous markets from the ground up on a Cusco Markets and Ruins Small Group Tour. You’ll take a guided walk through busy San Pedro Market, joining locals shopping for dinner, then visit the impressive Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the source of much of the stone used to build Cusco. Cusco is known for its richly ornamented baroque churches, the most famous being the 1560s cathedral filled with colonial art and gold decoration on central Plaza de Armas. The oldest church in Cusco, the Iglesia de El Triunfo, is on the right of the cathedral. One of the most ornate of Cusco’s churches is Iglesia de La Compania, with its decorative baroque facade also on Plaza de Armas. Cusco is surrounded by the Quechua hill towns of the Sacred Valley, ideal for a day trip into the countryside of terraced fields.

Peru’s capital city was founded by Pizarro in 1535, and the modern-day city of Lima is a sprawling metropolis encompassing ruins from pre-Inca times, ultramodern shopping malls and coastal beaches. Here are a few ideas on where and how to spend your time in Lima. Get to grips with Lima’s history and sheer size by taking a stroll through the historic city center. Lima’s lively hub focuses on the pedestrianized street Jiron de la Union, connecting the city’s two main squares, Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin. One of the best ways to open the door to Lima’s secrets is through the city’s food and drink. Make your way to the huge central market to sample the local churros, juices and street snacks. Or combine a Lima market tour with something different - learn to make Peru’s legendary cocktail, the pisco sour. It’s a heady mix of lemon or lime juice, brandy and sugar, and you’ll shop for the ingredients at the market.

Cusco is Peru’s shopping hotspot for handicrafts, textiles, ceramics, art and jewelry, and the best place to shop for this booty is in the markets. There are several open-air and undercover shopping and market areas to browse, including several areas dedicated to Quechua handicrafts and textiles. To visit the workshops and showrooms of local craftspeople, head for Plaza San Blas. Traditional weavings and textiles are also displayed at the Center for Traditional Textiles. The Centro Artesenal Cusco is a good place to pick up souvenirs and alpaca wool handicrafts.

From the jungle of the Amazon to the icy wonderland of Patagonia, South America's wild topography is full of adventures. Whether it's learning to tango in Buenos Aires, trekking to Machu Picchu or cruising around the Galapagos Islands, there's something for every type of traveler. And best of all, with the Southern Hemisphere moving into autumn and winter, travelers can take advantage of low-season perks such as favorable hotel and airfare prices, fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Now is also a great time to snag a bargain on tours and activities thanks to a huge range of discounts and special offers. There's never been a better time to book, whether you're heading to South America this summer or planning for a future trip. Not sure where to start? Here are just a few of the continent’s best bits to add to your itinerary.

Your first day in Rio is perhaps best spent getting oriented to the city. Get a bird’s eye helicopter view of the marvelous city guarded by giant granite rocks and vast blue oceans. Alternatively roam downtown on foot or bicycle and mingle with the charming locals while learning of the city’s fascinating lore and history. Follow this up with a delectable seafood lunch cruise that sails past the beaches of Niteroi. On day two, it’s time to hit the sun, sea and surf! Indulge yourself with a tropical islands cruise complete with an island lunch or set sail to the Angra dos Reis archipalego. Cruise around Guanabara Bay and glimpse the spectacular Sugar Loaf Mountain. If you prefer basking in the lazy beach culture of some of the world’s best beaches, Ipanema and Copacabana are as good as any. A holiday in Rio is incomplete without a tour of the famed trifecta of Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf which includes a ride through the Tijuca Rain forest.

With five days of dazzling parades held at Rio’s iconic Sambadrome, street parties erupting all around the city and more than 500,000 visitors flying in from all around the globe, Rio de Janeiro is famous for hosting the world’s biggest, boldest and brightest carnival celebrations and there’s no experience quite like it. The highlight of carnival season is attending one of the spectacular night parades at the Sambadrome, which sees the city’s 14 top Samba Schools compete with ever-more impressive parades, featuring flamboyant samba dancers, glittering costumes and gigantic floats. Be sure to pre-book your carnival parade tickets, as they are sure to sell out, or opt for a five-night Rio de Janeiro Carnival package and discover the best of the city during the annual carnival. Even if you’re not in the city for the party season, you can get a taste of Rio’s legendary carnival celebrations all year-round, with a behind-the-scenes visit to the Cidade do Samba

Upon arrival in the cheerfully scruffy center of Jaco (or, alternately, the luxuriously landscaped resort just north, Los Sueños), you’ll want to appreciate the view; Costa Rica’s Central Pacific is as lovely as a shore as exists anywhere. After checking in to your room, whether a budget backpacker dorm or marble-floored villa, you may want to consider indulging in Jaco’s chief attraction: Surfing. Day 1: Catch a Wave Jaco’s main beach is home to one of the most regular, predictable, sandy-bottomed breaks in the world, fun for experts and perfect for newbies who just want to try out the sport. Several outfits rent or sell used boards (as well as boogie boards for those who would rather not risk the real thing), and any hotel or surf shop can arrange one-on-one lessons. Remember: There are plenty of “surf instructors” who are less than professional; in general you get what you pay for.

This Spanish colonial gem, with some of the hemisphere’s loveliest architecture, built right on the brilliant blue Caribbean, should already be a world-class destination. And, certainly, it already is one of Colombia’s most popular cities, but the nation’s reputation has for decades kept the vast majority of travelers away. That’s changing. This city has something for everyone, and all the outdated travel warnings in the world won’t keep the crowds at bay much longer. Culture lovers will find museums, live music, and other delights, while epicurious travelers in search of fine dining, excellent hotels, and glittering nightlife in unusual places will find Cartagena worth writing home about. And, while beach lovers may be less than impress with the city’s public stretch of sand, an array of perfect islands just offshore beckon with white sand, cold coconuts, and incredible snorkeling and diving.

More than a quarter of Costa Rica is covered in rainforests, and one of the best ways to explore these enchanting ecosystems is via a zipline. Canopy tours are an ideal way to get a bird’s eye view of the forest without disturbing the wildlife or endangering the trees. Costa Rica offers a number of canopy tours. A canopy tour, is a guided tour of the forest canopy, often via a series of zip lines or aerial walkways and viewing platforms. Regardless of where you are in Costa Rica, there’s bound to be at least one good hike in the area. From lowland tropical rainforest to beautiful beaches or the vast fields of hardened black lava that surround Arenal Volcano, there are opportunities for hiking in an astonish variety of terrains. After hiking, white-water rafting is perhaps the most popular activity in the country. There is no shortage of rivers in Costa Rica, some of which are considered the world’s best rivers to raft down.