Central and South America
Bogota, Colombia street photo by Tonya Fitzpatrick
“Travel, for me, is a little bit like being in love, because suddenly all your senses are at the setting marked “on.” Suddenly you’re alert to the secret patterns of the world.”
– Pico Yver
Explore what awaits you in Central and South America. Central America has a rich cultural heritage that is defined by the seven countries that sit within its borders: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. The swamp land that divides the Pan-American Highway between Panama and Colombia identifies the border for South America—a country with a rich biodiversity and natural heritage that includes Venezuela’s Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall; the largest river, the Amazon River; the largest rainforest, the Amazon Rainforest; the longest mountain range, the Andes; the highest single drop waterfall on Guyana, the Kaieteur Falls; and the driest non-polar place on earth, the Atacama Desert.
The Central and South America region is home to the most dynamic cities in the world like Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Caracas. The South America region offers so much to explore like the glacier laden mountains, the greatest rivers in the world, jungles, beaches, and an unimaginable amount of wildlife. In the Central America also, the travelers can make a huge list of things to see and do – villages, inland lakes, volcanoes, ocean side beaches, mountains, coffee plantations, and all kinds of wildlife. A whole new adventure awaits you in the Central and South America region.
Six tourists were arrested for allegedly defecating and damaging a sacred temple at the Machu Picchu sanctuary in Peru. Wilbert Leyva, Cusco regional police chief, said the six tourists, one a French woman, were detained and the public ministry investigating them for the suspected crime against cultural heritage.
Not very many people can say they’ve seen the Fernando de Noronha archipelago and enjoyed its mountain jungles and white-sand beaches. In 1988, about 75 percent of Brazil’s 21 scenic islands had been declared protected – now a national marine park and sanctuary. Today, the area only lets 420 visitors enter each day.
Travel with us to the summit of Monserrate above Bogota, Colombia. The mountain is part of the Andes and is a focal point in center of Colombia's capital city. It rises to 3,152 metres (10,341 ft) above sea level. At the top of Monserrate sits a 17th century church that houses a shrine devoted to "El Señor Caído" (Fallen Lord). Monserrate is a pilgrimage destination as well as a tourist attraction and the top offers spectacular views of Bogota below.
Outpost, a luxury pop-up camp, has been set up in Aysen, which is a remote area of northern Patagonia, to help people reach some of Chile’s less traveled tourist locations.
Machu Picchu is one of the most remarkable Inca projects, but it’s difficult to get to. Its citadel, which rests at the top, is protected by amazing gorges and peaks that surround the area.
There were many memorable moments throughout my travels across South America, but the most defining memory had to be Machu Picchu. Seeing one of the Seven Wonders of the New World is an unmissable opportunity; one best done now while the ruins are still in relatively good condition.
When Buenos Aires became the capital of Argentina in 1880, the mayor, Torcuato de Alvear, decided to modernize the city in order to leave its Spanish colonial past behind. People of his generation and social class – the upper crust— venerated European powerhouses like England and France and looked down on the local criollo culture, the mix of Spanish and indigenous cultures.
Costa Rica is a top eco-conscious destination with many properties implementing sustainable initiatives to keep their environmental impact to a minimum to preserve the biodiversity of the country. This movement is a natural extension of the country motto, Pura Vida!
Rio de Janeiro (named a top place to visit by Museuly) is a city of vibrant neighborhoods and districts. We wanted to experience the city’s culture and history up close so we embarked on an exploration of Rio by foot.
World Footprints is excited to take you on a journey through Colombia, South America where “The Only Risk is Wanting to Stay”. Colombia is home to the 2015 Miss Universe and the country was the featured country in the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and also had a presence in subsequent Smithsonian Folklife Festivals.
We heard many things about Rio de Janeiro before traveling to the country of Brazil for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Some things we heard were not positive so we were determined to explore the city upon arrival and form opinion. This short reflection segment offers our initial impressions. Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are two of the most visited destinations in the country, offering visitors (whether in the country on business or pleasure) a fabulous peek into the complex heritage and natural spectacle of Brazil (the largest country in South America). Because of the abundance and accessibility of many of its natural attractions, Brazil has also become acclaimed for its increasing focus on eco-tourism. From the wilderness of the great Amazon rainforests and sun-kissed tropical beaches to the Grand Carnival celebration in Rio, the country has it all. Visit the colonial era towns in the state of Minas [...]
Do you love to fish? If so, we’ve discovered a new fishing hotspot that has been under the radar for years...the country of Brazil has been a hidden and treasured angling mecca for those fishermen
