Choose from 1,039 Fun Things to Do in Central And South America
Barranco
Baldi Hot Springs
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Casa de la Moneda
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Doka Estate
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Don Silvano Ranch
Barolo Palace (Palacio Barolo)
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Barra Lighthouse
Perched proudly at the end of the Barra peninsula and housed inside an ancient Portuguese fort, Barra Lighthouse (Farol da Barra) is a prime spot to view the spectacular sunsets and views across All Saints Bay (Todos os Santos).
Explore inside the lighthouse and you’ll find a small museum filled with maps, charts and artifacts – many of which were recovered from sunken European galleons that plied the seas transporting goods and slaves during the colonial days.
Admire the splendid fort (Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra), built in 1534 to defend the capital from indigenous and Dutch advances, then lie back against its old stone walls to take in the sunset over the bay.
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Barra is a popular beachside neighbourhood just south of the city center. You’ll find many hotels here and Barra’s restaurants and bars are a great place to hang out and party with the locals.
Barra Lighthouse is on Salvador's southwestern tip. Catch the Barra or Via Orl bus to Barra.
Barra da Tijuca
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Domaine Bousquet
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Cartegena Museum of Modern Art (Museo de Arte Moderno de Cartagena)
Exhibits change frequently, and in addition to the rotating permanent collection, young artists from around the world are often invited to exhibit here. The museum also offers classes, workshops, and movie screenings; ask what’s on if you’re interested.
Cartagena Cathedral (St Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral)
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Casa de los Tres Mundos
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Casa Rosada
Erected in 1862, the Renaissance-style palace was initially to be painted white and theories abound as to hoe it got its rosy makeover, from ox blood being mixed into the paint to the then-President blending the red and white colors of opposing political rallyists. Designated a National Historic Monument of Argentina, the pink palace is perhaps most legendary for its lower balcony, from which the beloved Evita rallied the working class crowds back in 1949 – a moment that was famously recreated by Madonna in the 1996 movie Evita and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical of the same name.
The Casa Rosada now houses a museum showcasing the presidential history of Argentina and many of the opulent government chambers are open to the public by guided tour. Tour participants even get the chance to stand on Evita’s famous balcony, offering expansive views over the bustling Plaza de Mayo below.
Bairro Cosme Velho
While in Cosme Velho, before or after seeing the Christ, allot some time to roam the winding, leafy avenues with quaint shops, or grab something to eat in one of the many open-air cafes. Just across the street and a few yards up from the funicular station lies Boticário Square (Largo do Boticário). This plaza of early 19th-century Portuguese buildings has fallen into disrepair, but the brightly colored colonial structures set among the rain forest scenery retain the square’s original charm. Art-lovers can head to the International Museum of Naïf Art just down the road from the station, where they’ll find a small colonial-era building housing an impressive collection of 6,000 paintings from 120 different countries, which focus on struggle and marginalized populations.
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Casa Gardeliana Museum
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Ballestas Islands
- The Ballestas Islands are only reachable by boat, and landing on the protected islands is prohibited.
- Be sure to pack sunblock as there is no shade on the boat, and also bring a wind or waterproof jacket.
- Boat excursions take place on small open-air boats and you may get splashed with spray, so consider bringing a change of clothes.
General San Martin Park
With ornamental fountains and classical statues, a lake and monuments, the park was created in the 1890s following English and French landscaping traditions.
Grand entry gates lead to pathways winding through the park, passing 34 sculptures along the way. Boats play at regattas on the lake, and the rose garden is traced with walkways.
Take in views from atop Cerro de la Gloria with its statues to the Andean Army, and stroll past more than 300 species of exotic trees.
The park also has a zoo inside its 307-hectares (758 acres), home to lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes and monkeys.
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Bank of Brasil Cultural Center (Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil)
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Casa Franca Brasil
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Cartagena Cruise Port
How to Get to Cartagena
A free shuttle bus transports passengers from the dock to exit gates where it’s easy to find taxis to Old Cartagena, about 25 minutes away. Get dropped at the Convention Center, since it’s easy to find most sites from here.
One Day in Cartagena
It’s easy to spend a day wandering the streets of Old Cartagena, where the city’s rich history comes alive. Explore the underground tunnels of the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas fortress or visit the unnerving Palacio de la Inquisicion, where ancient tools of torture are on display. Then wander the streets of El Centro and San Diego where quaint homes, local restaurants and bustling cafes line the streets. Local outfits offer tours through the “Best of Cartagena” but visitors can also easily go it alone.