Beyond Machu Picchu and Cancun: Latin American wonders for a dream vacation

You may think of Machu Picchu or Cancun when imagining a holiday in Latin America, but there's so much more to discover! Together with the El Viajero magazine of El País and Architectural Digest, National Geographic prepared a list of some of the lesser-known locations. Get inspired for your next holiday!

Las Coloradas is a port in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is famous for its waters, which are pink from the concentration of salt and microorganisms.

This is a fascinating green lagoon formed by water from underground streams in the middle of desert dunes. It is located in the department of Ica.

Photo: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos / Unsplash

In the middle of the Peten jungle in Guatemala, the pyramids of Tikal were the headquarters of one of the most powerful kingdoms of the Mayan civilization, according to El Viajero.

This peculiar, colorful river is inside the Sierra de la Macarena National Park in the plains between the Amazon and the Andes in Colombia. It is best to visit between July and November.

The Amazon rainforest is the largest green area in the world despite the alarming rate at which its deforestation is advancing. It can be visited from 9 countries: Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

An island in a landlocked country sounds strange, but these beaches could be confused with those of the Mediterranean, says National Geographic. In Inca times, it was a sanctuary with a temple with priests who were dedicated to the Sun god or Inti (hence its name).

Photo: Karla Villaizan / Unsplash

It is the tallest waterfall in the world, more than 3,000 feet or 914 meters high. It is located in the Canaima National Park in eastern Venezuela.

This is a protected area in the state of Maranhão, northern Brazil. The rains form small lakes between the park's massive dunes.

This is a system of pools in the middle of the Guatemalan jungle. Its color varies throughout the year between turquoise and green.

Photo: Conor Murphy / Unsplash

This Chilean national monument is located in northern Patagonia. The waters of Lake General Carrera sculpted the curious geological formations.

The Andes mountain range is another famous natural marvel of South America. National Geographic recommends visiting it near Quito, Ecuador, where many volcanoes over 16,404 feet or 5,000 meters meet in a tiny space.

In Peru, the attraction of this beach on the Paracas peninsula is in the contrast of colors: its red sands highlight the blue of the sea.

Photo: Diego Allen / Unsplash

Galapagos inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. El Viajero recommends visiting the islands to look at the curious local fauna, which is unique in the world.

Also in the Patagonia, but on the Argentinian side, is Perito Moreno Glacier. It is an imposing ice mass, constantly breaking, and located within the Los Glaciares National Park.

Vinicunca is also known as the seven-color mountain or rainbow mountain. It is in the Cusco region, in the middle of the snowy Andes of Peru, at more than 16404 feet or 5,000 meters.

Thousands of square miles of bright white salt. Walking through Uyuni in southern Bolivia is like stepping onto a giant mirror.

Torres del Paine is among the few places on all the specialized lists. This Chilean protected area has spectacular forests, lakes, and glaciers.

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