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Travelers to Central and South America find a variety of countries with shores on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Caribbean with tropical beaches, rainforests, mountains, and wildlife.

In Central America, Panamas famed canal is a popular tourist attraction, and Costa Ricas resorts and pura vida lifestyle attract vacationers.

South Americas countries range from warm tropical locales in the north to the gateway to Antarctica in the south, with the Amazon River, Machu Picchu in Peru, and Ecuadors Galapagos in the west.

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Pair of photos from the Ovo Patagonia hotel in Argentina

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Tent structures in a desert landscape near a water oasis, surrounded by sand dunes and sparse vegetation

You Need to Visit This Destination Before It Becomes Too Popular

A green frog on a flower in Costa Rica

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Colorful colonial buildings

Machu Picchu

The beach at Little French Key Resort

Long exposure of Cataratas do Iguaçu

A pool at a hotel in Antigua Guatemala

People outside of a cafe in Uruguay

beach in Azuero Peninsula, Panama

Penguins on rocks in Antarctica

Pool area at St Regis Bermuda

Quasar Expeditions Grace yacht, in the Galapagos

Exterior view of National Geographic Islander II

View from a walkway on the Aqua Expeditions Aqua Mare cruise ship

Colorful lobby of the Copacabana Palace

Mountain side exterior of Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Palm trees and dock at a resort in Ambergris Caye, Belize

Monestario, Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco, Peru

Twilight over the plaza de armas in the heart of Cusco old town in Peru with the cathedral in the Andes.

Nayara Tented Camp, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

Exterior of Cavas Wine Lodge

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Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

A row of colorful houses and palm trees in the Dominican Republic

A beach in Managua in front of a volcano in Nicaragua

Neil Patrick Harris and family on cruises expedition in Ecuador

Outdoor yoga class at sunset

Hotel Fasano São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Nayara Tented Camp, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

Horseback riding on the beach in Uruguay; a dining table at Restaurante Garzón

Boat of tourists watching a flock of flamingos in the water

Cusco, Peru

Casa Gangotena

A Galapagos sea lion on the beach with a cruise ship and turquoise ocean in the distance, Galapagos Island, Ecuador

St Catarina Arc and Volcan de Agua, Antigua, Guatemala

Taormina town with Mount Etna on background

Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort, Paracas, Peru

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Coastal aerial image of Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas

Awasi Patagonia

Bogota, Colombia, South America

The Singular Patagonia Chile

Galapagos Island Cruise

Sierra Baguales, Chile

Casa Rosada, office of the president of Argentina located on landmark historic Plaza de Mayo.

World’s Best Cities in Central America and South America

Antigua Guatemala

Rosewood in San Miguel de Allende

View of the Nayara Springs resort and the Arenal Volcano, in Costa Rica

Exterior walkway of the Tierra Patagonia hotel

Hacienda AltaGracia, an Auberge Resort

EcoCamp Patagonia

Isla Mujeres Mexico

Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt

Nayara Springs Costa Rica

Bartolome Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Pool at the Hotel Casa San Agustin

Galapagos Islands

Casa Gangotena Quito Ecuador

Galapagos Islands

Best Resorts in Central America, according to Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Survey (pictured: Lapa Rios)

TripAdvisor trips of a lifetime

Palacio del Inka patio