Machu Picchu, Peru. The Inca citadel above the Urubamba River is one of those places that actually lives up to its reputation. Take the train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes and hike or bus up to the ruins early — the site gets crowded by midmorning. The surrounding Sacred Valley has Inca sites that few people bother with, and they're excellent. See Peru.
The Amazon. The world's largest rainforest is not one experience but many — a river cruise in Brazil, a jungle lodge outside Iquitos in Peru, a canoe trip through flooded forest in Ecuador. What they share is scale, noise, and wildlife that can't be found anywhere else. Even a short visit to the Amazon is disorienting in the best way.
Patagonia. The southern tip of the continent, split between Chile and Argentina, is one of the last great wildernesses. Torres del Paine in Chile, the Fitz Roy massif near El Chaltén in Argentina, the Perito Moreno glacier — all are extraordinary. Prepare for wind, cold, and sudden weather at any time of year. The window for comfortable trekking is December through February.
Buenos Aires. One of the world's great cities in terms of culture, food, nightlife, and street life. The tango, the steak, the wine, the bookshops, the cemeteries — it's a city that rewards wandering. Prices are erratic due to the currency situation, but for travelers exchanging hard currency, it's often very affordable. See Argentina.
The Galapagos Islands. Off the coast of Ecuador, these islands offer wildlife encounters that exist nowhere else — marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, sea lions that have no fear of humans. It's expensive and requires booking well ahead, but for wildlife travelers it belongs near the top of any list.
Cartagena and the Caribbean coast. The walled colonial city of Cartagena in Colombia is among the most beautiful in the Americas. The coast stretching east toward Venezuela has calm seas, small fishing villages, and the kind of lazy beach life the rest of the continent rarely offers.
The Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. The world's largest salt flat, at nearly 4,000 meters altitude, is surreal in any season. In the dry months (June-August) it's a blinding white expanse that stretches to the horizon. After the first rains it becomes a perfect mirror reflecting the sky. The journey there, through high desert and colored lagoons, is as good as the destination. See Bolivia.
Bogotá's food and culture scene. Colombia's capital is high altitude (2,600 meters), sometimes cold, and thoroughly underrated. The Candelaria district, La Macarena, and the food market at Paloquemao reward explorers. The city's restaurant scene has exploded in recent years. Gold Museum (Museo del Oro) is one of the finest museums in Latin America.
Rio de Janeiro. The setting — mountains, jungle, and ocean all crowded together — is unique. Copacabana and Ipanema are famous enough; Leblon, Santa Teresa, and Lapa are where the city feels less performed and more itself. Carnival in February is extraordinary if you're prepared for the crowds and logistics. See Brazil.
Easter Island. Technically part of Chile though 3,700 kilometers off its coast, Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is one of the most isolated inhabited places on Earth. The moai — giant stone statues — are genuinely mysterious and their scale is hard to grasp from photographs. A few days here feel like another world.