Compass: Central and South America

“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.

9 Reasons to Visit Colombia
By Tonya FitzpatrickColombia is now a go-to destination in Latin America. While they face economic hardship and loss, the people of Colombia live life to the fullest. Majestic landscapes and views are waiting to get explored, and your next vacation will be everything you have dreamed it would be and more! Read more
Central and South America
The Falkland Island | A Birdwatcher’s Paradise
By Tonya FitzpatrickSo let’s discover why the Falkland Islands are an excellent place to visit and how you can have a unique birdwatching experience. Read more
Central and South America United Kingdom Adventure Experiences
The Impact of Mankind on the Galapagos Islands
By Jennifer ZolloWhen people think of the Galapagos Islands, their minds are immediately filled with the enchanting voice of David Attenborough and vibrant images of tropical landscapes bursting with life. Read more
Central and South America Adventure Conservation
Chilean Tourism and the Indigenous Mapuche
By Leijia HanrahanThe regions of Biobío and Araucanía, which lie somewhere in the middle of the 2,653 miles that stretch from Chile’s top to bottom, are nevertheless known as “the south.” Read more
Central and South America Indigenous Social Responsibility
Bolivia’s Las Cholitas
By SJ ArmstrongThe cholita indigenous women from Bolivia’s countryside, are an indomitable symbol of resilience. In a country ravaged by colonial greed, ransacked resources, and periods of crippling poverty, the Bolivian people are no stranger to adversity. Read more
Central and South America Indigenous
Visiting Panama’s Embera People
By Chez ChesakOur wooden longboat plied the Chagres River deeper and deeper into the Panamanian rain forest. Soon the boatmen, one wearing a loincloth and the other a beaded skirt, were poling us through channels so narrow that it looked like the river had disappeared. Read more
Central and South America History Indigenous
Go With the Flow: Life Lessons From Backpacking to the Pandemic
By Natasha TuckerSome of you may ask why I chose Guatemala — especially if you’re like my parents whose idea of adventure is an all-inclusive trip to Cuba. Read more
Central and South America Backpacking & Camping Experiences
Pulperías: Where the gauchos gathered
By Ana Astri-O’ReillyImagine spending days, even weeks, in the vast plains with only your horse and your loyal dog for company. Herding cattle during the day, sipping mate next to the campfire at night. The need for human interaction will be met at the nearest pulpería, although near and far are relative terms in the … Read more Read more
Central and South America Adventure Off the Beaten Path Food & Drink
On the edge of the world at Iguazu Falls
By Devon OlderIguazu Falls is the largest waterfall system in the world, made up of 275 cascades, drops, and falls. Standing at the edge of the Garganta del Diablo, which translates to the Devil’s Throat, a visit to Iguazu Falls truly feels as though you are perched on the edge of the … Read more Read more
Central and South America Family Travel Landscape
Path through Patagonia without a tent
By Devon OlderPatagonia is the southern region of South America, covering a large part of the continent’s tip, straddling both Argentina and Chile. Like the rest of the continent, Patagonia is filled with breathtaking views, delicious food, and abundant wildlife. However, due to its growing popularity, it is the most expensive part … Read more Read more
Central and South America Adventure Backpacking & Camping
Peru Officials Arrest Six Tourists For Defecation In Iconic Sanctuary
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. … Read more Read more
Central and South America Social Responsibility
Voluntourism and Galapagos Islands Conservation Practices: The Need for Caution
Join us for thought-provoking conversations that examine voluntourism and the impact that conservation practices and tourism have on the Galapagos Islands. First, voluntourism aka volunteer travel projects are helpful to communities in need. But, intercultural educator Lena Papadopoulos says that some projects cause more harm to the communities they are … Read more Read more
Central and South America Volunteer Travel Conservation Social Responsibility
Prison Island Becomes A Paradise For Visitors
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 … Read more Read more
Central and South America Off the Beaten Path
Welcoming the Return of the Sun to Lake Titicaca
By Renee AlexanderOur winter welcome to Bolivia wasn’t exactly warm. For Americans, the visa requirements are extensive. Read more
Central and South America Religious Travel Events & Festivals
Ayahuasca Tourism: The Commercialization of Culture
By Jessica BarrettUsed by Indigenous tribes in the Amazon for medicinal purposes for centuries, it’s only in the last 50 years or so that Westerners have come to learn about ayahuasca Read more
Central and South America Off the Beaten Path Events & Festivals Social Responsibility