25 under-the-radar places in Latin America to visit in your lifetime, according to the world’s top travel experts
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From the darkest depths of Peru to the crystal blue underground cenotes of Mexico, there is something incredibly alluring about Latin America.
However, the best off-the-beaten-track destinations are usually discovered by word of mouth, often among travellers on the road from hostel bunkbeds or over a local beer.
We’ve done the hard work for you and asked some of the world's most respected travel experts — including those in the know at the likes of Lonely Planet and Secret Escapes, travel bloggers, and frequent travellers in the region — for their favourite under-the-radar destinations in South and Central America, and they didn't disappoint.
Fom exploring untouched paradise on lesser-known islands to boarding down an active volcano, surfing off the northern coast of Nicaragua, and getting to know a sea lion colony in Uruguay, keep scrolling for your ultimate Latin America travel bucketlist.
Go swimming and caving in the natural pools in Semuc Champey, Guatemala.
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Alicia Johnson, Lonely Planet's destination editor for Central America and the Caribbean, recommends visiting the turquoise pools of Semuc Champey deep in the isolated jungle of Guatemala.
"You're going to have to work to see what some view as the most beautiful spot in the whole country. [It's] famed for its great 300m-long natural limestone bridge, on top of which is a stepped series of pools with cool, flowing river water good for swimming. This bit of paradise is difficult to reach, but the sheer perfection of the pools, ranging from turquoise to emerald-green, make it worth it."
Check out the white sand dunes and rainwater lagoons at Parque Nacional Dos Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil.
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Bailey Freeman, Lonely Planet's destination editor for South America, suggests Brazil's Lençóis Maranhenses national park.
"This 1,500km national park is a seemingly extraterrestrial landscape of rolling white sand dunes punctuated with aquamarine pools. Make your trip to the park between March and September, when the vistas are at their most impressive."
Check out the colonial villages and local markets in Sacred Valley, Peru.
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Two of our travel experts pinpointed Sacred Valley as a must-see in Peru.
Secret Escapes deputy editor Emma McWhinney said: "If you're looking for somewhere a little more off-the-beaten-track than the usual tourist haunts of Peru, then be sure to head to the Sacred Valley, a 70-mile narrow strip of land that connects the capital Cusco to the renowned Machu Picchu and is filled with beautiful colonial villages and amazing local markets."
James Asquith, who became the youngest person to visit all 196 countries and is the founder of travel app Holiday Swap, said: "Most tourists make their way to Cusco to see the incredibly famous Machu Picchu, and it is a spectacular sight, however, don't overlook the nearby Sacred Valley, and extend your trip to explore the Andes mountains.
"It is much more tranquil here than Machu Picchu, but with scenery to rival the nearby famous ruins."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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