Drive across the width of Costa Rica from the black- and white-sand beaches of the Caribbean Sea, through central mountains and rain forests, to the Pacific coast. The varying landscapes are home to nearly half a million different plant and animal species, and with shorelines on two oceans, Costa Rica offers an endless selection of diving and surfing spots.

While the springtime festival is what the country is best known for, Carnival is just the beginning of things to do in Brazil. Avoid the crowds and visit in the summer or fall. Read up on your Brazil facts and venture outside of Rio de Janeiro to get a peek into real Brazilian culture.

Boa vinda! Get ready to samba in the land of Carnival. See where to stay in Rio de Janeiro. Soak up the sun at Rio’s Copacabana Beach, and join the tall and tan and young and lovely on Ipanema Beach. Climb Rio’s Sugarloaf Mountain and nearby Mount Corcovado - it’s all just the start of things to do in Rio.

In this bustling Brazilian metropolis of 20 million people, the real stars are the nightlife and the futebol.

In Buenos Aires contemporary arts abound, the music scene is lively, and dining, bars and clubs are cutting-edge.