The 20 most haunted places in the world

1. Château de Brissac, Maine-et-Loire, France

The Castle of Brissac, a renaissance castle rebuilt in the 15th century by one of the ministers to King Charles VII (Shutterstock)

The site: Dubbed as the ‘Giant of the Loire Valley’ this is the highest castle in France boasting seven floors, 204 rooms, numerous portrait galleries, and a private opera house which seats 200 people. It was a fortress built by the Counts of Anjou in the 11th Century and King Louis XIII dropped by in 1620.

The ghosts: The most active is La Dame Verte, (Green Lady), who was apparently the illegitimate child of King Charles VII and was later murdered by her husband in the château in the 15th century after he caught her having an affair. She is often seen in the tower room of the chapel, wearing her green dress, with gaping holes where her eyes and nose should be. When not startling guests by her appearance she can be heard moaning around the castle.

Current situation: The château is a popular hotel that hosts special events such as a Christmas market and tastings of the well-regarded wines, produced from its own vineyards. Guests who are brave enough to stay overnight enjoy rooms lavishly decorated with period furniture.

2. Monte Cristo Homestead, New South Wales, Australia

The site: A late Victorian mansion, with intricate cast iron lattice work, built by wealthy landowner Christopher William Crawley in 1876. Reputedly Australia’s most haunted house.

The ghosts: Take your pick. There’s the young child who was dropped down the stairs, the maid who fell from the balcony or the stable boy who burned to death. The most active, however, is the ghost of the son of the caretaker who was found curled up next to the dead body of his mother and chained up for 40 years.

Current situation: The house currently operates as a B&B, offering dinner followed by a ghost tour where you can learn all about its gruesome past. Those who dare can spend the night in the haunted homestead.

3. Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan, India

Tourists visiting the ruined fortress in the ancient city of Bhangarh. This palace is said to be cursed and entry during night is prohibited (Dreamstime)

The site: The ruins of a fort city built in the 17th century, Bhangarh Fort consists of fort walls, bazars, havelis, royal palaces, and numerous temples, with three grand storeys you can explore. But do not be fooled by the beauty of these ruins as they are ranked as the most haunted fort in India.

The ghosts: A wizard called Singhia and a princess called Ratnavati who spurned his advances. Legend has it that the enchanted oil he hoped would make her love him turned into a boulder when she threw it away – and it crushed him. But not before he cursed the palace, condemning the inhabitants to death, without any hope of rebirth. Another story suggests a local ascetic cursed the fort because its shadow overpowered his property. And apparently, if anyone attempts to build a roof for the fort, it will collapse.

Current situation: Bhangarh Fort is now an archaeological site, known as the ‘House of Ghosts’. It is possible to hire a guide who can show you around the site and give you the details of its eerie past. Be sure to visit in daylight as the fort is closed between sunset and sunrise, with locals convinced that anyone who spends the night amongst the ruins will never be seen again.

4. Myrtles Plantation, USA

Myrtle’s Plantation has been called ‘one of the most terrifying places in America’ (Shutterstock)

The Site: Situated in the small town of St. Francisville, north-west of New Orleans is the mansion of Myrtles Plantation, boarded by a 125-foot veranda. The stained-glass front door leads into a grand foyer displaying a huge French crystal chandelier.

The ghosts: With 10 people being murdered in the mansion itself, it’s no surprise there have been so many reported ghost sightings, the most famous of which is Chloe, who had her ear cut off by her lover. She wears a green turban, peering intently at visitors while they’re in bed and has even appeared in a photograph. A more recent photo also shows another young girl, known as ‘Ghost Girl’ peering through the window of the house. More eerie sightings include a child bouncing on the beds, a soldier, a voodoo priestess and the ghost of a previous owner who was shot in the chest has been heard staggering up the stairs where he died.

Current situation: Despite being known as the most haunted house in America, the plantation is now a pretty Bed and breakfast offering 12 accommodations. Ghost tours are run from the site and you can choose between daily tours or the spookier and more popular evening tours. And soon a new restaurant on site will bring fresh, local food to visitors.

5. Dragsholm Slot, Denmark

Dragsholm Slot is a haunted hotel in Denmark (Shutterstock)

The site: Dragsholm Slot, or Dragsholm Castle, was originally built in 1215, making it one of the oldest castles in Denmark and reportedly the most haunted castle in all of Europe. In the 16th and 17th century parts of it were used to house prisoners of noble or ecclesiastical rank, and in 1694 it was rebuilt in a Baroque style.

The ghosts: The castle is thought to be home to at least 100 ghosts including the Earl of Bothwell, the husband of Mary Queen of Scotts who died as a prisoner in the castle. You may also see the White Lady wandering the halls, who’s skeleton was found encased in a wall by builders in 1930.

Current situation: The castle has been transformed into a luxurious hotel with lavish rooms and a Michelin-rated restaurant serving locally sourced food. The hotel offers their own guided tour explaining the history of the building but for a truly terrifying experience, book a ghost tour including a two-night stay, a tour highlighting the spooky occupants and dinner at the gourmet restaurant.

6. Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire, England

The Ancient Ram Inn in Gloucestershire (Shutterstock)

The site: Built in 1145, the inn was used by priests who kept slaves and workers in there to help build the St. Mary’s Church. Located in Wotton-under-edge, it is situated on two ley lines, places believed to have spiritual energy from Stonehenge. It has also been reported that it was the scene of a child sacrifice and devil worshipping.

The ghosts: It is widely believed that the redirecting of water on the Ancient Ram property caused a portal for dark energy to open up, meaning many ghosts haunt the inn. The ‘Witch’s Room’ is said to be haunted by a woman burnt at the stake in the 1500s as she was accused of being a witch. A high priestess has been spotted sitting on a bed, a centurion on horseback has been seen walking through the walls, the agonising screams of a girl heard, a monk in the most haunted room and even a succubus is said to slip into the beds of visitors.

Current situation: Despite being well known as one of the most haunted places in the world, featuring on TV programs such as ‘Most Haunted’ and ‘Ghost Adventures’, the inn has changed hands several times in the recent past, making the owners difficult to track down. However, many paranormal events are hosted at the inn.

7. Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town, South Africa

An overview of the De Kat Balcony within the Castle of Good Hope which is South Africa’s oldest structure (Dreamstime)

The site: Built in the 17th century by the Dutch East India Company, the Castle of Good Hope is South Africa’s oldest building.

The ghosts: The first ghost was spotted in 1915 when the apparition of a tall gentleman was seen jumping off the side of one of the castle walls, and then walking between the bastions Leerdam and Oranje. Another famous ghost, the Lady in Grey, was often seen running through the castle holding her face and crying hysterically, but has not been seen since a woman’s body was found during excavations.

Other unexplained events include the bell in the bell tower ringing of its own accord and the ghost of a black dog that pounces on unsuspecting visitors, then simply vanishes into thin air.

Current situation: Arguably one of the world’s best preserved 17th century buildings, the castle is now a popular tourist attraction with three prestigious museums, a memorial to Krotoa the leader of the Khoi nation and an opportunity to learn more of the hidden history surrounding the castle on a guided tour. You can also eat in the restaurant in the front courtyard and watch the Key Ceremony and cannon firing.

8. Hell Fire Club, Montpelier Hill, Ireland

The ruin of former hunting lodge Hell Fire Club, atop Montpelier Hill in Dublin, Ireland (Shutterstock)

The site: The Hell Fire Club was a hunting lodge, built in 1925 for William Connolly, an Irish parliamentary speaker. The stones of the buildings are from ancient passage tombs, said to have angered the Devil, which first associated the site with the supernatural.

The lodge reportedly became a gathering place for a small group of Dublin elites who met for debauchery and devil worship. Its ruins sit atop the summit of Montpelier Hill in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains.

The ghosts: Tales of animal sacrifice, black masses, cloven-hoofed men and murder are linked to the structure. The most popular tale tells of a visit by a satanic creature, in the form of a man, who was only discovered when one of the players dropped a card and on picking it up, noticed the guest had cloven feet.

On his discovery, the creature disappeared in a ball of flames. There are stories about a big black cat, the size of a dog who took on a priest and haunts the lodge. The most regular ghostly visitor is a young lady, believed to have been placed in a barrel, set on fire and rolled down the hill for fun.

Current situation: The Hell fire club is a popular stopping point on a walking trail through the Dublin Hills. Ghost tours of the site are also available, with extra tours running for the week of Halloween.

9. Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta, Canada

View of the Banff Springs Hotel building in Canada’s Rocky Mountains (Dreamstime)

The Site: Styled after a Scottish baronial castle, The Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta Canada, is one of Canada’s great railway hotels and reportedly one of the most haunted buildings in the country.

The ghosts: There’s a bride who fell down the staircase breaking her neck after panicking when her dress caught fire. She is often seen in the ballroom dancing, with the flames coming from the back of her dress. A family were murdered in room 873. The door to this room has since been bricked up, but the family can still be seen in the hallway outside the room.

And former bellman, Sam Macauley who served at the hotel during the ’60s and ’70s still likes helping guests up to their rooms, dressed in his ’60s uniform. If you try to tip him or make conversation, he disappears.

Current situation: Now part of the Fairmont chain of luxury hotels, the Banff Springs, also known as ‘The Castle in the Rockies’ still remains a landmark in the town of Banff, Alberta and remains a popular year-round resort.

10. Poveglia Island, Italy

Is Poveglia Island the scariest in the world? Well, we wouldn’t be too surprised if it was… (Shutterstock)

The site: In the Venice Lagoon between Venice and Lido, this small island was a place where mainlanders fled to seek refuge from invaders. In the 14th century Venetians infected by the Bubonic plague were sent here to die – and, when they died, they were burned on giant pyres. The site was also used as a mental asylum during the 1800s where patients were experimented on and tortured.

The ghosts: Ask a local and they will tell you the island is full of ghosts and cursed with unhealthy spirits. Voices and screams are often heard, and visitors have reported seeing dark, fleeting shadows. Many visitors say they begin to feel an oppressive evil feeling as soon as they step on the island.

Current situation: Despite nearly being auctioned off to an entrepreneur, the island remains totally abandoned and off bounds to most visitors. Even if you were allowed to go to the island, you’d be hard to find someone willing to take you as many locals won’t step foot on Poveglia for fear of being cursed and fisherman refuse to fish in the area, worried they’ll drag up human remains.

11. The Separate Prison, Port Arthur, Australia

The haunted corridors of the Separate Prison (Shutterstock)

The site: Until the late 1800s, the Separate Prison in Tasmania’s secluded Port Arthur housed some of Britain’s toughest criminals. Taking inspiration from the works of British writer Jeremy Bentham, this panopticon-style prison block thrived on completely isolating prisoners to a torturous degree.

The Separate Prison operated a ‘silent system’, where prisoners were hooded, placed in solitary confinement and forbidden to speak to anyone. Conditions were so unbearable that countless inmates would murder their fellow prisoners. They’d rather face the death penalty than spend another minute there.

The ghosts: Hundreds of hooded inmates are said to wander the halls at night, a handful of the thousand people buried in the unmarked burial ground.

Current situation: Port Arthur is a now a historic site museum open to the public. There are (chilling) nightly ghost tours if you’re feeling brave.

12. La Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Argentina

A tomb in Cementerio de la Recoleta (Shutterstock)

The site: Located in the Recoleta neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, the Cementerio de la Recoleta is regarded as one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. First built in 1822, it is full of ornately-designed tombs, elaborate sculptures and mature shady trees. Buenos Aires’ best and brightest are buried here, including actress Eva Perón, the former First Lady of Argentina.

The ghosts: There are reportedly multiple spirits wandering the grid-like aisles of Recoleta. One of the most famous stories is of Rufina Cambaceres, a wealthy 19-year-old woman, the daughter of a beloved Argentine author.

Urban legend states that heavy rain postponed her burial. When the groundskeeper returned to the tomb to lay her to rest once the weather cleared, he found Rufina’s coffin lid ajar, with scratch marks on the inside. The legend goes that she had been buried alive, and woke in her coffin after suffering a case of ‘catalepsy’.

If you hear a jangling noise in the breeze, they may be the ghostly keys of David Alleno, a gravedigger who worked at the cemetery for 30 years. He killed himself at the cemetery, allegedly after his tomb was completed, and was buried on site.

Current situation: While still a functioning graveyard, Cementerio de la Recoleta remains a popular destination for locals and tourist alike. Pick up a map at the entrance to help you negotiate your way around the 6,400 graves.

13. Jazirat Al Hamra, United Arab Emirates

An abandoned building in Jazirat al Hamra (Shutterstock)

The site: Once a flourishing pearl fishing village, Jazirat Al Hamra near Ras Al Kaimah was completely abandoned in the 1960s. Some say it was because of tribal conflicts, whole others blame the changing tides. The most popular theory is that the residents were driven away by ghosts.

The ghosts: Local legend has it that the ruins are haunted by malicious djinns who wander the dirt roads of the town disguised as animals. Visitors regularly hear strange noises and spot apparitions amongst the mud-coral houses.

Current situation: The ruins are regularly used as a film set by Hollywood directors, such as Michael Bay. Each year, residents of nearby towns and cities gather to have a party in the town.

14. The Langham Hotel, London, England

The Langham Hotel on Regent Street (Shutterstock)

The site: The 153-year-old Langham Hotel has long been a staple of the high life in London. Literary legends Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain stayed here. And the luxury accommodation provides the setting for a famous Sherlock story, A Scandal In Belgravia, by Arthur Conan Doyle.

The ghosts: As befits one of London’s finest five star hotels, the ghosts that haunt the corridors here are a cut above, too. Reports have suggested that there are at least five ghosts in the 500-room establishment, with room number 333 rumoured to be the most haunted of all.

Given the size of the hotel and its lengthy history, you could potentially run into any number of spirits. However, your haunting encounter could potentially be with one of the Langham’s most esteemed ghostly guests, such as Napoleon III, the first president of France, or a German nobleman, who was said to kill himself in the hotel.

Current situation: Re-branded as the Langham Hilton in 1991 after a £100 million refurbishment, the hotel remains one of London’s most iconic hotels.

15. Teatro Tapia, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Teatro Tapia (Creative Commons: Bjoertvedt)

The site: First built in 1824, the Italian-style horseshoe-shaped opera house in San Jua, Puerto Rico has been the centre of the city’s cultural life for over 100 years. Don’t let its supernatural connection put you off. It’s worth a visit for its unique design alone.

The ghosts: The stalls here are said to be haunted by the spirit of an actress who fell to her death during a performance. She returned to haunt the venue from beyond the grave and can still be heard, at times, singing from the stage. There have even been reports of doors slamming shut backstage.

Current situation: Teatro Tapia, in addition to its fame as one of Puerto Rico’s most haunted sites, hosts a full calendar of more earthly events including frequent ballet and opera performances.

16. Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, India

Ferries jostling in front of the Taj Mahal Palace (Shutterstock)

The site: Arguably the grandest hotel in Mumbai, if not India, the 560-room Taj Mahal Palace has been the place to wine, dine and sleep since the days of the Raj. It has put the tragedy of the 2008 terrorist attacks behind it, to take centre stage in the city again.

The ghosts: One of the hotel’s architects, W. A. Chambers, threw himself from the fifth floor balcony. Apparently, he was distressed when he returned from a trip abroad to discover that the hotel’s design had gone in a completely different direction in his absence. In a tragic twist of fate, his ghost is said to wander the halls and the Old Wing of the hotel.

Current situation: Still one of India’s most glamorous hotels, rooms start from £200.

17. Carl Beck House, Ontario, Canada

Carl Beck House (Airbnb)

The site: This large, picturesque county house was built by Canadian lumber magnate, Carl Beck. After his wife died, his eldest daughter Mary took over as head of the household. Despite raising her younger siblings, she was left only a single dollar in her father’s will. The rest of the estate was divided amongst the siblings that she’d given up her life to care for.

The ghosts: Guests staying at Carl Beck House have reported seeing a suited-up man being chased by a very angry woman wearing a dark-coloured blouse and skirt. No prizes for guessing who they are.

Current situation: You can spend the night Carl Beck House on Airbnb, with prices starting from $98 a night. If you’re unafraid of a thrill, that is. The house frequently lands on lists of the most haunted Airbnb properties you can stay in.

18. Chaonei Church, Beijing, China

The ruins of Chaonei Church (Creative Common: Daniel Case)

The site: Chaonei 81, commonly known as Chaonei Church, was first built in 1910, not as a church but as the North China Union Language School to teach Mandarin Chinese to missionaries from the West.

From the 1930s, the Chaoyangmen neighborhood of Beijing’s most imposing house served as a Catholic church, until the communist government took control of the building in the 1950s. Truth be told, there’s still a bit of dispute as to the building’s true origins.

The ghosts: One grisly tale about Chaonei Church’s origins suggests it was the home for a Chinese National Party official in 1949. That story didn’t end so well.

So, depending on your luck, you’ll either come across the government official’s mistress, who killed herself there after their break up, or a group of three drunk construction workers who broke into the building and were never seen again.Eerily, the temperature of the house is said to be much colder than the rest of Beijing, even during the summer.

Current situation: The house is still abandoned, though. It’s considered the most haunted place in Beijing, and is left undisturbed by the city’s wider population, wary of the ghostly householders. Unless, of course, there’s an opportunity to film a movie there…

19. Kellie’s Castle, Batu Gajah, Malaysia

Kellie’s Castle in Batu Gajah, Malaysia (Shutterstock)

Site: This unfinished mansion, built in a Moorish revival and Indo-Saracenic style, was started by a Scottish planter named William Kellie-Smith. It was meant to be a as be a gift to his wife, but sadly he died of pneumonia in Lisbon, Portugal, where he was visiting to purchase a lift for the property.

Neither his wife nor his children could bear to return to the property, and other family didn’t wish to return to Malaysia, so it was left to decay and become derelict.

Ghosts: Photographers visiting the area for its nature and wildlife have claimed to see ghostly figures standing by the window frames. The man himself, Mr Kellie-Smith, despite dying in Portugal, is still said to haunt the second-floor hallway, no doubt disappointed his grand vision was never completed.

Current situation: Kellie’s Castle still stands to this day, and you can embark on a private tour to fully explore the building and its history. Tours are available daily from Kuala Lumpur, which is two hours away.

20. Casa de la Poesia, Bogotá, Colombia

Casa de Poesía Silva, Bogotá, Colombia (Poesía Silva)

The site: Located in the Candelaria neighbourhood of Bogotá,Casa de la Poesia was the home of the great Modernist poet José Asunción Silva. He was known to be quite morbid, and lived through several personal tragedies, including the death of his beloved sister, Elvira.

He also lost his many of finest works – handwritten manuscripts – during a shipwreck. José died in the house in 1896, at the young age of 30.In 1995, it was declared a Colombian national monument for its historic significance.

The ghosts: Señor Silva himself is said to still haunt his house. Visitors frequently report hearing the poet muttering under his breath from other rooms.

Current situation: Casa de Poesía Silva remains a listed national monument in Colombia. Visitors and locals alike can see the house during one of its regular poetry readings or literary workshops.

Discover more of the world’s spooky stuff:

The return of the wild in Argentina’s Patagonia Park

“This is the time of the puma,” said Nicolás Guastavino, communications officer for the conservation foundation Rewilding Argentina. A smile broke across his lips as we drove into Patagonia Park. The sun was setting a deep orange over the mountains that mark Argentina’s border with Chile, and a herd of guanacos – a gangly mammal similar to a llama – was walking nonchalantly across the gorse-studded steppe as our car slowed to a crawl. “We have to keep our eyes open. I’ve seen puma along this road before,” continued Guastavino, a former fashion designer who has retrained in conservation. “The guanacos are out in the open so they can spot pumas approaching.”

I strained my eyes in the dying light as a sudden movement threw up dust on the road ahead. There was no sign of a puma; instead, a small flock of lesser rheas scurried across the hillside, the long necks of these flightless birds bobbing up and down in unison as they hurried away from the guanacos. Our quarry remained elusive, and it was almost dark by the time we arrived at La Posta de los Toldos, a former cattle ranch that is now a guesthouse for hikers and wildlife enthusiasts exploring Argentina’s ambitious new rewilding zone.

Plans are in motion to restore 180,000 hectares of nature-depleted ranch land in Santa Cruz Province that had been overgrazed for centuries by non-native livestock. Known as Patagonia Park, the project is being led by Rewilding Argentina and is impacting more than just wildlife. As fences are being torn down and new species reintroduced, locals are turning from ranching to eco-tourism in an effort to establish a nature-based economy in what could become Argentina’s next national park – or at least a giant extension to neighbouring Patagonia National Park. Its future is, as yet, still undecided.

A guanaco stares down onlookers (Richard Collett)

The steppe of Patagonia Park yields the sight of a pair of lesser rheas (Richard Collett)

“This is the first park in Argentina dedicated to just steppe and canyon,” Guastavino explained the next morning as we hiked along the rim of Cañadón Río Pinturas (Pinturas River Canyon). “Everywhere else is about big mountains and glaciers.”

The Pinturas River Canyon unfolded like a watercolour painting below us, a stark and unexpected change from the red earth and green gorse that smothers the vast steppe surrounding it. Located a minimum of 24 hours’ drive south of Buenos Aires – just off Ruta 40 and a short distance from the ranching and mining town of Perito Moreno – Patagonia Park’s seemingly sparse landscape has a subtle beauty of its own. Its expanse has been shaped by volcanic activity, and part of it is hidden among canyons carved by glaciers.

I followed Guastavino down into the canyon 200 metres below, enthralled by my introduction to the park’s wildlife. A condor circled in the blue skies above and the high-pitched warning bleats of the guanaco herds – which sound like something between a scream and a laugh – echoed off the red-brown rocks.

But the landscape of Patagonia Park wasn’t always this wild; the sun-bleached bones of cattle speak of a different story entirely. Guastavino pointed out iron fence poles that had been cleared of wire. These once divided Patagonia Park into ranches where cattle and sheep would graze the semi-arid landscape. Ranchers would redirect rare watercourses to hydrate their parched grazing grounds, puma were shot on sight by farmers out of fear they might prey on the flocks of sheep, and native species, such as the docile huemul deer, disappeared altogether after the arrival of the Europeans in the 16th century.

The colours of Tierra de Colores are caused by minerals in the rocks (Richard Collett)

In an effort to stem the tide of desertification, Guastavino explained how Rewilding Argentina began buying up ranches in the area piecemeal in 2011, before Patagonia Park was established as a reserve in 2014. Funded by private donors, and working on the same model pioneered by the Tompkins Foundation that had proved successful in creating national parks over the border in Chile, this area was initially chosen for rewilding because Lake Buenos Aires is one of the last known breeding sites for the hooded grebe, a ‘critically endangered’ diving bird with a population of fewer than 800 individuals.

It may have all started with the hooded grebe, but Rewilding Argentina has expanded its ambitions over the years. It has since purchased 60,000 hectares of land in the region, with plans to extend this to 180,000 in order to create a continuous rewilding corridor that runs to the border with Chile. Now the aim is to bring back wildlife and redevelop the economy around nature tourism, though that is easier said than done.

Sofia Heinonen, Rewilding Argentina’s executive director, has helped oversee successful rewilding programmes in Argentina’s Iberá wetlands and El Impenetrable National Park. A lifelong conservation warrior, she strolled purposefully along the Pinturas River Canyon as she explained to me how the deeply ingrained ranching and gaucho (cowboy) culture of Argentina meant that new national parks inevitably met with resistance from local people.

the visitor centre at the entrance to Patagonia Park is a good place to learn about the work being done here (Richard Collett)

Sofiao Fava leads tours of Cueva de las Manos (Richard Collett)

“Cattle ranchers don’t like wild places without fences,” said Heinonen. “They see pumas as a threat and guanacos as competition for the grasses. For them, more national parks means less grazing land. And if they are neighbours to a national park, they feel their business and way of life are under threat.”

Consequently, one of her biggest jobs has been getting information out into the community. “It’s about changing perceptions,” Heinonen said, explaining that Rewilding Argentina has a team of passionate communication experts, like Guastavino, precisely because they need to convince Argentinians that rewilding is a positive agenda that can generate economic opportunities for them.

I spent five days exploring 41.3km of new trails that opened this year as part of a plan to entice nature tourists to an area of southern Argentina that is more often than not bypassed by travellers heading further south to big Patagonian sights, such as El Calafate and the Perito Moreno Glacier. A new planetarium is opening to take advantage of the region’s dark skies, while five new campsites now offer outdoor stays with a morning wake-up call from the guanacos and evenings spent around a traditional asado grill. And that’s just the start. Eventually, as Patagonia Park becomes more established and, hopefully, gains national park status, there will be ample chances for locals to work in tourism and conservation instead of extractive industries such as mining or ranching.

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The hike into Pinturas River Canyon is rather exposed (Richard Collett)

It’s not just wildlife at stake. The park is also protecting an ancient human culture that can be seen across some 80 archaeological sites. A winding gravel road led to a small visitor centre and viewing area precariously located on a rocky ledge halfway up the steep cliffs of the Pinturas River Canyon. From there I walked a series of concrete steps constructed under a long overhang of red rock that sheltered the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cueva de las Manos (Cave of the Hands).

Hidden under a protrusion of rock that extended horizontally for maybe a hundred metres, a tapestry of red, white and black painted hands had been stencilled across the rusty-brown rock of the cliffs. The hands were eerily fresh and looked as if they could have been painted weeks ago, yet they had been carbon-dated to around 7500 BC. The rocks were brightly stained with hundreds of these hands, the pigments crudely mixed from blood, dirt and water and then sprayed onto the walls using bone pipes by Patagonia’s earliest human inhabitants.

Life for Patagonia’s hunter-gatherers revolved around wildlife, and among the hundreds of painted hands are recognisable depictions of the prey that they hunted in the valley below, including guanaco and puma. As the artistic styles of these Patagonian ancients evolved, abstract motifs, zig-zags and mythological creatures are also depicted on the walls, while images of pregnant guanacos could be seen as desperate cries to their gods in times of scarcity. However, there’s one animal depicted among these ancient cave paintings that I can’t see in Patagonia Park anymore, and that’s the huemul deer.

It’s not just handprints that have been found on the walls of Cueva de las Manos – images of early life in the canyon have also been discovered (Richard Collett)

The waters of Pinturas River Canyon have long been vital to life on the arid steppe, particularly the guanacos (Richard Collett)

Rewilding Argentina plans to change this. Conservation director Sebastián Di Martino later showed me the new quarantine pen they are building in a nearby canyon to hold the huemul deer that will be reintroduced from surviving populations else where in South America. The rewilded valley is also home to growing numbers of Wolffsohn’s viscacha, a large cliff-dwelling rodent that has been returned here after disappearing entirely from the area.

“We don’t know all of the animals that once existed here, but our goal is to restore these historic ecosystems as much as we can,” Di Martino said as we hiked along the rewilded valley. “We can’t bring back everything, so we aim for the keystone species. These are usually the big predators that have often gone extinct in the area – pumas, for example.”

Pumas are vital to the rewilding plan, as they create carrion for the condors and help to regulate guanaco numbers on the steppe. But they’re also controversial. Rewilding Argentina has been attempting to change traditional perceptions in the community by collaring, tracking and studying the pumas to show ranchers on the surrounding farms that they rarely prey on their livestock.

“We found that 72.4% of hunting events were guanacos,” explained Di Martino, “12.8% were lesser rheas and 4.6% were sheep. Only a small number of pumas eat sheep, so we can use this information to say that a national park isn’t going to be a problem for ranchers.”

Patagonia Park is the first reserve in the Americas to focus on the landscape of the steppe (Richard Collett)

One man who doesn’t need convincing of this is Facundo Epul. He grew up in a ranching family but has developed a very different attitude to these creatures, and now offers puma-tracking tours. The next day, I joined him in search of a local puma named Bonita. When we meet he is wearing a traditional Argentine boina hat on his head and has a camera trap slung across his shoulders. Using a mixture of GPS positioning, puma tracks and guanaco carcass locations, we set off in hope.

“If a puma caught a sheep, the ranchers would shoot the puma. But no one studied them,” Epul told me as we hiked. “Now the rewilding programme is protecting the pumas, the next generation is changing their minds about them. I didn’t like ranching but I love the area, and if I didn’t work with the pumas I’d have to move.”

Epul’s deep understanding of these animals was clear towards the end of his tour. After I’d all but given up on the day’s chase, he directed us to the edge of yet another deep canyon. As I was distracted by the panorama unfolding before me, one of our group pointed out a distant shape reflecting the sunlight from the opposite side of the steep ravine. Straining my eyes, I suddenly realised that this was Bonita, fast asleep in the entrance to a cave. My heart pounded as I struggled to unpack my camera, then I surrendered to the moment and just stared, awestruck, at the animal that was so vital to the ecosystem I’d spent days immersed in.

As we watched, Epul explained that while it’s still not illegal to shoot a puma in Argentina, he’s trying to convince the local hunters, who are paid by ranchers, to turn to tourism instead. And though he remains currently the only puma-tracking guide offering tours in the area, he’s confident that he’ll have competition soon enough.
“There are only so many pumas you can kill,” said Epul. “I make more money per day in tourism than you ever can by shooting them.” He makes a persuasive argument; let’s just hope that the right people listen.

Three more Rewilding Argentina projects that you can visit…

Iberá Wetlands

The Rewilding Argentina story began in 1997, when Doug Tompkins (the founder of adventure clothing company North Face) purchased tens of thousands of hectares of nature-depleted swampland in north-eastern Argentina. The Iberá Wetlands, home to bogs, lakes and lagoons, is South America’s second-largest wetland ecosystem. It is here that Rewilding Argentina has successfully reintroduced a vast number of large mammals that went extinct. Visit today and you’ll see giant anteaters, giant otters, tapirs, capybaras, and perhaps even the elusive jaguar.

Patagonia Azul

Travel to the coast of Chubut Province and you can experience a unique rewilding project protecting one of Argentina’s largest biosphere reserves. Millions of hectares of coastal land, islands and sea, home to penguins, whales, dolphins, guanacos, armadillos and much more, await you along the ‘Blue Route’, a regenerative tourist circuit connecting the best eco-sites on the coast.

El Impenetrable
National Park

El Impenetrable National Park is a vast area of wilderness in Argentina’s remote north. Part of the Gran Chaco, a region that’s home to South America’s second-largest forest, El Impenetrable National Park is the perfect destination for adventure travellers. Kayaking, 4WD safaris and hiking are all ways to explore a depleted ecosystem that is being returned to its former glory, as Rewilding Argentina boosts jaguar, tapir and tortoise populations while helping Indigenous communities build a nature-based tourism economy.

Need to know

The author gazes over the rim of Pinturas River Canyon

Getting there: The Portal Cañadón Pinturas is the main gateway to the new hiking trails and campsites within Patagonia Park, which lies off Ruta 40 in the north-west of Argentina’s Santa Cruz Province. It’s best visited on a road trip, although there is a bus station at Perito Moreno, a 45-minute drive north. The nearest airport is a six-hour drive away at Comodoro Rivadavia.

Activities: There are ten waymarked hiking trails, varying in length from 2.6km to 18km, that lead through and around the Pinturas River Canyon. There are guided tours of archaeological sites, including Cueva de las Manos, puma-tracking tours with Facundo Epul and many more outdoor activities, such as horse riding, camping and 4WD safaris.

Accommodation: Campsites can be booked in advance by emailing Patagonia Park’s Visitor Centre (parquepatagonia.arg@gmail.com); visit the website for more details. Limited accommodation is also available at La Posta de los Toldos, a former ranch turned guesthouse that also arranges and books tours and tour guides.

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20 of the best places to visit in September

September is one of our favourite months to travel. The school holiday rush is over, so sunny destination flight prices start to come down. Temperatures in Europe dip enough to make heat more comfortable and undiscovered Europe is in its element. The ‘stans come to life. Safari season is in full swing, if drawing to a close.

Whether you’re after a getaway with a difference, a life-changing wildlife experience or a long-term adventure to tick off the wish list, September’s an ideal month to get on the road.

Skip ahead to your chosen travel type by clicking on one of the below, or keep scrolling for the full list of recommendations:

Here are the 20 best places to visit in September…

The best September destinations for nature and ideal weather

1. Sicily, Italy

Sicily’s Valle dei Templ (Shutterstock)

Like many popular European hot spots, Sicily is still warm in September, yet less oppressively hot, cooler in the evenings and less busy thanks to the summer holidays drawing to a close. However, you might notice an influx of visitors this year, thanks to the hit series White Lotus introducing the Mediterranean gem to the set-jetting travellers of the world.

In the capital, Palermo, opera season begins again this month. It’s also typically an ideal temperature to take on the hike up Mount Etna, or to explore the volcanic Aoelian Islands.

Ensure time to explore the towns of Taormina and Castelmola. The former is where you can find the must-visit Greek-Roman theatre: the view here is one of the most striking with Mount Etna on the horizon. For more Greek ruins, the Valle dei Templ (Valley of Temples) in Agrigento is one of world’s finest archaeological examples of ancient art and architecture.

It doesn’t matter where you end up on the island: you’ll be able to end each day by parking yourself outside a classic Sicilian eatery to enjoy the hazy late summer evening.

Read next: Sicily’s best things to do

2. Hokkaido, Japan

Jozankei is a picturesque onsen town near Sapporo (Shutterstock)

Just as the pale-pink cherry blossoms of spring draw locals outside to marvel at Japan’s natural beauty, its autumnal colours are just as prized.

But while the rest of the country waits to get its first glimpse of red and golden maple leaves, Hokkaido is ahead of the game. Japan’s chilly northern tip starts to turn towards the middle of September, making for a colourful road trip before the ice and bad weather sets in.

Pay a visit first to the pretty onsen town of Jozankei, just south of Sapporo, which has plenty of walkable forest trails and hot springs to relax in. Then make for the Blue Pond at the centre of the island, where impossibly teal waters reflect the reddening canopies of the surrounding larch and birch trees magnificently, making for a painterly setting.

But you don’t even need to leave the city to spy nature at its autumnal best. Sapporo’s Hiraoka Jugei Center is famous for its ‘red tunnel’, created by the rows of Japanese maples (Nomura momiji) that flank its walkways.

Read next: Reasons to visit Sapporo, Japan

3. Corsica, France

The citadel of Calvi, Corsica (Sylvain Oliveira/Alamy)

Corsica’s Rencontres Polyphoniques de Calvi is one of those tiny cultural pearls that makes a trip to the old citadel of Calvi in mid-September utterly unique, as choristers and soloists from around the world join the A Filetta polyphonic choir in making the most of their cathedral setting.

By day, take the opportunity to explore the rest of the citadel, whose Genoese construction helped Calvi resist French control up until the 18th century. The former governor’s palace is particularly impressive and has a fine museum on the city.

It’s also a great time to visit if you want to take on any part of the GR20 – one of Europe’s toughest but most rewarding trails. The cooler weather of autumn makes this the perfect season to wander Corsica’s glacial lakes and imposing peaks before winter seals off many of the higher passes.

4. Maine, USA

Boats docked in pretty harbour town of Camden in Maine (Shutterstock)

September sees New England’s lobster shacks readying to close up shop for winter, so it’s the perfect time to go on a last-minute coastal food crawl. Hoover up Maine’s famed lobster rolls – overflowing, buttery sandwiches – in villages along the coast, and be sure to stop in Portland, where tours explore both its seafood scene and maritime history.

Further north, Camden takes the plaudits as one of the prettiest harbour towns in Maine, but is known for its fleet of windjammers (merchant-style sail boats). This stretch of Penobscot Bay is particularly sheltered, so it makes a great setting for the annual Labor Day Windjammer Festival, one of the largest meetings of sail ships in north-east USA.

Finish at Acadia National Park’s Mount Desert Island, the highest rocky headlands on this stretch of the Atlantic coast. As well as trails and adventures, it is home to the annual Night Sky Festival in late September, when the Milky Way glimmers bright in the naturally dark skies overhead.

5. Portugal

Pena Palace, Sintra, Portugal (Shutterstock)

Portugal lands on our long-term list for the sheer volume of places to visit, because typically, it’s a classic short break destination. We admit: it’s far too easy to fly to Lisbon or Porto for a few days, or enjoy a wine tasting tour of Douro Valley, and then fly back home.

If you’ve weeks – maybe even a month or two – to spare, it’s well worth slowing down and soaking up Portugal. Spend time seeking out Lisbon and Porto’s up-and-coming neighbourhoods.

Go off-the-beaten-track to the majestic historical city of Coimbra, and explore the underrated Tavira and more of the eastern Algarve‘s quieter coast. Finally, give the fairytale town of Sintra what it deserves: a few days more than a day trip.

You can take your time enjoying the fruits of Portugal’s vineyards, too, and don’t forget the island of Madeira. It has more than just wine to enjoy, but you’ll still soak up Funchal’s world-class wineries at a slower pace.

Portugal may still be a tad too warm in September for travellers better equipped to dealing with cooler temps. However, it’s good to know that things tend to simmer down in the evenings, making strolls to local bars for drinks and petiscos (the snackier version of Spanish tapas) extremely pleasant.

The best longer-term travel experiences for September

6. Georgia

The Old Town of Tbilisi, Georgia (Shutterstock)

The capital, Tbilisi, may make an excellent long weekend destination, but there’s far more of the country to explore.

Batumi and Mtskheta cities are also well worth your time, both offering historical landmarks, monasteries and sensational views. The botanical garden in Batumi is a natural spectacle, too, especially as autumn’s oranges and yellows begin to take over the country.

Head to western Georgia and experience Kutaisi, or delve into Prometheus Cave. Experience local life in the Svaneti region among the Caucasus Mountains, and end your trip with all the Georgian food and drink you can manage, with a relaxing few days by the Black Sea.

7. Argentina

El Caminito neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Shutterstock)

Argentina’s winter draws to a close in August and early September, so mid to late September brings with it spring temperatures. They do vary, but you can hope for easygoing temperatures.

Spring blooms bring lush greenery to Argentina’s national parks, and overall, this vast South American country is certainly less crowded than in summer. Northern Argentina in particular is best visited during this season, where you can discover the little-visited Salinas Grandes salt plains, the multi-hued rock formations of Quebrada de Humahuaca, and swing by the mountain city of Salta.

Alternatively, take your time in the capital, Buenos Aires, enjoy the wineries of Mendoza, or head to youthful Córdoba: the gateway to Jesuit monasteries and mountain ranges.

Read next: Best things to do in Argentina

8. Trekking in Nepal

Nepal (Shutterstock)

We’ve covered Nepal’s life-affirming treks in some detail on Wanderlust, and have to say that there’s few better times than September to take on a challenge.

This is because the weather is prime for easy trekking conditions. Rainy season has petered out, the skies are clear and temperatures are on the cooler side.. Time to get walking…

While most head to Nepal for its mountain trails, its also a brilliant country for culture-seekers. Head to Pokhara, the gateway to the popular Annapurna Circuit, but also somewhere you can learn more about Buddhism. Don’t forget to visit the city’s International Mountain Museum for exhibits on historic climbers and the people of the Himalayas.

Teej Festival also often falls in September. During this three-day Hindu festival and national holiday, women will fast and also dress in their beautiful red saris, creating a crimson spectacle on the streets.

Read next: 13 best Nepal trekking routes

9. China

China (Shutterstock)

Both September and October are popular times to visit China. Not least because the spectacular Mid-Autumn Festival takes place during this period, celebrating the end of the harvest. Dates vary, but the special day usually occurs between mid-September and the beginning of October.

Weather-wise, the northern regions are particularly fine to visit anytime in September, though humidity in the south can remain high until later on in the month.

Use this weather pattern to help guide your trip. Begin in Beijing, the electrifying 3,000-year-old capital. The Great Wall, a travel classic, is about an hour and 30 minutes by car. You’ll want several days to walk and explore this sheer wonder.

Then make your way south, stopping by all the must-sees: Chengdu (for giant pandas), Xi’an (one of China’s eldest cities, home to the Terracotta Army) and the Three Gorges mountain range on the Yangtze River.

Read next: Plan your journey with our China trip planner

10. Tajikistan and Turkmenistan

Monument in Rudaki Park, Dushanbe, Tajikistan (Dreamstime)

Geographically (and sensibly), it would be impossible and near-criminal to see the ‘stans and sack off the blue-tiled marvels of Uzbekistan. But since we’ve featured Uzbekistan as a highlight for several different months, why not use September to dig deeper into neighbouring Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, too?

Tajikistan, a landlocked country surrounded by mountains, is a hiker’s untouched dream. The capital, Dushanbe, is absolutely fascinating. Admire its unique architecture and monuments in Rudaki Park, then spend time acquainting yourself with the nation’s Soviet history in Tajikistan National Museum.

Turkmenistan’s jewel is its marble-dense capital, Ashgabat, reportedly one of the most expensive cities in the world for foreigners to live. Fortunately, you’re just visiting, so spend your time marvelling at its tombs, towers and mosques, or shopping in the city’s unusual bazaars.

It’s easy to go beyond the city, though. The white-sand coast spreads out before the Caspian Sea, and the Gates To Hell (the perpetually-burning Darvaza Gas Crater) lies in wait in the middle of the desert.

11. Malawi

The start of the Ruo Path in the Lujeri Tea Estate leading up to the plateau of Mount Mulanje (Shutterstock)

There are few bigger music festivals in Africa than Lake of Stars, which lights up the pale sands at the southern end of Lake Malawi in September.

It was created in 2003 to promote local Malawian artists, though it has since expanded its repertoire to take in acts across the continent. After the pandemic broke in 2020, the festival went on hiatus for a number of years, but its return in 2024 marks a new chapter in the life of ‘Africa’s Glastonbury’.

Combine a visit with trips to the surrounding wilderness and mountain areas. September marks the start of the hot season in Malawi, but driving up to see and stay in the family-run tea plantations of Mulanje Mountains offers a cool escape and glimpse of another world entirely.

Meanwhile, down in the bush of Liwonde National Park, the hotter weather soon rids the land of its wet-season greenery, making sightings of its Big Five far easier to sniff out as you drift the Shire River in search of large herds of elephant and sun-worshipping crocodiles roasting on the riverbanks.

Where to go in September for arts and cultural experiences

12. Munich, Germany

Traditional costumes at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany (Shutterstock)

Oktoberfest has October right there in the title, but Bavaria’s beer-based merriment actually begins around the third week of September. So, why not get there early, before others may be aware?

Over the two-week festival, you can expect endless opportunities for eating German pretzels, wurstl (sausage) and knodel (potato pancakes), hop from tent to tent tasting the best in German beer, dress up in traditional dirndl dresses or lederhose, enjoy a carnival ride, toast your new-found drunken friends (it’s a friendly festival) and simply dance the night away.

13. Bohinj, Slovenia

The Cow’s Ball in Bohinj, Slovenia (Dreamstime)

A little more niche than Oktoberfest, Slovenia’s Bohinj region offers more than scenic beauty in September. It also offers the chance to witness the long-running, traditional ‘cow festival’, known as the ‘Cow Ball’.

It’s exactly as it sounds. Through a cloud of folk music, locals watch a parade of garland-wearing cows pass the gloriously blue Lake Bohinj. The event signifies the return of the cows from the hills in summer, where they’ve been munching and filling their four stomachs with green, green grass.

14. Villamartin, Andalucía, Spain

The beautifully landscaped plaza of Villamartin (Shutterstock)

There’s always a good reason to visit Andalucía, but the annual return of the region’s oldest agricultural fair in September is as good an excuse as any to head for southern Spain. Trust us – it’s more lively than it sounds.

The Feast of St Matthew (Feria de Ganado y Fiestas de San Mateo) serves up Andalucían culture at its purest: cattle browsing before noon; horse displays, carriage races and folklore performances come nightfall. It’s a heady combination, with plenty of food and goodwill found on the streets.

The town lies on the cusp of Sierra De Grazalema, a lush natural park veined with walking trails, rugged limestone peaks and pretty mountain villages such as Benaocaz and Benamahoma. Be sure to strike out into the countryside before heading to the historic streets of nearby Cadiz and Seville for a culture fix.

Read next: Plan your perfect sustainable trip to Spain

15. Diriyah & Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage site illuminated at night (Shutterstock)

The end of the month (23 Sep) marks the National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Celebrations gather around Riyadh’s huge Masmak Fort, where a 21-year-old Abdulaziz Ibn Saud – exiled at the age of eight – led an against-all-odds attack against Ottoman forces in 1902 to take back the fort and proclaim himself the ruler of Riyadh.

If you want to delve into the origins of the Kingdom, take a trip to the ‘original’ capital in Diriyah, on the western fringes of Riyadh, where the ancestors of today’s Saudi royal family first arrived in the 15th century – although the first inklings of the state didn’t emerge until hundreds of years later.

You can explore this history in the restored 18th-century mud-brick walls of the UNESCO-listed At-Turaif citadel and its elegant Salwa Palace, where evening light shows depict the moment in 1818 when the Ottomans rode in and put a violent end to the First Saudi State.

The best places to visit for wildlife watching in September

16. KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

A giraffe roams Hluhluwe-IMfolozi Game Reserve (Shutterstock)

September is traditionally the end of game viewing season inKwaZulu-Natal, making it the ideal month to visit if you want to avoid the mass safari crowds, but still see the Big Five and more.

Expect the opportunity to see lions, elephants, rhinos and giraffes, as well as rare bird species. Hluhluwe-IMfolozi Game Reserve is a must for any wildlife fan, said to be the oldest reserve in Africa. Elephant lovers must head to the north-east to see the creatures roaming Tembe Elephant Park, which is close by to Ndumo Game Reserve.

Birders rejoice at uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, which is protected for its significant population of endangered or rare species, including the wattled crane, vultures (bearded and cape) and the yellow breasted pipit. Over 164 birds have been spotted in the region. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it’s the home of San Rock Art, a large collection of rock paintings dating back to the 1800s.

17. Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks

Elephants in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania (Shutterstock)

East Africa also offers ample wildlife opportunities in September. Of course, the earlier you visit in September, the better, so you’ve missed the August rush, but you’re also not risking early rains washing the animals out of the park and into the outskirts of the reserves.

Tanzania has two national parks you simply must visit, if you love animals. Tarangire National Park provides wildlife watchers with an excellent chance of enjoying an elephant sighting in the wild, as they group together around the Tarangire River. The Serengeti can still be busy in September and you won’t have much luck with the wildebeest migration (June to July) across the Grumeti River, but you will have better luck with the overall wildlife population. Leopards, lions and more of the Big Five await.

18. Atlantic provinces and British Columbia, Canada

Puffins shotting in Newfoundland, Canada (Shutterstock)

Chances are you’ll want to take a warm jacket with you on a wildlife excursion in the eastern provinces of Canada.

Here, you’ll say goodbye to safari-style wildlife watching and instead admire whales by boat. Take your birding binoculars too as it’s prime time for puffin sightings along the coast.

You can see native black bears in Newfoundland, too. The season lasts until November, so you’ll be there at the right time. There are approximately 6,000 to 10,000 in the region – which is a pretty high concentration.

On the opposite side of the country in British Columbia, it’s prime time to see wild grizzlies in their natural habitat. September and October also offer a great chance to catch the salmon run, where millions of salmon swim and leap upstream to spawn in the places they were born. It’s arguably one of nature’s most fascinating spectacles.

Read next: 8 unforgettable journeys through Canada

19. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

A desert warthog in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique (Shutterstock)

For something a bit different, embrace the beautiful spring season in Mozambique’s premier national park, the so-called ‘Serengeti of the south’.

In spring (September and October), the park’s diverse array of flora and fauna blossom into a lovely shade of green. This month is also peak season for seeing the elephants, wildebeest, warthogs, hippos, lions and buffalo that call the park home – as they all flock to watering holes to quench their thirst.

Birders won’t be disappointed either, and you may spot a Nile crocodile or two around Lake Urema and its varying lagoons. Fourteen African wild dogs were also re-introduced to Gorongosa in 2018, so keep your eyes peeled. One creature you may not spot? A zebra. They’re rare – apparently, there are just a few roaming the park.

20. Falsterbo, Sweden

500 million migratory birds pass by the Skanor-Falsterbo peninsula (Shutterstock)

Sweden’s south coast isn’t especially known for its wildlife. The exception is the Skanor-Falsterbo peninsula (aka Naset), home to a pair of small towns on the south-western tip of Skåne that are wrapped by pencil-thin shores. In September, it also becomes the perfect viewing spot to see 500 million migratory birds pass by, including a huge number of raptors.

The rooftop of the bird observatory is a great place to bag a spot. And when you’re done, a short walk away lies the Måkläppen reserve, where a year-round colony of harbor and grey seals hang out on a hook-shaped isthmus. SUP and kayak tours can take you near, but these creatures are so curious that they often swim up close to inspect paddlers.

If you have the time, combine the above with a cycling trip along the Sydkustleden (260km), which runs the flat coastal paths of Skåne and takes in standing stones, medieval cobbled villages, pirate castles, the canals of Malmo and plenty of fikas (afternoon tea).

Where to go when:

Dream sleep: Estancia Cristina, Argentinian Patagonia

Fate had directed me to Estancia Cristina. A COVID-19 outbreak had cancelled my planned Antarctic cruise from Ushuaia, so my hastily arranged Plan B was to explore Argen­tinian Patagonia. At first, it felt like no more than a consola­tion prize, as I couldn’t imagine replicating the beauty of the frozen continent. But I couldn’t have been more wrong.

There are no roads to this estancia (ranch), just a lavishly scenic three-hour boat transfer from El Calafate to the western edge of Lake Argentina, where the preternaturally teal-blue water meets Upsala Glacier.

What was originally a sheep farm, created in 1914 by pioneers Jessie and Joseph Percival Masters, now lies within the boundaries of Los Glaciares National Park. It’s a setting to savour. Like a South American Shangri-La, Estancia Cristina sits within a luminous green valley surrounded by snowy mountains.

Cabanas at Estancia Cristina, Patagonia (Estancia Cristina)

A little museum in the original barn details the site’s history; beyond this lie three cream-coloured guest cottages with green rooves that are cosy in a grandmotherly way. Their plump, patterned sofas face huge windows with million-dollar views towards the snow­capped Cerro Norte. From said sofa, I watched distant condors and impish caracara birds with beaks that shined like mother of pearl.

At night, walking back from the estancia’s octagon-shaped, wooden restaurant-bar after a few glasses of malbec and some locally farmed produce, myriad galaxies and stars glittered in the sky.

Read next: 7 epic Argentinian adventures you’ll want to book now

By day, there are plenty of short walks around the estancia. During one hike to a chasm of fast-flowing waterfalls, I kept my eyes peeled for any nearby pumas. “During the COVID-19 lockdowns, with so few people around, pumas had started coming closer to the lodge,” the estancia’s gaucho had told me.

The same gaucho took me out on a fabulous horse ride on a hardy criollo steed, splashing through riverbeds and trotting the foothills of Cerro Norte to an old cattleman’s hut for lunch. And what else would a true gaucho rustle up but steak? Yet it’s the estancia’s Fossil Canyon hike that will live with me forever.

Ammonites can be seen on treks from Estancia Cristina (Estancia Cristina)

From Upsala Glacier it’s a 14km walk down the 65-million-year-old Fossil Canyon and back to the estancia. Glacial action has polished the purple and cerulean-blue bedrock as smooth as glass, and the descent enters a kind of palaeontological paradise: an evolutionary soup ofbullet­shaped belemnites and swirled ammonites, sometimes thousands of them concentrated in cascades or infilled by glimmering iron pyrite.

“Your Patagonia trip isn’t a bad Plan B,” said my hiking guide, Mauricio, as the estancia came into view. Muchas gracias, fate; it turned out that my Plan A hadn’t been Antarctica after all.

Booking information: Prices include meals, excursions and transfers. To find out more, go to estanciacristina.com

Read more Dream Sleeps:

Longitude 131, Australia

Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain

Hotel Las Torres, Chilean Patagonia

International Colour Day: 15 of the world’s most stunning rainbow-coloured places

1. Kampung Warna, Jodipan, Indonesia

Colourful Rainbow Village in Jodipan, Malang (Shutterstock)

Just south of Malang, a city in East Java, Kampung is an explosion of colour in what was once a drab corner of Indonesia.

Management students from a nearby university came up with the idea of painting the houses. A local paint company donated the paint. And a previously unremarkable village was turned into a happy place of rainbow colours, suddenly receiving an influx of money from selfie-seeking visitors.

It also inspired locals to clean up their rubbish-strewn river, so there has been a positive environmental impact, too.

2. Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, USA

Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park (Shutterstock)

Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the USA and the third largest thermal spring on the planet.

But it’s the rainbow-coloured bands of heat-loving bacteria that make it truly memorable. The sulphur fumes may burn your eyes, but it’s certainly photo-worthy.

3. The Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, South Africa

Kids sitting on steps in the Bo-Kaap quarter (Shutterstock)

Sitting at the foot of Signal Hill on the fringes of central Cape Town, Bo-Kaap was once known as the Malay Quarter, home to workers brought in from Malaysia, Indonesia and the rest of Africa to work.

Built in the 1760s and rented to the workers, the houses had to be white as per the terms of the lease. When the workers were eventually allowed to buy the properties, they painted them in bright colours to express their freedom and individuality.

4. Red Sea, Egypt

Coral and tropical fish in the Red Sea (Shutterstock)

The Red Sea boasts one of the richest and most diverse underwater ecosyems in the world, with over 1,200 species of fish, 10% of which can’t be found anywhere else.

This is largely due to the 2,000 kilometres of coral reef along its coast. Some of the coral is 5,000 – 7,000 years old. It’s lost none of its vibrancy, and coupled with the neon fish that call it home, remains one of the most colourful places on earth.

5. Rainbow Village, Taichung, Taiwan

Colourful graffiti painted on the wall in Taichung (Shutterstock)

What began as an attempt to save houses in the Nantun District of Taichung has turned into one of Taiwan’s most popular and colourful tourist attractions. Former soldier, Huang Yung-Fu, started painting houses in the settlement to stop them from being demolished.

Over the years he has added colourful artwork, including birds, animals and people, to most of the remaining houses in the village, gaining it the moniker ofRainbow Village.

6. Vinicunca, Peru

Tourists walking on the Rainbow Mountain (Shutterstock)

A two-hour drive from Cusco, Vinicunca, Peru’s Rainbow Mountain, has become one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. Formed millions of years ago, the ridges of sediment are made up of a variety of minerals, each providing its own vibrant hue of either pink, yellow, turquoise and burgundy.

Sitting at 5,200 metres, you’ll need to take time to acclimatise to the altitude – and the mix of colours.

7. Guatapé, Colombia

Colourful colonial houses in Guatape (Shutterstock)

A bumpy three hour bus ride from Medellin, the tiny traditional pueblo of Guatepé is full of brightly coloured colonial-era homes, embellished with delicate painting ofllamas, sunflowers, parrots and guitars.

The Plaza de Zocalos is rainbow-coloured, too, and the perfect place to have a drink and people watch.

8. Seven Coloured Earths, Chamarel, Mauritius

The seven coloured lands of Chamarel (Shutterstock)

A series of colourful dunes in the middle of tropical rainforest, the Seven Coloured Earths near Charamel in Mauritius is believed to have formed from the decomposition of volcanic rocks. It has settle into stripes of colour ranging from violet and red through to yellow and blue and is best viewed at sunrise, when the colours are at their most vibrant.

9. Cinque Terre, Italy

View of Vernazza from trail (Shutterstock)

Hugging the rugged coastline and tumbling down towards the Ligurian Sea, the five tiny villages that make up Cinque Terre are a riot of colour.

Walking the jagged coast path between them is one of Italy’s most treasured treks, rewarding hikers with fresh sea air and spectacular views, especially when you round a headland and catch your first sight of villages like Vernazza and Manarola.

10. La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina

El Caminito quarter in La Boca (Shutterstock)

La Boca is a working-class suburb in Buenos Aires that is famous for two things – La Bombonera, the home ground of Boca Juniors football team and Caminito, a narrow alley flanked by bright, zinc shacks.

The colours are a reminder of the district’s early immigrant days, when a splash of paint was the only way to show pride in the humble dwellings. Now the area is bursting with steakhouses, bars and cafes and the modern art museum, Fundación Proa.

11. Tulip fields, Keukenhof, The Netherlands

Keukenhof tulip fields (Shutterstock)

Between March and May every year, the fields around Keukenhof in the Netherlands are transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour as the country’s world famous tulips bloom.

They’re not just for show. These tulips will be picked and sent all around the world, an important source of revenue for this tiny country. That doesn’t make it any less spectacular, especially when framed with one of the Netherlands’ famous windmills.

Read next: The world’s most colourful spring scenes

12. Rainbow Row, Charleston, USA

A colourful row of historic Georgian row houses in Charleston (Shutterstock)

This row of historic houses in Charleston, South Carolina, is the longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the United States.

With their bright colours and mature trees, they are also amongst the most beautiful. You’ll find them on East Bay Street, north of Tradd Street, and south of Elliott Street.

13. Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai, India

Meenakshi Amman Hindu temple in Madurai (Shutterstock)

This ancient city on the Vaigai River in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is dominated by the 14 colourful gopurams (gateway towers) of Meenakshi Amman Temple.

It’s festooned with thousands of rainbow coloured carvings of Hindu gods. It is also home to colourful celebrations, like the Chithirai Festival, held every April to celebrate Meenakshi and Lord Vishnu.

14. Santa Marta, Rio, Brazil

Colourfully painted buildings in Rio’s Santa Marta favela (Shutterstock)

Set on the the slopes of Morro Dona Marta, the rainbow coloured favela of Santa Marta is one of the steepest in Rio. It has over 8,000 residents crammed into its makeshift wooden and brick houses, each painted in an assortment of cheerful hues.

A popular location for both TV series and film, it most famously hosted one of the most spectacular chase scenes in Fast Five, the fifth instalment of The Fast and The Furious franchise.

15. Burano, Venice Lagoon, Italy

Colourful houses in Burano, Venice (Shutterstock)

Burano is an island in Venetian Lagoon, famous for its multi-coloured homes, beguilingly reflected in the waters of the canals.

There are plenty of bars and restaurants for visitors, but it’s very much a working town, with fishermen selling their catch straight from their boats, and old nonnas sitting on their verandas, making the island’s needle lace.

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The 19 best places to visit in March

No matter where you travel, March is a time of change. In the Northern Hemisphere the first signs of spring arrive; in the south, it means the end of sweltering summer heats and the arrival of cooler days.

For travellers, however, March will always be shoulder season, a month that means fewer crowds, better weather or affordable deals. It’s a time of adventure and hurling yourself off on new adventures.

So, whether you’re searching for wildflower explosions, mass migrations or the wildest cultural festivals on the planet, we’ve put together some of the top destinations to visit this March.

Here are the best places to visit in March…

1. Michoacán, Mexico

Michoacán’s monarch butterflies ascend in their millions for mating season (Shutterstock)

Early March is the last chance to see monarch butterflies gathering en masse in Mexico. By then, the branches of Michoacán’s oyamel fir trees droop with the weight of some 200 million sets of orange wings, readying for the journey north to the Californian coast.

It’s the world’s longest insect migration, spanning a 7,000km round trip. The first arrivals flutter into Mexico by November only to hibernate in cocoons over winter. They then emerge in February and March, a period marked by elaborate courtship dances that fill the air.

The best place to witness this is among the forested mountains of Michoacán, within the vast UNESCO-listed Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. The main sanctuaries here are Rosario, Sierra Chincua and Senguio, with short, steep hikes usually required for sightings. Bear in mind, though, that silence is required – butterflies are easily disturbed.

2. North Island, New Zealand

Te Urewera in New Zealand (Shutterstock)

As the shoulder month between summer and autumn, March in New Zealand is dry and warm but not blisteringly hot. It makes the perfect time for escaping to the islands’ incredible wildernesses. But with its Great Walks often heavily oversubscribed, it’s worth opting for a different style of ‘tramping’ – accompanied by a Māori guide.

Up in the North Island’s Bay of Plenty, the Te Urewera rainforest was de-listed as a national park and granted personhood back in 2014. It was the first ecosystem in the world to be granted the rights of a human, and is now managed by a Maori council. With many Tūhoe Nation communities still residing within the area, multi-day treks (Oct–Apr) with an Indigenous guide let you explore not only sacred waters and beautiful rainforest, but spare time to visit the communities still living here.

Over a few days, these treks reveal a land as storied as it is wild, as you share traditional campfire tales, look for birds and visit the communities still living in the rainforest. Afterwards, combine with a visit to Auckland to catch the annual Arts Festival, which lights up the city across March.

Read next: A guide to the Great Walks of New Zealand

3. Ontario, Canada

Muskoka has its own Maple Trail (Shutterstock)

March is the sweetest month in Canada for one simple reason: maple syrup. Between February and April, the country’s farmers extract this sugary sap from maples (and birch trees in late April) by drilling a hole in the trunk and attaching a spout and a bucket. It’s that easy. Some farms have as many as 60,000 taps, but it’s what is done with it afterwards that catches the eye.

Lanark County, on the fringes of Ottawa, dubs itself Ontario’s syrup capital for good reason. Seasonal ‘sugar bushes’ (groves) and camps open to visitors across the region. There’s even a maple heritage museum (and pancake house), run between March and April, that holds the Guinness world record for the largest number of maple syrup artefacts – it’s worth a visit for that alone.

Festivals continue across the province and well into late spring, with some areas – including Muskoka, north of Toronto – producing their own self-guided Maple Trail to take you to the more rural culinary hot spots. It’s a great way to escape the big cities and spend your money in the local communities.

4. Wilhelmina Bay, Antarctica

Crabeater seal on ice floes in Wilhelmina Bay, Antarctica (Shutterstock)

March sees the final few departures in the West Antarctic summer cruise season. After this, the pack ice begins to harden as winter sets it, creating impenetrable waters up to 1,000km around the continent.

March is also the best time to go whale watching here. Some six species of baleen whales, from blue to southern right, swim the Antarctic waters, but humpbacks in particular are dominant. Around this time, they also gather in pods in preparation for their migration north, making spotting them far easier.

Specialist wildlife-themed trips are your best bet for sightings, but plenty of peninsula cruises pass through hot spots, such as the Lemaire Channel, a feature on most ‘classic’ itineraries. Look especially for routes that include detours to Wilhelmina Bay, which has a high concentration of krill and sees huge numbers of humpbacks gather to feast there.

5. Central Valley, Chile

March marks the beginning of harvest season in Chile (Shutterstock)

March and April are a special time in Chile’s Central Valley. This is wine country after all, and the beginning of autumn in the southern hemisphere fires the starter’s pistol for grape harvest season.

Over the border in Argentina, Mendoza hosts one of the biggest wine festivals (vendimia) in Latin America, but Chile’s tend to be far smaller, more intimate affairs, as a deluge of towns and farming communities see their streets turned into vast dining areas, bands take to the stage, and feet stained malbec-red.

The Colchagua Valley city of Santa Cruz is home to one of Chile’s largest vendimia. Vineyards surround it as far as the eye can see, and some 150 producers ride into town to show off their dazzlings carménères and cabernet sauvignons each March, making this a great starting point.

It’s a similar story in Curicó, though its four-day festival also brings some of the country’s more famous musicians to town, along with producers from the surrounding wine route. Indeed, most of the major wine valleys (Maipo, Maul, Casablanca, Aconcagua) have their own driving routes that thread the vineyards, so once you’re done with the festivities, hit the road for a serene escape.

6. Swedish Lapland

Lynx on patrol in Swedish Lapland (Shutterstock)

The lynx is not an easy feline to spot, especially in the snowbound terrain of north-west Sweden. But if you’re ever going to see one in the wild, March is the ideal time. This is breeding season, a time when these usually circumspect cats can be heard calling out to potential mates.

Tours to spot them are increasingly common, too, though it can be tough going. Visitors will likely find themselves snowmobiling out to a remote cabin in Jokkmokk, then Nordic skiing into the wilderness to lie in wait. But the chance to see one of Europe’s least-sighted felines is fair reward.

Even if you don’t get lucky, this is an exciting time to year to visit Sweden’s wild Arctic north. Vast populations of reindeer and moose can be seen plodding the snows, while at night this month affords the last chance to clearly see the cosmic contortions of the Northern Lights.

7. Annecy, France

Traditional carnival mask at Annecy Carnival, France (Shutterstock)

Embrace the alternative at France’s answer to the Venice Carnival in March (3 to 5 March 2023). Where its Italian counterpart is literally crumbling under the weight of visitors, this canal city offers glamour aplenty but without the guilt of adding to overtourism.

Annecy itself is a quaint slice of medievalism. Veined in arterial canals and fringed by mountains, it lies a stone’s throw from France’s Swiss border. But in early March, it erupts into Alpine masquerade.

It’s actually a modern festival, started in 1995, but what began as a handful of masked party-goers now sees hundreds of participants silently parading the streets of Annecy’s canal-lined Old Town.

Wander the cobbles beneath windowboxes spilling with geraniums, as the scent of tartiflette (cheese, potato and bacon) wafts from windows. Be sure to also drop by its tiny medieval castle-turned-museum, then finish drifting villages and Alpine peaks on Lake Annecy.

8. Argentinean Patagonia

Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares National Park in Patagonia, Argentina (Shutterstock)

The months of March and April see the orca of Peninsula Valdés do something rather spectacular. As pups emerge in the local sea lion colony, the orca here have taken to performing smash-and-grab raids during high tide on the beaches, opportunistically snatching those playing in the shallows.

It’s an unforgettable sight, and it doesn’t even require a boat to see. The Punta Norte beach, within the Peninsula Valdés Fauna Reserve, is the best spot to see this. Places are tricky to get, however, and tours are the most reliable way to bag good views of the main striking areas.

For prime seats, see if you can bag a room at the Estancia La Ernestina. The hotel-restaurant overlooks the beach (and its very own penguin colony of some 140,000). Unsurprisingly, rooms fill up fast, so you’ll need to book early.

9. Pelješac Peninsula, Croatia

Ston in Croatia is renowed for its oysters (Shutterstock)

Mid-March is oyster season in Croatia’s Pelješac peninsula, a slip of medieval villages and vineyards north of Dubrovnik. By then, the bay’s oysters are at their plumpest, signalling the moment that two neighbouring villages, Ston and Mali Ston, erupt in a food festival that typically coincides with the Feast of St Joseph (19 March) and draws in a few of its neighbours.

Boat-fresh oysters are prepared in every way imaginable, with the peninsula’s wineries also out in force, offering ample opportunity to sample local postup and dingač wines (among the finest in Croatia).

March is a great time to visit the peninsula, as the weather is kind and the summer masses have yet to descend. The cooler weather also makes it ideal for walking what remains of the medieval walls that wrap the two villages, circling the hillsides in between for nearly 5km. These vast defences were first constructed in 1333 AD, and 20 of the intervening towers are still standing.

Across the wider peninsula, there are ancients saltworks and family-run wineries (many offer tours and tastings) to explore. Ferries also open up the Dalmatian islands beyond, where the Byzantine and Roman ruins of Korcula and Hvar await. If you have time, head for the tiny, forest-covered national park island of Mjlet (ferries start in mid-March), just off the peninsula, which sees far fewer visitors than it deserves.

10. India

Colours are thrown into the air for India’s Holi Festival (Shutterstock)

Holi festival blazes a colourful trail across India on the last full-moon day of the Hindu luni-solar calendar, which is typically in March. The night before (Holika Dahan) sees bonfires lit across the country, often accompanied by dancing; this is followed the next day by chaos, as the streets erupt in a fog of gulal (coloured dye) and kids packing water pistols. There’s nothing quite like it.

You’ll find festivities in most towns, though they differ hugely. In the far north-east (Assam), Holi continues for five days in the town of Barpeta, where it is known as Doul. Here locals decorate their houses with flowers and begin their celebrations with the burning of clay huts, followed by days of fireworks and food.

In the West Bengal university town of Shantiniketan, Holi is known as Basanta Utsav and takes on an altogether more refined approach. Women dress in yellow saris and adorn their hair with flowers, while the poems and songs of Rabindranath Tagore are recited. It has an almost carnivalesque feel to it, with plenty of live music accompanying the hurling of dyes.

Lastly, the Uttar Pradesh twin cities of Mathura and Vrindavan are considered the birthplace of Lord Krishna, whose divine love Holi festival celebrates. Events gear up a week in advance here (starting in nearby Barsana), with events shifting between temples in the cities. In Vrindavan, there is even a day set aside for widows (traditionally banned from celebrating), who converge on Gopinath temple to shower each other in colours.

11. Bhutan

Paro tshechu is one of the largest celebrations of the year (Shutterstock)

You would expect a country with a ‘Gross National Happiness’ index to throw a good a festival. Certainly, Bhutan’s tshechus (held on the tenth day of the lunar calendar month) are incredible sights, with visitors’ attentions typically focused on the masked Cham dancers, whose intricate costumes and performances are part meditation, part drama, retelling the story of Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century.

One of the biggest tshechus takes place in Paro in March, when the town’s dzong (fortified monastery) becomes the setting for a four-day celebration of music, dance and spiritual contemplation, which culminates in the unravelling at dawn on the final day of a thangka – a sacred silk painting said to cleanse one’s sins with just the sight of it. As things wind down, finish with a hike to the magnificent Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest monastery), which clings to the side of a cliff at 3,000m.

March also brings the Dromache to Punakha, home to arguably the most beautiful of Bhutan’s fortified monasteries. This five-day celebration is devoted to deep meditation, followed by the town’s tshechu. During this time, monks will hold a reenactment of the Tibetan invasion of Bhutan in the early 17th century, when the army attempted to steal the monastery’s most precious relic but were fooled by a monk pretending to throw it in the river.

12. Valencia, Spain

The traditional burning of stone dollspaper during Falles Festival, Valencia (Shutterstock)

March sees Valencia literally light up thanks to the Falles Festival, running from 15 to 19 March. The Spanish feast of San José culminates in five days of fireworks, firecrackers and… well, fire. Groups of workers spend months creating giant papier mâché ninots (satirical statues of well-known figures), with the sole purpose of setting them alight.

Firework displays begin about two weeks before the first night of the festival, when the statues are erected and the party begins in earnest. Parades celebrating the patron saint mark the days in between. You can’t miss them: the brass bands start at 8am, then at 2pm the Plaza Ayuntamiento erupts in a cacophony of daytime firework displays.

The final two nights see the statues (some up to 20m high) burned while fireworks erupt overhead. Each neighbourhood even has its own celebrations, so no matter where you go in the city, you’ll encounter glorious, all-consuming chaos.

13. Ireland

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Dublin, Ireland (Shutterstock)

March celebrates the return of one of the world’s top holidays: St Patrick’s Day (17 March). And there’s no better place to embrace the ‘craic’ and all things green than in Ireland itself.

In Dublin, the day means more than just beer-fuelled mayhem and leprechaun hats – though you’ll see plenty. Bars will be humming and the parade route between Parnell Square and St Patrick’s Cathedral will be mob-deep, but there’s more on offer than just one day of revelry. A five-day cultural festival takes over in the run up to the big day, ensuring plenty of music, art, poetry and comedy shows. First, grab a traditional dish of corned beef and cabbage at nearby Gallaghers Boxty House, to line your stomach. Then, head to Temple Bar District, where live music is everywhere, and enjoy the packed, eponymous bar, where Dublin’s literary greats once drank.

But outside of the capital, the celebrations are just as lively. Co. Cork always expects grand parades in Ireland’s second-largest city, while the small town of Dripsey is known for the shortest St Patricks Day parade at just over 90 metres. Head to Waterford to party in the city which first declared St Patrick’s Day as a national holiday in 1903, or perhaps head to Dingle for the earliest parade in Ireland, starting just after the crack of dawn at 6am.

14. Lisse, The Netherlands

Tulips and windmills in Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse, The Netherlands (Shutterstock)

Tulip season in the Netherlands typically runs from the end of March until mid-May. It’s then that field after field of the bollenstreek (bulb region) fills with the most incredible colours. For most visitors, the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse are an easy way in. This landscaped botanical garden is home to some seven million bulbs, and if you don’t mind the crowds, it’s a blissful day out.

For the more adventurous, take to two wheels. The Lowlands make for easy pedalling, and cycling trips from Leiden are a simple way to quickly find yourself among fields and windmills. Maps with pre-planned routes are easy to find at tourist information and bike rental shops are plentiful.

15. Southern California, USA

The super bloom in the Mojave Desert, California (Shutterstock)

Early March is the time to catch a natural phenomenon that has been occurring more frequently in California in recent years: the super bloom. This rare floral event only occurs when seeds that have lain dormant for years in the desert soil suddenly erupt all at once.

It requires very specific conditions, but what was a once-in-a-decade event is happening more frequently, with super blooms sighted in both 2017 and 2019. Regardless of the year, there are always wildflower walks to be found here, particularly in Southern California. Here, the poppies of Antelope Valley turn the grasslands of the Mojave Desert into a sea of orange in late March, with strictly marked trails throughout the reserve.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is likewise ‘super bloom’ territory, but on any given year its canyons and mines see dramatic splashes of primrose, milkweed and poppies in mid-March. Visit Borrego Palm Canyon in particular, where trails to its palms and wild gardens are guarded by watchful bighorn sheep.

16. Japan

Cherry blossoms without the crowds? Try Himeji Castle, Hyōgo, Japan (Shutterstock)

Nothing gets Japan’s islands of Kyushu and Honshu quite as excited the arrival of cherry blossom season in March. The sakura begin flowering in the former by the middle of the month, with the cities of Honshu (Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka) usually following suit before the start of April. By which point, parks are already full with hanami (blossom-watching parties) gathered beneath the pale-pink blooms.

There are thousands of scenic spots to soak up the blossoms. Some are more crowded than others, but it’s best to combine with other sights. Tokyo’s Ueno Park is home to thousands of trees but also has plenty of museums and shrines to wander. Likewise, Kyoto’s Maruyama Park boasts aged teahouses, ornate temples and dazzling canal paths lined with blossoms and is a wonderful microcosm of this historic city.

Read next: The best places to see Japan’s cherry blossoms without the crowds

17. Namibia

An aerial view of the green Okavango Delta (Shutterstock)

March signals the last flourish of ‘green season’ in Africa’s southern region (November to March). It’s a period that divides travellers, as the rains and sudden burst of lush foliage make both travel and spotting wildlife tougher. But, with the notable exception of South Africa, it’s far less busy and a more affordable period to travel.

The perfect time to visit Namibia. Etosha National Park in particular sees less rain during this period than, say, the far busier safari parks of South Africa. The afternoon storms diminish as the month goes on, while the legacy of calving season sees its antelope herds increase dramatically, to the delight of predators.

The park also offers excellent birdwatching, as the salt pans fill with water and the wildflowers bloom. March and April are your last chance to catch the spring/summer birding season (September to April), when the intra-African and Eurasian migratory settle in to breed.

Read next: Namibia trip planner: Six routes you could take

18. Jordan

Walking the Jordan Trail, Jordan (Shutterstock)

If you’re looking for a challenge, the conditions for walking the Jordan Trail are perfect in March. This is one of the great long-distance trails to emerge in recent years, and a fine way to explore a remarkable land.

Such is the trail’s length (650km), the southern section tends to be better in late winter (February to March) while the north is better come springtime (March to April), as the winter cool starts to give way to the desert heat.

Of course, you don’thave to walk it all. If you’d prefer to chop up the trail into something more manageable, make sure to include the dark skies of Dana Biosphere Reserve, home to the Nubian ibex and abundant flora, as well as the ancient rock-cut Nabataean capital of Petra.

To the south, the Mars-like red sands of Wadi Rum and the final stretch over the Aqaba mountains to the coast are just as satisfying, whether you’ve tackled the whole trial, or simply walked a few days.

19. Colombia

Hike to the lost city of Teyuna, Colombia (Shutterstock)

It’s not often you discover a lost city. March sees the tail-end of dry season (December to March) in northern Colombia, and if you’re going to make the five-day trek to the ruins of Teyuna (Ciudad Perdida), it’s the perfect time. After that, the mud and river crossings can become tricky.

Treks are always accompanied by a guide, but compared to, say, the more famous Inca trails of Peru, this route sees a fraction of their footfall. En route, you’ll pass through Kogi villages and forests draped in liana, before finally arriving at the foot of the 1,200 steps leading up to the ruins of Teyuna, a jungle city of great mystery.

Teyuna was built in 700AD, but other than that, no one knows much about it. The city fell around the time of Spanish Conquest and only ‘re-emerged’ in the wider consciousness in the 1970s. Since then, it’s kept a low profile because of troubles in the region. But it’s safe these days and worth the sweat, with most travellers making their base in the city of Santa Marta.

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5 reasons to visit Buenos Aires, Argentina

1. The dancing

Couple dancing tango in the street in Buenos Aires (Dreamstime)

Buenos Aires is the undisputed tango capital of the world. When the sun sets it is almost as if the whole city is dancing. The tango shows in La Boca or the impromptu street dances are the gentlest introduction to this fierce and energetic dance. But to discover the real culture of the tango – the rules, the codes, the politics, the drama – you need to find a milonga. At a milonga, people come to drink and dance, to watch and be watched.

Milonga Parakultural at Salon Caning in Palermo Soho is a good general milonga with a broad mix of ages and dance abilities. Monday, Tuesday and Friday evenings are best. For a glimpse of tango at its most traditional, head to Cachirulo on Saturday nights. Men and women sit on different sides of the hall, with men asking women to dance using the cabeceo, a system of asking for and accepting dances using eye contact. Or you could join the bright young things at El Yeite. It opens as the other milongas close and is where all the up-and-coming dancers are found.

For something altogether more sedate, head for the bandstand in the hilly Barrancas de Belgrano park for the Sunday night ‘La Glorieta’ milonga. There are free tango lessons from 7pm – then watch the experts perform for a fee.

2. The beef

Typical parillada in a restaurant in La Boca (Dreamstime)

In Argentina, it’s all about the carne. Each Argentinian eats close to 70 kgs of beef each year and in Buenos Aires there seems to be a parrillas (steakhouses) on every corner. On building sites too. It’s not unusual to see builders and labourers firing up a makeshift BBQ to grill a slab of prime grass-fed pampas beef for lunch.

The commercial steakhouses are the best place to start for visitors. Order a parrillada (mixed grill) and you’ll be treated to a sizzling selection of chorizo (beef or pork sausage), pollo (chicken), costillas (ribs) and carne (beef). You can order a parrillada for as many people as you like. The chef simply adjusts the size of the serving to suit.

Argentinians like their steaks well done, so if you don’t, ask for yours punto (medium), jugoso (medium rare) or poco cocido (rare). If you’re eating from one of the BBQs at Mataderos’s traditional market, just give a simple nod when you think your steak is done.

Looking for the perfect drink to accompany your Argentinian meatfest? You can’t ignore the local Malbec. Robust, luscious and full of flavour, it’s the ideal companion, no matter the cut.

3. The colourful neighbourhoods

Street scene in Boca (Dreamstime)

Set at the mouth of the Riachuelo river, La Boca is a riot of colour and music, a buzzing barrio where people tango on the streets and houses are painted every colour of the rainbow. It’s also home to La Bombonera, where the world famous Boca Juniors play, and on match days the area is even livelier.

This fiercely working class neighbourhood was where Italian immigrants first settled. In 1960, local artist Benito Quinquela Martín painted the walls of an abandoned street, set up a makeshift stage and it quickly became a haven for artists. Now, painters, sculptors, and photographers fill the colourful pedestrian streets and the conventillos, shared homes made of wood and corrugated zinc, have been restored and painted. Locals will tut that it’s not the ‘real’ Buenos Aires, but it’s a lot of fun.

If street art is your thing, take a wander around the northern suburbs – especially the barrios of Palermo, Caballito and Colegiales. Here you’ll find some of Buenos Aires’s best street art, created by artists from all over the world.

4. The parks

Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur (Dreamstime)

Just a stone’s throw from Buenos Aires’ central business district, the Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur is a vast, riverside nature reserve that is ideal for strolling, cycling and birdwatching. 865 acres in size, it’s easy to feel like you’ve left the hustle of the city behind.

The reserve was expanded in the early 1970s, with the newly formed ponds and grasslands quickly becoming a haven for over 200 bird species as well river turtles and iguana.

The reserve boasts a large network of tracks and boardwalks and bikes can be hired at the main entrance. It is also a popular picnic spot, with plenty of bars and parrillas for your steak-and-malbec fix.

Another popular park is the Bosques de Palermo, the Palermo Woods. The Rosedal (Rose Garden) is spectacular and on Sundays the park is full of people out walking dogs, rollerblading or riding pedalos on the lake.

5. The markets

An antique stall in San Telmo feria (Dreamstime)

Buenos Aires is home to San Telmo feria, the largest street market in South America. Held every Sunday between 10am and 5pm, stallholders, tango dancers and musicians descend upon the cobbled streets here, with stalls stretching the entire length of Defensa.

You’ll be able to find your usual assortment of mate guords, leather belts and Patagonian knives, of course, but the real pleasure of San Telmo is trawling through the antiques. Argentinians are greater borders and a wander through these markets is akin to picking through their attics and basements. Expect to come away with a a beautiful glass soda dispenser or a set of matching cut glass tumblers.

For a taste of Argentina’s famed gaucho culture, head to the Mataderos traditional markets, held every Sunday too. Here the pampas comes to the city with gauchos on horseback, cattle traders adding to their herds, live folk bands, stalls for all your gaucho needs and the biggest barbecues you are ever likely to see.

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1. Learn to tango in Buenos Aires

Tango dancing at night in Argentina (Shutterstock)

Tango and Argentina are synonymous with each other. It’s a dance of passion and drama that locals believe reflects their soul. The capital, Buenos Aires, is the spiritual home of the dance. Here, subway stations are named after tango musicians, the streets are full of dance halls and cultural centres and attending a tango show is an essential experience for anyone visiting the city.

For a truly immersive experience, learn to tango in one of the many dance schools in Buenos Aires. La Viruta in Palermo offers classes split into six different levels of experience. And DNI Tango in Almagro offers classes in different languages – and a free introductory lesson – making it popular with travellers.

Or head to the bandstand at the Barrancas de Belgrano park on a Sunday night for the casual milonga (high tempo song), La Glorieta. Dancing starts around 8pm, but free tango lessons are offered earlier, giving beginners the basic skills they need to join in.

2. Feel the spray (and more) from Iguazú Falls

Iguazú Falls as seen from a helicopter (Shutterstock)

Forming a natural border between Argentina and Brazil, the Iguazú Falls are one of the most awe-inspiring sights on the planet.

An interlocked chain ofhundreds of waterfalls, it extends for close to three kilometres. Whether you walk along the trails beside it, take a boat tour to the mouth of Garganta del Diablo, the Devil’s Throat, or get a humbling overview with a spectacular helicopter flight, you’ll be left awestruck – and very, very wet.

Most visitors come for a day, but for the those that linger, staying in one of the eco-lodges that have sprung up near the park offers the chance to explore what’s left of the great Atlantic Rainforest.

A haven for wildlife, and criss-crossed with trails, suspension bridges and natural pools for swimming, it is an incredible place to experience.

Just south of the park, the town of Wanda is home to the ruins of San Ignacio Miní, a Jesuit monastery founded in 1610, and the abandoned mines of Polish settlers.

3. Watch a glacier calve at Perito Moreno

Perito Moreno glacier in Glaciares National Park (Shutterstock)

There’s nothing quite like the crack, crash and roar of a glacier calving. It is elemental and invigorating.

At Glaciar Perito Moreno, in the south of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, it happens almost every 20 minutes. Part of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field, the glacier is one of the most dynamic ice fields on the planet, moving up to two metres a day and shedding office block-sized icebergs with breathtaking regularity.

The glacier is 30km long, and 60m high and is clearly visible from a multitude of vantage points on the paths and boardwalks that run through the park.

There are also regular boat tours on the lake in front of the glacier, many taking you close to the face of the glacier, as well as treks where you can don crampons and walk across the top of the glacier itself.

4. Meet marine mammals on Península Valdés

An orca hunting seals on Península Valdés (Shutterstock)

If it’s marine mammals you want to see, then the Reserva Faunística Península Valdés, on Argentina’s barren Patagonian coast, is for you.

One of the world’s most important marine mammal breeding grounds, it was made an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is vital to the conservation of the endangered southern right whale as well as elephant seals and sea lions

With a total area of 3600km2 and more than 400km of coastline, the reserve is huge. But the wildlife viewing is equally epic. Along the peninsula you’ll witness sea lions, elephant seals, guanacos, rheas, Magellanic penguins and numerous seabirds.

The orcas here have developed a unique hunting strategy, adapted to local coastal conditions, beach themselves on shore to capture sea lions and elephant seals. A truly unforgettable sight.

5. Soak up Argentine culture in Córdoba

Puente del Bicentenario at night (Shutterstock)

Ever since it was awarded the title of Cultural Capital of the Americas in 2006, Córdoba has gone out of its way to continue to be the Cultural Capital of Argentina. The latest addition is the Centro Cultural Córdoba, an eye-catching, glass-and-concrete construction, but the city is already overflowing with museums, galleries, theatres and cultural offerings.

Start in the city’s compact and well-preserved historic centre, filled with beautiful colonial-era churches, monasteries and theatres and municipal buildings.

Then check out Evita Fine Arts Museum, the Emilio Caraffa Fine Arts Museum, Kosovo urban art gallery and the Cordoba Cultural Centre.

Home to the second oldest university in South America, the city has a large student population, evident in the quirky lanes of the Guemes district and the artistic offerings of the Paseo de Los Artes.

6. Enjoy a Malbec (or two) in Mendoza

Vineyards near Mendoza (Shutterstock)

Argentine Malbec is a deeply-coloured, spicily-rich red wine with with exuberant juiciness – a little like Mendoza, where it is produced.

The city is small and compact, with wide, leafy streets lined with art deco buildings and countless bodegas (wineries) offer tastings and tours. At night, the bars and restaurants along Av Arístides overflow onto the sidewalks.

This is where Argentina’s wine industry began. Malbec Luján de Cuyo was the first Denomination of Origin (DOC) of the Americas and today the town is surrounded by vast vineyards, where braised rows of vines stretch towards the Andes.

Here you’ll find a variety of wineries, olive oil farms and other gourmet businesses tempting you with tours and samples of their produce. Hire a bike or rent an electric scooter and make a day of it. Just remember to save the proper drinking until you’re back in town for the night.

7. Ride across the Andes like an Argentinian gaucho

Gauchos in Patagonia (Shutterstock)

Argentina is a nation with a strong link with horses. Horseback riding has played an important part in the history and folklore of this country. The strong, independent gaucho is as romantic an image in Argentina as the cowboy is in America. Riding here, even for a few days, is a great way to appreciate the country, its epic landscapes and its people.

There are estancias (ranches) across the country offering riding holidays and tuition. Estancia Los Potreros lies off the beaten track in the Córdoba hills. Estancia La Rosita in Corrientes offers riding holidays as well as the chance to help round up cattle.

For something truly memorable, you could ride across the the Andes from Argentina into Chile,taking in incredible mountain vistas and experiencing life on horseback, just like the gauchos of Argentina’s past.

8. Travel to the ends of the world in Tierra del Fuego

Beagle Channel near Ushuaia, Argentina (Shutterstock)

The last stop before Antarctica, this archipelago of barren, windswept islands is a land of glaciers, lakes, mountains and rivers that seem to have jumped straight from the pages of Lord of the Rings.

Ships have floundered on its rocky shores, mystics have searched for meaning and deep sense of otherworldliness prevails.

The landscapes are epic. The barren northern plains of Tierra del Fuego give way to peat bogs and moss-draped lenga forests that rise into ragged snowy mountains.

With very little light pollution, the nights skies are a blanket of stars, appearing close enough to touch. There’s an abundance of wildlife too, including a colony of Magellanic penguins on Martillo Island. The best time to visit them is between September and April.

9. Tuck into the world’s best steaks at a traditional parrilla

An asado at work in Mendoza (Shutterstock)

Vegans and vegetarians, turn away now. Argentina is unapologetically carnivorous, and tucking into an oversized steak is a point of national pride. Working your way through a slab of barbecued meat at a local parrilla (a restaurant selling barbecue meat) is a right of passage for visitors travelling through Argentina.

Parrillas are not hard to find. They are everywhere, if there’s not one within your eye line, just follow your nose. The beef is cooked slowly and steadily, over hot coals under a pile of burning wood rather than ready-made charcoal, under the watchful eye of the asador (grillmaster). Argentinians like their steaks well done and will assume you do to. Make sure you let the asador know if you’d like yours any different.

You’ll also be offered an overwhelming choice of cuts. You’ll recognise favourites like bife de chorizo (sirloin), cuadril (rump)and ojo de bife (rib eye), but tira de asado (thin strips of ribs and meat sliced crosswise), and vacío (flank steak that is textured and chewy), are worth checking out, too.

More of Argentina’s best bits? Read on:

How to tango like a pro in Buenos Aires

First 24 hours in Buenos Aires

Beyond Argentina’s Iguazú Falls

13 cute, crazy and downright weird animals you’ve probably never heard of

1. Aardwolf

Aardwolf in Africa (Shutterstock)

Don’t let the name fool you. Aardwolves are related neither to wolves or aardvarks. Rather, their name means ‘earth wolf’ in Afrikaans, a reference to their voracious appetite for insects.

Native to east and southern Africa, aardwolves are most closely related to hyena. Having said that, you’re more likely to find them tearing into a termite mound rather than a carcass abandoned by a lion.

Aardwolves can eat up to 200,000 termites in a sitting, imbuing them with both protein and moisture, allowing them to live successfully in some of the driest corners of the planet.

2. Bilby

A bilby in the Australian desert (Shutterstock)

The bilby is a rare, desert-dwelling marsupial from Australia, renowned for it’s long tail, silky fur and big ears.

Also known as a rabbit bandicoot, the bilby has become a symbol of Easter in Australia, replacing the Easter Bunny, with proceeds from the sales of chocolate Easter bilbies used to ensure the species survival.

With their strong forelimbs and well-developed claws, bilbies are fearsome burrowers. In fact, a female bilby’s pouch faces backwards to prevent it getting filled with dirt while she’s digging.

3. Pink Fairy Armadillo

A Pink Fairy Armadillo (Mariella Superina)

The smallest of all armadillos, and only found on the grasslands and sand plains of Argentina, pink fairy armadillos are unbearably cute. Measuring less than 11cm long, with a pink shell and white silky fur, their pocket size makes them sought after pets.

Sadly, their natural habitat is also being lost to agriculture and cattle ranching. Organisations likeXenarthrans are doing everything in their power to ensure the species’ survival.

4. Chinese Water Deer

‘I’ve come to eat your grass’ – the Chinese water deer (Shutterstock)

Native to the Yangtze flood plain and some parts of Korea, the Chinese water deer and is more closely related to a musk deer that a true deer.

The males have no antlers. Instead, they grow long tusk-like canines, giving the breed the fearful nickname of ‘vampire deer.’

Not that you are in any danger should you encounter one in the wild. The tusks are largely ornamental and used to root around for food. They’re not after your blood. They much prefer to nibble on weeds, grasses and herbs.

5. Streaked Tenrec

A streaked tenrec in the rainforest of Ranomafana, Madagascar (Shutterstock)

Despite being covered in spikes, the streaked tenrec is not a hedgehog. Sure, it rolls up into a ball when it is threatened, and it will shoot quills into the mouth of any predator silly enough to try and eat it – but it’s more closely related to otters and moles.

Tenrecs are native to Madagascar, and you’ll find streaked tenrecs scratching around on the floors of the rainforests in Ranomafana, looking for worms and other insects to feast upon. Largely nocturnal, stumbling across a streaked tenrec is sure to give you a fright.

6. Star-nosed mole

Star-nosed mole (Shutterstock)

Found in the more ‘moist’ parts of North America, the star-nosed moles are not uncommon, just uncommonly seen.

The distinctive star-shaped organ on the end of their nose is touch-sensitive and made up of over 25,000 minute sensory receptors that they use to feel their way around.

No bigger than an average hamster, these moles also use their noses to blow bubbles under water to sniff out their prey, making them the only known mammal that can smell underwater.

7. Ili Pika

First discovered in 1983 in China’s Tian Shan Mountains, the incredibly rare ili pika was not seen again until 2014. Known locally as the ‘Magic Rabbit’, it is thought that there are less than 1,000 in existence.

Looking like a short-eared rabbit with a teddy bear face, ili pika like to eat grass, herbs and mountain plants. They spend the summer collecting food, that they stockpile amongst rocks in distinctive ‘hay piles.’

Scarcer than pandas, ili pika are rarely spotted in the wild, although camera traps set around Tian Shan Mountains are giving scientists a better idea of how this elusive, magically cute animal lives its life.

8. Markhor

Markhor on a rock in a Pakistani wilderness area (Shutterstock)

Known as the old man of the mountains, this extraordinary goat is only found in the remote mountains of north-eastern Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Despite its strange and unexpected appearance, it is Pakistan’s national animal. Sadly, it is also on the world’s most endangered wildlife list.

Bizarrely, markhor spittle is highly sought after as an anti-venom. It is easily harvested. Markhor are sloppy eaters, so when they chew their cud, spittle falls from their mouths and dries on the ground.Locals simply scrape it up off the ground.

9. Sunda Colugo

A colugo clinging to a tree (Shutterstock)

Also known as Flying Lemurs, these gentle creatures are not in any way a member of the lemur family. In fact, they’re quite closely related to primates.

Colugo spend their lives holding onto the trunks of trees in the jungles of South-East Asia. This is when their grey and brown fur comes in handy, and acts as excellent camouflage.

They use a flap of skin called a patagium to glide from tree to tree, saving energy and avoiding predators.The young will hold onto the mother’s belly while she glides and moves around looking for food. These shy, cute animals aren’t looking for prey, though, as they’re all herbivores.

10. Raccoon Dog

A raccoon dog in the wild (Shutterstock)

The most extraordinary thing about raccoon dogs is that they are not related to raccoons at all. Despite having faces that look identical, these east Asian dogs, also known as Tanuki, are are most closely related to foxes.

Raccoon dogs have also been significant in Japanese folklore since ancient times. They are portrayed as mischievous and jolly and are famous for shape-shifting. Many Japanese homes have a small statue of one on their bookshelves.

11. Quoll

A quoll (Shutterstock)

With their beautiful spotted coats, quolls are as cute as a button. Native to Australia and some parts of Papua New Guinea, these carnivorous marsupials have been tucking into small birds, lizards and insects since Miocene times.

Sadly, quoll numbers have dropped dramatically since the ill-advised introduction of cane toads into Australia. The slow, lumbering pests represent a quick and easy meal for the nimble quoll, but the sacks of poison along the toads’ backs are deadly.

Thankfully, breeding programs in Tasmania re-wilding quolls far from the toads’ main stomping ground in northern Australia.

12. Baluchistan Pygmy Jerboa

Looking like a cross between a tiny chicken and a mouse, the three-toed Baluchistan pygmy jerboa vies with the African pygmy mouse as the smallest rodent in the world.

Weighing in at less than four grams and barely four cm tall, they are native to Pakistan. In particular, the dry plains and sand dunes of the Baluchistan desert.

Should you come across one feeding, get ready to be charmed. Existing on a diet of wind-blown seeds and dry leaves, they raise their food to their mouth with their tiny little hands.

13. Margay

The solitary Margay cat (Shutterstock)

In the deciduous, tropical, subtropical and cloud forests of Central and South America lives the margay: a small wild cat that tends to lead a solitary life climbing through the trees, looking for rats, tree frogs and squirrels (among other creatures) to eat.

Its stature and spotted face may be reminiscent of an ocelot, but rest assured the margay has a few key differences. For one, its tail is longer than its hind leg, whereas an ocelot’s will be decidedly shorter.

Sadly, margays are quite rare, having suffered at the hands of the illegal wildlife trade in the 1990s. They are now classified as a ‘near threatened’ species.

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21 incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Latin America

1. Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador & Peru

Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System (Dreamstime)

Visiting Qhapaq Ñan is a daunting prospect. This network of Andean roads was built by the Inca to connect their capital Cuzco to outposts of the empire as far afield as the Colombian sierra to the north and Santiago in the south.

The system, which was trodden by message-relaying chasqui (runners), traders, soldiers, pilgrims and llama caravans, weaves across six countries, via high peaks, thick rainforests and arid deserts, covering some 30,000km.

At the moment it’s more an idea than a cohesive site – while masterful engineering has ensured much of the matrix is still intact, many pathways are overgrown.

However, you can easily visit patches of it. Peru’s Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the headline segment; other traceable bits include the highland route between Achupallas and Ingapirca in central Ecuador, the various strands around Rancagua in Chile, and Bolivia’s Takesi Trail, which starts near La Paz, crosses the Cordillera Real and dives down into the lush Yungas valleys.

2. Los Glaciares National Park in Patagonia, Argentina

Los Glaciares National Park (Shutterstock)

See the South Patagonian Ice Field at its most splendid. This UNESCO site encompasses 6,000 sq km of incredible iciness: around half of the park is covered in namesake glaciers, which ooze down rugged mountainsides and crash into blue-turquoise lakes.

One lake, Argentino, is fed by three vast ice tongues (Upsala, Onelli and Perito Moreno), which regularly calve thunderously into the milky waters. Los Glaciares also protects a swathe of pristine Patagonian steppe, Magellanic forests and southern beech (fiery in autumn), as well as puma, condor and ostrich-like choique.

The alpine village of El Chaltén is a good hub for trekkers; from here you can hike round Mount Fitz Roy. Alternatively, for the drama of Perito Moreno, catch a bus from El Calafate then stroll between the viewpoints on the Península de Magallanes, take a boat trip up to the glacier’s 60m-high face, or hire a guide and crampons to walk on top.

Read next 5 spectacular sights to see on the W Circuit in Las Torres del Paine

3. Iguazu/Iguaçu National Park in Argentina/Brazil

Iguazu/Iguaçu National Park (Shutterstock)

Iguazu’s so good they inscribed it twice – the Argentine side of this gigantic, jungle-shrouded waterfall became a UNESCO site in 1984, the Brazilian side in 1986. In short, it’s a natural World Heritage wonder whichever angle you’re coming from, a comely collection of between 160 and 270 cascades (depending on the water volume) tumbling into a border-straddling gorge.

But while the 3km-wide falls are the most obvious attraction here – and visitable in various ways, including upper trails, lower trails, get-you-wet boardwalks and boat trips – the surrounding parks are a less-expected revelation. The spray ensures everything around Iguazu Falls is well watered, leading to a profusion of green. This is a realm of subtropical forest, thick with Brazilian pine, wild palms, imbuya, tree ferns, lianas and epiphytes.

4. City of Potosí in Central Highlands, Bolivia

City of Potosí (Shutterstock)

Potosí, which sits breathless on the barren plains at an altitude of around 4,000m, is a place of mixed fortunes. In the 16th century, when silver ore was discovered here, it became the richest city in the Americas. But when the supply dried up in the 19th century, Potosí went into decline.

So it is with its World Heritage status. The city was inscribed in 1987 for being a matchless example of colonial industrialism and architecture. However, in 2014 Potosí was placed on UNESCO’s ‘In Danger’ list: the continuance of mining is destabilising Cerro Rico – the ‘rich mountain’ from which all the silver was sourced – and threatening the authenticity of the site.

Potosí is still worth visiting, though. It has more than 20 churches and over 2,000 historic buildings, some with red-tiled roofs and graceful porticos, some in pretty pastels, others with intricate iron balconies.

5. Tiwanaku in Altiplano, Bolivia

Tiwanaku (Shutterstock)

Forget the Inca for a minute. The Tiwanaku culture, which at its peak (AD 500-900) numbered 50,000 people, is the real cradle of Andean civilisation. Its centre was the namesake city of Tiwanaku, perched close to the southern shores of Lake Titicaca at a lung-squeezing altitude of 3,850m. The city once covered several square kilometres, though only a small part has been excavated.

What has been unearthed is the ceremonial centre of Tiwanaku, a complex of ruined pyramids, temples, palaces and megaliths set amid the barren highlands. Most striking is the seven-tiered Pyramid of Akapana, believed to be the religious heart of Tiwanaku – local Aymara people still come here to leave offerings to the achachilas (mountain gods).

To get a good overview of the complex and culture, start at the on-site museum, which displays items – pots, idols and fragments of elaborate textiles – that nod to its skills.

Read next Your travel guide to Sucre, Bolivia

6. Brasília in Federal District, Brazil

Cathedral of Brasília (Shutterstock)

Brasília is a World Heritage youngster. The pre-planned Brazilian capital only came into being in 1956, and was inscribed onto the list just 31 years later. This is thanks to the imagination and innovation of urban planner Lucio Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer, who dreamed up a city of harmonious Modernist design.

The vibe is retro space-age, laid out in an airplane-like shape, with futuristic skyscrapers and government buildings on one axis and the residential areas on the other, linked by excellent roads.

Visit the cathedral, which rears up like a splayed crown of thorns; catch a performance or exhibition at the Teatro Nacional, an Aztec-like pyramid of glass; and head to the blocky, grey-black Central Bank building, where the Museum of Money showcases financial history and an enormous nugget of gold.

7. Serra da Capivara National Park in Piauí state, Brazil

Cave paintings of Serra da Capivara National Park (Shutterstock)

This national park in Brazil’s north-east contains a semi-arid land of mountains, plains, valleys, rock formations and Brazilian caatinga (‘white forest’) – a shimmering swathe of scrub, cacti and deciduous woodland. It’s interesting enough in its own right, but the presence of the oldest rock art in the Americas adds an extra tingle.

Some of the 300-odd cave paintings and sites discovered here could date back 30,000-50,000 years. If correct, this contradicts widely held notions of how and when South America was first colonised. The artworks depict a range of scenes, from hunting and dancing to fighting and sex; other pictographs represent animals (jaguar, tapir, rhea) and supernatural beings.

The sites are spread out, so join a tour with an archaeologist guide to help make sense of the magnificent, world-changing markings.

8. Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves in Bahia and Espírito Santo states, Brazil

Trancoso, Porto Seguro, Bahia (Shutterstock)

Named for the site of the first Portuguese landing, by Pedro Cabral in 1500, the listed area covers eight protected zones, together comprising one of the best remaining sweeps of this ecosystem; rich, tropical broadleaf forest fuzzes the ocean-side limestone plateau.

Indeed, nowhere on the planet has more tree species per hectare, including pernambuco (the country’s national tree), piaçaba palms, jatoba and jussara as well as areas of restingas (moist coastal forest).

A good base is the lively coastal town of Porto Seguro, from where you can make forays into Monte Pascoal National Park and Pau-Brasil National Park – both part of the UNESCO site. In the former, you can climb the namesake mountain (536m), mountain bike towards the sea and visit the Pataxó Indian settlement.

9. Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia in Bahia state, Brazil

Salvador de Bahia (Shutterstock)

Brazil isn’t short on colonial-era cities with UNESCO listings but Salvador, nestled on a hilly peninsula overlooking Todos os Santos Bay, arguably has something extra.

It was the first capital of Brazil (1549-1763), had the dubious honour of hosting the New World’s first slave market, and is awash with architectural reminders of the past – from the wide plazas to the baroque basilica to tumbledown streets lined with pastel-hued and stuccoed Renaissance houses.

But it’s the multicultural vibe that you notice most: Salvador is the epicentre of African Brazil, and alleys here buzz with candomblé rituals and beating drums. Browse the lanes of the steep, cobbled Pelourinho, tuck into acarajé (deep-fried balls of mashed black-eyed peas with shrimp paste) and watch capoeira moves being cut on the beach.

10. Rapa Nui National Park in Rapa Nui/Easter Island, Chile

Rapa Nui National Park (Shutterstock)

Adrift in the Pacific Ocean, Easter Island is one of the remotest places on the planet – and one of the most mysterious. We think that this small chunk of volcanic rock was first colonised by Eastern Polynesians from around AD 700. But quite why they decided to sculpt huge lumps of tuff, scoria and basalt into strange big heads (known as moai), then haul them from the Rano Raraku crater and erect them all over the island remains a puzzle.

There are around 900 statues in all, ranging from two to 20m tall; some are complete, with obsidian eyes, others have been left semicarved. There are also 300 ceremonial platforms and the remains of other domestic structures. Must-sees include the 15 moai of Ahu Tongariki and the beachside sculptures at Anakena. Also, take a walk around Rano Raraku, to explore the Rapa Nui’s alfresco workshop.

Read next 8 highlights of Easter Island

11. Port of Cartagena on the Caribbean coast, Colombia

Cartagena, Colombia (Shutterstock)

Pastel-painted, palace-dotted, wall-wrapped, Caribbean-lapped Cartagena is a dreamy Latin vision made real. UNESCO says, quite perfunctorily, that within the colonial heart of the city ‘can be found civil, religious and residential monuments of beauty and consequence’ but that seems to be missing part of the point.

Yes, Cartagena has a matchless complex of military walls, fortresses and a bastioned harbour, but it is the fairytale feel and sensual vibe that makes the city so intoxicating.

Soak this atmosphere up on a wander amid the old districts of El Centro and San Diego, where church spires soar, colourful streets squiggle, plazas are shaded by rippling palms and windowboxes drip with bougainvillea. Also, take a walk along las murallas (those old 16th-century walls) to gaze down on the city and the sea beyond.

12. Churches of Chiloé, Chile

Churches of Chiloé (Shutterstock)

Speckling the Pacific, just south of the Chilean Lake District, the Chiloé Archipelago stretches around 190km north-south, the surface-probing extremities of a sunken mountain range.

These islands were once the preserve of the native Chonos and Huilliche peoples, who fished and farmed here; however, in 1567 the Spanish arrived. They were followed in 1608 by Jesuit missionaries and, in the 18th and 19th centuries, by the Franciscans, all keen to convert the locals. In order to do this, the new arrivals built a circuit of churches, which they could stay at for a few days as they travelled round, evangelising.

Today there are 60 mission churches on the archipelago, 14 of which are considered particularly impressive, for their exquisite wooden construction, their colourful interiors and their fusion of European and indigenous traditions. Plan your own loop of Chiloé to take some of them in – perhaps the graceful cypress-and-larch church of Nercón, bright blue Tenaún, 53m-long Quinchao (the biggest) or Neo-Gothic Castro.

13. San Agustín Archaeological Park in Huila, Colombia

San Agustín Archaeological Park (Shutterstock)

For a long time, the FCO cautioned against visiting this ancient treasure in southern Colombia; it still does advise against all but essential travel in the regions nearby. Which is a pity, because San Agustín is quite unique, an archaeological wonderland created by a little-known culture that thrived from around AD 0-800.

The handiwork of these ancient peoples is scattered across a wide area in the eastern Andean foothills. There are funerary monuments, burial mounds, stone statuary (in the forms of humans, animals and birds) and even carvings in the rocky bed of a stream. A museum explains some background, then you can hike or horse-ride around the site to get a feel for the scale of the civilisation’s achievements.

Read next A guide to Colombia’s six charming regions

14. Galápagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean, Ecuador

Marine iguana on the Galápagos Islands (Shutterstock)

The Galápagos might be the Latin American UNESCO site that’s loved just a bit too much. The magical, yet fragile, archipelago struggles under the weight of people wanting to visit, as well as migration, overfishing and invasive species.

However, despite all of the problems, it remains one of the world’s very best wildlife destinations – there are few other places where the creatures are so unafraid and so brilliantly weird, or that have inspired an entire rethink of evolution.

Cruising around the islands will introduce you to its numerous residents – the playful sea lions, the piles of pitch-black marine iguanas, the lumbering giant tortoises, the many types of booby. Boats with kayaks and snorkel gear will allow different levels of interaction. Just tread carefully as you go.

15. Sangay National Park in Central Andes, Ecuador

Sangay National Park (Shutterstock)

Sangay has been redeemed. This park, which gathers together three 5,000m-plus volcanoes (two of them active) plus valleys, rainforests and a sprinkle of waterfalls, was placed on the ‘In Danger’ list in 1992, when illegal poaching and construction threatened its integrity.

However, by 2005, it was considered fully UNESCO-worthy once more. It’s the range of terrain here that’s so impressive – running the gamut from snowcapped mountain tops and high-altitude páramo to the lush lowlands of the Amazon Basin. Plus, its remoteness means wildlife thrives here: tapir and puma, giant otter and spectacled bear, Andean condor and cock-of-the-rock.

The park can be explored via hiking trails, by bike or on horseback. Technical climbers might fancy El Altar (5,139m), the inactive member of the park’s volcanic trio. Tungurahua (5,016m) is currently too volatile to ascend. Sangay (5,230m) still spits and huffs, but – conditions dependent – can be conquered on a five-day trek.

16. Quito in Northern Ecuador

Quito (Shutterstock)

When UNESCO designated its first 12 World Heritage sites in 1978, the historic centre of the Ecuadorian capital was one of them. Even the powerful earthquake of 1917 couldn’t rattle this Latin lovely: the architecture here remains intact and wonderfully harmonious, a masterclass in the style that became known as the Baroque school of Quito.

This design ethos originated in the 17th and 18th centuries, combining Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous styles to create something spectacular.

Amid the Old Town, laid out neatly in a series of squares, are some real gems: the monastery of Santo Domingo, with its exquisite works of art, and the La Compañía church, with its glittering interior of gilded walls, altars and plasterwork. Take a walking tour around the Old Town or ride the teleférico sky tram up Pichincha volcano for the finest city overview.

Read next How you can explore the best of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands

17. Jesuit Missions of La Santísima in the Trinidad de Paraná & Jesús de Tavarangue Paraná River area, Paraguay

Jesuit Missions of La Santísima (Shutterstock)

Paraguay’s only UNESCO site – like a fair few other Latin inscriptions – owes its existence to those proselytising Jesuits. The Christian crew arrived in the Río de la Plata Basin area in 1588, encouraging locals to adopt the religion but not enforcing a full Europeanisation; consequently, many indigenous traditions remain.

La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná (built in 1706, and the better preserved) and Jesús de Tavarangue (1760), both now in ruins, are 10km apart, and follow a similar design: a central church flanked by the home of the Fathers, with the chiefs’ residence nearby, plus workshops, a yard and cemetery; the indigenous people’ homes were along streets radiating from a large square.

18. Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu in the Andes, Peru

Machu Picchu (Shutterstock)

There were rumours the (over) popular lost Inca citadel might be declared ‘In Danger’ when the UNESCO Committee gathered in July 2015, with a final decision postponed until 2017. Certainly the site is a victim of its own popularity.

Well, it’s a hidden ruin that out-foxed the Spanish, tucked deep in lush, misty mountains, tumbling delightfully down an improbable slope, and accessible only via a splendid old paved pathway or a scenic train – what’s not to love? It has all the romance you could want from a travel destination – but sadly all the people you don’t.

Relieve a bit of the burden on the site by hiking one of the alternative trails to Machu Picchu – perhaps via the Salcantay route, Lares Valley or Choquequirao – and by visiting some of Peru’s lesser known archaeological gems.

19. Manú National Park in the Amazon, Peru

Manú National Park (Shutterstock)

Manú is massive. This park in the Peruvian Amazon covers some 15,000 sq km of tropical forest, snaking rivers, alluvial plains and Andean foothills. The biodiversity here is off the scale; for example, around 850 bird species have been recorded, though who knows how many more species might lurk here. Creatures we do know about include jaguar, giant otter, giant armadillo, black caiman, various monkeys and myriad macaws.

Tourism is only allowed in three areas of the park: the Acjanaco Sector/Tres Cruces, a high-altitude region of puña grasslands and cloudforest, home to puma and Andean bear; the Cultural History Zone, in the Palotoa River Basin, home to the Pusharo petroglyphs; and the Manú River Sector, where boat trips and stays at jungle lodges offer an introduction to both the prolific wildlife and the native culture.

20. Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape in Fray Bentos, Uruguay

Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape (Dreamstime)

Er, yes, meat production heritage! Who knew it was so important? In answer: not as many people as know it now. The factories here, on the banks of the Uruguay River, represent South America’s newest UNESCO site, freshly designated in July 2015.

It’s a huge complex, founded close to the livestock-rich prairies in 1859, and showcasing the whole method of meat manufacturing – from sourcing and processing to packing and dispatching.

The old El Anglo plant, which closed in 1979, is now a heritage museum, an eerily empty disarray of people-less warehouses, unhinged gates, rusty hooks and collapsed cattle corrals. As for the rest of Fray Bentos, there are some leafy plazas and some colourful houses, and the sandy beaches of Las Cañas are 8km away.

21. Canaima National Park, Venezuela

Canaima National Park (Shutterstock)

Canaima, in south-east Venezuela, hard up against the Brazil and Guyana borders, feels positively prehistoric. Around 65% of the park is covered by tepuis – majestic, jungly flat-topped inselbergs that have evolved in splendid isolation, from both the outside world and each other.

This means the area is a hotbed of endemism, with each tepui summit having its own unique ecosystem; the most explored is Mt Roraima, which can be climbed on a steep and sweaty five-day expedition from the village of Paratepui.

The park is also a-splish with waterfalls, not least Angel, the world’s highest, which tumbles 1,002m down the side of Auyantepui. There are also rarities such as giant anteater, giant armadillo and little spotted cat, to the native Pemón people, who have roamed amid Canaima’s forests and savannah for at least 10,000 years.

Discover more of Latin America’s highlights:

8 exciting foodie experiences in Latin America

25 best outdoor experiences in Latin America

7 colourful festivals of Latin America