Semmes’ North America, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean Travel Bucket List

Americas Bucket List My bucket list is a never-ending work in progress. I am continuously adding, altering, changing, and updating it. I love discovering new things, learning about new destinations, being inspired to try something new, etc. So, my bucket list serves as a reminder to me of the massive, exciting, ever-changing world. Do I think I will accomplish everything on my bucket list? I sure hope so! Anything is possible!

Make sure you check out all my other Bucket Lists and my USA Travel Bucket List. Here is my Bucket List for the rest of North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. Keep in mind that I will be constantly adding and editing items on this list. And, let me know if I should add anything else!

* The numbers refer to the items from Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel book.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English and French
BEST TIME TO VISIT – March to November
CAPITAL – Ottawa
✓ British Columbia Province
- ✓ Visit Vancouver
  - #474. Grouse Mountain
  - Explore Stanley Park
  - Feast on dim sum, where one in five residents have Chinese heritage
  - ✓ Go on the Capilano Suspension Bridge
  - ✓ Shop at Granville Island Market
- ✓ Visit Victoria
  - ✓ See the Butchart Gardens
- ✓ See whales and dolphins at the Inside Passage
- #150. Haida Gwaii
- #393. Burgess Shale
- Ski at Whistler
- Go white water rafting on Kicking Horse River
- Take in the sights at the Sea-to-Sky Highway
- Explore the Great Bear Rainforest
- Visit Pacific Rim National Park
- Enjoy some fresh powder at one of the Canadian Rockies’ renowned ski resorts
✓ Travel through the Rocky Mountains in the Rocky Mountaineer Train
✓ Alberta Province
- ✓ Stay in Banff
- ✓ Lake Louise
- ✓ Stay at the Fairmont by Lake Louise
- Visit Jasper National Park
- #163. Moraine Lake
- #268. Athabasca Glacier
- #346. Glacier Skywalk
- Drive the Icefields Parkway
- Attend the Calgary Stampede
- Sit on the edge of Malign Canyon
- Visit Dinosaur Provincial Park (UNESCO)
Saskatchewan Province
- Float in Little Manitou, Canada’s Dead Sea
- Explore the Big Muddy Badlands
Manitoba Province
- Go on a Polar Bear Safari
- Visit Winnipeg
- See the bison at Riding Mountain National Park
Ontario Province
- Visit Toronto
  - Go to the CN Tower
  - Visit Casa Loma
  - Enjoy world-class restaurants and chic boutiques in downtown Toronto
- #106. See the Niagara Falls
- Go on a cruise of the 1000 Islands
- Visit Ottowa
- See the Cheltenham Badlands
Quebec Province
- Visit Montreal
- Eat poutine
- See the Notre Dame Basilica Cathedral
- #218. Visit Old Quebec City (UNESCO)
- Stay at the Ice Hotel
- See the whales at Saguenay
Nova Scotia Province
- #320. Bay of Fundy
- See the Hopewell Rocks
- Visit Halifax
- Take a scenic drive on the Cabot Trail
- Visit the Landscape of Grand Pre (UNESCO)
- Visit Lunenburg (UNESCO)
Newfoundland Province
- Go iceberg watching in Iceberg Alley
- See the puffins at Elliston
- Visit the historic lighthouse at Port au Choix
- #457. L’Anse aux Meadows (UNESCO)
- Visit Gros Morne National Park (UNESCO)
- Visit Mistaken Point (UNESCO)
- See the Red Bay Basque Whaling Station (UNESCO)
Prince Edward Island Province
- See Ann of Green Gables
- Enjoy the Victorian charm of Charlottetown
- Visit Panmure Island
- Crack shells at the Prince Edward Island lobster feast
Go to a hockey game
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (UNESCO)
See the Northern Lights
Go dog sledding
See some of the wildlife across the country from black bears, grizzly bears, moose, and more

Anguilla (UK)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to May
CAPITAL – The Valley
Relax at Shoal Bay
Hang out at the island’s nightspots in Sandy Ground
Meads Bay, an idyllic mile-long crescent of white sand
Drink some Rum Punch
Dune Preserve
Sail the perfect blue waters
Dive the 1772 wreck of El Buen Consejo
Relax at Junk’s Hole, an intimate beach on an intimate island

Antigua and Barbuda

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to mid-April
CAPITAL – St. John’s
Relax at the Half Moon Bay
Watch the sunset on the Shirley Heights
Antigua Naval Dockyard (UNESCO)
Stay at the Hermitage Bay
Enjoy the tropical scenery of Fig Tree Drive
Take a cruise, enjoy the sights of the coastline, and snorkle the reefs

Aruba (Netherlands)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Dutch and Papiamento
BEST TIME TO VISIT – January to August
CAPITAL – Oranjestad
Relax at the Eagle’s Beach
Watch the sunset over Manchebo Beach
See the California Lighthouse
See the Casibari Rock Formation
Hang out with the flamingos at Flamingo Bay

✓ Bahamas

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – Year-round
✓ CAPITAL – Nassau
- ✓ Explore the old pirate town of Nassau
- ✓ Stay at the Atlantis
- ✓ Stay at One and Only
Walk on the Pink Sand Beach
See the flamingos at Inagua National Park
See the pink sands at Harbour Island
Explore Eleuthera Island
Stay at The Cove
Exumas
- Swim with the pigs of Exuma
- Kayak among the dozens of tiny islands in the Exumas
Dive to the Musician Statue
Relax on Cat Island
See the mysterious blue holes at Small Hope Bay
Explore a shipwreck
Feed the nurse sharks at Compass Cay

Barbados

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – February to May
CAPITAL – Bridgetown
- Visit the historic Bridgetown (UNESCO)
- Enjoy the dockside cafes, shops, and thriving markets in Bridgetown
- Tour the restored George Washington House
- Sample rum at the Mount Gay Rum Distillery
See historic Georgetown
Walk along Barclay’s Park
St. Nicholas Abbey
Watch a cricket match
Hunte’s Gardens

Bermuda (UK)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – Year-round
CAPITAL – Hamilton
Explore the shipwrecks that were lost in the “Bermuda Triangle”
See the historic town of St. George and its fortifications (UNESCO)
Explore the Crystal & Fantasy Caves
Horseshoe Bay
Spot whales beyond the reefs of the South Shore
Wear Bermuda shorts in Bermuda
Relax on the pink-sand beaches

✓ British Virgin Islands (UK)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – Year-round
CAPITAL – Road Town
Go Snorkeling at Smuggler’s Cove
Relax in the sands of White Bay
Stay on Nectar Island
Explore the Baths on Virgin Gorda
Drink a “Painkiller” cocktail at the Soggy Dollar Bar in Jost Van Dyke
Devil’s Bay, a natural beach play land
Dive the sunken RMS Rhone
Explore Anegada Island

Caribbean Netherlands (Netherlands)

Bonaire
- OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Dutch
- BEST TIME TO VISIT – Year-round
- CAPITAL – Kralendijk
- Explore Washington Slagbaai National Park
- Dive the Bonaire National Park
Saba
- OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Dutch and English
- BEST TIME TO VISIT – Mid-December to mid-April
- CAPITAL – The Bottom
- Go diving at Saba National Marine Park
Sint Eustatius
- OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Dutch
- BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to February
- CAPITAL – Oranjestad
- Go diving at St. Eustatius Marine Park

✓ Cayman Islands (UK)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – Year-round
✓ CAPITAL – George Town
✓ #485. Visit Sting Ray City
✓ Wonder at the rocks of Hell
✓ Learn about turtles at the Cayman Turtle Centre
✓ Relax on the Seven Mile Beach
Stay at the Ritz Carlton
Search for the pirate booty in the caves on Cayman Brac
Go diving at Bloody Bay Wall
Explore the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
See the Pedro St. James, an 18th-century grand plantation house

Cuba

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – November to May
CAPITAL – Havana
- #42. See Habana Vieja (UNESCO)
#158. Valle de Vonales
#223. Malecon
#477. Playa Mayor
Smoke a Cuban cigar
Learn how to roll a cigar at the tobacco plantations in Vinales
Drive one of the old cars
Drink a Cuban Mojito
Experience some of the best diving in the world at Punta Frances on Isla de la Juventud
See the Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca near Santiago de Cuba (UNESCO)
Explore the town of Trinidad (UNESCO)
Vibales Valley (UNESCO)

Curaçao (Netherlands)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English, Dutch, and Papiamento
BEST TIME TO VISIT – Year-round
CAPITAL – Willemstad
Have fun at the Curaçao Carnival
Explore Christoffel National Park

Dominica

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – February to April
CAPITAL – Roseau
Explore Morne Trois Pitons National Park (UNESCO) and the incredible volcanic scenery
Stay at Secret Bay
See the British Fort Shirley in the Cabrits National Park
Go to Emerald Pool
Go to Scott’s Head, a fishing village
Drink some champagne on Champagne Beach
Take a dip in Boiling Lake
Traverse the deep canyons in Trafalgar Falls
Sip some rum at The Macoucherie Distillery, the country’s most famous rum producer

Dominican Republic

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to July
CAPITAL – Santo Domingo
- Explore the historic heart of Santo Domingo (UNESCO)
Relax at Punta Cana
Check out Lake Enriquillo, the largest lake in the Caribbean
Go on a banana plantation tour
Watch the humpback whales from Samana Bay
Relax on the white sandy beaches of Playa Rincon
See the 27 waterfalls (Damajagua)
Watch a baseball game
Go kitesurfing at Playa Cabarete
Dive and explore the reefs and wrecks
Go white-water rafting on the Rio Yaque del Norte

Grenada

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – Year-round
CAPITAL – St. George’s
- Wander around the historic St. George’s with the rainbow of Caribbean colors, the hillsides, the bay, and a historic fort
#292. Underwater Sculpture Park
Buy some spices from the “Spice Island”
Carriacou Island
- See the sea turtles at Anse La Roche on isolated Carriacou
Sip some rum at Antoine Rum Distillery
Relax on Grand Anse Beach
Visit Tiny Sandy Island
Visit Petit Martinique, the smallest of Grenada’s trio

Guadeloupe (France)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – French
BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to May
CAPITAL – Basse-Terre
Enjoy the unspoiled island of Marie-Galante
Explore Guadeloupe National Park
Take in the views of Bourg des Saintes from the summit of Le Chameau

Haiti

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Haitian Creole and French
BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to July
CAPITAL – Port-au-Prince
- Catch a brightly painted tap tap (local bus) across the city
- See the fancy “gingerbread” houses
- Visit the Musee du Pantheon National
#252. La Citadelle la Ferriere, the fortress built to defend Haitai against Napoleonic invasion
See the waterfalls and pools of Bassins Bleu
Party at one of the Caribbean’s liveliest carnivals, Jacmel Carnival
Hike through the Parc National La Viste

✓ Jamaica

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – Year-round
CAPITAL – Kingstown
✓ Stay at the Tyrall Club
✓ Relax on the sandy white beaches of Negril
✓ Dance to Reggae Music
✓ Cliff jump at Rick’s Cafe
See the Blue and John Crow Mountains (UNESCO)
Take a dip in the Blue Hole at Ocho Rios
Try Jamaican Bobsledding at the Mystic Mountain
Visit the Dunns River Falls
Learn more about Bob Marley at The Bob Marley Museum
Port Royal
Raft the waters of the Rio Bueno
Visit one of the coffee plantations

Martinique (France)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – French
BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to May
CAPITAL – Fort-de-France Bay
See the Memorial de l’Anse Caffard
See the ruins of St. Pierre, the former capital destroyed by the eruptions of Mt. Pelee
Relax on the beaches of Les Salines

Montserrat (UK)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – February to April
CAPITAL – Plymouth
Explore Plymouth, the Pompeii of the Caribbean
Visit the Montserrat Volcano Observatory

Puerto Rico (USA)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English and Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – November to April
CAPITAL – San Juan
- Explore the old San Juan (UNESCO)
#330. Bioluminescent Bays
Float in the bioluminescent Mosquito Bay (see above)
Go to the island of Vieques
Relax on Culebra
Visit Ponce, a colonial gem
Visit the “Cathedral of Rum” at the Barcardi factory

Saint Barthelemy (France)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – French
BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to April
CAPITAL – Gustavia
Relax at Colombier Beach
Stay at Cheval Blanc St. Barth Isle de France
Eat at Eden Rock – St. Barths

Saint Kitts and Nevis

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – Year-round
CAPITAL – Basseterre
Check out the fortress on Brimstone Hill (UNESCO)
Ride the scenic Kitts Scenic Railway
Visit historic Charlestown
Hike on the lush mountainsides of Nevis
Ride one of the ferries linking the two islands

Saint Lucia

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to May
CAPITAL – Castries
#308. Climb the Gros Piton (UNESCO)
Explore the village of Soufrière
Dolphin and whale watching from Marigot Bay
Stay at Jade Mountain
Stay at the Ladera Resort
Channel your inner pirate at Pigeon Island
Go snorkeling at Anse Chastanet Marine National Park
Spot the St Lucia parrot, a bird that only lives on the island

Saint Martin Island (France & Netherlands)

Saint Martin (France)
- OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – French
- BEST TIME TO VISIT – May to June and November to December
- CAPITAL – Marigot
- Go down the world’s steepest zip-line
- Take a photo of an airplane landing at Maho Beach
Sint Maarten (Netherlands)
- OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Dutch and English
- BEST TIME TO VISIT – May to June and November to December
- CAPITAL – Philipsburg

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to May
CAPITAL – Kingstown
Go diving in the Tobago Cays
Take in the views from Fort Charlotte
Port Elizabeth
Enjoy the luxurious Mustique

Trinidad & Tobago

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – February for Carnival and May to September
CAPITAL – Port of Spain
#272. Asa Wright Nature Centre
Go turtle watching at the Grande Rivière
Relax at Pigeon Point Beach
People watch at Queen’s Park Savannah
Attend the Caribbean’s biggest and best Carnival at Port of Spain

Turks & Caicos (UK)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to July
CAPITAL – Cockburn Town
Relax on the Grace Bay and Half Moon Bay
Admire the beauty of Chalk Sound
Stay at Parrot Cay
Grand Turk
Learn about the pink mollusks at Caicos Conch Farm
Spot flamingos on West Caicos

✓ US Virgin Islands (USA)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – Year-round
CAPITAL – Charlotte Amalie
✓ Go island-hopping on a chartered sailboat
✓ Explore St. Thomas
Explore Blackbeard’s Castle
See the sea turtles at Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge on St. Croix
Relax at Trunk Bay
Virgin Islands Park on St. John
Kayak through the mangroves on the wild end
Dive the wall at Cane Bay
Hike St John’s vista-rich Reef Bay Trail

Belize

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – January to May
CAPITAL – Belmopan
- Explore the smallest capital city in the Americas
#149. Actun Tunichil Muknal
#368. Glover’s Reef Reserve
#395. Blue Hole
#405. Caracol, a vast Mayan city
#422. Altun Ha
Snorkle in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve
See the black howler monkeys at the Community Baboon Sanctuary near Bermudian Landing
Ride a speedboat from Belize City to the Northern Cayes
Listen to live Punta rock
Spot some jaguars
Look for big bird, the 5ft-tall stork common to Crooked Tree Lagoon
Explore Barton Creek Cave, an ancient sacred site for Mayan burials
Dive the Belize Barrier Reef (UNESCO)
See the islands along the Meso-American Barrier Reef, the world’s second-largest coral reef

Costa Rica

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to April
CAPITAL – San Jose
- Go white water rafting in San Jose
#105. Parque Nacional Corcovado
#243. Bosque Nuboso Monteverde
See the misbehaving monkeys at #244. Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
Soak in the hot springs in the shadow of #271. Volcan Arenal
#301. Parque Nacional Tortuguero
Ride the Jaco Rainforest Aerial Tram
Take a dip into La Fortuna Waterfall
Whiz across the cloud forest canopy on a zip line in Monteverde
Ride the waves at Witch’s Rock
Visit Cocos Island
Go on a coffee plantation tour
Visit the Sloth Sanctuary at the Limon Province
See the leatherback sea turtles making their epic migration to Playa Grande
See the Catarata Del Toro, the largest waterfall in Costa Rica
Visit Cocos Island National Park (UNESCO)

El Salvador

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – November to April
CAPITAL – San Salvador
#377. Ruta de las Flores
See the Santa Ana Volcano
See the mountain grandeur in Parque Nacional El Imposible
Visit the highland town of San Ignacio
Relax on the beaches around La Libertad
Shop for sorpresas, intricate folk scenes carved in ceremaic shells
Explore Joya de Ceren (UNESCO)

Guatemala

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – November to May
CAPITAL – Guatemala City
#14. See Myran Ruins at Tikal (UNESCO)
#226. Lago de Atitlan
Shop for colorful Mayan textiles at the Chichicastenango market
Spot howler monkeys, toucans, and jaguars
Study Spanish at a Spanish language school in Antigua
Explore Colonial Antigua (UNESCO)
Take a dip in the natural pools of Semuc Champey
Watch the sunrise atop Volcan Tajumulco, the highest point in Central America

Honduras

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – May to June
CAPITAL – Tegucigalpa
#368. Copan Ruinas (UNESCO)
#472. Bay Islands
Relax at the Cayos Cochinos archipelago
Spot the rare whale shark trolling the Caribbean coast
Explore the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO)
Scuba in the waters of Roatan
See the keel-billed toucans in Parque Nacional Pico Bonito
Visit Gracias, which once served as the capital of Spanish Central America

Nicaragua

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – June to March
CAPITAL – Managua
#324. Isla de Ometepe
See the ruins of Leon Viejo (UNESCO)
Explore Granada
See the sapphire waters of Laguna de Apoyo
Go surfing at San Juan del Sur
Sandboard down Cerro Negro
Dive with hammerheads off Little Corn Island
Relax on the Pearl Keys
See the Spanish fortress along the Rio San Juan

Panama

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – Mid-December to mid-April
CAPITAL – Panama City
- Explore Panama City’s historic district, Casco Viejo (UNESCO)
#471. Sail through the Panama Canal
#451. Archipielago de San Blas
Visit the Pearl Islands
Buy a Panama hat (even though they originated in Ecuador)
Visit the Monkey Islands
Hang out on the beaches of Bocas del Toro Archipelago
Spot a sloth!
Snorkle with the sea turtles at Parque Nacional Coiba (UNESCO)
See the no-man’s-land of Darien Gap (UNESCO)
Explore the cool mountain town of Boquete

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Mexican Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – October to May
CAPITAL – Mexico City
- Explore the historic center of Mexico City (UNESCO)
- #133. National Museum of Anthropology
- #429. Zocalo
Go to Cabo San Lucas with my best friends
Snorkel the Underwater Museum
See the Monarch Butterflies at the Reserva Mariposa Monarca (UNESCO)
See the Mayan ruins
Celebrate the Day of the Dead
Enjoy the beaches of Oaxaca
Eat an authentic Mexican food
#69. Palenque
#78. Chichen Itza (UNESCO)
#92. See the Pyramids of Teotihuacan (UNESCO)
#121. See Copper Canyon
Explore the city of Guanajuato (UNESCO)
Walk down the cobblestone streets in San Miguel de Allende
#183. Xochimilco
#313. Calakmul
Relax on the white beaches of Puerto Escondido
✓ Riveria Maya
- ✓ Cozumel
- ✓ Explore the Eco-Archaeological Park of Xcaret
- ✓ CANCUN
  - ✓ Party in Cancun
  - #489. Isla Mujeres
- ✓ Visit Playa del Carmen
- #140. Tulum
- Visit the Frida Kahlo Museum

Bolivia

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – May to October
CAPITAL – La Paz (Administrative) and Sucre (Constitutional)
#23. Salar de Uyuni
#379. Isla de Sol
Spot the rare flamingos of Laguna Colorada
Ride the highest cable car system in the world (Mi Teleferico) in La Paz
Explore the historic city of Sucre (UNESCO)
Visit the city of Potosi (UNESCO)
Explore Lake Titicaca on Isla del Sol
Spot the wildlife in Bolivia’s Amazonian rainforest around Rurrenabaque
Party the night away at the nation’s biggest and brightest festival, Carnaval de Oruro

Chile

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – Year-round
CAPITAL – Santiago
Swim in the largest swimming pool in Algarrobo
Visit Easter Island
- #116. Go to Anakena Beach
- See those cool statues
#38. Visit Torres del Paine National Park (in Patagonia)
#262. Valle de la Luna
Stargaze in San Pedro de Atacama
See the Hand of the Desert in the Atacama
See the Marble Caves in the General Carrera Lake
See the thousands of islands on the Strait of Magellan

✓ Colombia

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – January to March
CAPITAL – Bogota
✓ CARTAGENA
- ✓ #389. Cartagena Old Town (UNESCO)
#136. Tayrona National Park
#337. Museo del Oro
Relax at the islands of the Rosario Archipelago
Explore Medellín
Visit the colorful town of Guatape
See Cano Cristales, AKA the River of Five Colors
Try to find Ciudad Perdida (the Lost City)
Visit Zipaquira Salt Cathedral
Climb to the top of Piedra Del Peñol
San Andres
Explore the archaeological sites around San Agustin (UNESCO)
Try some real Colombian coffee
Have an incredible adventure (either from rafting, diving, horseback riding, or mountain biking) at the adventure capital of San Gil
Journey to the Reserva Natural Zacambu wilderness
Explore the archaeologial sites around San Agustin

Ecuador

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – May to December for the mainland and January to April for the Galapagos Islands
CAPITAL – Quito
- Explore the historical center of Quito (UNESCO)
Explore the amazing the Galapagos Islands (UNESCO)
Explore the historical center of Cuenca (UNESCO)
Explore the Mindo Cloud Forest
Visit Mitad del Mundo (the Middle of the World) on the Equator
Hike the Andes
Take the train between Quito in the Andes to the coastal Guayaquil
See Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest
See the Volcan Cotopaxi

The Falkland Islands (UK)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – October to March
CAPITAL – Stanley
See the penguins at Bluff Cove Lagoon and Volunteer Point
Explore Sea Lion Island
See the 5 species of penguins at Saunders Island
Spot dolphins from Bertha’s Beach

French Guiana (France)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – French
BEST TIME TO VISIT – July to December and February or March for carnival
CAPITAL – Cayenne
- Stroll the colorful streets
- Shop at the vibrant markets
Explore the Devil’s Island
See the monkeys of Ilet la Mère
See the ruins of the penal colony on the Iles du Salut
Watch a satellite launch from Guianese Space Center, one of the world’s busiest satellite launchers
See the giant leatherback turtles lay their eggs at Awala-Yalimopo
See the village of Cacao
See the Tresor Nature Reserve

Guyana

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – English
BEST TIME TO VISIT – Mid-October to Mid-May
CAPITAL – Georgetown
Marvel at the Kaieteur Falls
Search for endangered black caimans on the Rupununi River
Travel by boat and admire the pristine coastline from Charity to Shell Beach
Spot the wildlife in the country’s central rainforests

Paraguay

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish and Guarani
BEST TIME TO VISIT – May to September
CAPITAL – Asuncion
#380. Jesuit Missions of Trinidad and Jesus (UNESCO)
Explore the Paraguayan wildlife in Gran Chaco
See the Itaipu Dam
Visit Parque Nacional Cerro Cora
Search for wildlife in the Mbaracayu Biosphere Reserve
Admire the beauty of Laguna Blanca

Suriname

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Dutch
BEST TIME TO VISIT – February to April and August to early December
CAPITAL – Paramaribo
- Explore the historic center of Paramaribo (UNESCO)
See the wildlife of the Central Suriname Nature Reserve (UNESCO)
Take a boat journey along the Upper Suriname River
Watch the giant leatherback turtles lay their eggs on the beach of Galibi Nature Reserve
Spot the howler monkeys in the Brownsberg Nature Reserve

Uruguay

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to March
CAPITAL – Montevideo
Explore the old town of Colonia (UNESCO)
Go to the market and explore the Old Town in Montevideo
See the wildlife at the fishing village of Cabo Polonio
Hang out at Punta del Diablo
tour the ruins of Fray Bentos
Soak in the thermal baths of Termas de Dayman
Eat a huge steak

Venezuela

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – December to April
CAPITAL – Caracas
#274. Angel Falls
#454. Mt. Roraima
Visit the Canaima National Park (UNESCO)
Relax on the beaches on the tiny islands of Los Roques
See Gran Sabana
Have an adventure in the mountain town of Merida
Explore the beaches, rainforests, and waterfalls in the Rio Caura

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish
BEST TIME TO VISIT – March to May for Buenos Aires and December to March for Patagonia region
CAPITAL – Buenos Aires
- #408. La Boca District
- #421. Cementerio de la Recoleta
- Visit Evita Peron’s Tomb (see above)
- Plaza de Mayo
- Party till the sun comes up at the bars and clubs
Dance the tango in Argentina
#122. Cerro Fitz Roy
#214. Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi
#264. Glaciar Perito Moreno
Cruise the Beagle Channel
See the penguins at Punta Tombo
See the endangered southern right whales in Reserva Faunistica Peninsula Valdes (UNESCO)
El Chalten
Visit Ushuaia, the city at the end of the world
Enjoy the views of the Iguazu Falls (UNESCO)
Visit the Glacier National Park in Patagonia (UNESCO)
Eat at a steakhouse
Eat empanadas
Watch a “football” game

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Portuguese
BEST TIME TO VISIT – November to April for the coast and May to September for the Amazon and that Pantanal
CAPITAL – Brasilia
Visit Rio de Janeiro (UNESCO)
- Go to the Carnival parade
- #170. See the statute of the Christ the Redeemer
- #72. Pao de Acucar
- #440. Ipanema Beach
- Take a cable car up on Sugarloaf Mountain
- Relax at Copacabana Beach
- Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden
- Watch a football match at Maracana Stadium
#8. Visit the Iguazu Falls (UNESCO)
#131. Pantanal, home to the greatest concentration of fauna
#345. Pelourinho
#369. Meeting of the Waters
#381. Parque Nacional dos Lencois Maranhenses
Sail down the Amazon River
Enjoy the beaches on the island of Fernando de Noronha
Ride on the scenic train route between Curitiba and Paranagua
Visit the Amazon Rainforest
Visit Foz Do Iguacu
Explore the colorful town of Ouro Preto (UNESCO)
Eat at an authentic Brazilian steakhouse
Visit the enchanting colonial center of Salvador

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE – Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara
BEST TIME TO VISIT – June to August
CAPITAL – Lima
- Listen to live trova (folk music)
#3. Machu Picchu (UNESCO)
#137. Choquequirao
Hike the Inca Trail
Pet an alpaca
See Cotahuasi Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world
#321. Reed Islands
Charter a flight over the #420. Nazca Lines (UNESCO)
#481. Canon del Colca
Explore the Maras Salt Mines
Visit the historic center of Lima (UNESCO)
Visit Cusco (UNESCO)
- Explore the Secret Valley
- See the Cusco Cathedral
- Plaza de Armas
Explore the wildlife of Manú National Reserve (UNESCO)
Enjoy the islands on Lake Titicaca (UNESCO)
Visit the charming colonial city of Arequipa (UNESCO)
Hike the Santa Cruz
Visit the ruins of Chan Chan (UNESCO), the largest pre-Colombian city in the Americas
Eat ceviche
See all the biodiversity in the Parque Nacional Manu

Want More Bucket List Inspiration?

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I will be constantly updating this post with more Bucket List ideas! So, make sure you check back all the time. Also, please feel free to pin this post!

Travel around the world with Semmes!

xx,
Semmes