The Amazon rainforest, covering much of northwestern Brazil and extending into Colombia, Peru and other South American countries, is the world’s largest tropical rainforest, famed for its immense biodiversity. It’s crisscrossed with thousands of rivers, the most exceptional being the powerful Amazon. River towns, with 19th-century architecture dating to rubber-boom days, include Brazil’s Manaus and Belém, and Peru’s Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado.

Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru, above the Urubamba River valley. Built in the 15th century and later abandoned, it’s renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without the use of mortar, intriguing buildings that play on astronomical alignments, and panoramic views. Its exact former use remains a mystery.

Vinicunca Mountain, also known as Rainbow Mountain, is a spectacular sight to see. It's a challenging day hike, with a round trip distance of 9.5 miles. It's not the distance that makes it a challenge, though, it's the altitude. Starting at an elevation of 14,189 ft, and ending at 16,466 ft, breathing is a serious challenge, and you tire extremely fast. This is the first and only time I was thankful that I have an injured knee - I was able to ride a horse the whole way.