Off the beaten track

For those drawn to the road less travelled, Latin America has its fair share of hidden pockets and intriguing destinations to discover.

It is definitely worth getting off the beaten track to visit Chile’s Easter Island, the most isolated inhabited island on earth. Located 3,700 kilometres from Chile’s mainland, the hundreds of monolith statues found here are the islands main draw, although little is known about their purpose. As well as archaeological wonders, Easter Island is also a place of astounding natural beauty with its verdant rolling hills, volcano craters and wild white sand beaches. Enveloped by the Pacific Ocean, the island is also known for its diving, with waters brimming with tropical fish and turtles.

Despite offering superb national parks, hidden colonial gems and some of the best beaches in the country, Brazil’s northern coast is largely unexplored. The region is rich in beautiful landscapes, welcoming people and a great year-round climate. Jericoacoara, a former fishing village, is an ideal retreat from the busy cities of Brazil. It’s hard-to-reach location is worth it for the quality windsurfing and kite surfing on offer, as well as unbeatable sunsets.

The world’s largest salt flat, known as Salar de Uyuni, is located in southwest Bolivia. Freezing by night and boiling by day, it is both spectacular and totally unique. Originally a Salt Lake, experts believe the Salar dried out around 10,000 years ago. The environment is inhospitable and not easy to reach, however the sensation of standing in the middle of this vast salt desert is something incredible. A visit here combines well with Chile and/or Argentina.

Spend time in Bogota, Colombia’s urban and cool capital, renowned for its historic Old Town and fascinating Gold Museum, or take a stroll down the cobbled streets of Cartegena, an enchanting UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with ornate churches and crumbling forts. For those with a love of adventure sports, the Los Nevados National Park offers an array of activities, including hiking, mountain biking and rock-climbing.

For those with a bigger budget and looking to venture even further, a fantastic option would be a trip to the icy wilderness of Antarctica. Here you can encounter a corner of the world that has been virtually untouched by humans, where dramatic snowcapes, ice-bergs, glaciers and incredible wildlife reign. Discover different types of penguins, seals and sea birds as well as humpback, orca and minke whales. Most visitors to Antarctica go on an expedition cruise ship which typically departs from Ushuaia in Argentina, with stops at the wildlife rich Falkland Islands and South Georgia. It is only possible to visit Antarctica from November to March – the Antarctic summer.