Building this tragically pointless stone barrier cost the lives of the prisoners made to build it.

This museum’s collection includes rescued birds, fine art, and a collection of shrunken heads.

Legend says if this neo-Gothic basilica is ever officially completed, the world will come to an end.

Quito's historic, main square dates back to the 16th century.

It took 160 years to complete the most ornate church in Ecuador.

A swing to dangle you off the very edge.

In the middle of one of South America's most historic walled cities lies a bar with an enormous collection of Soviet memorabilia.

Outdoor escalators and art have helped change what was once a notoriously dangerous part of Medellín.

The world's tallest palm trees look like the whimsical kind of plant you'd find in a Dr. Seuss story.

An unusual and beautiful form of mass transit serves the city's steepest neighborhoods.

A 10 million-ton rock once worshiped by the Tahamies Indians, accessed by an astounding staircase.

The Andean town where every single building is decorated with a brightly colored frieze.

Iconic red and white plaques show the creative names invented to navigate the city streets.

Its sunny hues are believed to have inspired the town's color palette.

A magical sinkhole on the Yucatán Peninsula is adorned with mini waterfalls and hanging vines.

Every equinox this Maya pyramid puts on a spooky ancient light show.

No telescopes, no power, no gift shop: The Observatory of Chichen Itza, one of the world's oldest observatories, takes astronomy back to basics.

Clap your hands at the base of the pyramid, and the song of a sacred Mayan bird will echo through the air.

A mysterious, abandoned Chinese building in Mexico pays homage to the area's East Asian immigrants.

If you can look past the nearby sewer pipes, this urban sinkhole grotto is a mini-paradise.

This series of paintings celebrate a locally beloved snail species.

This city's cultural center is in a restored Spanish colonial home from the 1800s.

At least seven hues of blue and turquoise make this freshwater lagoon unique.

An elaborate Mayan city shrouded in alien conspiracy revealed the tomb of Pacal the Great.