A whimsical European-style chateau that calls the coast of Chile home.

This iconic hilltop church doubled as a lighthouse in the 19th century, guiding ships into the port of Valparaíso.

What was once a unique system of urban elevators is turning into a mechanical ruin.

This giant Christ took first place in South America's religious arms race.

An ancient Incan convent on Lake Titicaca's Island of the Moon.

This 16th-century monastery was founded to cloister the daughters of wealthy local families.

A set of ancient drawings in the desert of Peru that are so massive, many of them can only be fully seen from the sky.

An unexpected desert oasis in South America.

These overlooked ruins give an intimate look at the Inca Empire's urban planning prowess.

This unimaginably large pile of sand near Nazca is one of the tallest dunes in the world.

Nazca pilgrimage site covering 370 acres is a popular stop for archeologists and looters.

A backdoor to Machu Picchu that only the most foolhardy infiltrator would attempt to breach.

White llama terraces dazzle in Peru's "other Machu Picchu."

The mysterious "Candelabra of the Andes" could represent anything from a god's trident to a hallucinogenic plant.

Plundered and left asunder by grave robbers, this ancient necropolis has been painstakingly pieced back together.

The highest tropical mountain range in the world is in Central Peru, home to a vast array of exotic and quirky plants and animals.

This scalding hot river was thought to be a myth until one geoscientist made it his quest to study the mystical waters.

Art school in the Amazon: Drugs, nature and sustainable agriculture.

This 12-inch-tall wooden sculpture of a winged Virgin Mary has inspired much devotion and countless replicas.

This overlooked, beautiful convent hides an original Hieronymus Bosch among its many treasures.

The world's tallest aluminum statue is also the world's tallest image of a winged Virgin Mary.

A turquoise lake within a volcanic crater.

A swing to dangle you off the very edge.

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