Beneath the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge is the “Gibraltar of the West Coast,” a fort built to protect the San Francisco Bay from naval attack.

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

Half-hidden by grassy slopes, this striking Spanish colonial fort is now a museum of underwater archaeology.

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

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

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

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

Found down a long dirt road, a sacred Mexican cenote and 18th-century hacienda remain hidden.

These azure waters were thought to lead to the Mayan Underworld.

For this chef, an active volcano is his oven.

This church was transported brick by brick from the ruins of a 16th-century city into Panama City's current historic district.

In the upscale neighborhood of Miraflores in Lima, a pretty little park is home to dozens of cats.

It took 82 years and four different plaques to finally get the story right.

The intricate stonework of Machu Picchu serves as a testament to Incan engineers.

Preserved Inca city and site of the last Inca stronghold against the Spanish conquistadors.

This geometric feat is a testament to the Incas' mesmerizing architectural abilities.

Situated on a sacred Inca site, this 16th-century cathedral took nearly 100 years to build.

Built on the remains of one the Incas’ most important gathering spots, this square keeps the spirit of a fallen empire alive.

The stones of this Incan wall complex fit together so well you couldn't fit a piece of paper between some of them.

On this tiny spot of land in the middle of Lake Titicaca the only ones who do the knitting are the men.

The Uros people live on floating reed islands in lake Titicaca.

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

Home to 23 voluptuous and instantly lovable sculptures by one of Latin America's most celebrated artists.

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