What are the first things that come into your mind when you think of Rio de Janeiro? 

Football?
Samba?
Carnival? 
Beaches? 
The Girl From Ipanema?
 
Despite all of those marvellous thoughts that appeared in your mind, why is it that most of your friends are off travelling in Europe or Asia, and don’t give South America, let alone Rio de Janeiro, much attention? 

It’s like the South America continent never qualifies for the World Cup of travel destinations, but Europe and Asia are always lifting the trophy. Ironic how Brazil have lifted the trophy more times than any other country in the world when it comes to the World Cup of football.

I went to Rio de Janeiro as a volunteer in July 2015 and volunteered with the Brazilian-based company Iko Poran. This experience allowed me to get a deeper cultural understanding of Rio de Janeiro and how “Cariocas” (a word used to call people from Rio de Janeiro) live because part of the program was that I met local Cariocas, and learned about Rio de Janeiro from their perspective and their personal accounts.      

In the face of unpopularity as a travel destination, I will unveil four reasons, from my own perspective and from what I learned, why Rio de Janeiro should be the next winner in your World Cup of travel destinations.

​Peru has a lot to offer travelers. Not only is this South American country completely covered on one side by ocean, but it’s also home to a large part of the Andes Mountain range. It offers gorgeous ocean views, some of the most challenging mountain sports, historical cultural villages and artifacts, and much more. You can do a little of everything in Peru.

If you are short on time, it’s important that you focus your attention where you can get the most bang for your buck. To get the most out of your trip, here are some of the most unforgettable destinations you should include on your Peru vacation.