South America Castles & palaces + Water sports pictures

• World

Visit a quaint 17th-century island fort, take a banana boat out on the ocean and fill up on tasty snacks from the stalls.

More than just a stretch of sand, Rio de Janeiro’s most famous beach is where locals and visitors from all over the world come to relax, strut, pose and play. 

Visit a quaint 17th-century island fort, take a banana boat out on the ocean and fill up on tasty snacks from the stalls.

Swim in the secluded bay, hike up into the wooded hills and dine on the fruits of the sea at beachside restaurants at this beach, one of Rio’s best kept secrets. 

More than just a stretch of sand, Rio de Janeiro’s most famous beach is where locals and visitors from all over the world come to relax, strut, pose and play. 

Considered the birthplace of Brazilian surfing, this small beach is also one of the most popular places to catch Rio de Janeiro’s spectacular sunsets.

Encounter a range of tropical vegetation and animals in the lush terrain of this area where you will find one of the world’s largest waterfalls.

Walk to the end of this picturesque pier, where you can organize a diving trip to a nearby island with a schooner operator.

Feel like you are in 18th-century Europe at this mock-gothic homage to a rustic French château with a well-kept garden and panoramic views of the city.

Lose track of time on this picturesque beach, where the waters are calm, the views are glorious and everything you could possibly need is close by. 

Swim in the warm water, visit an 18th-century church and board a catamaran for a sailing trip around Ilha Grande at this pretty beach. 

Revel in the lively ambiance of the bars and restaurants of one of the most popular beaches in the Búzios region.

Explore dreamlike landscapes of untamed wilderness and crystalline waters at the very southern tip of the Americas.

Ride big waves in chilly waters at this Pacific coast town, which has a striking blend of ocean and rural landscapes. 

Visit this islet in May for the pious celebrations and hear the intriguing tales of this chapel’s miraculous inception.

Feel like you are in 18th-century Europe at this mock-gothic homage to a rustic French château with a well-kept garden and panoramic views of the city.

Revel in the lively ambiance of the bars and restaurants of one of the most popular beaches in the Búzios region.

More than just a stretch of sand, Rio de Janeiro’s most famous beach is where locals and visitors from all over the world come to relax, strut, pose and play. 

Visit a quaint 17th-century island fort, take a banana boat out on the ocean and fill up on tasty snacks from the stalls.

Colonial landmarks, emerald waters, dozens of white-sand beaches and forest-clad tropical islands make this a quintessential beach town on the Costa Verde.

Colonial landmarks, emerald waters, dozens of white-sand beaches and forest-clad tropical islands make this a quintessential beach town on the Costa Verde.

Lose track of time on this picturesque beach, where the waters are calm, the views are glorious and everything you could possibly need is close by. 

Take boat trips, go diving in crystalline water and snap memorable photos of jagged coastline, remote beaches and peaceful islands.