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Central & South America
Playa Conchal Guanacasteh
Costa Rica
The white sands here are made of millions of washed up conchas (shells) that have been crushed to fluffy granules over time. As you walk south, the beach grows wider and more spectacular and Playa Conchal’s relatively calm, crystalline waters almost beg you to take a dip in them.
Ipanema Beach
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This sexy city beach near the Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers) mountains may be one of the best places on Earth to people watch. Boardwalk stands sell beer and cachaça, a sugarcane spirit, to tanned, well built beachgoers.
Atacamesh
Province of Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Bounce up to any of the thatched roofed bars lining the wide beach of Atacames, order a fruity cocktail and let the reggaeton, cumbia and merengue rhythms move you. Locals come to Atacames mostly to party, especially on weekends and vacations and all throughout the dry season (June through September).
Pinamar Beach
Pinamar, Argentina
Pinamar Beach is where porteños on the hunt for warmth and sunshine go on vacation in the southern hemisphere’s summer. High season peaks in January, though March generally offers better deals and more privacy.
Playa Brava
Punta del Este, Uruguay
The La Mano statue by artist Mario Irrarázabal has made this beach Punta del Este’s most photogenic. The sculpture, which has massive concrete and plastic fingers is only part of what makes the playa stand out among Punta del Este’s long peninsula of enviable shorelines.
Playa Negra Concón, Chile
The rocky coastline in this seaside town, 25kms north of Valparaíso, is awash in fine black sands rich in volcanic mineral. That dark hue attracts heat, but don’t let the beach fool you: The water stays cold in these parts, thanks to the Humboldt Current coming up the coast. Still, people enjoy swimming in the comparatively gentle waves.
ENDLESS VACATION 15