With its palm islands and atolls on America's largest barrier reef, Belize stretches far into the Caribbean. A fantastic underwater world awaits divers, including the world-famous circular Blue Hole.

Globetrotters meet on Caye Caulker, deep-sea anglers, crusaders and bathers on the more exclusive Ambergris Caye. The mainland lures with the white beach of Placencia, Mennonite villages, hidden lodges, numerous national parks and enchanted Mayan sites like Caracol: An inscription tells of the victory over Tikal in the neighbouring Guatemala. Here, in the heartland of the Maya, you’ll find mighty temples, a lively culture of the most diverse indigenous tribes and magnificent colonial cities. The dramatic landscape offers enormous mountains, 33 volcanoes, coffee plantations, dense coniferous forests, the karst landscape of the cone mountains and finally the green jungle of the Petén with its famous Mayan ruins Tikal, Uaxactún, Dos Pilas or Aguateca.

The main magnet for all visitors who land in the metropolis of Guatemala City is Antigua, the old capital with its colonial charm. The highlight not far from Antigua is Lake Atitlán, picturesquely situated in front of the silhouette of volcanoes, with its Tzutuhil communities.

Breathtaking natural paradises, diverse cultures, modern megametropolises - these are just some of the attractions that make Brazil so unique.

Starting with the classic highlights like Rio de Janeiro, the spectacular waterfalls of Iguacu and the baroque city Salvador da Bahia, the black heart of Brazil, up to the impressive dune landscape of the Lençois de Maranhenses. Another jewel of Brazil is Fernando de Noronha (UNESCO World Heritage), an archipelago of volcanic origin in the Atlantic Ocean about 350 km east of the mainland. This pearl is blessed with beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters and a diverse flora and fauna. The Gaucholand in the deep south of Brazil is characterized by European immigrants and attracts with unrestrained nature and beautiful beaches in front of which the whales cavort from June to November.

Where the seas are made of salt and the stars seem close enough to touch - this is Bolivia. The only country in South America with a predominantly indigenous population also offers unique natural highlights.

The most famous are in the Andes highlands: Surmounted by the snow-capped peaks of the King Cordillera, Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, lies at an altitude of 4,000 m. The magnificent Salar de Uyuni, which can even be seen from space, lies southeast of the old silver city and UNESCO World Heritage Site Potosi.

La Paz, the country's seat of government, now boasts the highest urban cable car system in the world and the former residence of the tin barons Ururo attracts visitors with its colourful carnival. Santa Cruz is a hub for trips to the national parks of the eastern lowlands and for exploring the nearby "Ruta del Che", as well as the magnificent wooden churches of the Jesuit missions in the Ciquitania - also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overlong and narrow like a towel, the country spans 38 degrees latitude with over 4300 km of Pacific coast - in the heart Mediterranean, at the southern end ice-cold and at the head glowing hot.