Portugal, Argentina Transatlantic

See why this city stands out above all others as you stroll along elaborate mosaic sidewalks and pass by the Monument to the Discoveries. A quick trolley ride transports you to the cobblestone district of Baixa. Or be lured away and pampered in the resort cities of Cascais and Estoril.

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The largest Canary Island is dominated by 12,198-foot Mount Teide. The cuisine features locally grown fruits (banana, mango, and papaya) and fresh fish. Clean, sandy beaches offer chances for windsurfing, surfing, snorkeling and diving. You’ll find everything from lush vegetation to water parks and interesting shopping.

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This capital of Bahia state and fourth-largest city in Brazil was founded by the Portuguese in 1549, and its historic Pelourinho district is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The colorful center of Salvador is like a museum of colonial architecture, with more than 300 churches, including São Francisco, recognized for its grandiosity. The city has an unmatched energy and unadorned beauty, with street festivals breaking out routinely and drums pounding out the rhythms. This is the heart of the country’s Afro-Brazilian community, where the culture of those brought as slaves has been preserved, from music and religion to food and dance. Be sure to experience capoeira, the martial art that looks like dance. Out on the Atlantic coast, beautiful Bahia beaches beckon to bathers.

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Samba on down to Rio, famous for its dramatic landscape and beach culture, easy going except for the four days of frenetic, feather-festooned Carnaval. From the summits of Sugarloaf and Corcovado, take in breathtaking views of a magnificent bay set against a mountain backdrop. Check out the activity at one or two of the 23 beaches, crowded with sunbathers and swimmers, and also populated by surfers, bikers, and the girl from Ipanema. Pull up a chair at a Churrascaria, and dine on the delicious grilled meat of your choice, washed down with a Caipirinha, the national cocktail.

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Montevideo is a thoroughly modern city with a rich artistic tradition, the reach of the rural estancias is all around you. If ever there were a time you were inclined to indulge, delicious steaks are the specialty of the house in virtually every restaurant.

If only one word could be used to describe this vibrant and richly cosmopolitan city, it would be “mosaic.” Stroll along these broad thoroughfares, like the Plaza de Mayo, where famed first lady Evita Perón led fervent crowds to petition for her husband’s release from prison, or visit Pirámide de Mayo, the oldest of the city’s many national monuments.