Published August 11, 2025 03:23AM
Destinations & Things To Do
Colombia Joins Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia to Boost South American Summer Travel with Top Destinations: Here Are the New Updates
Published on
August 10, 2025 |
As travelers from all over the world seek new and exotic destinations to visit, Colombia, together with Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia, offers some of the top choices for summer travel. These countries have some of the world’s best-hidden treasures, with an abundant mixture of culture, tourism, and adventure which serve as better alternatives to the overpopulated tourist centers. Each of these countries has a unique selling point Colombia has remarkable beaches and Bolivia has diverse cultural places of interests. Brazil is famous for its secluded beaches, Argentina awe for its ancient treasures, and Chilean sites are a must for any history lover. These countries, with the right guidance and tourism, are summer travel jewels to add to your traveling plans. In this article, we shall provide the latest important details and refreshing insights to these countries which are waiting to be found this summer.
San Andrés, Colombia
San Andrés, located off the coast of Colombia, is a serene tropical island that offers a perfect getaway for those seeking a peaceful and scenic destination. The island is easily accessible through Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport, which is just a short 5 km drive from the main town. Despite attracting around 400,000-500,000 visitors annually, San Andrés remains less crowded than other popular beach destinations in the Caribbean. The island is known for its Johnny Cay, a small but stunning island offering clear, turquoise waters and pristine beaches, ideal for sunbathing and relaxation. Another major attraction is the Sea of Seven Colors, where the water changes hues as you look out from the beach, providing a surreal and beautiful sight. For those seeking adventure, snorkeling and scuba diving in the coral reefs around the island allow visitors to explore the vibrant marine life. Travelers can also enjoy island hopping, visiting nearby smaller islands that remain largely untouched by large crowds. If you visit during the summer, you can enjoy the San Andrés Carnival in August, which celebrates the island’s culture with music, dance, and local traditions.
Paraty, Brazil
Located along Brazil’s beautiful coastline, Paraty is a historic town that offers a peaceful escape from the bustling cities like Rio de Janeiro. Accessible from Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport, which is about 4 hours by car, Paraty attracts around 250,000-300,000 visitors annually. Known for its well-preserved colonial architecture, Paraty Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, featuring cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and quaint cafes. Another highlight is Ilha do Cardoso State Park, a protected area known for its pristine beaches, hiking trails, and lush forests. For adventure enthusiasts, Paraty offers a variety of outdoor activities, including boat tours to nearby islands, where you can relax on secluded beaches, and hiking through the surrounding hills and tropical forests. In addition, visitors can explore the stunning coastal views and hidden coves around the region. If you’re visiting in the summer, don’t miss the Paraty International Literary Festival held in July, a cultural event that celebrates literature with famous authors, readers, and literary discussions, making it a perfect addition to your cultural exploration.
Valparaíso, Chile
Valparaíso, a coastal city in central Chile, is known for its vibrant art scene, steep hills, and historical significance. The city is easily accessible via Santiago International Airport, just a 1.5-hour drive away. Valparaíso receives around 1 million visitors annually, though it remains more relaxed than the bustling capital, Santiago. One of the city’s main attractions is its colorful street art that decorates nearly every corner of Valparaíso. The city has transformed into an open-air art gallery, with murals and installations that capture the essence of its artistic culture. Another notable sight is Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción, two historic hills offering incredible views of the harbor, dotted with cafes, boutiques, and galleries. For those seeking adventure, hiking through these hills provides a unique opportunity to explore Valparaíso’s unique topography and to discover hidden corners of the city. Visitors can also enjoy a boat tour of the harbor, which offers a different perspective of the city’s charm. If you happen to be in town during the summer, the Valparaíso International Film Festival, held every October, brings together filmmakers and cinephiles from all over Latin America for a celebration of global cinema.
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza, located in the heart of Argentina’s wine country, is an underrated destination that attracts wine lovers and adventure seekers alike. The region is easily accessible via El Plumerillo International Airport, located just 10 km from the city center. Mendoza draws around 500,000-600,000 visitors annually, mainly drawn by its world-class vineyards and wine production. One of the biggest attractions in Mendoza is its vineyards, where you can enjoy a variety of wine tours, including tastings and guided visits to some of the region’s finest wineries. The region is particularly known for its Malbec wines, which have gained international acclaim. For those seeking adventure, Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas, offers an opportunity for challenging hikes and mountaineering. For less extreme activities, visitors can enjoy hiking in the nearby mountains and mountain biking through the scenic valleys of the region. If you’re visiting in the summer, be sure to attend the Vendimia Festival, held in March, which celebrates the grape harvest with parades, music, and plenty of wine tasting.
Sucre, Bolivia
Sucre, Bolivia’s constitutional capital, is a small, charming city rich in history and culture. Easily accessible via Juana Azurduy de Padilla International Airport, which is just 15 minutes from the city center, Sucre attracts around 100,000-150,000 visitors each year. Sucre is home to several historical landmarks, including the Plaza 25 de Mayo, a beautiful colonial square surrounded by churches, museums, and cafes. Visitors can explore the Tarabuco Market, which offers traditional crafts, textiles, and local foods, providing an authentic experience of Bolivia’s indigenous cultures. For those who love to hike, the surrounding hills offer picturesque views of the city and the vast Bolivian countryside. A short trip outside of Sucre will also take you to some of the country’s ancient paleontological sites, where you can see dinosaur footprints preserved in the rocks. In the summer, the Sucre Festival of Independence, held in May, is a highlight, celebrating the city’s role in Bolivia’s independence with parades, music, and vibrant cultural performances.
Salta, Argentina
Salta, located in northwestern Argentina, is a region known for its colonial architecture, vibrant culture, and breathtaking natural beauty. The city is easily accessible via Martin Miguel de Güemes International Airport, located just 15 km from the city center. Salta attracts around 200,000-300,000 visitors annually, making it one of Argentina’s best-kept secrets. The city’s main attraction is Plaza 9 de Julio, a central square surrounded by colonial-era buildings, churches, and cafes, which makes it a perfect spot for a leisurely stroll. Train to the Clouds, one of the highest railways in the world, offers an unforgettable journey through the Andes, with stunning views of the mountains and valleys below. For adventure lovers, mountain biking through the rugged terrain of the surrounding mountains is a popular activity, as is wine tasting in the nearby Calchaquí Valley, known for producing excellent wines. If you’re in Salta during the summer, don’t miss the Salta Folk Festival, which takes place in February and celebrates the region’s rich traditions, music, and dance.
Why These Destinations Are Perfect for Your Summer Getaway
These six underrated South American destinations offer a mix of adventure, culture, and natural beauty that will make your summer getaway truly unforgettable. Whether you’re exploring the artistic streets of Valparaíso, tasting wines in Mendoza, or hiking through the hills of Sucre, each destination provides something unique. With upcoming festivals and cultural events, these hidden gems will help you enjoy a peaceful yet enriching vacation away from the typical tourist crowds.
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A new study bolsters the claim that collagen supplements can help remodel your tendons and muscles
(Photo: MirageC/Getty)
It’s hard to claim that collagen is a “hot new supplement,” given that its health benefits were already being promoted by the twelfth-century Benedictine abbess Hildegard von Bingen. In its modern form, collagen supplements have been hyped for decades for purposes ranging from joint pain to hair thickness, despite a general lack of convincing evidence that they work. But interest has spiked over the past few years thanks to a burst of new research, and the latest study on the topic bolsters the claim that collagen might help build springier tendons and muscles to enhance explosive strength.
Why Collagen Might Help
I first wrote about the new wave of collagen research back in 2019, and followed up with more in 2023. The traditional view is that collagen-rich connective tissues such as tendons, ligaments, and cartilage are effectively inert, with very limited ability to grow or repair themselves after injury. What collagen proponents argue is that taking collagen supplements supplies the key building blocks—for example, an amino acid called proline—that trigger the synthesis of new connective tissue in the body.
The skeptical view is that collagen supplements are broken up into their constituent amino acids when you digest them, just like any other form of protein. As a result, they’re no more effective for building collagen in the body that, say, drinking a glass of milk (which also contains proline). There is, however, a bit of evidence that some collagen-specific peptides—short chains of amino acids—make it through the digestion process intact and show up in the bloodstream.
The evidence for these claims and counterclaims has been decidedly mixed. Part of the problem is that most of the studies use some combination of collagen and specific exercise protocols in an attempt to maximize the benefits, in the same way that protein supplements are most effective for building muscle when combined with strength training. This is a good idea, but it makes it tricky to interpret conflicting results. Did the study fail because collagen doesn’t work, or because the exercise protocol was too easy or too hard, or too weird?
The New Study
The latest study comes from researchers at Japan’s Juntendo University—working, it should be noted, with scientists from Morinaga & Co., which manufactures and sells health and sports “food products.” Their goal was to simplify the picture by studying the effects of 16 weeks of daily ten-gram collagen peptide supplements, with no other changes in exercise or diet. They recruited 50 volunteers, half of whom got the supplement while the other half got a placebo.
The specific hypothesis the researchers wanted to test was that collagen supplements would make tendons and muscles “stiffer,” in the sense that a stiff elastic band takes more force to stretch. This is what you’d expect if the collagen supplements trigger extra collagen formation in the tendons, which are primarily made of collagen fibers, and in the “extracellular matrix” that provides structural support to muscles.
Stiffer muscles and tendons should allow you to transfer force more efficiently from your muscles to your bones, making it possible to deliver force more rapidly. You’re not getting stronger, but you’re getting more explosive. This sort of explosive power is crucial both for athletic performance and for activities of daily living like getting out of a chair—and (as I wrote last fall) is also what we tend to lose most rapidly as we age.
What They Found
The results, which were published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, mostly support this hypothesis. They used MRI to measure the size of the Achilles tendon and part of the calf muscle; an ultrasound technique to measure the stiffness of the tendon and muscle; and a set of strength and power tests to see the functional effects of the supplementation.
Neither the tendon nor the muscle got any bigger, and the maximum calf strength didn’t change. But the elastic stiffness of both muscle and tendon increased in the collagen group, while staying unchanged in the placebo group. Here, for example, is the stiffness (as measured by how fast an ultrasound wave travels) for the collagen and placebo groups:
Perhaps more importantly, the collagen group also saw an increase in “rate of torque development,” which is a measure of explosive strength that quantifies how quickly you can apply force:
The final piece of the picture is that, for individual subjects, those who saw the biggest increases in muscle stiffness tended to see the biggest increases in explosive force. There wasn’t a clear connection between increases in tendon stiffness and increases in explosive force, but overall, the results support the chain of logic: more collagen -> stiffer muscles and tendons -> more explosive force.
What the Results Mean
You can make a much bigger argument on the basis of these results. Maybe you don’t care about tendons and explosive strength (though, honestly, you should). But if these results are true, then it suggests that there is something special about eating collagen—that it’s not just broken down into a potpourri of loose amino acids, and that it can trigger the remodelling of cartilage-based tissues. Maybe it really will thicken your hair; maybe it will repair your joints; maybe it will accelerate your recovery from ligament injuries.
These are big and as-yet-unproven claims, but if collagen works for tendon stiffness, then the other claims become a bit more plausible, at least in theory. I remain skeptical but intrigued. Given the mess of conflicting results produced by previous research, a single study funded by a supplement company—even with a robust sample size of 50—doesn’t settle the question either way. But it suggests that this is a line of research that’s very much worth pursuing, and that we should await further results with interest.
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Dubai and Riyadh are emerging as must-visit destinations for both luxury seekers and business travelers in 2025, thanks to strategic investments in tourism infrastructure, hospitality, and cultural experiences.
Dubai, already a global travel powerhouse, continues to strengthen its position with an expanded portfolio of world-class hotels, sustainable tourism initiatives, and high-end entertainment options. Upcoming developments include ultra-luxury resorts along its coastline, new fine-dining experiences by Michelin-starred chefs, and immersive cultural attractions designed to appeal to a global audience.
Meanwhile, Riyadh is undergoing a rapid transformation under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to diversify the economy and open the Kingdom to international tourism. Luxury hotel chains are expanding their footprint in the city, while flagship projects such as Diriyah Gate and the King Salman Park are set to provide unique leisure and cultural experiences.
Business travel is also seeing a significant boost in both cities. Dubai is enhancing its status as a leading hub for global events and conferences, while Riyadh is positioning itself as a rising center for business summits and international exhibitions. Improved connectivity through flagship airlines and new transport links between the Gulf capitals further strengthens their appeal.
Industry analysts note that the pairing of Dubai’s established tourism excellence with Riyadh’s bold new offerings creates a competitive yet complementary travel landscape in the Gulf. Together, the two cities are redefining the region as a premier destination for travelers seeking luxury, innovation, and opportunity.
The Historian tweaked his back in the Roller Coaster. He felt like poop. We had hoped a few zeros would reduce the trouble but it is not resolving. We have so few milea to go, and, honestly, every mile The Historian walks is a gift of love to me since he is not on this quest to finish the Appalachian Trail. His quest is to make sure I am OK to finish.
The post Day 96: A Poopy Day appeared first on The Trek.
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