Perched on the banks of the dreamy Lácar Lake, San Martin de los Andes is a Patagonian paradise. Birdwatchers flock and flutter to the annual South American Bird Fair, while thrill seekers love to kayak, ski, or mountain bike along the gorgeous landscape. Arts and crafts shops and artisan food producers will delight visitors that love a sensory sampling of local cultures.

A compact small town nearly 70 miles northwest of Buenos Aires, San Antonio de Areco is in the heart of the Argentine Pampas region. It’s a great 1½-hour day trip by car or bus from Buenos Aires—or the perfect jumping-off point for those who choose to visit at a nearby estancia, or a traditional large rural ranch and estate. Major attractions here include the colonial sights of San Antonio de Areco itself, the Museum of the Gaucho (which celebrates Argentine cowboys), and a variety of estancias themselves, which are located within two hours of San Antonio de Areco. If you don’t feel like planning your own itinerary, several tour and travel companies will coordinate your visit and arrange your estancia stay.

Normally, one wouldn’t equate "relaxing spa holiday" with "hanging out near an active volcano," but if you’re up for something more exotic than facials and massages, Banos might be the perfect place for you. The thermal mineral pools here are heated by the volcano, and while there are several, offering different amenities, the easiest one to visit is Las Piscinas de la Virgen. Banos also has plenty of outdoor activities, like rafting and biking on scenic paths.

Set in rugged, mountainous territory in the east, Cuba's fourth largest city is known as the City of Parks. Columbus called the area the most beautiful land eyes have ever seen and much of the surrounding area hasn't changed. Officially called San Isidro de Holguin, the city's elegant plazas, scatter of colonial buildings and few museums make for a pleasant daytrip. More wonders lie offshore. Swim with dolphins in Bahia de Naranjo Nature Park. Dive to sites off Playa Esmeralda and Guardalavaca.