Have You Explored These 5 UN Tourism-Recognized Villages in Latin America?
16-12-2025
Latin America dazzles with its celebrated cities, but the real charm lies in the small towns, quiet valleys and villages in the Latin America, where traditions breathe and landscapes feel alive. From Argentina’s watercolored mountains to Colombia’s mist-soaked páramos and Ecuador’s cacao-scented forests, small communities are opening their doors to travelers who crave authenticity, nature, and stories rooted in place.
Read about five extraordinary villages in South America that made it to the list of the UN Tourism’s Best Tourism Villages initiative. One of the reasons for places like Carlos Pellegrini and Pacto to make it to the list is because they actively conserve wetlands, forests, and endemic species.
If you’re looking for slow travel, community-led tourism, and destinations untouched by crowds, these are the corners of Latin America you’ll want to explore next.
Key Takeaways
- These five Latin American villages offer slow travel, wildlife experiences, indigenous heritage, and untouched landscapes.
- Travelers can support conservation directly by staying in locally owned lodges and booking community-led tours.
- No visa is required for US citizens to travel to these destinations.
- Easy flight connections from the US via Avianca, LATAM, Aerolíneas Argentinas, United, and American Airlines.
Carlos Pellegrini, Argentina
Carlos Pellegrini is the quiet heart of the Iberá Wetlands, with a world of glassy lagoons, floating islands, and golden marsh grasses rustling with capybaras, marsh deer, and hundreds of bird species. Life moves with the rhythm of the water, and nights glow under star-filled skies untouched by city lights. The place is known for its wetland conservation, wildlife protection, and strong community-led ecotourism.
Top Experiences:
- Birdwatch at sunrise
- Wildlife safaris by boat
- Horseback ride through the wetlands
- Visit local artisan cooperatives
Who Will Love It: Wildlife lovers, slow travelers, photographers, and anyone seeking untouched nature.
Best Time to Visit: May–October for clear skies and abundant wildlife.
How to Get There: Fly Aerolíneas Argentinas from the US (via Buenos Aires) to Posadas or Corrientes; Carlos Pellegrini is a 2.5 to 3.5-hour drive away.
Maimará, Argentina
In Maimará, watercolor-streaked mountains and soft-spoken locals sharing age-old stories embody the village’s Indigenous heritage and its dramatic natural beauty.
Top Experiences:
- Hike the Painter’s Palette
- Visit local wineries
- Explore Quebrada de Humahuaca
Who Will Love It: Adventure seekers and culture lovers craving a unique experience.
Best Time to Visit: April–September.
How to Get There: Fly Aerolíneas Argentinas from the US (via Buenos Aires) to Jujuy and from there, it is an hour’s drive to Maimará.
Murillo, Colombia
Murillo sits deep in the Colombian Andes, surrounded by páramo plains, icy rivers, and the dramatic backdrop of Nevado del Ruiz. Mist rolls across its farms and hot springs, and condors glide above peaceful mountain paths that feel far removed from the world below.
Top Experiences:
- Trekking routes toward Nevado del Ruiz
- Páramo ecosystem trails and hot springs
- Coffee farm visits
- Scenic road photography
Who Will Love It: Hikers, nature enthusiasts, photographers, and travelers seeking Colombia’s raw, high-altitude beauty.
Best Time to Visit: December–March for clearer mountain views.
How to Get There: Fly into Bogotá or Ibagué by Avianca, from the airport to Murillo is a 3–4 hour scenic drive.
Pacto, Ecuador
Pacto is an emerald-green world of cloud forests, waterfalls, and birdsong — a quiet corner of the Chocó Andino Biosphere Reserve. Families here grow award-winning cacao, protect orchid-filled forests, and share ancestral knowledge that turns every walk, every tasting, every waterfall visit into a story about nature’s spirit.
Top Experiences:
- Waterfall swimming spots
- Cacao farm tours
- Forest hikes and birdwatching
- Community-led nature tours
Who Will Love It: Ecotourists, chocolate lovers, birders, and travelers seeking rainforest immersion without crowds.
Best Time to Visit: June–September for clearer trails.
How to Get There: Fly to Quito by American Airlines or LATAM Airlines; drive for 2–2.5 hour to reach the village.
Aldea San Cristóbal El Alto, Guatemala
Perched high above Antigua Guatemala, Aldea San Cristóbal El Alto offers sweeping volcano views, terraced fields, and a village life shaped by Mayan traditions. It’s a place of warm community markets, family-run kitchens, and misty mornings where volcanoes glow orange at sunrise.
Top Experiences:
- Sunrise viewpoints over Antigua Guatemala
- Community markets
- Traditional Mayan cooking experiences
- Forest trails and vistas
Who Will Love It: Cultural travelers, hikers, photographers, and anyone seeking an authentic, community-rooted Guatemalan experience.
Best Time to Visit: November–April (dry season).
How to Get There: Fly United or American Airlines to Guatemala City; drive to Antigua for an hour and 20 minutes further up to the village.
Take Action:
Whether you’re drifting through the glassy lagoons of Carlos Pellegrini, watching condors sweep over Murillo’s high-altitude trails, tasting rainforest-grown cacao in Pacto, or waking up to volcanic sunrises in Guatamala, each destination is woven with community pride, conservation, and living culture.
So, if your next journey calls for raw nature, warm local connections, and landscapes, let these quiet corners of Latin America lead the way. Book your hotels, flights and experiences on FlyingCarpet.Travel.
If you are keen for some rural escapes in 2026, you may be interested to read our other articles:
Criteria of Choosing Villages by the UN
UN recommended villages in the Asia-Pacific
UN recommended villages for slow travel in the Europe.