🗺️ Natural wonders of Latin America: tickets, altitudes and how to get there

Latin America holds wonders that no paved roads lead to. In the Diquís Delta in southern Costa Rica, perfectly round stone spheres lie underground. In the Peruvian Andes, condors soar over a canyon that plunges deep below. And in Bolivia, you drive across a salt desert for hours without seeing the horizon.

We picked three such places and checked official sources to see how you can visit them today. Of these, only the Diquís stone spheres are on the UNESCO list, since 2014. For each wonder, we kept what you'll actually need on the road: what it's known for, where it is, when to go, and how to get there.

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Our picks: three natural wonders

💡 In short:

What they are: ancient stone spheres in Costa Rica and two natural wonders in Peru and Bolivia.
Format: what each place is known for, elevations, distances, tickets, and transport.
Elevations: the Salar de Uyuni sits at 3,656 m, and Colca Canyon is more than three kilometers deep.
Tickets and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official Finca 6 park website.

The order in the list isn't about "better or worse." All three places were created by nature or ancient people, and all three require preparation. Here's a table for comparison.

#	Place	Where	Known for	Entry
1	Stone spheres	Costa Rica	Perfect pre-Columbian spheres	Paid Finca 6 site
2	Colca Canyon	Peru	One of the world's deepest canyons	Boleto Turístico
3	Salar de Uyuni	Bolivia	The planet's largest salt flat	Tour only

1. Costa Rica's stone spheres

The spheres are found in the Diquís Delta, at the confluence of the Sierpe and Térraba rivers. There are hundreds of stone spheres from the pre-Columbian era. According to UNESCO, there are more than three hundred of them, and some still stand at the sites of ancient settlements. Since 2014, four sites with spheres have been on the World Heritage list.

The first major finds were made in the 1930s, when land was being cleared for banana plantations (according to the Wikipedia article). That's when the theory about alien technology was born. Scientists link the spheres to the Diquís culture, while locals tell their own story: that these are balls the gods played with.

Costa Rican stone spheres on grass in a park

The easiest way to see the spheres is at the Finca 6 archaeological park near Palmar Sur. The spheres there stand in their original positions, and a small museum operates nearby (as of 09/2026, Finca 6 park page). The park admits visitors on a schedule, so plan your visit for the morning.

The visit takes about an hour. Some spheres are scattered across neighboring farms, and you won't be allowed in. Those sites are protected as national heritage.

Getting there: Finca 6 park is near Palmar Sur; you can reach it from the town of Sierpe.
Cost: park admission is paid, and the rate is higher for foreign tourists.
The catch: many of the spheres lie on closed private property, so there is no free access to them.
Who it's for: travelers driving through Costa Rica who want to see a UNESCO site.
Hotels nearby: hotels in Costa Rica on Trip.com.

2. Colca Canyon in Peru

Colca Canyon lies about 160 km northwest of Arequipa. It is roughly 3,270 m deep and about 70 km long (as of: canyon description). In 1984, the canyon was entered into the Guinness Book of Records as one of the deepest on the planet. Colca's depth is significantly greater than that of the Grand Canyon in the US, and that is its main claim to fame.

view of Colca Canyon with terraces and river

Everyone heads to the Cruz del Condor viewpoint. Here the bottom drops 1,200 m below the rim (as of: Colca elevations). In the mornings, Andean condors circle above the cliff. Their wingspan reaches 2.7 m, and these birds live 60 to 70 years.

Entry to the tourist zone is paid. You buy a single Boleto Turístico ticket at the entrance to the valley, and the rate depends on your nationality (as of: 09/2026, AUTOCOLCA portal). The checkpoint in Chivay operates from early morning until evening, so it is best to leave Arequipa before dawn.

Altitude: Chivay sits at almost 3,500 m, and some tourists develop altitude sickness (as of: article about Colca).
Tickets: Boleto Turístico at the entrance to the valley, the rate depends on your nationality (as of: 09/2026, ticket information).
Getting there: about 160 km from Arequipa, usually by tour or bus to the town of Chivay.
The catch: early departures and the altitude are tough, and you will not be allowed into the valley without a ticket.
Who it's for: those who want to see condors and are ready for a long journey.
Tours: Colca Canyon tours on GetYourGuide.

3. Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world. Its area is about 10,582 km², and its elevation above sea level is 3,656 m (as of: salt flat description). The flat white expanse stretches to the horizon, and during the rainy season the salt is covered with a thin layer of water. The sky reflects off it, and the horizon disappears.

Jeep and traveler reflected in a salt flat at sunset

The salt crust holds enormous salt reserves, and Bolivia ranks first in the region by volume. Estimates vary, but we're talking billions of tons (according to salt reserve estimates). In the middle of the white field rises Incahuasi Island with its cacti. From there you get a view of salt in every direction.

You can only visit the salt flat with a tour. There are no roads or signs on the salt surface, so without a local driver it's easy to lose your bearings. One-day and three-day routes start from the town of Uyuni. Some tours include an overnight stay at a hotel built from salt blocks.

Where it is: southwestern Bolivia, Potosí Department, near the town of Uyuni.
How to get there: by plane or bus to Uyuni, then only with a tour.
Cost: you pay for the tour and separately for park entrance fees, bring cash (as of: 09/2026, tour description).
The catch: at night it's cold at this altitude, and during the rainy season roads get washed out.
Who it's for: those ready for early starts and big temperature swings during the day.
Hotels nearby: hotels in Uyuni on Trip.com.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Why are the stone spheres of Costa Rica considered a mystery?

The spheres are carved almost perfectly, but no written explanations from their creators survive. Scientists link the spheres to the Diquís culture, which lived in the delta before Europeans arrived, and their exact purpose is still debated. Some spheres were damaged by treasure hunters looking for gold inside (according to information on the Diquís spheres).

How deep is Colca Canyon compared to the Grand Canyon?

Colca's depth is about 3,270 m (as of: canyon figures). That's noticeably deeper than the American Grand Canyon. There's no single number: the result depends on which point you measure from, so different sources give close but different values.

When is the best time to go to Salar de Uyuni?

During the rainy season, from December to April, a thin layer of water turns the salt into a mirror (as of: rainy season on the salt flat). You pay for the beautiful effect with mud and washed-out roads. In the dry season you see the white expanse and salt patterns, but without the sky reflection.

Do you need tickets in advance for Colca Canyon?

The Boleto Turístico ticket is bought at the entrance to the valley, there's no timed entry slot (as of: 09/2026, ticket purchase rules). What you book in advance is different: a bus from Arequipa or a spot on a tour. In high season, leave earlier to get a spot at the edge of the viewpoint before the condors.

Can you see Salar de Uyuni without a tour?

Practically no. There are no roads or navigation on the salt surface, and it covers thousands of square kilometers. On your own you can only get as far as the town itself.

Tours and tickets

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In short: what's worth booking

All three wonders are open year-round, but the preparation for each is different. If you want a UNESCO site and you're driving around Costa Rica, plan a day for Finca 6. If you want to see condors over the cliff, book a night in Arequipa and an early departure to Chivay. If you're ready for the altitude and a long drive, choose a multi-day Uyuni tour with an overnight stay in a salt hotel.

Book in advance only what sells out first: tour spots and hotels near the viewpoints.

Three wonders of Latin America: stone spheres, Colca Canyon and Uyuni Salt Flat