Once just a sleepy fishing village on a picturesque peninsula, Búzios was put firmly on the map by Brigitte Bardot, who holidayed here in the 1960s. These days it’s an upmarket beach destination, with a host of luxury hotels, sophisticated restaurants and chic boutiques.

Formerly a leper colony, and later a prison under the military dictatorship, Ilha Grande is now one of Brazil’s most alluring destinations. This idyllic island is fringed by stunning beaches and covered in dense rainforest, with barely any human settlement outside the main town of Vila do Abraão.

Ilhabela, the aptly named ‘beautiful island’, is swathed in rainforest and fringed by golden beaches. The majority of the island is a protected state park, and walking trails lead you through dense foliage to magical waterfalls, with the chance to spot wildlife including toucans and capuchin monkeys.

The southern Brazilian town of São Francisco do Sul sits on the island of the same name, home to a major cargo port as well as some attractive Portuguese colonial architecture. The nearby Acaraí State Park preserves part of the Atlantic forest that once covered this part of Brazil, providing an important habitat for endemic and endangered species.

Porto Belo, situated on a peninsula in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, is best known for its superb beaches and calm waters, which offer excellent snorkelling and scuba diving. Just off the coast is the Ilha de Porto Belo nature reserve, where you can hike through beautiful tropical surroundings.

Located just across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires, Uruguay’s underrated capital is a cosmopolitan and eclectic mix of colourful colonial architecture and high rise modernity. The 14-mile waterfront promenade, La Rambla, is a popular and pleasant place to be on a summer’s evening.