The favelas are Brazil's gloomily famous shanty towns. Once a shelter for war veterans and freedmen, they have now become the symbol of social and economic inequalities in the country. A guided tour of these communities represents a unique opportunity to understand the locals' living conditions, their challenges and their daily struggles. If you have the chance, visit the famous favela named Rocinha to discover a whole different side of Rio de Janeiro. Visits are only recommended as part of a supervised guided tour and may be unsafe to do on one's own.

Pula’s ever-popular aquarium occupies the floor of the city’s 14th-century AustroHungarian fortress. Highlights of the aquarium include the large sea water tanks that contain representatives of North Adriatic flora and fauna and a massive open tank that contains dogfish, sea urchins, crabs and star fish. Visitors can also take a boat ride to get a closer look at the aquarium’s inhabitants.

This rather secluded wreck is only accessible via a long trek along the coastline, but the scenic walk alone is already worth the drive to the suburb of Hout Bay in Cape Town. The ship broke loose while being towed in 1994 — it was later deemed unsalvageable and left to rust at that very spot, gaining eerie appeal in the years since. Admire the ship wreck from shore. Climbing onto rusted metal is extremely dangerous.

TIM is the country’s main venue for traditional and contemporary cultural events, including dance, drama, music, and film. There are frequent appearances by troupes of dancers from Bali and elsewhere and by gamelan musicians. You can find the monthly calendar of events at hotels and tourist offices, or check the Jakarta Post for listings.