Updated

What often makes a trip really special is finding something extraordinary that everyone else somehow missed.  The challenge is knowing where to look when even the popular guide books don't cover it.

Vaya Adventures specializes in travel Latin America and they've made it their job to uncover the unknown and noteworthy throughout the continent. Founder Jim Lutz shares his short list of distinctive lodgings in seven Central and South American countries.

Take a look and you'll see why these relatively undiscovered gems deserve a visit.