Top Travel Ideas for Central America and the Caribbean

If you want to get to the heart and soul of Mexico, this eight-day trip is the one for you. We start in the capital, where you’ll get a guided tour of the city’s most significant sights, including a visit to Frida Kahlo’s home and a boat tour on the Aztec canals of Xochimilco. You’ll also get authentic foodie experiences at Cafe de Tacuba, Mercado San Juan and Azulisimo restaurant. From there we travel back in time at the ancient Mesoamerican sites of Teotihuacan and Tula, before visiting a series of gorgeous towns and cities, characterised by their beautiful Spanish colonial architecture and their crucial place in the fight for Mexican independence. You’ll get a city tour of Querétaro, take part in a cooking class and embrace arts and crafts in San Miguel de Allende, and learn about the Cry of Dolores in the Museo de la Independencia Nacional in Dolores Hidalgo. The trip wraps up in the pretty university town of Guanajuato, before returning to CDMX.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where you’ll learn the meaning of pura vida on this eight-day Costa Rica trip. For some, it’ll be while spotting sloths during moonlit hikes in Monteverde. For others, it may be on the deck of a surfboard just off Tamarindo’s shore. For you, it could be the first sip of coffee in La Fortuna or the first glimpse of Arenal volcano. Ultimately, it’s academic – from the minute you set foot in this country, pura vida is wherever you roam.

This tiny Central American paradise is one of the most underrated beach destinations on this side of the globe. Its stretch of Caribbean coast real estate may be small but it is spectacularly beautiful, especially on the Placencia Peninsula, where we’ll be staying on our five-day trip to Belize. You’ll get to go snorkelling in the Unesco-listed Belize Barrier Reef and discover pretty little sandy islets, surrounded by crystal clear waters. You’ll also get to head into the jungle on a cruise down Monkey River, spotting jaguars, crocodiles and monkeys hiding in the rainforest. There’s be plenty of time to take advantage of our resort’s outdoor pool and private beach, as well as visiting some of the more hidden stretches of golden sand along the peninsula. Cap it all off with a dreamy sunset cruise, the perfect way to end your Caribbean retreat in Belize.

Belize’s western neighbour is another underrated gem of Central America. It’s filled with vibrant cultures, volcanic landscapes and a strong Mayan heritage – this is actually the only country in Central America where the largest demographic is of indigenous descent, with around half the population descending from the Mayan people. Our five-day trip in Guatemala starts with a guided tour along the colourful streets of Antigua, followed by a sunset trek to the summit of Pacaya volcano, where we’ll treat you to pizza and marshmallows cooked using molten lava. Next up is a tour of Iximche, the ancient ruins of a pre-Columbian Mayan city, where you’ll get to witness a traditional Mayan ceremony. We’ll end the trip in the alternative, artistic town of San Juan La Laguna, but not before exploring the volcanic Lake Atitlán by kayak and zipline.

Mexico is a vastly diverse nation, but we’ve attempted to capture its complete essence in just eight days with this Complete Mexico Experience. You’ll start in Mexico City with an itinerary similar to the other Mexican trip on this list, and you’ll also get to visit the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan on this tour, but from there we take a different route. First is Puebla, the City of Tiles famous for pretty ceramics and a sticky sweet local delicacy. We’ll escape to the cactus-filled countryside in Zapotitlan Salinas, with a visit to an amazing botanical gardens en route to Oaxaca. Mexican cuisine takes centre stage here as you learn how to make tortilla, take part in an expert cooking class and a tasty mezcal tasting session. The trip wraps up with a taste of coastal Mexico in the resort town of Puerto Escondido, where we’ll stay at a glorious hotel, fit with its own private stretch of sand – perfect for a bit beach therapy after a week of pure adventure.