The best places to go in Latin America

Your guide to the best places to go in Latin America, including selections from founder Hilary Bradt – who wrote the first guide to Andean hiking trails, Ben Box – longstanding editor of the iconic South America Handbook – and other Bradt authors.

A personal introduction: the best places to go in Latin America 

Welcome to our in-depth look at a selection of adventurous travel possibilities in Latin America. The core list was chosen by Ben Box, the long-time editor of the South American Handbook which is now published by Bradt.

Ben’s selection, inspired by decades of travel in that continent, has been added to by Bradt authors and staff who have recently travelled in the region, and by my own long affection for Latin America, the continent that inspired the first four Bradt guides and provided me with a parallel job as a tour leader for over two decades. 

Conventional lists of this kind are all about conventional places: Machu Picchu, the Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro – deservedly popular and not to be missed – but being Bradt, we suggest places that are less well-known but equally extraordinary – and without the crowds.  

Buen Viaje,

Hilary Bradt

The best places to go in Latin America 

Journey along the Carretera Austral in Chile 

A third of Chile lies to the south of Puerto Montt, but until recently its inaccessibility and rainy climate meant that it was sparsely populated and rarely appeared on a traveller’s itinerary. 

The Carretera Austral, or Southern Highway, gives access to the spectacular virgin landscapes of this wet and wild region, with its mountains, fjords and islands, hitherto isolated communities and picturesque ports. 

The Carretera delivers a shifting sequence of experiences: hiking through temperate rainforests, watching herds of guanacos move across rewilded grasslands, standing small beneath electric-blue glaciers. The Aysén region compresses an extraordinary range of terrain into a single stretch of road. To push that sense of variety even further, spend a few days near the Argentine border. Crossing through Patagonia National Park brings you to 10,000-year-old cave art, vast volcanic canyons, and the wide, unbroken reach of the Patagonian steppe. Discover more of the best things to do along the Carretera Austral here.

The southernmost section of the Carretera is the wildest and most dramatic, with beautiful unspoilt scenery around Lago General Carrera. The fairytale peaks of Cerro Castillo offer challenging trekking, and there’s world class fishing in the turquoise waters of Río Baker. 

How to do it

The only settlement of any size along the Carretera Austral is Coyhaique; nearby, the airport at Balmaceda and the port at Puerto Chacabuco are the principal entry points.

Coyhaique is a good starting point for exploring the Carretera (don’t miss dinner at the town Fire Station for a memorable dining experience), north to the thermal springs at Puyuhuapi and the unspoilt national park of Queulat, for trekking expeditions and for fishing. Coyhaique is also a good place for booking glacier trips to Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael, for which boats leave from Puerto Chacabuco.To reach the Carretera Austral from the UK, the most common approach is to fly into Buenos Aires and then take a connecting flight to El Calafate, Bariloche, or Comodoro Rivadavia in Argentine Patagonia. From there, you can cross into Chile at border points such as Chile Chico, Futaleufú, or Cochrane, depending on where you want to start the journey.

Discover hidden civilisations in Northern Peru – selected by Hilary Bradt

Northern Peru’s Pacific shores and Andean interior rarely get the attention they deserve, overshadowed by the celebrated attractions of the south. Yet this area is packed with remarkable remnants of ancient cultures – sites every bit as impressive and evocative as those you have likely already come across in the typical tourist brochures. 

Along a seemingly endless stretch of desert coast in the north of Peru lie many of the country’s most important pre-Inca sites: Chan-Chán, the Moche pyramids, Túcume, Sipán, Batán Grande and El Brujo. The main city is Trujillo, while Chiclayo is more down to earth, with one of the country’s largest witchdoctors’ markets. For those seeking sea, the northern coastline is also famous for its deep-sea fishing, surfing and the unique reed boats at Huanchaco and Pimentel. 

Leaving the Pacific coast behind, you can climb in a relatively short time up to the Sierra, Peru’s spectacular northern highland region where temples and fortresses are shrouded in cloud in the ‘Eyebrow of the Jungle’. Perhaps the most formidable of the lot is Kuélap, a spectacular pre-Inca walled city at 3000m built continuously from 500 AD. The site lies along the summit of a mountain crest where massive stone walls – 585m long by 11m wide at their widest – sit snug amidst trees covered in bromeliads and moss and flowers visited by hummingbirds.

• Recommended reading: nine lost cities of the world 

How to do it

The main route from the coast to Cajamarca (the commercial centre of the northern Andes) is via Ciudad de Dios, a junction some 20 km north of Pacasmayo on the Panamericana. Terraced rice fields and mimosas may often be seen in bloom, brightening the otherwise dusty landscape. Hire a car or catch a public bus and take in the views. 

Further north, Kuélap is usually visited from Tingo where visitors can hike, take a bus or hop in a cable car to within 2km of the fortress. Day tours are sometimes available from nearby towns or travellers can opt for a fully guided tour of Northern Peru that typically includes all of the highlights outlined above. 

You can reach Peru from the UK by taking one of the many connecting flights offered through major European or American hubs, as there are currently no direct routes from London. Most travellers fly via cities such as Madrid, Amsterdam, or Miami before continuing on to Lima, Peru’s main international gateway. 

Take a road trip through northwest Argentina – selected by Ben Box

Northwest Argentina is a delightful chocolate box of sweeping rural landscapes, exquisite vineyards producing some of the best wine in Latin America, and enough outdoor activities to keep even the most restless traveller occupied. 

Two of Argentina’s oldest cities, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán, mark the start of the route to the fascinating northwest. Both offer good museums and points of interest, but the summer heat may urge you onward to the mountains. Of the two routes to the atmospheric city of Salta, the more scenic is via Tafí del Valle, the wine-producing town of Cafayate, and the dramatic canyon of the Quebrada de las Conchas – or the equally enchanting Valles Calchaquíes. Pretty towns set in arid landscapes, archaeological remains, and the Andes in the distance make for a truly memorable journey.

As with many places in this article, one of the best ways to experience the region is in your own vehicle. Hiring a car gives you the freedom to stop in Salta, Santiago del Estero, and smaller towns along the way, enjoying what they have to offer at your own pace. 

If driving isn’t your thing, that doesn’t mean you’ll miss out. One of the northwest’s highlights is hopping on the Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds), one of South America’s great railway journeys. From Salta, the line climbs gently to Campo Quijano and enters the Quebrada del Toro, an impressive rock-strewn gorge. At El Alisal and Chorrillos, the train zig-zags up the gorge before turning north into the valley of the Río Rosario near Puerto Tastil. Expect jaw-dropping views, stops to buy local handicrafts, and chances to sample regional produce. 

How to do it

The best time to visit northwest Argentina is during the months of March and April, when you’ll find clear skies and warm days. The region is also popular during winter, when places like Patagonia are disrupted by heavy snowfall and travellers are seeking alternative Argentinian experiences. 

It’s worth noting that the northwest – Salta in particular – is also an ideal centre for exploring remote valleys and high-altitude communities elsewhere in South America; there are routes from here to Bolivia, Chile and Paraguay.

Travellers from the UK will typically arrive in Buenos Aires on a connecting flight from Madrid or one of several US hubs. 

Venture into the wild heart of the Brazilian Pantanal – selected by Ben Box

The Pantanal, which covers a staggering 195,000km² (the size of Ireland, Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands combined), between Cuiabá, Campo Grande and the Bolivian frontier, is one of the world’s great wildlife preserves. 

While the majority of this unique ecosystem is found in Brazil, parts spill over into Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina to form an immense and vibrant international wetland complex.

The undisputed star of the Pantanal is the jaguar, the continent’s most magnetic and elusive predator. Nowhere offers better chances of spotting one than this immense wetland, especially between June and October, when low waters draw wildlife to the riverbanks and jaguars prowl openly in search of caimans and capybaras. Thanks to years of targeted conservation work, their numbers have rebounded, creating reliable strongholds where sightings are probable. 

Dawn boat trips reveal tapirs easing into the water and giant otters squabbling along the banks, while the plains may offer glimpses of pumas, anteaters, and a mesmerising array of reptiles, including anacondas coiled in the shallows. Birdlife is equally spectacular: hundreds of species sweep across the skies, crowned by the Hyacinth Macaw, whose vibrant return from near extinction adds a celebratory burst of colour to this extraordinary ecosystem.

How to do it

Partly flooded in the rainy season, when you visit the Pantanal will make a significant difference to both accessibility and what you’ll experience. 

From November to January, heavy rains inundate the region and many lodges close. As the waters begin to retreat, wildlife becomes easier to observe, with the prime viewing season running from May to October.

Getting around depends on your base. You can stay at a lodge and venture out on jeep or boat excursions, or opt to live aboard a riverboat, drifting along the banks where jaguars stalk capybaras and caimans.

Access is straightforward: fly into Campo Grande in the south or Cuiabá in the north (having arrived from the UK in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro), then continue with a three-hour drive or a short hop by air to your lodge. The southern Pantanal pairs beautifully with Bonito, a family-friendly eco-destination, while the north links well with Chapada dos Guimarães or Alta Floresta, the gateway to the southern Amazon.

Unwind on Nicaragua’s remote Corn Islands – selected by Harriet Solomon 

If you’re the sort of traveller who still secretly clings to the notion that the journey is half the fun, this particular trip might be for you.

To nobody’s surprise, the Corn Islands are idyllic. Consisting of two tiny land masses – inventively named Big and Little Corn – floating in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, they’re about as close to paradise as you can get. 

On Little Corn’s secluded Otto Beach, a short trek through lush greenery delivers you to near-empty sands where hammocks sway above the surf. You’ll let your toes skim the ocean foam, keeping an eye out for the occasional falling coconut as you wander along the sand. Later, back in town, you’ll dine on rondon – a rich coconut-milk seafood soup – made from ingredients you helped catch that very morning on a spontaneous outing with the friendly fishermen you met at breakfast. 

Hours drift by in a haze of cerulean waters and Caribbean rhythms: walking the islands’ length (not difficult when Little Corn covers just 10km²), snorkelling over coral reefs, and dancing barefoot long after the sun has set. Because both islands are so small, they never feel crowded. You’ll quickly get to know the locals and the handful of fellow travellers sharing this serene Nicaraguan enclave, likely bumping into them again at Tranquilo Café before the day is through.

What makes the Corn Islands special – beyond their obvious castaway charm – is just how remote they really are. Today, the journey can be simplified with a short flight from Managua to Big Corn, but if you’ve got the time and a taste for adventure, we’d recommend the scenic route…

How to do it

Catch an overnight bus from Managua (where most international flights into Nicaragua land) to Bluefields. The seven-hour journey drops you at an empty station around 3am, where you’ll haggle for a taxi or pickup truck to the port, often sharing the ride with other weary backpackers who’ve opted for the old-school approach. Arrive before sunrise, sit by the water as fishermen prepare their nets, and stock up on snacks for the next leg.

The ferry to Big Corn departs early and can get busy in peak season. Expect a bumpy seven-hour crossing before stepping ashore. Spend a few days exploring Big Corn or hop on a local panga to its little sister – the highlight of most visits to the Corn Islands.

We promise your first view of the islands will carry the weight and wonder of the journey that brought you there.

Enjoy colour and culture in Mexico City and Teotihuacan – selected by Ben Box 

For lots of travellers, Mexico City is little more than a stopover, a necessary addition to an itinerary for visitors landing on international flights or passing through the capital on their way to the coast. 

There’s a great shame in that. 

Mexico City is one of the most captivating cities on the planet and deserving of far more than a flying visit. Begin at Zócalo, the city’s vast main square, where colonial architecture invites you to discover more about the city’s past. Visit the soaring Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace and the Templo Mayor Museum to learn about ‘Tenochtitlan’, and sample traditional pulque at one of several low-key pulquerias scattered across the city. Later, in the leafy suburb of Coyoacán, enjoy the wonderful Frida Kahlo Museum at Casa Azul or spend an afternoon at UNAM Campus, one of the few universities in the world designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

When you’ve had your fill of cosmopolitan colour, take a day trip to Teotihuacan (‘the place where the gods were created’). Located just 50km north-east of CDMX, this holy ancient city was built between the 1st and 7th centuries AD and is characterised by the sheer magnitude of its monuments – in particular, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. 

Finally – when you’ve come to recognise the pulse of Mexico and the feel of its rhythms – take a bus and keep going, exploring Guanajuato, Guadalajara, Oaxaca, Tehuantepec and San Cristobal as you go. 

How to do it 

You can fly to Mexico from the UK with direct flights available to Mexico City from London, or with one-stop connections via major European or US hubs. 

Travellers can choose between several reliable and comfortable bus services to navigate the length of the country or opt for internal flights for a faster option.

Visit between December and April when virtually no rain falls, or in November to experience the city come alive on Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). 

Be surprised in Panama’s Soberania National Parque – selected by Gill and Alistair Campbell 

It’s a sloth. Two metres away, hanging from a tree branch, a two-toed sloth is giving you a long, cool stare. Is it as surprised to see you as you are to see it? Is it really as disinterested as it appears? Nonchalantly, it looks away. Slowly moving one arm forward, it signals its intention to leave and eases itself along a branch and into the dense foliage. You’re left alone again in a small clearing in the Soberania National Parque.

Less than an hour ago you were in the heart of Panama City, but a short drive brought you to Gamboa, a small town that sits at the edge of one of Latin America’s best-kept wildlife secrets. Located just 30 minutes away from the capital, Soberania National Parque extends across 22,000 hectares of dry tropical forest. Famous for its birdwatching opportunities, more than 400 species have been spotted from the various trails that wind their way through its greenery. Start on the Pipeline Road for your best chance at witnessing the park’s feathered residents in flight. 

Panama is a surprising place. Most are familiar with its colonial urban centres and Pacific coastline favoured by American expats, but fewer are aware of its wildlife offerings. More than a third of Panama is now protected within a National Park, and all of them are teeming with fauna, flora and hardly any visitors at all. 

For travellers willing to venture off the beaten path, Panama’s rainforests and mangroves offer encounters that remind you that some of Latin America’s richest experiences still lie beyond the well-trodden trail.

How to do it

The best time to visit Soberania National Parque is during the dry season, from December to April, when trails like the Pipeline Road are more accessible and wildlife spotting is easier. If you don’t mind occasional rain, visiting in the wetter months (May-November) can still be rewarding, when visitors are fewer, and the forest becomes greener and more vibrant. 

To explore the park, you can hike its well-maintained trails, join guided bird‑watching tours, or visit the Rainforest Discovery Center for panoramic views from the canopy

You can fly directly to Panama City from the UK, connecting via one of several European or US hubs. From Panama City, the park itself is easily accessed by public bus or a quick, affordable taxi. 

Follow El Salvador’s Ruta de las Flores through coffee country – selected by Harriet Solomon 

Long overshadowed by Guatemala’s marquee attractions – and hampered by lingering preconceptions about safety – El Salvador had a rather poor reputation among travellers to Latin America for a long time. Thankfully, that’s starting to change. 

El Salvador is one of the few places in Central America that still feels untouched, offering the kind of authentic experience adventurous travellers crave. Accommodations are simple, public transport consists of chicken buses that may or may not stop for a lost tourist waving from the roadside, and outside of the main cities, towns retain a rural, community atmosphere.

Nowhere is this rustic charm more vivid than along the Ruta de Las Flores. This scenic route winds through the western highlands, linking five colonial towns. Visitors will share rum with locals at pop-up carnivals in Nahuizalco, explore coffee plantations like the El Carmen Estate (and trust us, Salvadoran coffee is competitive with the world’s best), and sample more pupusas than you’ll care to count.

In Apaneca, adrenaline meets artistry on canopy zip lines, while Ataco beckons with winding streets lined with artisan shops and colourful murals that seem to spill onto the cobblestones. In Juayúa, don’t miss the Seven Waterfalls hike and the town’s lively Saturday food festival.

How to do it

In recent years, the Ruta de Las Flores has become a favourite among motorcyclists exploring Latin America on two wheels. If that appeals, motorcycles are available to rent in nearby Santa Ana. Alternatively, local buses connect the towns for a slower, more immersive experience.

Some travellers base themselves in Juayúa, the largest town, making day trips to the others. But we recommend branching out – spend a couple of nights in spots like Apaneca and Salcoatitan as well. Don’t expect jaw-dropping landmarks or world-class museums, but do count on warm hospitality, unexpected encounters, and countless chances for spontaneous adventure.

The Ruta de Las Flores gets its name from the countless flowering bushes lining the road. Visit in May to see the entire route blanketed in white as coffee blossoms bloom.

Travellers from the UK can reach El Salvador with connecting flights through European or US  hubs, arriving at San Salvador’s Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport in roughly 15 hours of total travel time.

Lose yourself in the wild of the three Guianas 

Situated in the northern portion of the Amazon Rainforest are the Guianas: Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. 

While each country is certainly compelling enough to warrant its own trip (and our guides to Guyana and Suriname are an excellent place to start), intrepid travellers with time constraints can combine all three for a whirlwind exploration of the region.

Start in Guyana where the coast is a blend of coconut palms and Caribbean music, Dutch place names and drainage systems, Hindu Temples, Islamic mosques and Demerara sugar, all of which reflect the chequered history of the country. After spending a few days in Georgetown, head to Kaieteur National Park to see the falls for which Guyana is famed. 

At nearly five times the height of Niagara, with a drop of 228m, Kaieteur Falls have all the majesty and beauty of Victoria and Iguazú, but with the added attraction of being surrounded by unspoilt forest. 

In Suriname, the main attractions are the tropical Amazonian flora and fauna, historic Paramaribo and the ethnic diversity in this sparsely populated country. Much of the interior is untouched and largely uninhabited so most tourist lodges can only be reached by small boat or plane. Take a nighttime wildlife tour and spot caimans from the banks of moonlit waters, or focus your attention on the capital where a wonderful blend of European architecture and South American craft has led to the historic centre gaining UNESCO status.

Finally, in French Guiana, visit the former penal colony of St Laurent, explore the space centre at Kourou and rest beneath the palms on Plage de Montjoly.

Consider this a fast-paced sampler of the Guianas, designed to whet your appetite and leave you eager for a longer, more immersive visit when time allows. 

How to do it

If you’d like to explore all three of these countries at once, it’s best to do so on a tour. If you’re travelling independently, visitors from the UK can reach Guyana (Georgetown) with airlines like KLM and British Airways via European or US hubs, Suriname with a connection through Amsterdam or Paris and French Guiana with a stop in a major European city. 

Once in country, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana are often traversed by boat or river cruise, although each country does have a functioning (if somewhat unreliable) public bus service too. 

Visit between July and November to avoid the worst of the rain and maximise your chances for wildlife viewing. 

See desert meet sea on Colombia’s Guajira Peninsula – selected by Daniel Austin 

One feels at the far edge of the continent at Cabo de la Vela on Colombia’s remote Guajira Peninsula, where desert meets sea against a backdrop as elemental as it gets. This is Wayuu territory, and their presence brings a dash of colour to the stark landscape: from woven chinchorro hammocks strung in the shade of rancherías to the vivid mochila bags carried by local women. 

For travellers drawn to culture as much as wilderness, Cabo de la Vela offers both in harmony; nowhere else in South America does an indigenous desert community live so closely entwined with such a dramatic coastal environment, and the result is a sense of place that is as distinctive as it is hauntingly beautiful.

The appeal is in the rawness – the empty shorelines, the sweeping views from the ochre slopes of Pilón de Azúcar, and the unvarnished simplicity of life in a windswept village. Encounters with the Wayuu often unfold naturally: stopping at small family-run craft stalls along the tracks, learning about traditional weaving patterns, or visiting a ranchería for a simple meal and conversation about daily life in this arid corner of Colombia.

The infrastructure is simple, but that’s precisely the draw of departing the well-trodden trail to visit and support a resilient traditional people whose ancestors have lived for millennia on the frontier between South America and the Caribbean.

• Recommended reading: García Márquez, The Liberator and me: a journey to Mompox

How to do it

Reaching Cabo de la Vela is its own small adventure: a journey by road from Riohacha, then onwards across dusty tracks by 4×4 towards this far-flung headland. 

Independent travellers can arrange transport and local guides in Riohacha or Uribia, or organise a multi-day circuit that includes nearby Wayuu communities and the sweeping Taroa dunes further north. December – April is the ideal time to visit (dry season in Colombia) but Cabo de la Vela retains its appeal all year round. 

Getting to Colombia from the UK usually involves a stopover in a major European or US city, with flights landing in Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena. 

Island hop in the Galápagos 

A trip to the Galápagos Islands is an unforgettable experience. The islands are world renowned for their friendly wildlife, but no amount of hype can prepare the visitor for such a close encounter with nature. Here you can snorkel with penguins, sea lions and the odd hammerhead shark, watch giant tortoises lumbering through cactus forest and enjoy the courtship display of the blue-footed booby and magnificent frigatebird, all in startling close-up.

Lying on the equator, 970 km west of the Ecuadorean coast, the Galápagos consist of six main islands, 12 smaller islands and over 40 islets. Which ones you visit will depend on your priorities. 

Santa Cruz sits at the heart of the islands and is a great base to get your bearings, explore the main town of Puerto Ayora, and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. San Cristóbal is great for surfing, sea lions, and exploring the archipelago’s capital, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Isabela, the largest island, boasts five active volcanoes and dramatic landscapes, while Floreana is the most remote, with natural springs, giant tortoises, and a tiny community that gives the island a sense of untouched isolation.

How to do it

Travellers from the UK can reach Ecuador with one or two stopovers, usually through a European or US hub, arriving at either Quito or Guayaquil airport, both of which fly direct to airports at Baltra, across a narrow strait from Santa Cruz, and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on San Cristóbal.

To get to the Galápagos, airports at Baltra, across a narrow strait from Santa Cruz, and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on San Cristóbal, receive flights from mainland Ecuador. The two islands are 96 km apart and on most days there are local flights in light aircraft between them, as well as to Puerto Villamil on Isabela. There is also speedboat service between Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz) and the other populated islands. 

The climate can be divided into a hot season (December-May), when there is a possibility of heavy showers, and the cool or garúa (mist) season (June to November), when the days generally are more cloudy and there is often rain or drizzle. Despite these climatic variations, conditions are generally favourable for visiting the Galápagos throughout the year.

Uncover a different side to Costa Rica – selected by Ben Box 

Costa Rica is an obvious choice for travellers looking to explore Latin America, but that doesn’t mean it has to be predictable.

One way to avoid the crowds is to hire a car. Having your own vehicle gives you the freedom to stay in more remote, characterful places and explore at your own pace. 

This means you can swap the crowded trails of Arenal Volcano for the warm hospitality and personal stories of cacao farmers, coffee growers and local communities on the slopes of Turrialba Volcano. Rather than the overtouristed Monteverde, you can spot the beautiful quetzal bird in the quiet cloud forest of San Gerardo. Caribbean and indigenous culture abounds on the southern Talamanca coast, where beaches come without the resorts. And the wildlife reaches a cacophonous and colourful apex in the wild jungle of Corcovado National Park, the crown jewel of the Osa Peninsula. Monkeys and macaws; toucans and tapir.

By having your own car, you can also set your own pace and make your own discoveries at various points of the journey. Roadside sodas – simple family-run eateries – make perfect pit stops, for example. Most offer variations on rice and beans, yet the real joy lies in watching local life unfold. Farmers drop in for lunch, families gather for weekend meals, and visitors are given a genuine taste of Costa Rican routine. The conversations are as lively as the dishes, with locals sharing news, swapping stories and, naturally, debating which soda serves the best gallo pinto in town.

There is the Costa Rica you can plan for – the quiet beaches, the bird-rich forests, the volcano trails. And then there are the encounters with the fun, unpredictable and resolutely local side of the country that you simply cannot schedule. Choosing a more adventurous and unusual approach to travel is how you make room for spontaneity. Costa Rica has a way of surprising and delighting, however carefully you map your route.

• Recommended reading: the best winter sun destinations

How to do it 

Whilst the majority of travellers choose to visit Costa Rica during the dry season, between December and April, the ‘Green Season’ can be an equally rewarding time to visit. May and June are quiet, lush and very pleasant times to visit, with showers usually restricted to refreshing afternoon downpours as you relax at your lodge. The summer is great for family adventures, with waterways at their fullest. September is an outstanding wildlife month, with humpback whales, nesting turtles, tree frogs and the raptor migration all at peak activity. 

A coast-to-coast journey is the best way to experience the best of Costa Rica’s variety and vibrancy. The country is small, so distances are manageable, roads are mostly very good, vehicles are of a high standard and navigation is easy with apps like Waze and Google Maps. Whilst most itineraries plot a course along the promoted ‘highlights’ of the north, look instead to the south to enjoy the country’s hidden highlights, away from the crowds. Look for itineraries which prioritise interaction with local people, as well as the wildlife and landscapes.

British Airways operate direct flights between London Gatwick and San José in the summer season. Several airlines offer affordable routes via major European gateways, especially Madrid.

Summit Volcan Acatenango in Guatemala – selected by Harriet Solomon 

There are very few sensations in the world without comparison. Witnessing a live volcanic eruption up close is one of them.

Imagine sleeping soundly in your tent atop one of Guatemala’s tallest peaks when a low rumble shakes the canvas walls of your temporary home. Spurred on by curiosity alone, you pull on your layers, step into the freezing night and follow the sound. Just 1.8km away – a stone’s throw at this height – one of nature’s greatest spectacles unfolds before your eyes. 

Most people climb Acatenango for one reason: to get a better look at an entirely different volcano. Fuego is one of the most active in Central America, erupting every 15 minutes, day and night. While it’s impossible to camp on Fuego itself, several tour operators host overnight hikes up neighbouring Acatenango, where base camps offer uninterrupted views of eruptions across the valley. For those brave enough to seek out this experience, expect an afternoon of watching black smoke rise into the sky, sipping hot chocolate above the clouds and cooking dinner over a campfire. You’ll retire early – brushing your teeth inside a wooden hut that must certainly have a claim to the best ‘bathroom’ view in the world – ready for a 3am wake-up call. 

After 45 minutes of steep climbing through volcanic ash, you’ll reach the summit to watch the sun rise over Fuego. Molten plumes ignite the dawn, and for a moment, blisters, hunger and exhaustion fade away. You’re simply grateful to witness something quite so extraordinary.

How to do it

Acatenango is about 30km from Antigua, Guatemala’s colonial gem, and most tours depart from there. You’ll meet in the morning, stock up on supplies (don’t skimp on layers – it’s cold at the top!) and spend 4-7 hours hiking uphill to base camp. The altitude is no joke, so pace yourself.

Most groups arrive mid-afternoon. Keen hikers can continue another 3-5 hours toward Fuego, but even from camp, the view is spectacular. The best time to climb is during the dry season, November to April.

Fly into Guatemala City, about an hour from Antigua, or connect by bus from other Central American cities.

More information about the best places to go in Latin America 

Still can’t choose which trip is best for you? Here at Bradt, we’ve covered Latin America extensively across several different titles. To learn more about these destinations and what they have to offer, pick up a copy of one of our Latin America guidebooks here.

Or check out the options below…