Central & South America Travelers Recommend

Whichever way you see it, San Jose offers plenty of excitement for the first time and returning visitor alike. Spend day one orienting yourself to the city. Sign up for a city tour to get an overview of the city’s top sightseeing spots and attractions. Grab lunch at one of the many quaint Tico eateries that dot the city and then head over to the private adventure park to ride the Aerial Tram Atlantic. San Jose is the gateway to Costa Rica’s many beaches, rainforests, national parks and volcanoes. Embark on a sailing expedition passing the dense jungles of the Tortuguero National Park and witness what is one of the few remaining nesting sites of the gigantic green turtle. Visit some of San Jose’s cultural heritage as captured in its museums and galleries. If you’re there for the night, be sure to join the party for the city has a very vibrant nightlife.

Upon arrival in the cheerfully scruffy center of Jaco (or, alternately, the luxuriously landscaped resort just north, Los Sueños), you’ll want to appreciate the view; Costa Rica’s Central Pacific is as lovely as a shore as exists anywhere. After checking in to your room, whether a budget backpacker dorm or marble-floored villa, you may want to consider indulging in Jaco’s chief attraction: Surfing. Day 1: Catch a Wave Jaco’s main beach is home to one of the most regular, predictable, sandy-bottomed breaks in the world, fun for experts and perfect for newbies who just want to try out the sport. Several outfits rent or sell used boards (as well as boogie boards for those who would rather not risk the real thing), and any hotel or surf shop can arrange one-on-one lessons. Remember: There are plenty of “surf instructors” who are less than professional; in general you get what you pay for.

This Spanish colonial gem, with some of the hemisphere’s loveliest architecture, built right on the brilliant blue Caribbean, should already be a world-class destination. And, certainly, it already is one of Colombia’s most popular cities, but the nation’s reputation has for decades kept the vast majority of travelers away. That’s changing. This city has something for everyone, and all the outdated travel warnings in the world won’t keep the crowds at bay much longer. Culture lovers will find museums, live music, and other delights, while epicurious travelers in search of fine dining, excellent hotels, and glittering nightlife in unusual places will find Cartagena worth writing home about. And, while beach lovers may be less than impress with the city’s public stretch of sand, an array of perfect islands just offshore beckon with white sand, cold coconuts, and incredible snorkeling and diving.

Arenal National Park lies within the 790 square-mile Arenal Tilaran Conservation Area and is home to Arenal Volcano, the most active volcano in the country. The park is also known for its incredibly diverse wildlife. Most of Costa Rica’s 850 identified bird species can be spotted within the park’s borders, including the endangered and elusive quetzal. Hiking in Arenal National Park will get you the closest (legal) view of Arenal volcano. Hiking is only permitted on marked trails and due to safety concerns (this is an active volcano, after all), it is forbidden to hike near the crater at the top of Arenal volcano. The volcano is unpredictable and there is a strong possibility of death if you venture into restricted zones. The park offers four marked hiking trails that take you over old lava flows and through secondary rainforest and savanna.

It’s not just lava that pours from this living mountain. Arenal is famous for its hot springs, rich with healing minerals and often developed into fantastic wonderlands, most with remarkable volcano views. The most famous, and beautiful, is Tabacón, a steaming river that pours through fantastically landscaped environs. Less flush travelers could try wet-and-wild Baldí, with waterslides and a more festive feel; The Springs, built around landscaped cascades; or secluded Eco Termales, a quiet spot with five family-friendly pools. Budget travelers can ask about the free springs, but please beware of thieves, who’ll make off with absolutely anything left unguarded! No matter which termales you choose, cool off with a drink and some healthy Tico cuisine at one of the fine restaurants in the adorably touristy town of La Fortuna, at the base of the volcano.

The main risk in Medellín,” you’ll be warned at every turn, “is that you won’t want to leave.” With its stunning setting amidst scenic mountains, fine dining and nightlife, glorious green spaces, and perfect climate characterized as “eternal spring,” its no wonder that this city of three million is fast becoming one of Colombia’s internationally coveted destinations. Once among the most violent cities in the world, Medellín has settled quite comfortably into an artsy sophistication that seems its birthright. Vibrant plazas, eclectic public art and ultra modern museums make this a truly marvelous city from the grungy downtown to the upscale Zona Rosa. Though Medellín is Colombia’s second-largest city, it has an outstanding mass transit system that includes light rail and cable cars, which means that nothing is far away. Take taxis at night, particularly in the city center.

Begin your day on Amador Causeway, with magnificent city views. Next, immerse yourself in Panama's frenetic downtown, where the world's wares are on endless display. You can step back from this globalized future with a visit to the quiet ruins of Panamá Viejo, or recently revitalized colonial old town of Casco Viejo. After taking in a museum or city beach, dance the night away.While the dream tour is a ten-hour, full-transit cruise along the full length of the Canal, other options include half-transit trips and even shorter jaunts to one of the islands scattered across Lake Gatún. Panama City is close to some of the most easily accessible tropical forests in the Americas, beginning with Parque Natural Metropolitano, which even shoestring travelers can enjoy. More adventurous visitors could head north to the protected rainforests of Soberania National Park and Barro Colorado, both perfect for a day trip.

Cusco is the central hub of the Sacred Valley, a magnet for lovers of Inca handicrafts and ruins, colonial charm and churches. Get to know Cusco and its famous markets from the ground up on a Cusco Markets and Ruins Small Group Tour. You’ll take a guided walk through busy San Pedro Market, joining locals shopping for dinner, then visit the impressive Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the source of much of the stone used to build Cusco. Cusco is known for its richly ornamented baroque churches, the most famous being the 1560s cathedral filled with colonial art and gold decoration on central Plaza de Armas. The oldest church in Cusco, the Iglesia de El Triunfo, is on the right of the cathedral. One of the most ornate of Cusco’s churches is Iglesia de La Compania, with its decorative baroque facade also on Plaza de Armas. Cusco is surrounded by the Quechua hill towns of the Sacred Valley, ideal for a day trip into the countryside of terraced fields.

Peru’s capital city was founded by Pizarro in 1535, and the modern-day city of Lima is a sprawling metropolis encompassing ruins from pre-Inca times, ultramodern shopping malls and coastal beaches. Here are a few ideas on where and how to spend your time in Lima. Get to grips with Lima’s history and sheer size by taking a stroll through the historic city center. Lima’s lively hub focuses on the pedestrianized street Jiron de la Union, connecting the city’s two main squares, Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin. One of the best ways to open the door to Lima’s secrets is through the city’s food and drink. Make your way to the huge central market to sample the local churros, juices and street snacks. Or combine a Lima market tour with something different - learn to make Peru’s legendary cocktail, the pisco sour. It’s a heady mix of lemon or lime juice, brandy and sugar, and you’ll shop for the ingredients at the market.

Grab a Belizean breakfast of fry jacks at the beachfront Estel’s Dine By the Sea. Hop on a half-day snorkel trip to Hol Chan Marine Reserve, just a mile from shore on the Barrier Reef. Back on shore, grab a sunset happy hour drink at BC’s beachfront bar or at Cholo’s sports bar, a more local hangout. If it’s Thursday, grab drinks at Wahoo’s and do not miss the weekly Chicken Drop. Dine at Elvi’s Kitchen, an authentic and famous Belizean restaurant in town. Hop on a full day trip to Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, a World Heritage site on the pristine northern tip of Ambergris. The day will include hiking, snorkeling or diving and a beach barbeque. Get a sailing lesson from Sail Sports Belize and have fun exploring the waters solo. Parasail over the Barrier Reef or rent a jet ski. Or book a fly fishing casting class with El Pescador on the north end. Go for a sunset cruise on the Sirena Azul sailboat.