The Best Places to Visit in South and Central America in Spring
From the cloud forests of Costa Rica to the Mayan ruins of Mexico, Central and South America make for thrilling spring escapes. Here is your guide to the very best of Culture Trip’s springtime itineraries.
Kayaking through the mangrove forests of Colombia; discovering the street food delights of Mexico City; snorkeling with sea lions around the Galápagos Islands – whatever your wish for a memorable spring vacation, South and Central America have it all. To fire your imagination, we’ve curated the best trips across South and Central America, catering to all kinds of travellers, from thrill-seekers and wildlife enthusiasts to beach lovers and culture vultures.
Brazil, for embracing the joyous South American spirit
Brazil is like one giant distillation of everything we love about South America – giant metropolises, vibrant, joyous culture and a diverse range of spectacular natural landscapes. Our nine-day Dazzling Brazil trips shines a light on all of the above, starting with an immersive tour of sprawling Sao Paulo. We’ll move on to a rural escape, staying in the gorgeous old town of Paraty. We’ll snorkel in the crystalline waters of Paraty Bay and discover waterfalls in the region’s verdant forests, before heading to our final destination, Rio de Janeiro. South America’s most famous city is a must-visit. We’ll tick off the classics – Christ the Redeeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, volleyball on the beach – but also delve deeper into local culture with a Carneval experience, and discover lesser-known gems like Tijuca Forest and Olympic Boulevard. The best bit? Spring catches the end of Brazil’s best weather, but also avoids the peak-season crowds.
From US$2099
Next available from 8th Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Sao Paulo, Brazil
ENDS AT
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Costa Rica, for swimming in waterfalls and rafting through the rainforest
Looking to combine some exhilarating activities with ample time for rest and relaxation in an idyllic, tropical setting? Costa Rica is the place to go, and in spring, the weather is both reliably warm and mostly dry. White-water rafting down the Balsa River, trekking through the jungle of Arena National Park in search of jaguars and capuchin monkeys, and spotting sloths in the Monteverde Cloud Forest are just a few of the incredible experiences that await. You can do all of that on this eight-day trip, as well as swimming in waterfalls in La Fortuna, coffee tasting at the Doka Estate and learning to surf in Tamarindo.
From US$2099
Next available from 9th Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
San Jose, Costa Rica
ENDS AT
Tamarindo, Provincia De Guanacaste
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
17
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Colombia’s Caribbean coast, for glorious beaches and jungle trekking
Many travelers to Colombia head straight to the Andes and the cities of Bogotá and Medellín, but the Caribbean coast shouldn’t be overlooked. With rainforests, snow-capped mountains, idyllic islands and vast swathes of golden sand beaches, it’s jam-packed with gorgeous scenery. On this eight-day adventure, you’ll go hiking through the Tayrona National Park, river tubing along the Rio don Diego and snorkel among coral reefs on a day excursion to the Rosario Islands. The vibrant city of Cartagena ensures a taste of history and culture, not to mention pulsating nightlife. March and April are favourable if traveling in spring, as May tends to bring heavier and more frequent rainfall.
From US$1711
Next available from 9th Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cartagena, Colombia
ENDS AT
Santa Marta, Colombia
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Ecuador, for hiking around volcanoes, cycling and horse riding
Boasting a combination of rugged, volcanic landscapes, thick jungle and vibrant, high-altitude cities, Ecuador offers an enormous catalogue of adventures to enjoy. From hiking around the emerald green Quilotoa crater lake and the Laguna Limpiopungo in Cotopaxi National Park to cycling past gushing waterfalls between Baños and Puyo, it’s one of South America’s prime destinations for outdoor pursuits. This eight-day adventure features all of the above, as well as chocolate tasting and a cooking class in Quito, white-water rafting in the Amazon, and soaking in the Papallacta hot springs. As Ecuador lies on the equator, temperatures are fairly consistent throughout the year; if you want to avoid the crowds of peak season, spring is a good time to visit – if you don’t mind the occasional rain shower, that is.
From US$1459
Next available from 9th Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Quito, Ecuador
ENDS AT
Quito, Ecuador
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
The Galápagos Islands, for viewing a vast array of wildlife
It’s impossible not to be enthralled by the sheer variety of wildlife and unspoiled nature on the Galápagos Islands – and with spring bringing the warmest temperatures of the year, it’s an ideal time for snorkelling and scuba diving. Galápagos giant tortoises, white-tipped reef sharks, eagle rays, Galápagos penguins and sea turtles are just a few of the extraordinary creatures you’re likely to come across, as well as an abundance of endemic bird species. This five-day trip is a fantastic way to see the best of the archipelago in a relatively short space of time. Go kayaking in the Itabaca Channel, sleep in a luxury safari tent in the Santa Cruz highlands, swim with sea lions at Punta Carola beach and head snorkeling or scuba diving at Kicker Rock – one of the best spots in the Galápagos for encountering marine wildlife.
From US$1869
Next available from 6th Jan 2024
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island
ENDS AT
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island
DURATION
5
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Peru, for local cuisine and seeing a wonder of the world
Discover the best of Peru on our epic nine-day adventure. Start off in Cusco, where you’ll take a Peruvian cooking class, then head to the Sacred Valley to see Inca ruins. Tick a major item off your bucket list when you visit Machu Picchu – this set of ruins, high in the Andes, is one of the seven wonders of the world. Head to Colca Canyon, where you’ll hopefully spot condors circling the skies during your hike, before arriving in Arequipa. Take a tour of the city’s picanterias, local lunchtime restaurants, before this whistle-stop tour finishes.
From US$1824
Next available from 1st Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cusco, Peru
ENDS AT
Arequipa, Peru
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Maja Proescholdt and Gethin Morgan contributed additional reporting to this article.
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meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
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Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
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