Latin America

Argentina

Argentina is the most cosmopolitan South American country with an incredibly diverse choice of holiday options from the snow-capped peaks of the Andes and the dusty plains of Patagonia to Tierra del Fuego – the Land of Fire. Whether exploring the lush rainforeseilt of Missiones, horse riding in the scorched red mountains of Salta, trekking the turquoise lakes and evergreen forests of the Lake District or playing the gaucho in the fertile Pampas, there is something for everyone on a holiday to Argentina. At the heart of the country is the capital city of smart, contemporary Buenos Aires. Several small seaside villages around Bahia Blanca have become very fashionable off-the-tourist track resorts waiting to be discovered. Sample the fine local wines and tuck into an enormous steak.

Best time to visit:

Peak months are October to March.

Brazil

Two thirds of the population lives on or near the country’s beaches which are like social hubs with all of life on show. As well as the world's biggest rainforest in the Amazon, Brazil boasts many wilderness areas including the wildlife-rich wetlands of the Pantanal, the canyons and caves of the Chapada Diamantina and the colourful old gold-mining towns in the mountains of Minas Gerais. Visit National Parks, travel through jungle and admire cities that mix modern prowess with colonial architecture. Brazil is indeed a country with profound contradictions. Carnival is the best-known celebration and is feted throughout Brazil. Rio de Janeiro and Salvador are the best places to join the mayhem, when samba-filled parties erupt through the streets, and revellers dance and celebrate for days on end.

Best time to visit:

Brazil is a year round destination with a tropical climate apart from the south and south east which does have a slightly cooler climate during June to September. The rainy seasons affects the northeast between April and July and the south from October to January.

Bolivia

Best time to visit:

Peak time to visit is during the months of April – October for the highlands when it should be dry. In summer time it is rainy between November – March and not suitable to visit. The lowlands though are still quite warm and humid.

Chile

From the equatorial warmth in its north to the icebergs on the south, Chile has a variety of climates and has a large part of the Andes going through it, comprising 10% of the worlds volcanoes. If you want adventure you will be torn between the Atacama Desert, the Andes and the ocean. Enjoy the country's abundant fauna and flora and spectacular scenery consisting of huge glaciers, fjords, waterfalls, blue lakes and numerous national parks where trekking is a very popular activity amongst tourists. In the capital of Santiago, Plaza de las Armas is at the heart of the city, filled with museums, and cathedrals. In the surrounding valleys world famous wine is produce.

Best time to visit:

Peak months are October to March. The Lake District in the spring and autumn is lovely and its sunny days in the summer months of December and January are popular. The Patagonia area in the far south is best visited during October to March but during the months of June to August best avoided.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s offer such diversity of landscape that in a short time you can visit rainforests, active volcanoes, hot springs, waterfalls, cloud forests, white water rivers horse back riding on the beach or through Costa Rica’s jungle countryside and relax on secluded beaches. Nature lovers and bird watchers will find an amazing array in Costa Rica. As well as the Costa Rican’s great efforts for nature conservation, the adventurous travellers have plenty on offer. You can create memorable experiences by living the adventure of a lifetime on the white water river rafting or the "tarzan experience" on the zip lines, soar through the tree tops of the Rainforest on your Canopy Zipline Adventure enjoy the waterfalls rappelling, tubbing, cave exploring, horseback riding and sport fishing. Costa Rica allows travellers to discover the natural beauty of this tropical country while quenching their thirst for adventure.

Best time to visit

The climate is tropical with the average temperature varying around 27oC and with only two seasons. The dry season runs from November to April and the rainy season runs from May to October with a small window of “summer” in July up to mid August. The upper Central Valley has an average annual temperature of 23oC and in the lower coastal regions the temperature varies between 21-32oC depending on the season.

Ecuador

Ecuador’s strategic location encompasses some of the best natural features found in South America. Quito, the capital, with its cathedrals, parks, plazas, and museums is surrounded by majestic views of snow-caped summits. Warm Pacific beaches, Andean mountains, and jungle rainforest are all found within the borders of Ecuador. Its interior jungle, populated by Amazonian tribes, is one of the most accessible in all of South America.

Galapagos Islands

The wildlife on the Galapagos Islands, more than 600 miles offshore, inspired Darwin's evolution theory. Here you can travel to these remote islands on a Galapagos Cruises to see rare species of marine iguanas, giant turtles and massive penguins that live there.

Best time to visit:

Ecuador is a country that you can visit year round. The Andean Highlands you can experience sometimes four seasons in one day and due to its altitude it is always fairly cold at night. The Amazon area remains hot and wet throughout the year. Travelling to the Galapagos islands the drier cooler months to visit are July – December with January to June being hot and sunny with some short showers. For those more sensitive sea travellers it is worth noting that the seas can be slightly choppier in July and August.

Paraguay

Paraguay owes its diverse culture to the mixture of traditional Spanish culture with the native Guaraní culture - the dominant ethnic group in the area. Paraguay has two official languages, Spanish and Guaraní.

Paraguays' natural landscapes offer stunning views, unique and colorful animals and plants and the contrast of the cityscapes and night life of its capital city Asunción.

Best time to visit:

The weather is sub-tropical, with the best time to visit from March to June and September to December. July and August are the winter months in Paraguay and can be cold at night.

Peru

Once the centre of the vast Inca empire, many of today’s holidaymakers visit Peru to gaze in wonder at Machu Picchu, the Inca city that was lost to the world. The Andes are on magnificent display here, marked with traces of Incan life. From its pristine coastline to the meandering streams, which later become the Amazon, Peru will never fail to astound and delight its visitors.

Best time to visit:

The peak months for visiting the Andean area is May to October for best weather and the busiest months for tourists. November – April it can be rainy but this in turn attracts less tourists – but it is worth considering as the land is very green. The Amazon region is hot, wet and humid throughout the year.

Uruguay

This relatively prosperous and peaceful little country boasts the Latin American version of the French Riviera where visitors can enjoy the everyday life of a different culture - whether riding horses under the big sky of Uruguay's sparsely populated interior or strolling with throngs of mate-drinking locals along Montevideo's 15km long beachfront. A delightfully low-key, hospitable place, with stunning resorts and hotels, modern Uruguay enjoys a high standard of living.

Best time to visit:

Located entirely within the temperate zone, Uruguay has a climate that is fairly uniform. Seasonal variations are pronounced, but extremes in temperature are rare. As would be expected by its abundance of water, high humidity and fog are common and the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, makes all locations vulnerable to high winds. July and August tend to be the rainiest months. Most tourists visit during Uruguay's summer months from mid-November to March which is also the high season.

Patagonia

Belize

The stable, democratic, English-speaking country of Belize lays claim to hundreds of ancient Maya temples, large tracts of intact tropical rainforest, and this hemisphere's longest barrier reef. Picturesque rivers and cascading waterfalls wind from the Maya Mountains to the Caribbean Sea. Spectacular limestone caves offer activities such as canoeing, cave tubing, and bird watching. Offshore, hundreds of coral sand islands (or cayes) invite you to snorkel patch reefs, dive the Blue Hole and drop offs, kayak, fly-fish, or just relax on sun-kissed beaches with swaying coconut palm trees. The country is home to one championship golf course - the Caye Chapel Golf Course & Marina which offers 18 holes of challenging golf. Marlin, sailfish, and other smaller game fish are to be found in abundance.

Best time to visit:

Any time between December – April which is the dry season, is suitable for a trip to Belize. the wet season runs from May to November. Hurricanes are most likely to occur in September and October and we do not recommend travelling to the region at this time.

Panama

Panama, incredible rainforest and some of the finest snorkelling, birding and deep-sea fishing in the world. Panama is known internationally for its canal, the 1989 US invasion and the name it donated to a style of headgear. This is a proud prosperous nation that honors its seven Indian tribes and its rich Spanish legacy.

Best time to visit:

The best time to visit Panama is from mid-December to mid-April during the dry season when the weather is generally pleasant. The weather can be hot and steamy in the lowlands during the rainy season.

Guatemala

Guatemala is a land of tropical jungles, active volcanoes, mountain lakes and cloud forests, volcanic beaches and coral reefs. The country incorporates some of the most spectacular Mayan archaeological sites the Highlands are home to Mayan communities that still wear their traditional weavings. The ancient ruins of Tikal provide a look at Mayan culture with plazas, an acropolis, pyramids, temples and a museum.

Best time to visit:

There are two seasons: the rainy months run from May to October, and the dry ones from November to April. The average temperature is 75° F, with small variations in the lowlands and in the highlands.

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