Over the past few decades, Peru has been trying to weightily designate a number of its archaeological sites as “the next Machu Picchu,” after the famed Incan redoubt in the country’s Sacred Valley. These range from the relatively obscure — like Choquequirao, the “cradle of gold” celebrated as the site of the Incas’ last stand against the Spanish — to somewhat better-known places like Kuélap, a huge, walled mountaintop settlement once populated by the mysterious Chachapoya civilisation, the fabled warriors of the cloud forest.

The effort to crown new successors stems as much from the desire to attract adventurous travellers as it does from the need to siphon visitors away from Machu Picchu itself, which, prior to the pandemic, was well on its way to becoming a poster child for over-tourism. (The site has gone from fewer than 200,000 visitors a year in 1980 to more than 1.5 million in 2018; by contrast, Choquequirao gets about two days’ worth of Machu visitors over the course of an entire year.) Far more people visit Machu Picchu on an average day than ever lived there; one writer clocked a new #Machu post going up on Instagram every 48 seconds.

A guide to Peru’s Amazonas region

As someone who shies away from crowds, I revelled in the idea of visiting underappreciated archaeological masterworks in comparative solitude. So, a couple of years ago, I began cataloguing on Google Earth the myriad of Peruvian places I wanted to visit, the country’s riches unfolding at the mere drag of the finger. But when I called Marisol Mosquera, who heads the Lima-based luxury operator Aracari Travel, I got a reality check. There was nothing wrong with my fantasy itinerary, she noted — except that it would take months.

“The opening scene of the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark, in which the swashbuckling archaeologist played by Harrison Ford swaps a bag of sand for a gleaming gold fertility idol, is supposedly set in this part of Peru. The movie wasn’t actually filmed there, but there were moments when we would have been forgiven for thinking we were in the world of Indiana Jones.”

In Peru, distances on a map may look short as the quetzal flies but actually traversing them — often on narrow, vertiginous roads prone to washouts, rockslides, and a startling array of livestock — can be grindingly slow. A site I’d pegged as an easy day trip was, Mosquera told me, a 17-hour drive, one way. Accessing the sites often involves lengthy hikes, and there isn’t much in the way of anything beyond basic accommodations.

But Mosquera said she had grown increasingly keen on the northern region of Amazonas, particularly the area around Chachapoyas. The colonial mountain town was named for the fierce “lost” civilisation that had inhabited the “eyebrow of the jungle” from around 500 AD to its eventual conquest, first by the Incas in the late 15th century, then by the Spanish in the mid-16th century.

There were a number of sites in Amazonas to visit, most prominently Kuélap, with its massive walls and hundreds of buildings — many still intact. The site was rediscovered in the 1850s but not given serious attention until the late 20th century. And there were two small, stylish inns Mosquera admired — both run by women, both occupying reforested land, and both within striking distance of significant sites.

The travel plan I hatched immediately encountered headwinds: first, COVID came along; then, I realised I’d forgotten to renew my passport. Finally, I fixed on a week in late April 2022. But dark portents kept appearing. A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Amazonas in late 2021, damaging a number of roads. Then, weeks before my departure date, Peru was gripped by political protests, including a strike by transport workers (the country’s episodic bouts of political instability make it worth checking the US State Department website before planning a visit).

Just when I was days away from setting off, a section of restored wall at Kuélap collapsed, and the government closed the site. Rob Dover, an English-Peruvian dual national who runs Vilaya Tours in Chachapoyas and whom I’d been consulting on my itinerary, suggested I go anyway, for two reasons: first, to draw attention to what many view as the governmental negligence that caused the situation at Kuélap; second, because there were so many other things to see and do.

There was one final hurdle. On the eve of our trip, my brother-in-law Robert, who’d agreed to be my travel partner, revealed that he had a fear of heights. My mind flashed to roads twisting up to the 10,000-foot-high mountaintop pueblos we’d be visiting. “Think of it as exposure therapy,” I joked.

As I stepped out onto the broad deck of my cabin at the Gocta Natura Reserve, I suddenly had the sensation that I was inhabiting the white noise machine, with its settings of “waterfall,” “stream,” and “rainforest,” that for years helped me sleep amid the commotion of New York City. I stared at the massive Gocta waterfall — at 2,530 feet, one of the world’s tallest — coursing with days’ worth of rain. Its dull roar across the valley was joined by a cacophony of avian life; somewhere in the distance, the Gocta River burbled by.

Gocta Natura is located just outside the small town of Cocachimba, itself about an hour’s drive from Chachapoyas, the region’s biggest city — which almost everyone jauntily calls “Chacha.” A 90-minute flight leaves Lima three times a week for its tiny airport. An increasingly popular hub, Chachapoyas is itself worth an afternoon’s wandering. This pleasant mountain town has a university and cobblestoned streets lined with whitewashed buildings accented by Bavarian-looking dark wood details.

After a brief stop at Huancas, a tiny hilltop village with a transfixing view of the magnificent Sonche Canyon, we headed to Gocta Natura. The six-cabin eco-lodge began life as a second home for Rocío Florez, who was working for the World Bank in Lima when she and her husband visited the area in the early 2000s. They were captivated and bought a piece of farmland.

In 2002, a German engineer measured the falls, then mostly a local secret, and declared them the world’s third tallest. The claim has since been revised downward, but the falls, which descend in two stages, with the top split into two channels, are undeniably impressive — and thus a nascent tourism industry was born. A dirt road was built, and a few small guesthouses opened. Florez, envisioning a “productive retirement,” began building her cabins and planting trees. An expert in sustainable development, she worked from the beginning on statutes intended to lessen the negative effects of tourism. “Some of the younger generation has been returning to Cocachimba,” she said, lured by the burgeoning economy.

Cocachimba, thankfully, still seems quite sleepy. As Robert and I departed at 7 am for the roughly eight-mile round-trip hike to the falls (some visitors go on horseback), a pair of young Danes were the only visitors we encountered. The path, sometimes manicured with paving stones, sometimes a muddy track, wound through thick cloud forests and was dotted with mosses, ferns, and bromeliads. A few small, shuttered huts advertised cold drinks. A little white dog joined us, bounding ahead to each bend and looking back expectantly. We named him Jefe.

Arriving at the base of the falls, we were suddenly in a glistening emerald wonderland. Because the waterfall is so high, it’s mostly mist by the time it reaches the bottom, but the sheer force of the vapour radiates outward in strong, cooling waves. I’ve been at waterfalls a fraction of the size that were thronged with selfie-taking hordes; here, we were completely alone. There was no sign of the sirena — a sort of mermaid — that some locals believe inhabits it.

Returning, we began to encounter more people, mostly day-trippers from Chachapoyas. At Gocta, lunch awaited, one of three daily meals the lodge provides — part of an ambitious food program overseen by Florez’s son Matías Cillóniz, who also runs a bistro in Lima. Much of the food served, including Amazonas fruits like cherimoya and passion fruit, is grown on the property. Other menu standouts, like Andean black potatoes — one of Peru’s 4,000-plus endemic species of potato — are sourced from a group of women farmers in a nearby hilltop village.

Florez is trying to bring a new level of hospitality to Cocachimba. “I’ve just trained two ladies who’ve worked with me for years to do massages,” she told us. With excursions often requiring lengthy drives, she’s trying to make Gocta itself a more alluring destination. “The idea is, after a strenuous but beautiful activity, you come back and are pampered.”

One late afternoon, refreshed by a cooling chilcano de pisco cocktail, we walked to town to visit a hummingbird refuge recently opened by Elmer Yalta, the owner of a small hotel whose livelihood was derailed during COVID. Having inherited a chunk of land on the edge of town from his father, he stumbled upon the colibri cola de espátula, an endangered species of bird famed for its drooping, two-pronged tail. Yalta’s pandemic pivot was to convert the agricultural land into a forest stocked with hummingbird-friendly flora. Sitting in a shed, staring at a group of feeders, we watched as the bird suddenly appeared and probed its beak into the feeder, its beautiful, preposterous appendage hovering like some phantom twin. Yalta’s experience seemed emblematic of tourism itself: plant the right amenities, and people will come. But be sure to do it carefully, because ecosystems are fragile.

The opening scene of the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark, in which the swashbuckling archaeologist played by Harrison Ford swaps a bag of sand for a gleaming gold fertility idol, is supposedly set in this part of Peru. The movie wasn’t actually filmed there, but there were moments when we would have been forgiven for thinking we were in the world of Indiana Jones. One day I took a nearly two-hour taxi ride to the small village of San Jerónimo to see Cerro el Tigre, a set of cliffside Chachapoyan sarcophagi discovered by a local shepherd in 2013. Robert, as if sensing what was coming, opted to stay at Natura, enjoying a book and the waterfall view. And good thing: even the road to the village was a near-nosebleed territory.

As at many sites in Peru, access is gained via someone in the local community, in this case, the cashier at a small grocery, who asked me to sign a guest book — the last visitors had been weeks before. She then took my money: 10 soles, a little less than USD 3 (HKD 23), for the entrance fee and 50 soles, about USD 13 (HKD 101), for the guide, a 16-year-old girl named Annali. Wearing a colourful sweater and a pair of Wellingtons, Annali nonchalantly led me and my driver, Elvis Hernández — who, having never seen the site, invited himself along — down a track to Cerro el Tigre.

We walked through a pasture, passing cows and dragon-fruit orchards, while a huge, sheer rock face loomed in the distance. After crossing a small waterfall, the butterfly-populated path twisted up a series of tight switchbacks into dense cloud forests. We scrambled up muddy sections and gingerly crossed handmade wooden bridges slick with moisture, finally emerging onto a high ledge marked by the remains of houses, bits of pottery, and, startlingly, a collection of human skulls arrayed on a rock.

I was still trying to figure out where the sarcophagi were when Annali gestured toward a bridge made of hand-hewn logs. At the end was a ladder — a set of planks, really — nailed to a large tree jutting out into space. I nervously ascended what felt like a homespun tree house from my 1970s suburban youth. Reaching the top, I slowly turned around.

What I saw struck me with some weird primal power: a row of small figures with rounded, earthen bodies, arrayed under an outcropping of rock like Kewpie dolls at a country fair. Their smooth, oval faces, with simply painted eyes cast in shadow by prominent sculpted foreheads, stared silently out, for all time, across the Peruvian altiplano. Closer inspection revealed holes in the sides of the sarcophagi where the human remains had been looted. I took all this in, then made the mistake of looking down. A sheer drop, only partially obscured by dense jungle.

Cerro el Tigre isn’t for everyone: the viewing platform isn’t built to any recognisable safety code, and just getting there is an endeavour. At one point, Elvis and I had to help a truck driver who had stopped ahead of us move several huge boulders out of the road. But the thrill of real, unadulterated adventure was undeniable. I had been virtually alone among the remnants of a thousand-year-old tomb built 3,000 feet above the village. It’s increasingly a rarity to come across such an unmediated, little-visited, remarkable place. And yet, the people of this region would no doubt benefit if Cerro el Tigre became better known, which would bring more visitors to spend money in local villages.

Moments like these kept cropping up. On another afternoon, Robert and I travelled to a new archaeological site near Chachapoyas, a mountaintop settlement known as Cambolín. We were greeted at the windswept summit — unusually, it was easily reachable by car — by Jeff Contreras Soto, an archaeologist, and Amado Lopez, a community member from San Juan de Sonche, the town that oversees visits to the site as well as a nearby zipline and waterfall. Lopez offered a plastic bag of coca leaves, a common remedy against hypoxia. Feeling the altitude, we indulged (placebo or not, it seemed to do the trick).

Thus steadied, we toured the complex with Contreras Soto as he pointed out the rare, still-intact mortar between the stones of the circular houses — a hallmark of Chachapoyan architecture — or pictographs with red target-like motifs. I had been told by Brown University archaeologist Parker Van Valkenburg that rather than a single culture, the Chachapoya were more likely a “mosaic of smaller polities that may have banded together” against Incan imperialism. The presence at Cambolín of square-shaped buildings — an Incan staple — revealed the seeming failure of that strategy.

Will Cambolín be the next Machu Picchu? No. But we were alone, with an archaeologist, for a two-hour visit at a significant, active site that is still being interpreted. Afterwards, we were taken, along with some students working on the site, to the small town below for lunch in the community hall served by local women wearing traditional outfits, where we were plied with a further succession of regional elixirs.

“I’ve never seen a culture that has so many ways of burying their dead,” Adriana von Hagen told us over dinner at Kentitambo, the small inn she runs with her partner, Oscar Bravo, outside the town of Leymebamba. There were the aboveground tombs known as chullpas; the cliffside sarcophagi for VIPs; the cave burials. “The walls of Kuélap,” she noted, “are great big cemeteries,” with every nook and cranny used to stash human bones.

Von Hagen, who trained as an archaeologist and is the daughter of noted American explorer-author Victor von Hagen, is a co-founder of the Leymebamba Museum, located just across the road from the inn. It opened in 2000 on the heels of a momentous discovery of Chachapoyan mummies, near a site called Laguna de Los Cóndores — a gruelling three-day horseback ride from Kentitambo.

“At first we thought we could do on-site conservation,” she said. But the risk of additional looting was too great. With private funding, a museum was built to house the collection. It’s a fascinating place that, like seemingly everything else, we’d had to ourselves when we visited earlier that day. We peered through the glass to look at the conserved mummies, crouched in an almost fetal position, their faces looking frozen in anguish. (It was Edvard Munch’s viewing of Chachapoyan mummies at the 1899 Trocadero Exposition in Paris that inspired The Scream.) Among other artefacts, the museum has an extensive collection of quipus, the knotted strings that the Incas used as a kind of number-crunching device.

Sitting at the table at Kentitambo is like being privy to some archaeological salon, with von Hagen offering tart opinions on overtourism in the Sacred Valley or the lack of attention paid by the government to Kuélap (“it’s been in scaffolding for years”). Bravo, meanwhile, chimes in with a joke and a hearty laugh. The inn is a favourite haunt not just for archaeologists but naturalists of all stripes. (A couple from Michigan, regular guests who are keen lepidopterists, were credited with finding a new butterfly species in the area.) It’s a bit more rustic than Gocta, the food more home-cooked. The climate is a bit wetter, a bit cooler. Befitting its sobriquet as the “hummingbird inn,” its grounds are packed with flora and fauna — I saw the spatula-tailed hummingbird, so rare in Cocachimba, right from my breakfast chair.

Kentitambo is also close to a range of stunning archaeological sites. After our two-hour visit to the Leymebamba Museum, we were taken by Segundo “Viejo” Aguilar, a guide, to a site called La Petaca. We drove for an hour south and disembarked at the beginning of a cattle trail. It had been raining, and walking was a delicate balance between trying not to lose a rubber boot in the sucking mud and trying not to fall down. We wound through a verdant pastoral landscape that could have been Scotland, then climbed a hill that briefly gave Robert pause — with urging from Viejo, he soldiered on — until we reached a plateau thick with bracken.

Viejo hacked a path with his machete, and we suddenly had a view of a towering rock face. We could see, with the naked eye, mausoleums carved into the cliff. Contemporary archaeologists have explored those spaces using modern climbing equipment to rappel down the sheer cliff face, making it even more astonishing that the Chachapoya were working in this environment a thousand years ago. We unpacked a picnic lunch and pored over the tombs and pictographs with binoculars, revelling again at our sense of being alone in the company of these haunting monuments.

Amazonas is not the easiest place to travel to. It takes a while to get places, and you may have to help your driver clear a path through a washed-out road. On a hike to a site, it’s always further than you think. Bravo, at Kentitambo, used the slang word allishito — meaning, in essence, just a little bit more over there. But when you get to wherever there is, you’ll be convinced that the journey was worth the effort.

Where to stay

Gocta Natura Reserve: Onetime Lima resident Rocío Florez hosts visitors at six stylishly rustic cabins (ask for one with a view of the stunning Gocta waterfall, a half-day’s hike away) in the hamlet of Cocachimba, while her son Matías Cillóniz oversees a food program supplied by the on-site gardens.

Kentitambo: Run by archaeologist Adriana von Hagen, Kentitambo is a small inn set among verdant cloud-forest foliage and surrounded by hummingbirds, in the small town of Leymebamba. The namesake museum, just across the road, is home to a famous collection of mummies.

How to book

Aracari Travel: Peru is a large country, and the logistics can be tricky. Marisol Mosquera (travel@aracari.com) can arrange trips to any of the sites mentioned in this article (including the now partially reopened ruins of Kuélap).

Vilaya Tours: Rob Dover, an Englishman who has lived in Peru for decades, is an expert on the Chachapoyas region and offers a wide array of outings, including longer jungle treks and horseback journeys.

(Feature image credit: João Canziani)

All currency conversions were done at the time of writing 

This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

Related: The Best Times To Visit Peru, According To Locals

You’ve probably heard of dupes (short for duplicates) for beauty, fashion, and home decor items — dupes are more affordable yet very similar alternatives to pricey cult-favourite items. But what about travel destination dupes? 

Some vacation hotspots are undoubtedly more expensive than others, between airfare, hotel prices, and general expenses like dining out and attractions. And some are definitely more overtouristed than others. According to Expedia’s newest trend report,  that’s why travellers are getting in on dupes, picking more affordable, less-visited destinations that have similar vibes to the originals.

“In the Expedia Trends in Travel report, dupes are destinations that are a little unexpected, sometimes more affordable, but every bit as delightful as the tried-and-true places travellers love,” Melanie Fish, chief trend tracker for Expedia Brands, said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure.

Curaçao is the perfect travel dupe for St. Martin

Expedia did a little digging into the data and discovered several popular travel dupes, not least among which was the Caribbean island of Curaçao as an alternative to St. Martin (or St. Maarten). Per Expedia, searches for flights to Curaçao are up 228 percent.

Both islands are known for their pristine beaches, turquoise waters, European-style architecture, and Euro-Afro-Carib cuisine. (While St. Martin is half-French and half-Dutch, Curaçao has Dutch heritage.)

Curaçao, in particular, is also noted for its spectacular dive sites. In terms of differences, Curaçao is a much larger island with fewer visitors, so it doesn’t feel quite as touristy as St. Martin. Thus, if you’re interested in visiting St. Martin but would prefer fewer crowds, Curaçao is a solid option for your next Caribbean vacation.

Expedia’s other dupes include Taipei for Seoul, which shares a tech-forward culture with vibrant culinary and nightlife scenes; Memphis for Nashville as music-centric destinations in the US; and Québec City for Geneva, similar for their cobblestoned stress, multilingual culture, and proximity to mountains.

This story first appeared on www.travelandleisure.com

(Feature Image Credit: elvirkin/Getty Images)

Related: The Best Times To Visit The Caribbean For Beautiful Weather, Fewer Crowds, And Lower Prices

Peru is famous for many things, but two stand out – adventure and food. Peru is famously home to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu. And it’s not all nature and history; in the 2023 edition of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Peru holds four spots (including number one), establishing its reputation as a bonafide foodie destination.

This country is bursting at the seams with culture, but certain times of the year are better than others to soak it all in.

Peru is located in the Southern Hemisphere, which means the seasons are opposite of the US or Europe. The warmest month of the year is February, and the coldest is August. Keep this in mind when you are packing so you dress appropriately.

Planning a trip to Peru? Here are the best times to visit the South American country

Peru’s tourism seasons fall into three main categories:

• High Season: May to August
• Shoulder Season: March and April, September and October
• Low Season: November to March

Here are the best times to visit Peru, according to local experts.

I spoke with Saul Alvarez Montalvo, the owner and manager at SAM Travel Peru, and Alex, a professional tour guide at Lima Experience, to put together a complete guide on the best times to visit Peru, depending on your travel goals.

Best times to visit Peru for smaller crowds

More than five million tourists travelled to Peru in 2019. Although the 2022 numbers were lower than pre-pandemic levels at just over two million travellers, it’s safe to say that crowds can get very heavy during the peak tourism season in Peru. For travellers looking for smaller crowds, Montalvo recommends visiting during the shoulder seasons – late April and May or September and October. “These are before and after the rainy season, [so travellers have] more chances of excellent weather conditions and fewer crowds,” says Montalvo.

Best times to visit Peru for good weather

For tourist destinations around the world, peak travel season typically falls when the weather is the best, and Peru is no exception. If you’re looking for the best weather, head to Peru anytime from May to September. Just keep in mind that crowds will be heavier during these months. The shoulder seasons are a good option if you’re looking for a bit more warmth while still avoiding the rain.

There is an exception to this rule. Peru is a large country, so the climates can vary significantly between cities. “Depending on the city you visit, you will have a much nicer or different experience,” explains Alex. “For instance, our summer season on the coast by the ocean is from early December to late February. That is the perfect weather in this area.” By June and July, this area starts getting cold and foggy. “In the highlands, it’s different,” says Alex. “From the middle of December through March is the rainy season.” So, travellers need to decide which city they want to visit and what kind of experience they want to have before determining the best time of year to visit.

Best times to visit Peru for lower prices

Travelers will find the lowest prices during the rainy season. January and February tend to get the most rainfall — around 6 inches each month, with more than half the days seeing some precipitation. If you don’t mind getting a little wet, you should be able to find some great deals. “Companies tend to offer good deals for groups during these months because of the low demand in the tourism industry,” says Montalvo.

If you visit during the rainy season, try to schedule your activities in the morning. Afternoon rain showers are common, so you’d be more likely to stay dry if you get an early start.

Best times to visit Machu Picchu

Montalvo recommends visiting Machu Picchu during the high season. “These months belong to the dry season, providing good weather and gorgeous views of Machu Picchu,” says Montalvo. Getting to Machu Picchu can be tricky for international travellers, so it’s important to plan far enough in advance to avoid any snags during your trip.

You cannot visit Machu Picchu without a tour guide, so they should be able to help you prepare for any weather conditions before your arrival. There are also rules for the number of daily visitors to Machu Picchu; typically around 2,500 to 3,500 people are permitted each day throughout multiple time slots from morning until evening. These rules promote the conservation of the area, so you shouldn’t expect it to be packed, even during the peak season. You’ll just need to plan far enough in advance so your dates don’t get booked up.

Best times to experience Lima’s food scene

Many consider Lima to be the culinary capital of South America. Central, ranked the best restaurant in 2023 by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, is located here. Getting a reservation at Central takes some forethought, so planning a few months before you want to go is best. Reservation periods open about three to four months prior; the April, May, and June 2024 reservation periods will likely open up in mid-January 2024. Of course, Central isn’t the only standout restaurant the city has to offer. “Lima has all different kinds of restaurants at all different kinds of prices,” says Alex.

Several holidays throughout the year celebrate Peruvian cuisine, from Pisco Sour Day in February to the Day of the Peruvian Cuisine and Gastronomy in September. During these holidays, there are festivals, tastings, and other events to appreciate and learn about the country’s food culture. And plant-based travellers aren’t excluded from the fun. “Restaurants are more open to the vegan and vegetarian side of society,” says Alex. “It’s little by little – most of the people can’t believe you can eat without a piece of meat. But now, we are being more open-minded.” For travellers who eat fish, he recommends trying ceviche, which is part of Peru’s culinary heritage.

Worst times to visit Peru

The worst time to visit Peru for most travellers is during the rainy season. So many of the experiences that bring travellers to Peru are outdoors; these can become much more complicated in the rain. Remember that the rainy season brings more trouble than just getting wet. Travellers will need to plan around landslides and flooding, which could potentially wreak havoc on an itinerary. However, as noted earlier, the tradeoff could be worth it for flexible travellers looking for fantastic deals and smaller crowds.

Travellers should also be aware of riots and protests, especially in the capital city of Lima. The recent riots following the removal of President Pedro Castillo in December of 2022 caused Peru to declare a months-long state of emergency. Travellers in Peru at the time saw airport closures and the closure of Machu Picchu, so it’s important to stay vigilant and aware of what’s happening in the country before you visit (of course, this advice can be applied to almost any country you visit). Montalvo says, “Travellers should monitor media outlets [to stay] updated about the advice of local authorities so they can avoid visiting Peru during riots.”

(Hero and feature image credit: MIGUEL MEJIA CASTRO/Getty Images)

This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

Related: The Best Times To Visit Finland For Outdoor Adventures, Northern Lights Viewing & More

With one-fourth of its land located in national parks and reserves, Costa Rica is a dream destination for nature lovers and intrepid travellers. Among the country’s natural wonders are five active volcanoes, 800 miles (1,287.48 km) of unspoiled coastline, and diverse ecosystems, from cloud forests to tropical beaches.

For those lucky enough to call this stunning Central American country home, its laid-back, pura vida way of life and the warm hospitality of its people make it an appealing place to both live and explore. But beyond its popular tourist hot spots, where do the locals go? From natural pools to secluded coves, here are 10 incredible places in Costa Rica, as recommended by locals.

The places you should definitely visit in Costa Rica

Corcovado National Park

Containing roughly five percent of the world’s species, Corcovado National Park is one of the greatest biodiversity locations in the world. Blessed with beautiful lagoons, marshes, mangroves, rivers, forests, sandy beaches, and hiking trails, the park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts like Yeison Kim, a travel blogger at Mytanfeet. “There’s no better place in Costa Rica for nature and adventure than Corcovado; it feels otherworldly, like Jurassic Park,” he says.

Playa Naranjo

Costa Rica’s geographical position makes it a world-renowned surfing destination that experiences swells from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. One of Kim’s primary surfing spots is Playa Naranjo, also known as Roca Bruja (Witches Rock), in Santa Rosa National Park. “Although I wouldn’t call myself a pro surfer, I can confidently conquer some midsized waves here,” says Kim, who has seen sharks, manta rays, and even a humpback whale. Beloved by surfers for its extraordinary surf and stunning backdrop, this bay earned its moniker from a local legend that a witch’s spirit dwells within a rock in the park.

Mercado Central

Established in 1880, the bustling Mercado Central is one of the country’s oldest and most cherished landmarks. It’s also a cultural and culinary hot spot where locals gather, shop, and eat. Among the more than 200 shops, stalls, and small restaurants called “sodas,” Kim’s favourite place to go here is Soda Tala, a popular restaurant for locals that sells talapinto. This twist on Costa Rica’s classic breakfast dish, gallo pinto, includes rice, beans, and a thin omelette served in a tortilla, which is either set on top or wrapped in a banana leaf. Patrons can also add fried plantains, cheese, and meat to the dish.

Manuel Antonio National Park

David Konwiser, architect and co-owner of the Villa Punto de Vista estate, was born in Costa Rica, his mother’s homeland, but grew up in California. On a trip to Costa Rica 20 years ago, he fell in awe of Manuel Antonio National Park, so much so that he created his own luxury haven right next to it. “It’s not just the park’s lush rain forests that draw visitors, but also its pristine beaches,” he says. Konwiser enjoys visiting Biesanz Beach, a scenic cove with calm waters, ideal for swimming and snorkelling, as well as Manuel Antonio Beach. But he cautions against weekend excursions to these areas, as they tend to get crowded. Instead, he suggests venturing just north of the park to Espadilla Norte Beach, where there are usually fewer people.

La Fortuna

La Fortuna, the adventure capital of Costa Rica, is the ultimate destination for adrenaline junkies. But for Konwiser, the highlight of this region is its thermal hot springs, such as Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa. “Taking a dip in the various temperature pools naturally heated by the volcano is the perfect way to relax, especially after a day of thrill-seeking,” he says.

Paola Bolaños Zumbado, commercial manager at Copey Estate Winery, touts La Fortuna as well, notably Arenal Volcano National Park and Arenal Hanging Bridges. According to Zumbado, hiking along the lava trails in the national park is invigorating, as are the treetop canopies at the hanging bridges. “If you visit the bridges in the early morning, you can often see the full volcano without cloud cover,” she adds.

Los Santos Zone

Costa Rica’s high-altitude volcanic soil and sustainable farming practices provide favourable conditions for growing high-quality beans. For a true coffee experience, Zumbado recommends venturing into the towns of Dota, Tarrazú, and León Cortés in the heart of Los Santos Zone, a beautiful mountain region that’s about a two-hour drive from San José. One place to try a good cup of Costa Rican coffee is Coopedota, a cooperative that offers more than 40 unique blends, tours, and a cafe.

Nauyaca Waterfalls

“One of the things I love about Costa Rica is the presence of wild waterfalls all over the country,” says Hans Pfister, co-founder and president of the Cayuga Collection. Pfister, who has been living in Costa Rica since 1999, takes an annual hike to Nauyaca Waterfalls, north of Uvita, where he swims in the natural pools, which he admits makes him feel 10 years younger. Reaching these majestic cascades takes a bit of effort, requiring a 3.7-mile (5.95 km) one-way trek on an intermediate trail, either by foot or horseback.

Puerto Viejo

Pfister’s preferred beaches are on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. “It’s where most well-traveled locals spend their vacations,” he notes, citing Playa Chiquita in Limón Province as one of the finest stretches of sand in Costa Rica. Sadie Jordan agrees. She recently relocated from the US to Costa Rica to provide Afro-Costa Rican-centered multiday itineraries through her company, Soul Life Travel. As an Afro-Latina herself, Jordan heads to El Sendero Beach Club in Puerto Viejo to soak up beautiful ocean views and cultural vibes. “It’s a locally owned spot right on the beach, where patrons can relax with lively reggae music, delicious Afro-Caribbean cuisine, and strong cocktails.”

Pacuare River

With thrilling Class II to Class V rapids flowing 67 miles (107.82 km) from the Cuericí mountains to the Caribbean Sea, the Pacuare River is one of the world’s most scenic and best rafting rivers. “It’s a death-defying yet exhilarating experience,” says Jordan, who recently embarked on a rafting tour with her adventurous aunt, Rebecca. Led by Exploradores Outdoors, the pair rafted 18 miles (28.96 km) along the famed Pacuare River Gorge and Valle del Pacuare, encountering various wildlife such as toucans, sloths, and butterflies.

Playa Panama

Stephanie Sheehy, co-owner of Il Viaggio Travel, runs the only local ground operator specialising in accessible travel in Costa Rica. Her deep affinity for Costa Rica’s coastline always leads her to its beaches, including Playa Panama, which has shallow, tranquil waters shielded by Culebra Bay in the Gulf of Papagayo. “It’s one of the calmest and most swimmable beaches in Costa Rica,” according to Sheehy, who is on a mission, alongside her husband, Emilio, to establish at least one accessible solution on every public beach in Costa Rica. She says these efforts will make the country an inclusive destination for everyone.

(Hero and feature image credit: Image Credit: Kryssia Campos/Getty Images)

This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

Related: 20 Best Things To Do In Costa Rica

I was dancing to disco-pop music on a flatbed truck behind the DJ when someone spilt aguardiente on me. (It’s an anise-flavoured liqueur Colombians seem to drink by the gallon.) But I was unbothered: my tank top was already soaked from rain and sweat, I was surrounded by a sea of smiling people, and I was having the time of my life at Medellín’s pride parade.

Medellín’s annual pride parade takes place at the end of June and has recently been competing with Bogotá for being Colombia’s largest pride festival. There were almost 90,000 people at this year’s parade, which culminated after a month of LGBTQ events and festivities in Medellín, Colombia. The parade included an early afternoon street fair of independent shops, health organisations, and nonprofits, and ended after dusk in the historic Parque de las Luces. The parties, though, went all night well past sunrise.

My trip organiser, the gay travel agency Out in Colombia, arranged for me and my friends to not only attend the parade but to join it, too. We hopped onto the float sponsored by one of Medellín’s biggest gay clubs, Club Oráculo, and partied with DJ Nicolas Machado. After the march, I found myself bouncing between a few different gay clubs where I made some new friends and danced until the clubs closed down.

I partied in the Provenza area, which is a wealthier district in the El Poblado neighbourhood. The areas around the main gay clubs were blocked off, there were barricades to make streets pedestrian-only, and police were visible. As a part of the LGBTQ community, I felt extremely safe the entire time in Medellín, Colombia.

Medellín, which is famous for its culture and being a hub for creatives, has seen a resurgence in tourism since the Colombian Peace Accord in 2016. In fact, Medellín surpassed Bogota and Cartagena as Colombia’s most touristic city in 2022. My long weekend was filled with cultural and social activities that were planned by Out in Colombia. (I picked the agency, which started curating itineraries for gay travellers in 2016, for their tailor-made experiences, their LGBTQ tour guides, and their focus on sustainable and educational tourism in Colombia.)

Explore the LGBTQ scene in Medellín, Colombia

What to see and do

Capilla del Rosario, a 120-year-old coffee farm, offers tours, speciality coffee tastings, and educational sessions to learn about the farms. The family-run farm has 25 different varieties of speciality Colombian coffees across 65,000 trees on 45 hectares.

For a unique city experience, visit the Moravia neighbourhood — a former landfill in an industrial area that’s been transformed into a cultural and arts neighbourhood since the early 2000s. Local neighbourhood leaders, namely an 87-year-old woman named Gloria, now run a cultural centre that even hosts street art tours — check out MamaChilla Tours — for visitors. There’s also a Barrio Transformation tour where you can learn about all the changes the neighbourhood has undergone. It’s an inspiring and interesting region that many might miss out on.

And because the city is in a valley, going to the mountains offers exquisite views from the scenic vistas.

If you’re looking to shop for local brands, Industrias Roboto is a Colombian fashion brand specialising in techno-party clothes with a very industrial and futuristic aesthetic with an outpost in Medellín. The owners also have La Panaderia Rusa, which specialises in parkas and hoodies.

Where to eat and drink

There are lots of restaurants in Provenza with open-air eateries under the lush green canopy of trees that line the streets. For quick bites and coffee, keep Repostería Astor in mind — it’s a traditional Colombian pastry shop and café, with several locations across the city.

Brunch at Repeat is a staple — it has an eclectic international menu. Their large patio and spacious interiors (with a wrap-around bar with great cocktails) host live DJs in the afternoons and evenings, making it as much a place to enjoy a meal as it is a chill-out spot.

Another great lunch spot is Lavocaderia where every meal features avocados prominently in its recipe. For example, you can get a burger where the meat patty is served between two giant avocado halves instead of buns.

For more fine dining, the reservation-only Test Kitchen Lab is a must-visit. Each dish features Colombian-only ingredients and is paired with an equally enticing drink or cocktail. The open kitchen allows you to interact with the chef directly making it a memorable and intimate dining experience.

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Where to party

While there isn’t an official “gay neighbourhood”, Provenza has the largest concentration of LGBTQ bars and its safe and welcoming environment makes it easy to enjoy the bars and nightlife in Medellín, Colombia.

Mad Radio, a club for music lovers, is my favourite hangout in the city and a venue I visited every night during my trip. The indie club looks and feels like someone’s house, with an open-air living room that spills out onto the sidewalk. A trickling creek outside adds to the home-like ambience.

The bar is focused on a DJ booth placed squarely in the centre of the building and the crowds are there to dance. While not exclusively a gay spot, it’s a very queer-friendly venue that even hosted a queer-centered pride party during pride weekend that showcased women DJs.

Other more traditional gay bars in Medellín include Donde Aquellos Bar, a great spot for a casual hang with tables on an outdoor patio and great cocktails. Just up the street is Bar Chiquita — an upstairs bar and club with a back room that has regular drag shows. (Insider tip: they’re famous for their lychee martinis.)

But the heart of gay Medellín is Club Oráculo, a massive gay club with three separate dance floors: one plays traditional gay pop and has a massive stage where you can catch full-on, elaborate drag performances; one dance floor upstairs plays techno; and one plays Latin and samba-style music.

Where to stay

Many of the city’s best hotels are in the Provenza neighbourhood but I stayed at The Click Clack Hotel Medellín. It is a Colombian brand and the second hotel after its flagship property in Bogotá. The luxury hotel has a large open-air, green lobby under towering trees and bushes, where breakfast is served daily.

There are three on-site restaurants serving Colombian, Greek, and Thai cuisines and two separate rooftop bars. The newest addition is the newly opened Náufrago, a rooftop cocktail bar with 360-degree panorama skyline views. Their delicious cocktails are designed after different Colombian regions, each with its own localised liquors and flavours.

There’s no need to leave the hotel with all its amenities (and a downstairs art gallery, even) but it’s within walking distance to all the attractions and gay bars in Provenza, making it the perfect place to be based while exploring Medellín.

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Related: These Are The Friendliest Countries For LGBTQIA+ Community In 2023

Argentina is the second-largest country in South America and the eighth-largest country globally, so there’s always plenty to do, no matter what time of year you visit. As a full-time digital nomad who has spent more time in Argentina than anywhere else,  I can attest that each season has something special to offer.

With the help of Joy, owner of Joy of Buenos Aires and a licensed tour guide with more than 13 years of experience, we have put together a complete guide to the best times to visit Argentina for every type of traveller.

“Argentina is a country that offers a wide range of options for all kinds of travellers,” says Joy. “Whether you enjoy vibrant cities or prefer tranquil and less-crowded destinations, there is something for everyone. Each province in Argentina has its own unique characteristics, allowing visitors to choose the best for their travel style.”

Argentina’s tourism seasons fall into three main categories:

• High Season: November to March
• Shoulder Seasons: September and October, April and May
• Low Season: June to August

Remember that the Southern Hemisphere has opposite seasons from the Northern Hemisphere, meaning December to February is summer there. Argentina stretches more than 2,300 miles (3,701.49 km) from north to south, so there is a considerable variation in weather between provinces. Read on for the best times to visit this magnificent country.

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The best times to visit Argentina for a great South American vacation

Best times to visit Argentina for smaller crowds

To avoid the large crowds that visit during peak travel season, you should visit in the shoulder or low seasons. December through February will see long lines, more crowds, and increased prices, particularly in the areas around Buenos Aires and to the north of the Argentine capital. To avoid crowds in Patagonia, you’ll want to visit during the warmer summer months, although it will still be quite chilly the farther south you go.

But even if you visit during the peak season, you can still have a great trip and meet fantastic people. Joy says, “If there is something that you will remember from your trip, it’s the hospitality, the friendliness, and that everyone opens conversations.”

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Best times to visit Argentina for good weather

The weather tends to be relatively moderate in many parts of Argentina throughout the year, but major cities like Buenos Aires can get very hot during the summer. Avoid peak winter (August) and summer (January) if you want the best weather, and aim instead for spring, which lasts from September through November, and fall, which lasts from March through June, for lots of sunshine and warm days.

Summer is typically the wettest season for most of Argentina except Patagonia, where summers are often very dry. You don’t have to worry about a true rainy season, though, as you would in other South American countries like Colombia.

Best times to visit Argentina for lower prices

You can find fantastic deals in Argentina throughout the year, but if you want to find more affordable accommodations and lower prices on excursions, visit during the shoulder or low seasons. Anecdotally, I got a great deal on an apartment rental in Buenos Aires in May and June, but I paid quite a bit more in January. As with many destinations, the longer you stay, the better deals you can get.

Best times to visit Argentina to see Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls are among the largest waterfalls in the world, located on the border of Argentina and Brazil. If you want to avoid the crowds, go in the shoulder or off seasons; I went to Iguazu in June and felt that was a perfect time.

Joy notes, “Check both Argentinian and Brazilian calendars before booking your trips to this area. Flying on a holiday weekend could be really exhausting. You’ll have to deal with long lines, huge crowds everywhere, and even taking the best picture is really hard.”

Best times to visit Argentina to go skiing in Patagonia

Patagonia covers the southern portion of Argentina and Chile and has fantastic lakes, trails, glaciers, and even penguins the farther south you go. If you ever want to go to Antarctica, you’ll likely travel from Ushuaia, Argentina, known as “the end of the world.”

According to Joy, the best time to go skiing in Patagonia would be mid-winter, in August. “If you are visiting Patagonia, try booking in advance; all the best activities or accommodations get sold out if you wait until the last minute,” says Joy. I can verify this is true — I went to San Carlos de Bariloche, a beautiful alpine town that is a popular winter and summer destination, in January, and many restaurants and activities were fully booked.

Best times to visit Argentina to go wine tasting in Mendoza

There is never a wrong time to go wine tasting, but there are certainly more popular times to visit Mendoza, a region known for fantastic wineries that produce the best malbecs in the world. The Fiesta de la Vendimia, also known as the Grape Harvest Festival, kicks off in January and February, and the main event typically happens at the beginning of March, with concerts, tastings, and tens of thousands of visitors. Of course, this is a busy time to visit, but the experience is more than worth dealing with the crowds.

Mendoza has plenty more than wine to offer tourists, so don’t be fooled into thinking you can see everything on a weekend trip. Give yourself plenty of time to see the city, and consider renting a car or hiring a driver to get to the wineries, as some are a two-hour drive from the city centre.

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Best times to visit Argentina to see a soccer match

Soccer (commonly called football in many parts of the world, including Argentina) is quintessential to local culture, so you can likely see a match at any point throughout the year, although there is typically a break in December and January. The calendar changes every year, so if you want to see a match, be sure to look in advance. It can sometimes be difficult to score tickets to the most popular soccer matches, so it’s generally recommended to go with a guide.

Worst times to visit Argentina

Joy says there’s truly no “bad” time to visit Argentina. “Never avoid going to Argentina,” she says. “Every moment of the year has amazing wonders to discover.” The country is massive, so the best and worst times to go largely depend on your destination and travel goals.

The main attractions in the northern provinces of Argentina, like Salta and Jujuy, will largely be closed in the winter months. They will also be very hot in the summer months, so it’s best to visit this part of the country in the fall or spring. Similarly, the beaches on the coast will be packed in January, so it might be better to visit in February or March when it’s cooled down a little bit.

Winter is the most popular time to visit the southern parts of Argentina, so there will be much higher prices and heavier crowds, particularly during the winter holiday season in June and July.

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This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

Related: The Best Times To Visit Amsterdam For Great Weather, Smaller Crowds, And Tulips

Comprised of more than 400 islands and nearly 9,000 square miles (23,209.89 square kilometres) of the mainland, Belize is home to rainforests, jungles, mountains, rivers, an extensive cave system, and many well-preserved ancient Maya ruins. Adventures on both land and sea make Belize a popular destination, and its beaches and resorts are terrific for visitors who simply want to relax and enjoy the tropical climate.

To better understand the variety of ways travellers might get to know Belize, we gathered suggestions from local experts, including Patricia Johnson, head of trip design at Absolute Belize (and a Travel + Leisure A-List Travel Advisor); David Benzaquen, general manager at Cayo Espanto; and multiple team members with Alaia Belize. Anoushka Brandl, commercial director at Matachica Resort & Spa and Gaïa Riverlodge, and Janet Woollam, managing director at Victoria House Resort & Spa, shared their thoughts as well.

This list of things to do in Belize features ideas for everyone, from adventurers and history buffs to foodies and travellers looking to chill out on a lounge chair in the sun.

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The best things to do in Belize

Tour the ancient city of Caracol

One of the largest Maya sites in Belize, this ancient city covers about 25,000 acres in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. “You’ll marvel at the massive pyramids, detailed carvings, and remarkably well-preserved ancient artefacts,” says Johnson. “And you’ll learn fascinating details about ancient Maya culture, from daily life and religion to the ingenuity of their buildings.”

Snorkel or dive in the Great Blue Hole

Located about three hours by boat off Ambergris Caye, the Great Blue Hole is a ring of coral encircling a huge underwater sinkhole. It’s home to colourful fish, shrimp, groupers, black tip and reef sharks, and other Caribbean marine life. Almost 1,000 feet across and 400 feet deep, the Blue Hole is accessible by dive boat tours.

Fly over the Great Blue Hole on a helicopter tour

For a bird’s-eye view, stunning photos, and a thrilling experience, take flight over the Great Blue Hole. Several of our experts suggested this tour, and Benzaquen pointed out that Cayo Espanto “is home to a helipad and partners with a local service provider” for convenient pick-up and drop-off.

Enjoy traditional Belizean dishes

“I suggest checking out local eateries like El Fogon in San Pedro’s downtown for traditional Belizean food,” says Eric Porter of Alaia Belize. At Matachica Resort, Brandl tells T+L, “The Captain’s Table, a social gathering for eight guests, is a five-course dinner hosted by a different resort team member each time, a true local food experience.”

Explore the underground caves of Belize

The ancient Maya believed that caves were entrances to the underworld, and in Belize, travellers can explore a number of them by hiking, canoeing, tubing, or swimming. The experience is “an adventure you will never forget,” according to Johnson. “One such sacred cave is Actun Tunichil Muknal, which contains a remarkable collection of artefacts and skeletal remains that have been preserved over the centuries.”

Join a tubing tour through the caves

Offered by many local tour companies, cave tubing is a visitor favourite in Belize. After a drive to the rainforest, there’s a short hike before you hop on an inner tube to float along an underground river through the natural caves. A guide navigates the tubes, so no paddling is required. Lunch and transportation from a central meeting point are usually included.

Feast on your own fresh catch

According to Woollam, “Reef fishing with a beach BBQ is fun and widely popular. The fishing is quick and easy, followed by lunch cooked over an open fire. Fresh seafood with Belizean spices, marinades, and condiments has been called the best lunch ever.” Describing a Cayo Espanto excursion, Benzaquen tells T+L, “After snorkelling, you catch your own fish, conch, or lobster, then you head to an uninhabited island beach where your guide will cook your ‘catch of the day.’”

Hang with locals at Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye

The secret is out, and it’s the place for all-day music, food, and drinks. “Alaia’s guests often rent a golf cart to visit Secret Beach, where a day of relaxation, paddle boarding, and jet skiing awaits,” says Jesus Oba, concierge with Alaia Belize. Nearby, The Truck Stop features a beer garden, pool with a swim-up bar, movie screen, games, and live music.

Learn all about chocolate

The ancient Maya are said to have invented chocolate, and the annual Chocolate Festival of Belize celebrates that history, local culture, and more. If you can’t attend the May event, there are other options. Brandl suggests that visitors “Experience traditional Maya chocolate making at Ajaw in San Ignacio, then try the delectable chocolate brownie at Gaïa Riverlodge’s Five Sisters Restaurant as a midday sweet treat.” In San Pedro, visit Belize Chocolate Company or Mahogany Chocolate.

Dive or snorkel at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley

“Our most popular and sought-after tour is snorkelling or diving among the vibrant marine wildlife in Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley,” says Oba of Alaia Belize. “Our guests get a thrill out of swimming with nurse sharks, giant jackfish, blue tangs, and sea turtles. Some guests overcome their fear of getting in the water and come out wanting to go back in.”

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Experience the Belize Barrier Reef

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and second in size after the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, the Belize Barrier Reef extends more than 180 miles (289.68 km) along the coast of Belize. Dive, snorkel, or do as Patricia Johnson suggests: “Hop on a sailing adventure and explore the vibrant marine life, colourful corals, and picture-perfect islands along the Belize Barrier Reef.” Woollam recommends “an easygoing sunset cruise along the reef,” noting that most catamarans sail for about two hours.

Browse the shops in San Pedro town on Ambergris Caye

“As a local, one of my favourite things to do is explore the small shops, restaurants, and bars in San Pedro town,” says Eric Porter of Alaia Belize. “If you are an art buff or just looking to take home a souvenir, stroll downtown where small galleries, gift shops, and nifty nooks are in abundance.”

Learn about the Garifuna people

“Experience the culture of the Garifuna people by taking part in traditional drumming and dancing celebrations, sampling local dishes, and even staying in a Garifuna village,” suggests Johnson of Absolute Belize. “You’ll come away from this experience with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the richness and friendliness of the Belizean people.” ToursByLocals offers a full-day Garifuna culture tour with convenient pick-up and drop-off.

Get dive certified

“The proximity of the reef to the resorts makes getting dive certified an easy, safe, and fun experience,” says Woollam. “If you have the desire to learn how to scuba dive, dive organisations like PADI have made classroom time a thing of the past. The theory portion of the certification is easily accessible online and can be done at home prior to arriving in Belize.”

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Explore Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve

Located about two hours from San Ignacio in the Cayo District of south-central Belize, this reserve is home to natural pools, caves, Maya ruins, and waterfalls, including the highest waterfall in Central America, Thousand Foot Falls. Stay within the reserve and above Five Sisters Falls at Gaïa Riverlodge.

Meet new feathered friends

Grab your binoculars and try to spot some of the nearly 600 species of birds that live in Belize. The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is a great place for birdwatching, and Paradise Expeditions offers a variety of expert guided tours on the mainland and cayes.

Go on a fishing excursion

On a half-day or full-day deep-sea fishing adventure, you’ll be fishing for tuna, mackerel, marlins, and more. For a more casual day of fishing in different spots along the reef, you can choose reef fishing in calmer seas. Ideal for families, the latter trip includes rum punch, snacks, sodas, and lunch. Turneffe Atoll is also a favourite fishing destination.

Get active in the Caribbean sea

Once you’ve relaxed on the beach and you’re ready to get wet, it’s time for your favourite activity on the water. “While Ambergris Caye is known for its proximity to the reef for snorkelling and diving, our guests also enjoy other adventurous water activities, including parasailing, windsurfing, or jet skiing, which our concierge is able to organise for them,” says Oba of Alaia Belize.

Visit Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Centre

More than 150 native animals make the 29-acre Belize Zoo their home. Most of the zoo’s residents are rehabilitated or rescued, and they include tapirs, jaguars, spider monkeys, toucans, macaws, coatimundi, and more. The fully accessible zoo offers VIP guided tours.

Browse and shop at San Ignacio Market

Located in the Cayo District in western Belize, this market is set on the banks of the Macal River in San Ignacio. Open every day until 6 pm, the market gives visitors a true glimpse into Belizean life, with handmade clothing, handicrafts, fruits, vegetables, and herbs for sale by farmers and local craftsmen. Nearby San Ignacio town offers restaurants, bars, and shops.

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Related: The Best Times To Visit Belize For The Ultimate Tropical Vacation

What does “regenerative” mean when talking travel? It’s about making positive, pro-social impact on the places you visit. We asked one of the leaders in this field, the founder of Jacada Travel, to tell us how we can be more responsible globetrotters even on luxury vacations.

TOURISM IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S fastest growing and largest industries. At its best, it’s a tool that can break down barriers between communities; facilitate an exchange of ideas and perspectives; preserve and protect culture, history, and heritage; and even finance nature-based solutions to some of the world’s most complex societal challenges. But it can also put a strain on natural resources, erode biodiversity, increase pollution, and commodify culture.

From the very beginning at Jacada, it was always clear to us that travel must be done in a way that respects local communities and preserves the intrinsic value of ecosystems. We love the old adage, “take only photos, leave only footsteps,” but what we’ve seen in the last 15 years is that we can actually take this further and leave the world better than we found it.

The impact of a single trip has the ability to create a considerable ripple effect. It can create meaningful work, but it can also fund initiatives and projects in areas where government assistance is insufficient or has failed. In our efforts to promote positive impact over the years, we’re proud to say that we’ve partnered with a wide range of hotels, lodges, and camps who have undertaken major efforts to support social and environmental causes.

For example, the folks behind Sol y Luna, a beautiful hotel circled by the Andes Mountain range in Peru are tackling the lack of access to education in the Sacred Valley through income generated by their hotel. Or Wilderness Safaris, who operate a range of luxurious eco-camps across Africa and who, at the time of writing, conserve just over 2.3 million hectares of land, with the plan to double this by 2030.

Jacada Travel guests are able to get under the skin of a destination to meet the movers and the shakers of the country — the artists, artisans, historians, and guides who play a powerful role in preserving culture, tradition, and heritage. Working within some of the world’s most biodiverse destinations, conservation fees for national parks create financial value for their protection, and access to these areas presents opportunities for citizen science, education, and knowledge sharing.

From tiger-spotting in India, to embracing local cultures in Botswana and celebrating farm-to-table food across the globe, Jacada is proud to promote responsible travel, which supports a planet that future generations can be proud of.

Learn more here.

Alex Malcolm is the founder of Jacada Travel
Images courtesy of Jacada Travel, unless otherwise noted.

Tucked under Mexico’s Quintana Roo state on the east coast of Central America, Belize is a nature lover’s paradise. The tiny nation punches above its weight when it comes to all the tropical adventures found along its roughly 240 miles (386.24 km) of Caribbean coastline and within its jungle interior.

Belize has 400 islands and cays, including Caye Caulker, Ambergris Caye, and Half Moon Caye. The country’s vast stretches of protected barrier reef are part of the largest barrier reef system in the Northern Hemisphere, making the country a must-visit destination for scuba divers and snorkelers. Diverse animal species — including jaguars, pumas, and ocelots – dwell in the country’s wildlands and national reserves, including the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Plus, Mayan ruins offer a fascinating look into the area’s ancient history.

Below, we’ve tapped local experts to determine the best times to visit Belize so you can start planning your tropical escape.

• High Season: December to April
• Shoulder Seasons: April to May and October to November
• Low Season: June through September

These are the best times to go to Belize for beautiful weather, fewer crowds, and more.

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Your guide to a tropical vacation in Belize

Best times to visit Belize for smaller crowds

Belize is busiest around the holiday season from late December to early January and during March and April. “November and May are great times to avoid crowds as most families are preparing for the holidays or back in school from breaks,” says Janet Woollam, managing director at Victoria House Resort & Spa, a 42-key property on Ambergris Caye with a private beachfront. “During these months, travellers can have a more relaxed experience visiting low-trafficked sites like ancient Mayan temples, joining rainforest expeditions, or zip-lining over jungle canopies teeming with adorable black howler monkeys,” she says.

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 Best times to visit Belize for good weather

While “good weather” can be subjective, it’s safe to say most travellers want to enjoy sunny skies and moderate temperatures and avoid tropical thunderstorms and stifling humidity.

“January to March are the driest months to visit Belize, with prolonged periods of warm sunshine particularly in the north and central regions,” says William Allison, senior Belize specialist at Audley Travel. Woollam suggests February as a pleasant month to visit, too – but you won’t be the only one with Belize on your radar at this time of year when the temperatures are at their all-around nicest for spending time outside.

Best times to visit Belize for lower prices

As long as you don’t mind the rain, June and July can be a good time to take advantage of discounted travel, Allison says.

“The rainy season (in Belize) begins in June, and with it comes lower prices at hotels,” he says. “June and July are still rewarding times to visit, and the rain is rarely the persistent rainfall that is experienced later in the season, with sharp showers predominantly falling in the afternoon and at night.”

Another perk of visiting Belize at this time of year, he says, is the start of Caribbean Spiny Lobster season, which kicks off in mid-June and runs through Feb. 15. “Placencia and Ambergris Caye are great places to try some tasty lobster dishes,” he suggests.

Woollam points to September and October as the traditional sweet spot in Belize for landing lower prices outside of the hotter summer months but warns, “This can be somewhat skewed, as interest in travel is at a high since many would-be travellers weren’t able to go on holiday for the past few years.”

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Best times to visit Belize for scuba diving and snorkelling

With waters so blue and brilliant, almost everyone who visits Belize wants to spend some time splashing in the Caribbean Sea. You can snorkel and scuba dive year-round in Belize with an average water temperature of around 80 degrees (26.66 degrees Celsius), depending on the season. Water and air temperatures are slightly cooler in Belize during the dry season, which starts in November and runs to July.

To find diving and snorkelling tour operators, head to spots like Placencia, Ambergris Caye, and Caye Caulker. “Ambergris Caye also serves as a base to plan your offshore dive trips to the world-renowned Blue Hole dive site at Lighthouse Reef Atoll or the less-recognised but equally impressive Turneffe Atoll,” says Woollam, whose hotel arranges local scuba and snorkel tours as well as excursions further afield.

For a truly special marine encounter, Allison recommends travelling offshore from Placencia to Gladden Spit. “It’s one of the few places in the world where snorkelers and divers can encounter the magnificent whale sharks,” he says, referring to the world’s largest (and very docile, filter-feeding) fish. “They commonly visit during the full moon periods of April and May.”

Worst times to visit Belize

There really isn’t a terrible time to visit Belize, as long as you can handle some inclement weather. If you want to avoid the rain, steer clear of Belize from June through November, which is when hurricane season intersects the rainiest months of the year. While rainstorms during this period are unlikely to wash out an entire day’s worth of vacation fun, they can lead to cancelled activities when there’s a heavy enough downpour, so it’s something to consider as you plot out your trip.

“By early August, travel is more challenging in Belize as the wet season progresses, and there is a low risk of hurricanes” warns Allison. Travellers should also be aware that some businesses close up in September to perform annual maintenance, he says, so plan accordingly.

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Related: The Best Times To Visit The Bahamas For Fewer Crowds, Lower Prices, And More

How much do you know about Guadeloupe? Yep, it’s a biiiit beyond the usual remit of us at Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, but it certainly rivals our region in beautiful beaches and fascinating history. When friend of T+L, Dr. Holly Hatcher-Frazier, decided to travel for a girls’ trip to Guadeloupe, we asked her to be our guide. 

GUADELOUPE IS A DOZEN-ISLAND archipelago in the southern Caribbean that is a French overseas région. Christopher Columbus visited the two main islands (now known as Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre) in 1493 and consecrated them in the name of Our Lady of Guadalupe. But the tough local Caribs staved off Spanish troops and settlers for a couple of generations before the Europeans were able to establish a toehold on the coast.

French traders took over the Spanish settlement, and by the middle of the 1600s had developed a colony and institutionalized slavery there for coffee, sugar and other plantations. The next two centuries saw the French intermittently battling the British for supremacy over the islands, the enslaved people seeking their freedom, and the locals who naturally wanted them out. These days, the vast majority of the population is Creole and Roman Catholic, though they maintain deep folk culture traditions.

With white- and black-sand beaches, mangrove forests and waterfalls, volcanic peaks, beautiful blue seas, rich culture, and delicious food like conch all being bountiful, my mother, sister, daughter and I thought it would be a great place for a girls’ trip. Here’s our travel guide to Guadeloupe:

Why we decided to go Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe is an absolutely stunning country. The natural beauty is breathtaking and worth exploring either on a tour or renting a car on your own. The mix of cultures was another huge selling point for us and we were excited to experience it. Dry season is December to April, and we went on the tail end of that sublimely sunny period.

Favourite beaches in Guadeloupe 

The beaches were gorgeous.  The sand was like powder and it did not get hot.  The crystal clear waters were calm and refreshing. Some of my favorite beaches were Plage de la Caravelle and Place de Sainte-Anne. We loved going to Malendure Beach: It was fun to see a black-sand beach where you can snorkel and see amazing coral as well as an array of colorful fish. T+L Tip: Malendure Beach has the best coconut ice cream. 

Shop at Marché de Sainte-Anne

Shopping at the market was an adventure. We decided to walk to the market and stopped to get fresh juices along the way.  The passion fruit juice was especially refreshing. Once at the market, we walked around to look at fresh produce and sample a variety of rums and spices. We found some pretty jewelry and textiles, as well. The vendors were friendly and we used Google translate to communicate when we were stumped!

Boat trip to Les Saintes

Les Saintes was a great day trip.  The ferry ride was an adventure by itself. Be warned: if you sit outside on the ferry you will get very wet. It is said that this island is known for their elite fishermen, and I can say that the seafood we tasted there was extremely fresh. Fort Napoleon is an interesting historic site that houses a museum while also offering outstanding views of the turquoise waters from the top.

Must visit in Guadeloupe: Memorial ACTe Museum

The Memorial ACTe museum was remarkable.  This is not your average museum.  It showcases the fascinating history and vibrant culture of Guadeloupe using a combination of visual art, music, artifacts and digital media. The collection is quite large and has a focus on the history of slavery in Guadeloupe. I was surprised to learn that slavery was once abolished and then reinstated several years after its abolition.