The Best Places in North and Central America to Visit in 2024

It’s hard to nail Mexico down to just one destination. This sprawling nation has something for just about every traveller, which we’ve tried to encapsulate in our Complete Mexico Experience tour. The trip includes a deep-dive into Mexico City and a visit to the charming city of Puebla, but if there’s one Mexican region we want to spotlight in 2024 it’s the state of Oaxaca, which dominates the second half of this itinerary. The state capital, of the same name, is regarded as the culinary capital of Mexico. You’ll get to find this out for yourself as you learn how to make fresh tortilla, take part in an authentic cooking class and a mezcal tasting session – the majority of this smoky spirit is made in the region. The other notable joy of this region is Puerto Escondido, its stunning Pacific resort town, lined with gorgeous golden stretches of sand. After exploring the ancient ruins of Monte Albán, you’ll have two full days at a luxurious beach resort to enjoy coastal bliss in southwestern Mexico – that said, we won’t blame you if you want to extend your stay here further.

We’ll head further inland in Guatemala, a nation rich in Mayan heritage and striking scenery, most prevalent in the areas surrounding Pacaya Volcano and Lake Atitlan. There’s a remarkable amount to see within a relatively small amount of land here. There’s the charming streets of Antigua, characterised by colourful, earthquake-resistant antiqueño buildings, which you’ll explore on day two of this five-day itinerary. We’ll follow that up with a stunning sunset trek to the summit of Pacaya Volcano, tucking into pizza and marshmallows cooked with molten lava at the peak. Atitlan itself is a lake formed by the flooding of a volcanic crater, and forms the centre point of our final few days. You’ll visit the ancient Mayan ruins of nearby Iximche before zip-lining across and kayaking on the lake, which is one of the most serenely beautiful on Earth.

Back in Mexico, we simply had to give a mention to some of the country’s most intoxicatingly beautiful towns and cities, many of which can be found in the central heartlands of Queretaro and Guanajuato. This eight-day tour is an ode to these scenic cities, which share a common theme of two obvious things – easy on the eye Spanish colonial architecture and a key historical role in the rise of independent Mexico. Having thoroughly explored the food, art and ancient history of Mexico City, we’ll visit Querétaro – where Mexico’s current constitution was passed – and the magical Baroque streets of San Miguel de Allende. You’ll learn about a key moment in the Mexican revolution at Dolores Hidalgo and sip on fine wines in the vineyards of Cuna de Tierra before reaching Guanajuato itself. By the time we tuck into a delicious farewell dinner, you’ll feel culturally enriched, your camera roll will be overflowing and your appetite will be more than satisfied – that’s the Mexican way!