The Best Private Trips to Book in the Americas

If this sprawling, diverse nation is the dream destination for your travel group, this might be the ultimate taste of Mexico you can have in just over a week. You’ll start with sightseeing and fine dining in Mexico City, before travelling back in time to Mesoamerica at Teotihuacan. Next up is the pretty city of Puebla, famous for its ceramics, followed by an off-the-beaten-path adventure to cacti fields of Zapotitlan Salinas. In Oaxaca you’ll learn how to make tortilla, partake in an expert cooking class and a punchy mezcal tasting session. Having traversed the heartlands of the Mexican Plateau, we’ll eventually reach Puerto Escondido and a gorgeous beach resort with multiple pools and exclusive access to one of the region’s finest stretches of sand.

Intoxicated by the colourful culture of South America’s largest country? Brazil is a behemoth to tackle but one that should feature high on every traveller’s bucket list. Our nine-day tour combines the country’s two most significant cities – Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro – with the gorgeous coastal region of Paraty Bay. Discover trendy neighbourhoods and architectural masterpieces in Sao Paulo, boat cruise and barbecue your way through the crystalline waters of Paraty and explore the Unesco-listed Atlantic Forest before spending four days in Rio. You’ll visit Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, spend plenty of time on the beach and be treated to an incredible Carnaval experience at a local samba school.

Ecuador might be small but it packs one hell of a punch with its diverse array of landscapes waiting to be tackled by adventurous explorers. This eight-day itinerary is an outdoorsy person’s dream, as we go horseback riding in Cotopaxi National Park, cycling along the Baños Waterfall Route and whitewater rafting down one of the Amazon’s main tributaries. Real adrenaline junkies will have a go at the Swing at the End of the World, while fine chocolate tasting, an Ecuadorian cooking class and a series of gorgeous country lodges will keep you refuelled and refreshed throughout the trip.

If culture, history and architecture is what you want from your cities, then Mexico is ready to offer you more than value for money. The central heartlands are dotted with gorgeous cities, characterised by their colourful collections of cobbled streets and colonial buildings. You’ll start in the capital, where you’ll visit Frida Kahlo’s home and take a boat tour down Xochimilco. You’ll visit the remarkable archeological sites of Teotihuacán and Tula en route to pretty Queretaro. Learn about the city’s crucial role in the independence movement before moving on to the Baroque town of San Miguel de Allende, where a cooking class and a thriving local art scene awaits. Get a taste for revolution in Dolores Hidalgo, a taste for fine wines at Cuna de Tierra vineyard and wrap up the trip with a visit to the beautiful city of Guanajuato.

Ancient history and natural splendour sit side-by-side on this five-day getaway in Central America. Discover the cobbled streets and brightly painted barocco antiqueño buildings of Antigua, before taking a guided sunset trek on Pacaya volcano, where you’ll gorge on pizza and marshmallows cooked over molten lava. Guatemala is a hub for Mayan culture, so you’ll get to tour the ruins of Iximche and experience a traditional Mayan ceremony on day three. Our final destination is the serene crater lake of Atitlan, which you’ll get to zipline and kayak across.