Swap the Northern Hemisphere’s fall season and head south for springtime in South and Central America. It’s bursting with culture and natural beauty at this time of year, and these small-group trips will show you exactly why.
When temperatures begin to drop and the days shorten north of the equator, the buds of spring start blooming in South and Central America. Whether you’re in it for endemic wildlife on the Galápagos Islands, palm-fringed beaches in Colombia or volcanic hot springs in Costa Rica, these are the places you should visit in autumn.
The Galápagos Islands, for snorkelling with sea turtles and sea lions
The Galápagos Islands deserve a place on any wildlife lover’s bucket list, with a rich variety of extraordinary species on land and at sea, including many not found anywhere else in the world. Autumn coincides with the dry, slightly cooler season, offering prime wildlife-viewing conditions. On this five-day express tour from Culture Trip, you’ll kayak among white-tipped reef sharks in the Itabaca Channel, sleep in a safari tent in the Santa Cruz highlands, surrounded by Galápagos giant tortoises, and swim with sea lions and marine iguanas off the coast of San Cristóbal. Meanwhile, an optional snorkelling or scuba diving trip to Kicker Rock gives you the chance to spot Galápagos sharks, eagle rays, sea turtles and plenty more.
Ecuador, for natural biodiversity in full springtime bloom
The wonder of Ecuador is its incredible array of landscapes – from Amazon to Andes – within such a small country. September in particular is an amazing time of year to visit and make the most of this rich biodiversity. Our eight-day trip starts and ends in charming Quito, where we’ll get stuck into an Ecuadorian cooking class before heading out horse-riding in Cotopaxi National Park, hiking around Quilotoa crater lake and cycling the stunning Baños Waterfall Route.
This is an updated version of an article originally written by Louis Rabinowitz, with additional words from Maja Proescholdt.
About the author
Gethin Morgan has developed an exciting portfolio across a series of roles at Culture Trip. With a keen interest in food and drink, Gethin is also particularly interested in niche or alternative travel which, in his case, usually involves following the Wales national soccer team to Europe's most obscure cities.
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