WINTER SALE: Save up to $862 on our trips! Book now and secure your adventure!

The Best Places to Visit in South and Central America in Spring

Tulum blends a chic brand of tourism with some of Mexicos finest Caribbean beaches
Tulum blends a chic brand of tourism with some of Mexico's finest Caribbean beaches

From the cloud forests of Costa Rica to the Mayan ruins of Mexico, Central and South America make for thrilling spring escapes. Here is your guide to the very best of Culture Trip’s springtime itineraries.

Kayaking through the mangrove forests of Colombia; discovering the street food delights of Mexico City; snorkeling with sea lions around the Galápagos Islands – whatever your wish for a memorable spring vacation, South and Central America have it all. To fire your imagination, we’ve curated the best trips across South and Central America, catering to all kinds of travellers, from thrill-seekers and wildlife enthusiasts to beach lovers and culture vultures.

Winter Sale
The snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano at dusk with mist hanging over it

Ecuador, for hiking around volcanoes, cycling and horse riding

Boasting a combination of rugged, volcanic landscapes, thick jungle and vibrant, high-altitude cities, Ecuador offers an enormous catalogue of adventures to enjoy. From hiking around the emerald green Quilotoa crater lake and the Laguna Limpiopungo in Cotopaxi National Park to cycling past gushing waterfalls between Baños and Puyo, it’s one of South America’s prime destinations for outdoor pursuits. This eight-day adventure features all of the above, as well as chocolate tasting and a cooking class in Quito, white-water rafting in the Amazon, and soaking in the Papallacta hot springs. As Ecuador lies on the equator, temperatures are fairly consistent throughout the year; if you want to avoid the crowds of peak season, spring is a good time to visit – if you don’t mind the occasional rain shower, that is.

From US$1954.15 Next available from 15th Mar 2025 Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT Quito, Ecuador
arrow pointing to the right
ENDS AT Quito, Ecuador
DURATION 8
GROUP SIZE 16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate info icon
STYLE
Discovery info icon
Launch Offer
An iguana walking on Tortuga Bay beach in Santa Cruz, with a woman walking in the waves in the background

The Galápagos Islands, for viewing a vast array of wildlife

It’s impossible not to be enthralled by the sheer variety of wildlife and unspoiled nature on the Galápagos Islands – and with spring bringing the warmest temperatures of the year, it’s an ideal time for snorkelling and scuba diving. Galápagos giant tortoises, white-tipped reef sharks, eagle rays, Galápagos penguins and sea turtles are just a few of the extraordinary creatures you’re likely to come across, as well as an abundance of endemic bird species. This five-day trip is a fantastic way to see the best of the archipelago in a relatively short space of time. Go kayaking in the Itabaca Channel, sleep in a luxury safari tent in the Santa Cruz highlands, swim with sea lions at Punta Carola beach and head snorkeling or scuba diving at Kicker Rock – one of the best spots in the Galápagos for encountering marine wildlife.

From US$1191.2 Next available from 12th Mar 2025 Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT Bali, Indonesia
arrow pointing to the right
ENDS AT Lombok Island, Indonesia
DURATION 12
GROUP SIZE 18
PHYSICAL RATING
Light info icon
STYLE
Discovery info icon
Launch Offer
trips_peru_LlamaMachuPichu_UNSPLASH_junior-moran-zdk65luJOTI-unsplash

Peru, for local cuisine and seeing a wonder of the world

Discover the best of Peru on our epic nine-day adventure. Start off in Cusco, where you’ll take a Peruvian cooking class, then head to the Sacred Valley to see Inca ruins. Tick a major item off your bucket list when you visit Machu Picchu – this set of ruins, high in the Andes, is one of the seven wonders of the world. Head to Colca Canyon, where you’ll hopefully spot condors circling the skies during your hike, before arriving in Arequipa. Take a tour of the city’s picanterias, local lunchtime restaurants, before this whistle-stop tour finishes.

From US$1844.1 Next available from 23rd Feb 2025 Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT Cairo, Egypt
arrow pointing to the right
ENDS AT Aswan, Egypt
DURATION 9
GROUP SIZE 16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light info icon
STYLE
Discovery info icon

Maja Proescholdt and Gethin Morgan contributed additional reporting to this article.

If you click on a link in this story, we may earn affiliate revenue. All recommendations have been independently sourced by Culture Trip.
close-ad