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

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.

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.