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Travel Planner
Travel Planner: Mexico, Central & South America Tips
Sky-High Hideaways
Get up close and personal with South and Central America’s parrots, macaws and monkeys by staying in a tree house hotel. A popular trend among eco-tourists and the young at heart alike, hotels such as Costa Rica’s Tree House Lodge, Belize’s Parrot Nest Lodge and Ariau Amazon Towers in Brazil offer everything from laid-back to luxe accommodations cradled among the tropical foliage.
Volunteer Vacation
Give back while seeing the world—you’ll make more than a memory on your next trip. Flyforgood.com offers a range of South American journeys from two weeks to 12 months. Discover what place and project is right for your personality type by taking a quiz on the site. You could end up working with orphans in Argentina, conserving wildlife in the Ecuadorian Amazon or helping humpback whales in Brazil.
City Cuisine
The perfect blend of the traditional and the modern, Mexico City has been a hot spot for several years and shows no sign of cooling off. Home to a burgeoning art scene, Mexico City also has wide range of delicious restaurants. The website queremoscomer.com is a valuable resource, listing dining destinations by food, neighborhood and price.
Traversing the Andes
See the two mesmerizing South American capitals with a comfortable and inexpensive overnight coach ride through the scenic Andes from Buenos Aires in Argentina, to Santiago in neighboring Chile. A small dinner is included on most tours and breakfast coffee service is also standard. There are no stops in the mountains, but riders can break up the journey with a stop in beautiful Mendoza before completing the journey to Santiago.
Natural Adventures
Looking for something a little out of the ordinary and off the beaten path? Get up close to Costa Rica's Arenal volcano, the youngest and most active in the hemisphere. And if that's not enough adventure for you, visit the wild rain forest of Corcovado National Park, said to be the most biologically intense and diverse place on earth.
Mayan Discoveries
Explore the wonder and beauty of Mexican and Central American culture through a fascinating tour of the region’s ancient Mayan treasures. Planning a daytrip through the thick jungles that surround ruined pyramids and temple complexes is an amazing way to access the beauty of the region while getting close to the food and other cultural riches the Mayans left behind.
Travel Documents
Be aware of border regulations before you board your next flight to South America. While most South American countries require nothing more than a valid passport and proof of an onward or return ticket, Brazil and Suriname also require a tourist visa and vaccination certificates. Go to MyWorldSouthAmerica.com for visa and passport requirements listed by country.
Walk Around Money
Many restaurants, out-of-the-way shops and small specialty stores throughout the region still rely heavily on cash for most of their transactions—and only a few will have a handy ATM nearby. It’s always a good idea to back up your travelers’ checks and credit cards with a modest clip of local currency to avoid being caught short.
Jungle Trek
Planning a hiking adventure through the jungle? Be sure you’re prepared for the challenges posed by this stunning and beautiful tropical environment. First off, carry plenty of water. It’s also a good idea to keep a rolled plastic poncho in your knapsack in case of sudden downpours. Bug repellents and wide brimmed hats keep insect annoyances to a minimum. Forgo sandals for lightweight hiking boots as the jungle floor holds unexpected surprises.
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