WHERE TO GO, BY MONTH

The seasonal explorer

Osa Peninsula

Costa Rica

January is one of our favorite months on the Osa Peninsula. Blue skies, hot and dry, with lush rainforest alive with color and sound. It's an ideal month to spot scarlet macaws flying in pairs (they mate for life), and explore the wild jungle in Corcovado National Park with a naturalist guide.

Scarlet macaws flying on Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula
Reef and rainforest

Belize

January is Belize's dry season, prime time to cruise, paddle, and snorkel the cayes, but also to find your adventurous spirit in the rainforest where Maya ruins, ceremonial caves, and jungle trails to tropical waterfalls await.

Snorkeler swimming beside a sea turtle above a reef
Patagonia

Argentina

January in Patagonia is hiking season. Long, golden days with endless daylight hours to spend exploring one of nature’s final frontiers. Hike beneath El Chaltén's granite peaks, watch the ice calve from Perito Moreno glacier, then retreat to your lodge for a cozy evening.

Boat beside the towering face of a glacier
Southern Cayes

Belize

We love February in Belize's Southern Cayes. It's a perfect time to be out on the water, with calm seas and balmy breezes, very little rain. Snorkel or dive the famous Belize Barrier Reef, take kayaks or paddleboards out for a spin, or just hang out and relax on a palm-studded island.

Shallow coral patch reefs seen from above
Antigua and Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

February is a great month to explore the green highlands of Guatemala. Stroll Antigua's cobblestone streets, in the shadow of Pacaya, Fuego and Acatanango volcanoes, visit a coffee farm, and cross Lake Atitlán to villages to learn about Maya weaving traditions.

Historic town beneath a broad volcanic peak
Patagonia

Chile

February is summer in Patagonia, with long sunny days that invite exploration of Torres del Paine. Hike trails with views of the towering granite spires, ride on horseback across open grasslands, and spot guanacos as they graze with snowy mountaintops in the distance.

Guanaco standing in scrub below granite towers
Mendoza

Argentina

March is grape-harvesting time in Mendoza, and wine country is in the mood for celebration. Celebrate at the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia, taste Malbec with the Andes in view, and meet the families behind the bottles you love, then linger over an asado as the sun sets behind the mountains.

Green vineyard beneath a bright blue sky
Granada and Pacific coast

Nicaragua

Sunny, dry days in March are ideal to get to know colonial Granada's colorful streets and paddle a kayak between the volcanic isletas that Mombacho spewed into Lake Nicaragua thousands of years ago. Then head west to the coast for surf lessons and barefoot beach days capped with golden sunsets.

Small wooded islands scattered across a lake
Antigua and Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

We love March in Guatemala. Clear skies are great for volcano views, and hot days make a dip in Lake Atitlán all the more inviting. When Semana Santa lands in March, Antigua's streets fill with vibrant flower carpets and colorful processions. It's an experience worth planning around.

Birds above Antigua's Santa Catalina Arch with a volcano beyond
Cayes and Maya sites

Belize

April is predictably sunny in Belize. It's a great Easter getaway for families. Climb the Maya temples of Xunantunich, listen for howler monkeys in the canopy, go underground in a ceremonial cave, and then take off for the cayes for a little island time to balance all the adventure out.

El Castillo at Xunantunich beneath a clear blue sky
Galápagos Islands

Ecuador & Galápagos

With warm seas and calm water, April is a great time to dive in and see what's beneath the waves in the Galápagos. Swim alongside playful sea lions and curious penguins, spot green sea turtle and marine iguana hatchlings arriving, and walk among giant tortoises in the highlands.

Sea lions on a Galápagos beach at sunset
Barbados

Caribbean

We love a sunbaked April escape, and Barbados is perfect for sailing, swimming, exploring, and lots of R&R. Snorkel with sea turtles, tour a historic rum distillery, and taste flying fish at a local hideaway. Or, stake your claim to a beach chair with a good book, and let the afternoon drift by.

Palm trees and turquoise sea at Bottom Bay, Barbados
Saint Lucia

Caribbean

May brings music to Saint Lucia with the Jazz & Arts Festival, as if you needed one more reason to visit this lush, mountainous Caribbean hideaway. Sail along the shores beneath the Pitons, hike to a rainforest waterfall, and get a taste of real Caribbean chocolate.

Bougainvillea framing the Pitons in St. Lucia
Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

Peru

May is one of the most precious times in the Sacred Valley. Everything is green, the corn harvest is beginning, and clear skies mean perfect photo ops amongst the Inca terraces of Ollantaytambo. Ride the train along the Urubamba River to Machu Picchu, a first glimpse you'll never forget.

Machu Picchu ruins and surrounding Andean peaks
Emerald Coast

Nicaragua

We love May on Nicaragua's Emerald Coast. It's the beginning of the green season, so prices and weather converge at a sweet spot. The surf is warm and offshore winds blowing in from Lake Nicaragua keep the waves glassy, which is why surfers have flocked here for decades.

Surfer silhouetted beside the ocean at sunset
Cusco and Sacred Valley

Peru

Welcome to festival season in Cusco! June builds up to Inti Raymi on June 24, when the Inca Festival of the Sun comes alive on the zigzag stone walls of Sacsayhuamán. Crisp, bright days are great for exploration, village visits, textile markets, and alpine hikes.

Cusco rooftops and church towers below distant mountains
Atacama Desert

Chile

Long winter nights in the Atacama mean more hours under clear, star-studded skies. Trace the southern stars with an astronomer, and get an early start on the day to watch the El Tatio geysers steam at sunrise. All that, plus flamingos wading in the salt-flat lagoons. Magical.

Person shining a light beneath a star-filled sky
Coffee Region

Colombia

June is one of our favorite months to visit Colombia's coffee region. Hop in a classic Willys jeep and roll out to the farms. Get to know local coffee growers, follow the process from bean to cup, and spend an afternoon perusing handmade wooden parqués boards—a perfect souvenir to take home.

Sun rays over green hills in the coffee region
Galápagos Islands

Ecuador & Galápagos

Cooler currents bring a symphony of life to the Galápagos in July. Penguins fishing, blue-footed boobies dancing their courtship display, and waved albatross back on Española for the season. Snorkel with sea lions, kayak with sea turtles, and hike lava trails with naturalist guides.

Penguins swimming underwater beside rocky reef
Copper Canyon

Mexico

July in Mexico's Copper Canyon is when summer rains arrive, the gorges turn green, and Basaseachi Falls swells. Take a ride on the Chepe train through dozens of tunnels and across tall bridges, climb to canyon-rim lookouts, and meet the legendary long-distance runners of the Rarámuri.

Panoramic view of Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, Mexico
Gulf of Chiriquí

Panama

We love July in the Gulf of Chiriquí, when humpback whales arrive on Panama's Pacific coast to breed. Take a boat out to watch them breach, snorkel the reefs of Coiba National Park, and when you retreat to your island lodge for dinner, keep an eye on the horizon for visitors.

Humpback whale breaching above the ocean
Sacred Valley

Peru

In Andean tradition, August is the month to honor Pachamama, Mother Earth, with offerings of thanks. Walk between farming villages, visit the circular terraces of Moray and the shimmering salt pans of Maras, and pack a picnic with mountain views. Then on to Machu Picchu, of course.

Circular agricultural terraces amid mountain grassland
Holbox

Mexico

August is whale shark season off Isla Holbox, a laid-back car-free island. Join a guided group to swim beside these gentle giants. It's a mind-blowing, must-do experience. For even more magic, if the moon is just right, wade out after dark and watch the water glow with bioluminescence.

Snorkelers swimming with a whale shark near Isla Holbox, Mexico
Medellín

Colombia

In early August, Medellín bursts into bloom for the Feria de las Flores. Hundreds of flower growers from Santa Elena parade through the city with floral arrangements strapped to their backs. Between festivities, ride the cable cars over the hillsides and sip coffee in leafy El Poblado.

Silleteros carrying large floral displays at Medellin's flower festival
Península Valdés

Argentina

September is prime time for southern right whales around Península Valdés, where mothers and their calves congregate. Boat out from Puerto Pirámides for a closer peek, then search the coast for elephant seals, sea lions, and the first Magellanic penguins waddling ashore for the season.

Whale-watching boat beside a southern right whale at Península Valdés, Argentina
Caribbean coast

Costa Rica

Insider tip: while the Pacific side is drowning in rain, September is calm and dry on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, plus it's turtle nesting season on the northern end, in Tortuguero. Snorkel the reef at Cahuita, spot sloths along jungle trails, and cycle between beaches near Puerto Viejo.

Hiker on a sunlit rainforest path
Bonaire

Caribbean

Bonaire is on the south edge of the Caribbean, with calm seas and clear water. It’s no accident that the island's license plates read "Diver's Paradise". The island sits within a protected marine park, where you can wade straight from beach to reef.

Photo: Kris Mikael Krister / CC BY 3.0 · cropped to fit. Barbados: gemteck1 / CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/) · cropped to fit.
Diver above a coral reef in Bonaire
Oaxaca

Mexico

Expect marigolds, candlelight and magic in October in Oaxaca as the city prepares for Día de Muertos. Families build altars with flowers, pan de muerto, and photos of loved ones who’ve passed. Explore the markets, watch the processions, and let the stories behind the celebrations draw you in.

Traditional natural dyes in an Oaxaca artisan workshop
Bocas del Toro

Panama

October is one of the sunniest months in Bocas del Toro. Hop between jungle-covered islands, snorkel the reefs, and visit a cacao farm to taste chocolate from the source. An overwater bungalow, Afro-Caribbean cuisine, and lots of nothing-to-do. Perfect.

Starfish in clear shallow water in Bocas del Toro
Amazon rainforest

Ecuador

An October journey into Ecuador's Amazon takes you deep into the rainforest to canoe along blackwater creeks, walk forest trails with Indigenous guides and learn about the forest and their culture, then watch hundreds of parrots gather in a riot of color and noise, at a clay lick in Yasuní.

Kayaking through Ecuador's Amazon rainforest
Ometepe, and Pacific coast

Nicaragua

November marks the start of Nicaragua's dry season, with hills still green from the rains. Take the ferry to Ometepe, two volcanic peaks connected by a narrow isthmus, for freshwater swims and jungle hikes. Finish on the coast with a few days of surfing, seafood, and sunsets.

Ometepe's narrow isthmus and volcanic peaks in Lake Nicaragua
Buenos Aires and Iguazú

Argentina

In November, Buenos Aires' jacaranda trees burst into pale purple bloom. Explore the cafés of Palermo and San Telmo, catch a tango show, and linger over a steak dinner. Then fly north to Iguazú Falls, where some 275 waterfalls thunder through the rainforest on the border with Brazil.

Panoramic view of Iguazú Falls surrounded by rainforest
Antigua and Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

On November 1, towns near Antigua fly giant handmade kites, some taller than a house, to honor loved ones who've passed. Visit a coffee farm, browse markets filled with traditional woven textiles, and cross Lake Atitlán to meet village artisans.

Lake Atitlan and surrounding mountains in haze
Torres del Paine

Chile

December is early summer in Torres del Paine, with nearly 17 hours of daylight and blooming notro bushes across the hillsides. Hike beneath the granite towers, ride horseback across open plains, and watch guanacos grazing along the trails. Then back to a cozy lodge with mountain views over dinner.

Guanaco standing in scrub below granite towers
Arenal & the Pacific coast

Costa Rica

December brings the dry season back to Costa Rica's Pacific coast, along with humpback whales from the north. Look for them off Uvita, home to a sandbar shaped like a whale's tail. Offset your beach time with a visit to Arenal for volcanoes, sloths and monkeys, and a real adrenaline rush.

Arenal Volcano above green forest and lake
Cartagena and Rosario Islands

Colombia

December is when the Caribbean breezes return to Cartagena and the dry season settles in. Wander the walled city's bougainvillea-draped balconies and Getsemaní's colorful street art, and on December 7, watch the whole city glow for Noche de las Velitas, the Night of the Little Candles.

Cartagena's historic rooftops and domes at sunset

A few ways to go

Explore our trips

Browse ideas across Latin America and the Caribbean by country or travel style.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Explore our trips

Clear filters

No trips match these filters. Try clearing a filter to explore more ideas.

Where will you go first?

Tell us what you have in mind. We'll help you get there.

Start planning