Where to go on a tropical vacation in Latin America?
August 28, 2013 9:35 AM Subscribe
Where should a family of 3 go for our vacation in Central America, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil or the Caribbean?
My family (my lovely wife, our 6 year old boy and me) are planning a vacation this summer (January / February). We live in Chile, and would like to have a cheap/medium price vacation somewhere in Central America, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil or the Caribbean.
We've done the all-inclusive resort thing (in Aruba and Punta del Este) and are looking for something cheaper and less packagey.
We'd like: awesome beach, cheap food and lodging, interesting city/town to explore. It could be 2 places (e.g.: a city + a beach town), spending a week in each, if there's no one place that matches all our requirements. It should be low-key enough to let my son run free as much as possible. We're thinking of looking for accommodations on Airbnb, not a hotel.
What cool, tropical, Latin American vacation spot would you recommend?
My family (my lovely wife, our 6 year old boy and me) are planning a vacation this summer (January / February). We live in Chile, and would like to have a cheap/medium price vacation somewhere in Central America, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil or the Caribbean.
We've done the all-inclusive resort thing (in Aruba and Punta del Este) and are looking for something cheaper and less packagey.
We'd like: awesome beach, cheap food and lodging, interesting city/town to explore. It could be 2 places (e.g.: a city + a beach town), spending a week in each, if there's no one place that matches all our requirements. It should be low-key enough to let my son run free as much as possible. We're thinking of looking for accommodations on Airbnb, not a hotel.
What cool, tropical, Latin American vacation spot would you recommend?
I spend a good deal of time in Panama, specifically Bocas del Toro. I will not recommend it, only because I don't want anyone else to find it. Okay, okay: it's amazing. The main town is small, but has fun restaurants and the beaches are amazing. Lots of activities, etc.
Last time I went in January, it was great weather.
MeMail me if you want specifics.
posted by mrfuga0 at 10:27 AM on August 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Last time I went in January, it was great weather.
MeMail me if you want specifics.
posted by mrfuga0 at 10:27 AM on August 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
great exuma bahamas. i tell anyone who will listen. i've given this answer before, so just look at my previous answers or memail me if you want more specifics. its a perfect little slice of heaven. wonderful locals, very little tourism, simply the best beaches on the planet, easy fun exploring...
here's a link to my profile activity inclduing exuma. (hope its ok to do this i didn't have time to copy/paste or write out a full description)
exuma answers
posted by chasles at 10:32 AM on August 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
here's a link to my profile activity inclduing exuma. (hope its ok to do this i didn't have time to copy/paste or write out a full description)
exuma answers
posted by chasles at 10:32 AM on August 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
We had a great time in Zihuatanejo, MX a few years back. The town gets busy when the cruise ship is in town, but is otherwise nice and quiet. We stayed in a condo on the hill - the rest of our family was in a rented house just above the beach at the end of Playa La Ropa. We flew into Ixtapa and grabbed a cab to the condo. Taxis and walking for everything else. We went in late October/early November and the weather was great.
posted by jquinby at 11:37 AM on August 28, 2013
posted by jquinby at 11:37 AM on August 28, 2013
If you don't speak Spanish, you might enjoy Belize. If you enjoy time in the water/beaches you can't beat it for beauty.
posted by syncope at 12:08 PM on August 28, 2013
posted by syncope at 12:08 PM on August 28, 2013
I had a fantastic time on a recent trip to Costa Rica. US Dollars were accepted pretty much everywhere, the food was great, and flights/lodging were very reasonable. The people are nice, and it's easy to get around if you know a bit of Spanish. We did tours of Poás Volcano, hiked through the rain forest, and visited waterfall gardens, which also had an animal sanctuary. As a six year old, I would have loved to see all the wildlife there.
We didn't go to the beach, but we heard great things about the Caribbean side, and we're planning on going there next time.
(Note: the water isn't always potable, and even if it is potable it might not be filtered, so stick with bottled, unless you want a case of mad food poisoning.)
posted by therumsgone at 12:38 PM on August 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
We didn't go to the beach, but we heard great things about the Caribbean side, and we're planning on going there next time.
(Note: the water isn't always potable, and even if it is potable it might not be filtered, so stick with bottled, unless you want a case of mad food poisoning.)
posted by therumsgone at 12:38 PM on August 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
Just noted you're in Chile, so ignore what I said about US dollars/Spanish.
posted by therumsgone at 12:42 PM on August 28, 2013
posted by therumsgone at 12:42 PM on August 28, 2013
Cartagena, Colombia! The city is amazingly beautiful, there are decent beaches within city limits, and there's great food and music. Prices are reasonable - a bit high for Colombia, but probably low relative to Chile. Your kids will love the mud volcano. If your son is somewhat adventurous you can stay for one or several days in Parque Tayrona, which is as close to unspoiled beach paradise as you will come. Accommodations are limited (in Tayrona) so you must be willing to camp, sleep in a hammock, or spend a lot of money on one of the cabins, but it is worth it.
posted by btkuhn at 5:12 PM on August 28, 2013
posted by btkuhn at 5:12 PM on August 28, 2013
Hey, I also live in Chile!
I lived in Costa Rica a few years ago, and I absolutely adore that country. It is completely gorgeous and would be a wonderful place to vacation. I wouldn't necessarily suggest spending much time in San Jose, but if you rent a car and pick out a few hot spots it is relatively easy to get around the country. Places I would recommend: Monteverde (cloud forest), Manuel Antonio (beach and national park), and Arenal (volcano). Therumsgone is right that your son would probably love the wildlife.
I see you don't mention Ecuador - any particular reason? I found it to be pretty similar to Costa Rica and it's very cheap. I lived in Quito for a few months and during my time there I got to go to the jungle in Tena, go to Mitad del Mundo where they have all sorts of cool exhibits about the Equator that your kiddo would probably like, see the volcano Cotopaxi and climb the Pichincha volcanos that surround Quito, fly kites in Quito's many parks, do zip-lining and other fun things in Baños, and go to Puerto Lopez and Isla de la Plata (a poor man's Galapagos Island) and see blue-footed boobies. Really beautiful country!
I have also heard amazing things about Colombia, but I haven't been there yet.
So my last suggestion doesn't exactly fit your requirements about being low-key enough for your son to run around, but I cannot say enough good things about Brazil. I had the time of my life. I went to Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls - both were incredible but I preferred my time in Rio for the hiking, the beaches, the JUICE, the food, the music, and the nightlife. Of course, your six-year-old is probably not interested in all of those things, and it is decidedly not low-key. However, if you do decide to look into Rio, there are also day and weekend trips close by (like Ihla Grande and Paraty) that are more tranquilo. Iguazu Falls is also very impressive and calm but a little isolated. Either way you should try to check out Rio sometime since you live in South America! Be warned - it is EXTREMELY humid in January and February.
posted by luciernaga at 5:28 PM on August 28, 2013
I lived in Costa Rica a few years ago, and I absolutely adore that country. It is completely gorgeous and would be a wonderful place to vacation. I wouldn't necessarily suggest spending much time in San Jose, but if you rent a car and pick out a few hot spots it is relatively easy to get around the country. Places I would recommend: Monteverde (cloud forest), Manuel Antonio (beach and national park), and Arenal (volcano). Therumsgone is right that your son would probably love the wildlife.
I see you don't mention Ecuador - any particular reason? I found it to be pretty similar to Costa Rica and it's very cheap. I lived in Quito for a few months and during my time there I got to go to the jungle in Tena, go to Mitad del Mundo where they have all sorts of cool exhibits about the Equator that your kiddo would probably like, see the volcano Cotopaxi and climb the Pichincha volcanos that surround Quito, fly kites in Quito's many parks, do zip-lining and other fun things in Baños, and go to Puerto Lopez and Isla de la Plata (a poor man's Galapagos Island) and see blue-footed boobies. Really beautiful country!
I have also heard amazing things about Colombia, but I haven't been there yet.
So my last suggestion doesn't exactly fit your requirements about being low-key enough for your son to run around, but I cannot say enough good things about Brazil. I had the time of my life. I went to Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls - both were incredible but I preferred my time in Rio for the hiking, the beaches, the JUICE, the food, the music, and the nightlife. Of course, your six-year-old is probably not interested in all of those things, and it is decidedly not low-key. However, if you do decide to look into Rio, there are also day and weekend trips close by (like Ihla Grande and Paraty) that are more tranquilo. Iguazu Falls is also very impressive and calm but a little isolated. Either way you should try to check out Rio sometime since you live in South America! Be warned - it is EXTREMELY humid in January and February.
posted by luciernaga at 5:28 PM on August 28, 2013
I can't speak for the other countries in your list, but I loved Parque Tayrona (in Colombia), as suggested by btkuhn. Beautiful beaches, laid back attitude, and sleeping on hammocks overlooking the sea was a memorable experience. The number of visitors is limited, so you may want to see what you can book ahead of time.
posted by Gomez_in_the_South at 6:55 PM on August 28, 2013
posted by Gomez_in_the_South at 6:55 PM on August 28, 2013
« Older Photo organization/naming software for... | Can I look and feel fabulous in 24 hours? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by doctord at 10:10 AM on August 28, 2013