South America Travel Guide - Travel Insights and Tips!

Arenal Volcano is one of the most spectacular sights to see on a Costa Rica tour. This giant stands at an impressive 1,657 meters tall and has been one of Costa Rica’s most active volcanoes in the past half-century. But this doesn’t keep visitors from embarking on adventures to trek its lava-filled terrain located in La Fortuna.While it is prohibited to climb Arenal Volcano, numerous hikes in Arenal Volcano National Park allow you to walk around the base, along the old lava fields, and through the rainforest. Here we provide a breakdown of each Arenal Volcano hike to help you plan your trip to Arenal Volcano National Park. Note that distances and times are given for one-way. The best time to visit the park is between February to April, for dry weather and your best chance to utilize the trails. Rains during other times of the year can make the trails treacherous and inaccessible. For a more seasonal overview of the country, check out our travel guide on the best time to visit Costa Rica. There are several trails to hike around Arenal Volcano.

Whether you are staring spellbound at a titanic plume of water plunging majestically into an abyss or watching a set of rushing cascades scurrying down an idyllic stream, Costa Rica's waterfalls will leave you with enduring memories. From lush green tropical forest-clad slopes to mist-shrouded cloud forests, surely no other country plays host to such idyllic waterfalls. Aside from the mesmerizing falls themselves, you’ll encounter bejeweled butterflies, rainbow-hued hummingbirds and jungles bursting with wildlife.Here are 9 of the best waterfalls in Costa Rica. Don’t miss out on visiting these waterfalls while you are in the country!

Created in the 1970s in response to widespread destruction of vital habitat caused by illegal gold mining, Corcovado National Park is now one of the most biologically intense and complex ecosystems in the world. Exotic and lush, the park features 13 major ecosystems from mangrove swamps and palm groves, to rain forests, beaches and lowland forests. These ecosystems provide a home for more than 1,000 species of insects, plants and animals, making it an ideal destination for any nature lover.Corcovado National Park is located on the Osa Peninsula in the Puntarenas Province of southern Costa Rica. Encompassing more than 105,168 land acres and 8,288 marine acres, Corcovado National Park is the largest national park in Costa Rica and is considered the crown jewel of the country’s national parks and biological reserves. To help you learn more about this unique and awe-inspiring nature reserve, enjoy this comprehensive guide to Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica.

For years, La Fortuna in Costa Rica has been one of the top tourist destinations. It is the hub of outdoor adventuring with its impressive landscape and variety of activities. In this natural oasis, anyone can find plenty of options to satiate their need for excitement or rejuvenation. Enjoy this guide detailing our recommendations on things to do in La Fortuna. For a more general guide on the country, read through our recommendations on things to do in Costa Rica.

Located in the very heart of Costa Rica, the bustling and vibrant capital city San Jose opens up like a surprise gift if you know where to look! The warm climate, bustling activities, friendly locals, rich culture, and spectacular Victorian mansions make San Jose a popular tourist attraction to visit on a tour in Costa Rica. If you ever plan on visiting this melting pot of culture and urbanization, read our brilliant list of things to do in San Jose, listed here in no particular order.

Valle de la Luna in Atacama Desert is known for its moon-like terrain The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is a beautifully desolate, dramatic landscape. Sandwiched between the Andes and the Chilean coastal range, the Atacama Desert receives little to no rainfall and is one of the driest places in the world, resulting in other-worldly terrain. Some parts of the region resemble the surface of Mars while the area west of San Pedro de Atacama is known as the Valley of the Moon. There is so much to see and do in the 140,000km square area, drawing in thousands of visitors each year. Find out the best time to visit the Atacama Desert, so that you can start planning a trip to this amazing destination on your next Chile trip.

Central Costa Rica’s famous La Fortuna waterfall is located on the outskirts of La Fortuna village in Arenal Volcano National Park. Meaning ‘the fortune’ in Spanish, the waterfall and ecological reserve is the area’s best-kept secret. The crystalline water of the Arenal River tumbles from a height of 70 – 75 meters over the cliff to form this beautiful waterfall. Located on the slopes of the dormant Arenal volcano, La Fortuna carries waters from the rainforests of the Arenal Mountain ranges.Visiting La Fortuna waterfall is a must for anyone on a Costa Rica tour, especially for those who love nature and want to breathe the fresh mountain air. The spectacular waterfall is surrounded by lush green forests and iconic Costa Rican wildlife including toucans and monkeys. The area is well-maintained by the town of La Fortuna and has a parking lot, restrooms, cafe, and gift shop at the top of the waterfall. There is also an orchid trail and butterfly garden within the reserve. Here is everything you need to know about the falls, including how to reach the waterfall ecological reserve and things to do in the area.

With its pristine wilderness and excellent ecotourism system, Costa Rica is one of the best places in the world to adventure as a family. Venturing outdoors tends to inspire adults and kids alike, and in this country, cloud forests, tropical jungles, and sunny beaches won’t disappoint. Plan your next trip with our list of top destinations for a family vacation in Costa Rica.

One cannot simply come for a Chile tour without being on high exploration-mode. While many opt for an organized tour to visit some of the best attractions of the country, there are also others who want to explore the country on their own. And there’s no better way to do that than with your own set of wheels. Get the adventure started by renting a car in Chile as soon as you arrive!Hitting the open road in a foreign country is exhilarating, to say the least. The adventure into the great unknown is liberating, and a rental car in Chile is the first step to planning a great trip. Below we’ve outlined everything you need to know before renting a car in Chile.

Whitewater rafting in Costa Rica is a thrilling way to spend your next holiday. With pristine mountains and coastal rivers surrounded by steep canyons and rainforests, a Costa Rica tour offers a variety of scenic areas. From gut-wrenching paddling to gentle scenic floats, rafting is a favorite adventure activity for individuals, groups, and families. Downstream trips get you into the country’s pristine wilderness like no other outdoor activity in the country could. With this list of the top 10 destinations for whitewater rafting in Costa Rica, you’ll be well on your way to discovering pure exhilaration.

Rincón de la Vieja is one of the most memorable destinations in Costa Rica for adventurists who dare to wander in this volcanic hotspot. Home to the country’s largest and most active volcano, Rincón National Park in Costa Rica offers unrivaled opportunities to witness geothermal activity, enjoy adventure activities in pristine rainforest, and explore the rural wilderness in Costa Rican cowboy countryside.This park is lesser-known to travelers sticking to the main tourist trail, which only adds to its enchantment as one of Costa Rica’s best wilderness destinations. Its relative remoteness serves to maintain its abundant and diverse wildlife population as well as its natural beauty. Experiences here are markedly authentic and exude a more intimate feel than many other major destinations. To help with planning your trip to Rincon de la Vieja as part of a Costa Rica tour, we’ve prepared this guide with the best things to do and tips for travel in this incredible national park in Costa Rica.

Situated to the west of Buenos Aires, en-route to the Chilean capital of Santiago, Mendoza is the top wine region in Argentina. A lively city situated to the east of Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Andes mountain range, Mendoza produces nearly two-thirds of all Argentinian wine. A tour of the Mendoza wine region should be on every wine connoisseur’s bucket list.Blessed with long hours of sunshine, Mendoza’s semi-arid, desert plains receive water from alpine snowmelt. That, combined with high altitude, makes the area perfect for growing grapes for malbec, tannic wine with intense color, and Argentina’s favorite. Cool evening temperatures mean that fruit ripens slower, adding to the flavor and texture of the wine. The sub-regions to visit on Mendoza for wines include the Uco Valley, Luján de Cuyo, Maipu and Eastern Mendoza. Read on for a brief overview of each area and the top-recommended wineries within each sub-region of Mendoza.

Imagine yourself on a tour in Costa Rica and you might conjure images of fun in the sun or treks to epic volcanos. But there’s no doubt about it, one of Costa Rica’s most intriguing features is its expansive network of rainforests. Of all the great forests in the country, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is one of the most breathtaking.Venture to this private reserve, one of the best national parks in the country, and you’ll find unimaginable lush greenery, mist-filled canopies, captivating wildlife and exhilarating activities. Experiencing its natural wonders could take a lifetime and with so much to do in the park and surrounding area, Monteverde Cloud Forest is a magnificent destination worthy of a spot in all travel itineraries, family, solo or group tours. To help you plan your adventure, enjoy this guide on what to do in Monteverde.

Of the 2,500 daily visitors to Machu Picchu, only 400 are permitted to scale Huayna Picchu, the peak that towers above the northern end of Machu Picchu. For the best views of Machu Picchu as well as the opportunity to discover seldom-visited areas of the site, the Huayna Picchu hike can be a memorable addition to your visit. You just need to make sure you book early! Note: For more to do in Machu Picchu, see our list of things to do in Machu Picchu and also check out when is the best time to visit Machu Picchu.

With its abundance of flat lowland coastal parks and challenging mountain hikes, Costa Rica is arguably one of the world’s most adventurous hiking and trekking destinations. Imagine hiking in Costa Rica through the rugged, untamed trails of Cerro Chirripo, and losing your heart in the sights and sounds of the jungle. Conjuring up a more ideal hiking adventure than this one is hard. In this post we take a closer look at some of the best places to go hiking in Costa Rica, essentially assisting you in planning the most perfect Costa Rica tour! When it comes to hiking in Costa Rica, you can choose hikes in all corners of the country.