Central and South America are vast regions with
magnificently diverse geography, cultures and climates. Both offer lots of
excitement for travelers of all ages. So how can a multigenerational family
find the perfect fit for a rewarding vacation? It’s just a matter of
understanding the differences and offerings in each country.
Whether families are looking for authentic cuisine,
spectacular wildlife, historic attractions or breathtaking sporting activities,
they’ll find lots to love around Central and South America. Here are some enticing
examples of memorable vacation options for every generation.
Nature-Based Excitement
in Costa Rica
Nature lovers have long had a soft spot for Costa Rica, and
this Central American nation is an especially versatile choice for families,
too.
In Monteverde, Hotel
Belmar offers learning experiences for families at Finca Madre Tierra, its regenerative
farm, and SAVIA, its private nature reserve. The programs teach adults and kids
alike about organic agriculture, composting, seasonal crops and farm-to-table
dining, and families can also explore cloud forest trails to spot birds, frogs,
insects and plants.
Several hotels in Costa Rica are especially well equipped to
serve the needs of active families — including Andaz Peninsula Papagayo, which offers activities
that range from kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkeling to ziplining, wildlife
hikes and mountain biking and Four
Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, where activities can include helicopter
rides over volcanoes, surfing, paddleboarding, dolphin sightings and sea-turtle
nesting excursions. The peninsula’s new Papagayo Park provides still more
sporting activities for all ages. Also well equipped is the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, which has dedicated children’s and teens’ clubs.
Tour operators with family-friendly packages in Costa Rica
include Friendly Planet Travel, which
offers a seven-day itinerary — Costa Rica: Volcanoes, Rainforests and Beaches —
that includes visits to Arenal Volcano, Playa Hermosa and the capital city of
San José.
Woman photographing a marine iguana in the Galapagos, Ecuador. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Maridav)
Exploring the
Family-friendly Galapagos and Amazon
The natural splendor of the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon
region offers countless opportunities for family travel. In Ecuador, for
example, Ecoventura
offers luxury expedition cruising with dedicated family departures timed to
coincide with school breaks. Activities are designed for multigenerational
explorers, with snorkeling, kayaking, and beach time complemented by onboard
activities for younger kids, such as treasure hunts, movie nights, and
pizza-making classes.
Families who prefer a land-based Galapagos experience may
want to consider the Galapagos
Safari Camp, located on Santa Cruz Island, which offers a children's club
for kids as young as 2. Activities include tree planting, farm walks, fruit
picking and cooking classes. The staff can also tailor activities to focus on
specific areas of interest — including marine biology, conservation, geology
and zoology.
Tour operators package the Galápagos in a variety of ways
that can appeal to families. Intrepid Travel’s Galapagos
Family Holiday in Ecuador, for example, includes conservation-focused art
activities suitable for children as young as five. Friendly Planet’s 17-day Peru,
Galapagos Islands & Quito itinerary, meanwhile, offers an especially
extensive range of experiences, combining Peru’s highlights with five nights in
the islands and time in Ecuador’s capital.
In Peru’s Amazon, Delfin Amazon Cruises offers an
upscale option for travelers age 10 and up. The recently renovated Delfin I,
with just four large rooms, is also available for private charter for
multigenerational families. Activities include cooking classes, kayaking and
visits to local Amazon communities and the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
Rainforest
Expeditions offers another Amazon option, with stays at Posada Amazonas near
the Tambopata National Reserve. Canopy tower visits, expert-led wildlife
spotting, lake excursions, Ese Eja cultural experiences and a hands-on science
program are among the selling points.
A couple sits overlooking the ruins of Machu Picchu. (Photo Credit: marina / AdobeStock)
Peru, Belize,
Colombia and Patagonia for Families
Several other nations around the region provide interesting
opportunities for memorable, family-friendly vacations. In Peru, for example, Adios Adventure Travel offers
itineraries, including a two-day Inca Trail excursion featuring an eight-mile
hike to Machu Picchu, as well as a more comprehensive, seven-day Machu Picchu
Walking Vacation. A key selling point for this operator is flexibility: Adios
Adventure can arrange for some family members to hike while others rest. In
contrast, others take the train, which can be especially helpful for
multigenerational groups.
Also offering family-minded Peru packages is Extraordinary Journeys, which has
a 12-day itinerary that includes an ATV tour, rafting the Urubamba River and
guided tours of Machu Picchu; the company also stages itineraries in Argentina
and Panama.
An ideal accommodation option for independent visits to Peru
is the Sumaq
Machu Picchu Hotel, which offers family programming at the hotel through
its Sumaq Kids Experiences. Activities include cooking classes with Andean
grains and the Adventures with Allco tour, which helps kids appreciate the
history of Machu Picchu through a story about an Incan puppy.
In Central America, noteworthy family hotel options include Turneffe Island Resort, which is
especially well designed for families with kids in their “tweens” and up.
Activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, fly fishing, paddleboarding, kayaking
and riding Hobie Cats. Its PADI diving courses are ideal for families looking
to up their underwater expertise.
Families can choose from a variety of destinations and
experience with Backroads, a tour
operator that offers active trips in Costa Rica, Peru, the Galapagos and
Patagonia, with family departures segmented by age groups: kids and teens, teens
and 20s and 20s and beyond. On the decidedly upscale end, Blue Parallel creates customized
journeys to destinations such as Northern Argentina, Belize, Costa Rica,
Panama, the Galápagos, and Brazil, with the ability to tailor activities for
multigenerational groups.
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