As some famous sites reach the point of being loved to death, the preservationists need to work with the governing bodies to keep the crowds under control. After being named one of the 7 Wonders of the World a while back and getting onto seemingly every person's bucket list, the rules for visiting Machu Picchu needed to tighten up. Since then there's been a battle between those who want to gather as much cash as possible from visitors and those who want to put the integrity of the structures first. Here's the 2024 update. It all started with the Inca Trail, which began capping the number of ..read more

Traveling to Peru is wonderful any time of year, but for those interested in being there for a celebration, you’ve got no shortage of options. Most Peru festivals feature colorful music, dance, and an emphasis on religion and culture, so they’re a treat for the senses. Peru's festivals reflect its heritage and rich history, whether in Lima, in Cusco, or one of the villages. You can immerse yourself in the culture and join in the celebration of life in almost every month. Here's a rundown of the country's most popular festivals and gatherings, in order of the calendar year. (And remember that ..read more

When you're getting on a plane and heading to Cancun, you're probably ready to drop all the work worries and enjoy some sun and fun. You want to return fully relaxed and recharged, right? So go all the way and book one of the Cancun spa resorts so you can make sure your body unwinds and your stress gets massaged away. Cancun is the most popular resort destination in the Americas and for good reasons. You get a gorgeous white-sand beach, water so colorful it sometimes looks like it's been Photoshopped, and lots of excursions nearby you can take advantage of. Air connections are great from Can ..read more

Brazil is a country that bursts with vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and an array of breathtaking destinations. It’s also a country where the local people put fun first, which you can see on display with Rio de Janeiro's Carnival or at the many laid-back beach resort areas on the long coastline. It's not easy to decide where to go in such a large country, so we've highlighted seven of the best places to visit in Brazil. You can narrow it down from here depending on your interests. If you’re up for adventure, you’ve got Iguacu Falls, the Amazon River and rainforest, and the Pantanal wil ..read more

You’ve probably heard that Canada is bucking the usual rich country trend and opening up the doors to a record number of immigrants. What is getting far less press attention, but is heard in plenty of private mumblings, is that a smaller but far richer transfer is taking place in the other direction: wealthy Canadians in Costa Rica and other countries that are benefitting from lower tax burdens and a more attractive real estate market. Canadians have long been moving away to find sunnier weather, beaches, and better prices, but this latest exodus feels angrier and grounded in a desire to mak ..read more

Do you sometimes feel like you're missing the boat on the right steps to take to get great travel values every time? Do you feel like you might be paying more than you need to, not for pampering but for overcharging? Well we've got some traveling hacks for you that are based on decades of trial and error, so we hope you find some useful advice that will put a few extra Ben Franklins in your pocket. A well-traveled friend once said to me, "Most things you see listed as a 'travel hack' are really just things that person recently discovered." Then there's the problem that "travel hacking" gener ..read more

While there are fine hotels in Puerto Vallarta and the Nuevo Vallarta area just to the north of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, the biggest concentration of luxury resorts is located about 40 minutes out of the city. Between Bucerias and Sayulita is a collection of Punta Mita luxury hotels around a gorgeous beach-studded peninsula. There's a little confusion around the nomenclature in this area because there's a technical difference over whether there's a "de" in the name or not. Punta de Mita is the entire peninsula and a village where locals of normal means live, while Punta Mit ..read more

Some capital cities in Latin America have so many high-end hotels that we have trouble keeping up with them. In others your choice of where to stay is much simpler because there are only a few to choose from. With our latest addition to the reviews, we've gone from only having two in Guatemala's capital to now giving you the three best Guatemala City luxury hotels to choose from. Why so few? Well, when's the last time you heard someone planning a big vacation to Guatemala City? If they're coming to the country, they're probably headed to Tikal, Antigua, or Lake Atitlan. Most of the people wh ..read more

If you're heading to the jungle region of Peru, what time of year should you go? When is the best time to go to Peru if you're heading for the Amazon region? In most destinations, there's a high season and a low season, which may or may not correspond to the months with the best weather. There are some destinations, however, where it doesn't make a whole lot of difference in terms of temperatures. In many tropical climates, the choices are either "wet" or "dry." Sometimes it's just "wet" and "wetter." Unlike with the highland areas, there's not a four- or five-month window that's ideal. You ..read more

So many beach resorts around the world follow the same general playbook that when you visit a truly unique one facing the ocean, it makes you want to linger a while and soak it all in. I definitely felt that way after waking up at Punta Islita, a luxury hillside and beach hotel in a secluded part of the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica that is celebrating its 30th birthday this year. Getting there was not half the fun, I have to admit, especially since I had to do a fair bit of driving in the dark, some of it on winding mountain roads and some on roads with potholes and gravel. (We suggest ren ..read more