Not all Mexican beach resort areas are created the same, even the ones planned out and implemented by the Mexican government. Wildly successful Cancun went all the way on the mass tourism route. Green and natural Huatulco is a different story, so it demands a different kind of development. That is exemplified by the newest luxury living project taking shape: ALMA Huatulco. The pics and videos here are renderings, but the region has a great track record of completing what has been started and the environmentally focused master development plan means that projects passing the approval process ..read more

With Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos getting an outsized majority of foreign visitors to Mexico, it's no wonder that most tourists only think of sand and palm trees when they think of a vacation south of the border. That's a shame considering how much history there is in Mexico, however, with whole cities that are older than Jamestown or Plymouth Rock—and that's not even counting the ones that were there before the Spanish colonial cities in Mexico even existed. While many travelers visit the interior of Mexico eventually, for many it's not until their third or fourth trip. Meanwhile ..read more

Since Florida represents the southernmost point in the USA, getting from there to Mexico, Central America, and South America involves a much shorter trip than anywhere else you could leave from. As you set sail from these sunny ports for cruises from Florida, you’ll be looking forward to upcoming stops in ancient cities, gorgeous beaches, vibrant capitals, or the Panama Canal. Your adventure begins in one of the world-famous Floridian cruise ports such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Tampa. These hubs are well-equipped to provide a smooth departure and all of them are gateways to to the Caribb ..read more

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