While the northern hemisphere shivers in the winter chill, why not send customers to warmer climes in the south?
Mexico has long been famed for its sun-drenched beaches (keep your eyes peeled for our indepth guide to the country’s Caribbean coast coming up in the December 12 issue), but the rest of Latin America has plenty to offer too.
Brazil
Brazilian beaches are just as beautiful as the country’s famous beach babes, and with more than 7,000 miles of coastline basking under year-round sun, there are plenty to choose from.
Clients needn’t even leave Rio de Janeiro, as the city plays host to Brazil’s most famous beaches – buzzing Copacabana, where locals play foot volleyball, and tranquil Ipanema, where families relax among the beauties strutting their stuff.
Buzios is one of Brazil’s trendiest beach resorts, and a more laid-back option than Rio. Located about two hours east of the city, its streets are lined with pousadas, bars, restaurants and boutiques.
Brazil’s breaks satisfy most surfers – recommend Jericoacoara (between Recife and Belem) for beginners and long-boarders, and nearby Malhada beach is suitable for more advanced short boarders. Praia da Pipa near Salvador also offers good surf.
Beyond the beach: Rio de Janeiro; the Amazon; Iguaçí Falls; Salvador; The Pantanal.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica has long been hugely popular with the adventure tour market. With cloud forests, mighty volcanoes, cascading waterfalls and lush natural parks teeming with vividly-coloured wildlife, it’s a surefire hit.
The country’s idyllic beaches have long been enjoyed by these travellers, but will soon open up to another type of tourist, as Thomson Airways is to launch weekly direct flights from Gatwick in November 2010.
Thomson and First Choice are offering all-inclusive breaks in three- to five-star properties on the destination’s idyllic north Pacific coast, creating an alternative to Mexico’s Cancun area.
Beyond the beach: Corcovado and Tortuguero National Parks; Monteverde cloud forest; Arenal volcano
Peru
Peru is a surfers’ paradise – even the beaches in Lima offer world-class surf and boast the biggest wave in South America at Pico Alto.
The country’s lesser-visited north has fantastic and uncrowded surfing beaches, including Mancora, which has the largest left-hand, point break in the world, and the longest left-handed wave in the world at Chicama, which is more than two miles in length. The north also offers year-round sunshine.
Beyond the beach: Inca sites such as Machu Picchu; the Andes and the Amazon jungle; the Nasca Lines; and Lake Titicaca.
Venezuela
Venezuela has 72 islands off its coast, including upmarket Los Roques, and lower budget Margarita. Blinding white sand, turquoise ocean, and fantastic diving, snorkelling, windsurfing and yachting make them wonderful winter sun options.
Beyond the beach: High Andean peaks; steamy Amazon rainforest; wildlife in the wetlands of Llanos and on the Orinoco Delta; and, of course, Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall.
Belize
This tiny Central American country is English speaking, and, along with gorgeous beaches, offers world-class diving.
Off the coast of Dangriga, in southern Belize, visitors can find the Blue Hole, a 410ft-deep underwater cave filled with dramatic rock formations. The barrier reef off the coast of the country is the second largest in the world, so the snorkelling and diving is very good everywhere.
Some tourists choose to spend their beach time around Placencia on the mainland coast, but many head out to the Cayes.
There are more than 200 islands but the lion’s share of the tourists can be found on Ambergris and Caulker, where accommodation from budget up to world-class luxury can be found.
Beyond the beach: Mayan sites such as Caracol, Xunantunich, Lamanai and Lubantuun; remote, wildlife-rich rainforest in Toledo; the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in Cayo.
Panama
Most famous for its canal, Panama’s long, thin shape means it also possesses almost 1,900 miles of coastline. Suggest clients enjoy the unspoilt beaches and coral reefs at the Bocas del Toro archipelago or the San Blas islands, both off the Caribbean coast.
Beyond the beach: Panama city and the canal – the cloud forest in the mountainous Chiriqui region, home to jaguars and Quetzals; the cobbled Camino Real highway through primary rainforest.
Nicaragua
Those who love to get off the beaten track should head to Nicaragua after hurricane seasons ends in November.
This large but little-visited part of Central America has both a Pacific and Caribbean coast. The latter is completely untouched by tourism, but off the coast the Corn Islands – a former pirate hideout – have white sandy beaches and clear turquoise water perfect for snorkelling the coral reefs.
The Pacific beaches are great for surfing and wind surfing. Montelimar and Pochomil are the closest resorts to Managua city, clean La Boquita is a tourist hub, San Juan del Sur offers a wealth of water sports and La Flor is a turtle nesting site.
Beyond the beach: Cities Granada and Leon; canoeing and wildlife spotting on Lake Nicaragua; jungles and volcanoes.
Sample product
Sunvil Traveller offers 14 nights over new year, including four nights in Rio, three nights in Buzios, three nights in Salvador and four nights in Praia do Forte from £4,100 per person. The price includes flights, 14 nights’ accommodation, some meals, private transfers and excursions. sunvil.co.uk, 020 8758 4774
Gap Adventures offers a 15-day trip to Nicaragua visiting Granada, Leon, Corn Islands, San Juan del Sur and Omtepe Island, including accommodation, transport, a tour leader and some activities, from £839, excluding flights. gapadventures.com, 0870 999 0144
First Choice offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at the four-sun plus Occidental Grand Papagayo in Costa Rica from £1,069 per person, departing Gatwick on November 15, 2010. firstchoice.co.uk
