Christmas has drifted by, the New Year has just been welcomed in and if you had not embarked on a holiday before Christmas, a holiday in a sunnier environment might just be the tonic for the winter blues.
While many countries in the northern hemisphere will be under a fresh coating of snow, there are a few places in the southern hemisphere to sojourn in, so peruse the possible destinations you could be leaving for on a leading outdoor holiday in South America, Central America and the Bahamas.
Peru – Swissotel Lima
Peru is quite possibly one of the most extreme experiences on this earth and for that reason alone it deserves the attention of any holidayer. The climates that exist in the country range from thirst-inducing deserts and cold mountain ranges to the lush Amazon rainforest. Add to that the immense wealth of Incan history that stretches back for thousands of years and you have a country that’s full of places to explore and heritages to soak up on special cultural break in Peru.
A stay at the
Swissotel Lima opens that gateway to discovering what Peru has to offer; if relaxing is more your idea of ‘discovering’ then Peru has a terrific suite of beaches to explore. Most of them are situated on the Costa Verde beach road in the Miraflores area, perfect for surfers or those who want to have a lazy time on the beach.
Mexico – Hacienda Tres Rios
Mexico is full of great tourist hotspots but Cancun is probably its most popular location and justifiably so. Up there with Acapulco as one of the premier Mexican resorts, Cancun was initially a modest fisherman’s village with only three residents. Now it has been transformed into a bustling, modern tourist destination that pulls people in from all over the world.
A great resort to experience the happenings of Cancun is the
Hacienda Tres Rios, an eco-friendly resort where “the river and the sea converge and the Mayan heavens meet the Earth.” It’s in the resort’s lodgings where you can treat yourself to a relaxing spa treatment at the hotels’ Luxury Playa del Carmen Spa, take a walk through the Tres Rios Nature Park or visit the hotel's botanical garden.
As Cancun offers so many choices, exploring the wealth of activities the hotel has to offer would only make for a small part of the region’s offering. There are many public beaches to uncover such as Playa Tortugas and Playa Delfines. Boating excursions are available to a variety of places like a trip to the Contoy Island Kolombus which offers opportunities for snorkelling and observing the diverse birds in the area.
Last but not least are the trips to historical monuments like the Chichen Itzen and the Coba Mayan, where the vast and mysterious Mayan civilisations lies in rest. For a luxury outdoor holiday in Mexico, Cancun is one of the best.
Puerto Rico – Copamarina Beach
Puerto Rico may not be the first place you would think of for a holiday in the Caribbean but oozes the natural beauty that is typical of the area.
The Copamarina Beach Hotel lies on the South-western coast of Puerto Rico, a region that’s relatively undiscovered but is home to excellent blue waters and aesthetically pleasing scenery.
A sheltered hideaway the hotel prides itself on its peaceful and tranquil atmosphere that lends itself to relaxing in the warm weather and taking in the sights undisturbed by the anxieties of day-to-day life.
What can you do to attain that level of relaxation? Puerto Rico offers a plethora of things to do to take your mind off of things with the first and foremost being a trip to the Bodyderm’s spa.
Limber up and pamper yourself before the (slightly) more challenging places you’ll encounter on your tour of the island. For golf fanatics there is the Costa Caribe, a 27-hole golf course at the Hilton Ponce that delivers excellent games of golf. The Guanica Dry Forest Reserve is a UNESCO project and one of the last remaining forests of its kind which offers as good a place on the island for hiking, birdwatching and caving. This locale is an excellent place to visit on your special nature holiday in Puerto Rico.
Gilligan’s Island (named after the TV show) is a remote and underdeveloped piece of land that’s perfect for snorkelling or picnicking undisturbed. Lastly, the most spectacular location is the Bahia Bioluminiscente (Bioluminescence Bay). Much like the film
Avatar and its planet of Pandora, this location is a spectacular phosphorescent setting.
Brazil - Dom Pedro Laguna
Brazil is home of samba, capoeira and futsal, among other very rich cultural traditions. Taking a holiday there is an exotic and vibrant place, a fusion of personal expression (in their arts) and stunning locales makes for one of the best cultural breaks in South America.
While Rio and Sao Paolo are viable destinations, why not go for a less obvious choice and take in the sights of Fortaleza, the fifth biggest city in Brazil. While you are there stay at the Dom Pedro Laguna, the first five-star hotel in the Aquiraz Rivieria, a luxury eco-resort in South America.
The hotel provides beach volleyball/soccer facilities as well as a nine-hole golf course for those looking to brush up on their handicaps. Outside the hotel there’s the Fortaleza Cathedral, a church that started construction in 1939 and was not finished until 1978; and Beach Park, the first and largest water park in Latin America. For a 5-star city hotel in Brazil, there are few better than the
Dom Pedro Laguna.