South America

Exclusive guide to the best holiday destinations in South America, independent reviews from award-winning travel writers

Lost City Terraces

Hiking and Cycling in Colombia

Who would have thought it? I’m cycling around the centre of Medellin in Colombia, until recently one of the world’s most dangerous cities, with over 6,000 killings recorded in 1991.

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Mike Gerrard on Herradura Express

Take the Tequila Express

Every Saturday morning at 11am a train leaves Mexico’s second city, Guadalajara, heading for a small town of about 14,000 people in the Jalisco highlands: Amatitan. Mike Gerrard takes the express train to Herradura, Mexico’s oldest tequila distillery. 

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SEARM EXT Panoramic Pool Beach 2A

Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya

Going back to the drawing board for the Garden of Eden you would struggle to beat Secrets Akumal, “the place of the turtles”, on the Mexican Mayan Riviera.

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Gran Velas Pool

Gran Velas Riviera Maya

The Gran Velas Riviera Maya takes the concept of all-inclusive to the highest level indeed, and you get your own private butler in its top suites. It’s just five minutes’ drive from Playa del Carmen and the first thing you notice when you arrive here is the huge amount of space with 70% still pristine jungle.

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Dreams Tulum Pool

Dreams Tulum Resort Yucatan

The Riviera Maya specialises in large all-inclusive resorts and Dreams Tulum Resort takes the concept to a new level. Forget about queuing up at the buffet, there are six a-la-carte restaurants where you don’t have to book and there’s also unlimited access to branded spirits and a choice of wines.

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Colima Girl

Holbox International Gastronomy Festival. Mexico

Holbox is a tiny island, off the Northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, but every year, for three days, it stages the Holbox International Gastronomy Festival.

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