Come on, UK, Let’s Adventure to Latin America and the Caribbean

No matter where we go, Brits spend most of their holiday time in Europe and the UK. Brits may travel to Spain, France, Italy, or even just local areas of the UK. Thought about visiting the Caribbean or Latin America, though? You may be wondering, ‘why should I go there?’

Well, both locations offer a wide range of options; not only is it a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, but it is also culturally varied with a diversity of languages and cultures.

There are numerous ancient histories, and each country, Island, city, and town have a unique story to speak and hear. You can escape British life by travelling to one of these five Latin American and Caribbean nations. It will be an even more exciting adventure if you rent a car from Finalrentals.

Antigua

With its two namesake islands and several smaller ones, Antigua is a sovereign Commonwealth nation. Its location at the confluence of the Atlantic and Caribbean is famed for its resorts, jungles, and beaches lined with coral reefs. Its English Harbour is a centre for yachting and home to the illustrious Nelson’s Dockyard and displaying Native American and colonial artefacts in the national museum in the nation’s capital, St. John’s.

Where to stay in Antigua

The primary hub of the Island is Saint John’s, the capital, a sophisticated city with superb sandy beaches, Duty-Free shopping, and top-notch clubs and restaurants. From here, you can either rent a car to drive around this little, nicely-formed Island or board a ferry for a journey to Barbuda or Montserrat.

As an alternative, English Harbour Town and Jolly Harbour are thriving beach resorts with various attractions, historical monuments, and lively nightlife suitable for groups of friends, families, and couples. Dickenson Bay is an excellent option for family holidays if you’re looking for a tranquil getaway because of the area’s historic sugar cane fields, crystal-clear waters, and soft white sands.

What to do in Antigua

Antigua is a Caribbean island with 365 beaches, one for each day of the year. Each beach has its unique colour scheme, vibe, characteristics, and personality. Every beach is outstanding. All the beaches here, including those named after resorts, are open to the public. Some beaches are labelled ‘private beaches,’ but non-residents are welcome to enter through secondary entrances or the resort’s main entrance. The best way to explore these beaches on this lovely Caribbean Island is by renting a car, as parking there is also cost-free. It’s also simple to get from one coast to another.

There are also numerous activities here, such as visiting museums, historical sites, and UNESCO sites. There are also sunset parties with rum, barbecues, and water and land activities. You can also go shopping, take boat tours, and explore the rainforest. Antigua has a lot to offer if you don’t want to spend your entire holiday at the beach. And, as the Tourist Board’s motto goes, “the beach is just the beginning.”

What to eat in Antigua

Various cuisines, from global meals to regional specialties, suit all tastes. Many local dishes have Jamaican, African, Indian, Spanish, English, and other influences. Saltfish and Fungi are the Island’s national dish. Also, try Wadadli, a light, refreshing lager ideal for drinking while watching the sunset in Antigua.

When to go to Antigua

The high season, which corresponds to the so-called dry season, lasts from December to May in Antigua. So, Antigua should be on your travel bucket list if you want to avoid the rainy winters. There is also no need to be concerned about the weather being too hot, as temperatures remain between 22 °C and 29 °C. However, prices are slightly higher, particularly during the Christmas-New Year period. However, regardless of these months, you should visit at any time of year.

If you visit the capital, St. John’s, it is best to avoid rush hour, as there may be some traffic. Speed limits are eight mph in towns and 40 mph outside them, and petrol is reasonably priced. The same as in the UK, you also drive on the left. Many hotel tour guides if you want to avoid driving some days.

Costa Rica

A mountainous, tropical nation in Central America, Costa Rica has Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Costa Rica is well-known for its beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity, even though its capital, San Jose, is home to cultural institutions like the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. A quarter of the area is a protected jungle, house to spider monkeys and quetzal birds.

Where to stay in Costa Rica

If you plan to explore numerous locations in Costa Rica, the capital city is a fantastic area to stay. Despite its tiny size, San Jose is a lively city with a daily population of one million. Some San Jose neighbourhoods have a European flair, while others are classic middle-class neighbourhoods. The city’s fringes are home to beautiful hillside villas in posh communities. San Jose is an ideal base of operations for your stay in Costa Rica. The city has numerous major international chain hotels, hostels, ultra-low-budget hotels, boutique inns, and business hotels.

SJO, the primary airport, is in Alajuela, yet it only takes a few minutes to travel from the downtown area.

Manuel Antonio National Park, often selected as one of Costa Rica’s most accessible national parks, is an intriguing holiday destination where residential and resort districts are almost within the significant wildlife preserve. Manuel Antonio is an excellent place for wheelchair visitors who want to explore nature in Costa Rica.

What to do in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has 27 national parks and accounts for 5% of the world’s biodiversity. But it’s not just jungles everywhere, including cloud forests, marshes, coral reefs, dry woods, and rainforests. Hiking in one of these protected places, notably Tenorio Volcano National Park, where you can see the magnificent Rio Celeste cascade, is one of the best things to do in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is undoubtedly the world’s hummingbird capital. It’s a fantastic location for bird watchers, but it’s much better if you want to see one of the 50 species of hummingbirds that call it home. The bird species you might see are magenta-throated woodstar, coppery-headed emerald, and violet sabrewing.

There are plenty of exhilarating outdoor activities available. You can find any adventure you’re looking for in Costa Rica. Many tour operators specialize in river rafting, fishing, ATV driving, scuba diving, tubing, horseback riding, and zip lining through the rainforest. Swimming, surfing, and hiking are among popular activities.

What to eat in Costa Rica

With a heavy emphasis on fruits and vegetables, Costa Rican cuisine is renowned for being relatively mild. Typically eaten three times a day, rice and black beans are a mainstay of most traditional Costa Rican meals. Costa Rican food is generally freshly prepared from scratch using various healthy ingredients. Tropical fruits and vegetables are easily found and used in the local cuisine because of the country’s geographic location.

The difference between Costa Rica’s extensive tourism industry and the many rural villages around the nation, the cuisines available, particularly in the more urban areas, have evolved to include practically every sort of cuisine in addition to traditional Costa Rican specialities. Various ethnic foods, from Japanese to Peruvian, are available in tourist-friendly cities like San José, the country’s capital, and seaside locations. Italian and Chinese food.

When to go to Costa Rica

In January, Costa Rica’s temperature fluctuates from 21 °C to 33 °C along the Pacific coast. The city of San Jose experiences 23 °C highs and 15 °C lows on average. Highs on the country’s Caribbean coast might reach 31 °C, and lows can be a delightful 20 °C. When the weather is sunniest and driest between December and April, it is the most fantastic time to visit Costa Rica. May to June or November is the best month to visit because of the country’s green season. The national parks are less crowded, and you can see the seasons changing at this time.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean country that borders Haiti to the West on the Island of Hispaniola. It’s renowned for its resorts, golfing, and beaches. The highest peak in the Caribbean, Pico Duarte, is part of its highlands, savannah, and rainforest landscape. The Gothic Catedral Primada de America in Santo Domingo’s Zona Colonial neighbourhood is one of the country’s oldest Spanish-era structures.

Where to stay in the Dominican Republic

All-inclusive hotels tucked away in gorgeous resorts hug the beachfront and wink seductively at people who seek to make the Dominican Republic their next travel destination. The Dominican Republic now provides some of the most reasonably priced and best-value beach holidays in the Caribbean. Punta Cana’s exotic resorts are home to some of the best places in the nation for excellent dining and spa services. At the same time, Cabarete is unquestionably the place to be if you’re interested in kite- and windsurfing.

Santo Domingo spices up your nightly routine with a thriving party scene, whilst Las Terrenas and Bayahibe designing to slow things down with peaceful days on the beach and guided boat cruises for whale and dolphin viewing. If you’re planning a family holiday, San Felipe is the spot to stay because it will provide your itinerary with a good boost of activities and sights to see.

What to do in the Dominican Republic

This Caribbean Island features one of the most diversified topographies in the region. It is home to 29 National Parks spread out across the country. You may visit the Taino caverns in the Cotubanamá National Park in the south. This park is one of the nation’s primary breeding grounds for turtles. Additionally, Samana is home to some pretty stunning waterfalls, like the El Limón. This waterfall has a 40-metre plunge, and getting there on foot or by horseback through thick foliage is quite a fascinating journey in and of itself.

One of the most well-known attractions in the Dominican Republic is the stunning beaches, which resemble scenes from postcards you might find in a duty-free shop. The Dominican Republic has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, with nearly 1000 miles of coastline. You don’t need to stay at a resort to enjoy these beaches; get in your car and drive throughout the country. Playa Coson in Samana is one of the most picturesque non-resort beaches.

What to eat in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic’s food is delectable and flavourful. Taino, Spanish, and African cuisines influence the cuisine here. The Dominican Republic’s mainstay diet consists of rice, seafood, beans, pork, and vegetables. One of the most well-liked meals here is the Chivo Guisado.

When to go to the Dominican Republic

It’s an exquisite destination to escape the cold weather; the climate is tropical and warm all year. May to October is the rainy season, with frequent but brief afternoon downpours, and the weather can become scorching and humid. A winter sun holiday destination, the Dominican Republic is best visited between December and April, when temperatures range from 23 °C to 30 °C.

St. Lucia

St. Lucia is an Eastern Caribbean island known for the Pitons, a pair of steeply tipped mountains on its west coast. There are fishing towns, luxury resorts, reef diving locations, and volcanic beaches along its coast. The 15-meter-tall Toraille, which cascades over a cliff and into a garden, is one of the waterfalls reaching through trails in the interior jungle. Castries, the nation’s capital, is a major cruise port.

Where to stay in St. Lucia

One of the best well-liked holiday spots on the Island is Gros Islet, which offers water activities, lively nightlife, and soft, white-sand beaches for families, couples, and friends. The capital of St. Lucia, Castries, is located on the country’s west coast and is a beautiful destination for those who enjoy history. The primary ferry terminal for the Island is there; from there, you may travel to Martinique and other destinations. It is adjacent to the airport.

One of the top honeymoon spots in St. Lucia is Soufriere’s resort, located South of Castries. It’s like entering a set from a film with the lush Piton Mountains as a backdrop, a dormant volcano, nature paths through the rainforest, and a busy seashore. While Marigot Bay is a scenic cove with azure waters and yachts popular with writers, painters, and nature lovers, Cap Estate offers many luxury spa hotels and a golf course in a peaceful setting close to amenities.

What to do in St. Lucia

The Soufriere Volcano is the only drive-in volcano in the world; you can drive up to it and observe the water and sulphuric acid bubbling just a few metres away. The best time to visit is just before sunrise when there will be fewer visitors, and the water will be hot. The sulphur springs will also be exclusively yours. Although you will smell like rotten eggs, it is worth it. Also said to rejuvenate the skin are the volcanic minerals. Who doesn’t adore the notion of a complimentary spa day? Renting a car is, therefore, necessary if you want to see this.

Try the mud baths at the Toraille Waterfall if you enjoy a nature-themed spa day. There is a small entrance fee, but you can stay for however long you like. It is a 10-minute drive from the volcano. But be warned: the water is freezing.

What to eat in St. Lucia

St. Lucia’s cuisine is a blend of European, Caribbean, Amerindian, French, Asian, and Creole influences, so there is something for everyone. St. Lucia offers it everything, from skewers to fine dining. The zesty flavours of St. Lucian food will make your mouth water. Grab a plastic plate and pile as much barbecued fish, chicken, and crab as you like at the weekly street food feast in the fishing village of Gros Islets. Every Friday, you’ll be satisfied. And if you genuinely want to experience this paradise correctly, why not sip on a fruity cocktail while you watch the sunset on the beach? It’s romantic, calming, and will leave you feeling fantastic.

When to go to St. Lucia

The peak travel period for St. Lucia is from mid-December through mid-April. You’ll get to enjoy the most sunshine throughout this time. If you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere, the ‘wet’ season, which lasts from June to November, is a good choice. You may frequently find cheaper accommodation.

St. Maarten

St. Maarten is a territory shared between the Netherlands Kingdom in the north and the French Kingdom in the south. Lagoons, beaches, and salt pans are just a few of their natural characteristics. The Front Street commercial district in Philipsburg, the nation’s capital, is lined with colourful colonial-stle buildings and cobblestone streets. The port is a well-liked destination for cruise ships.

Where to stay in St. Maarten

A posh resort and marina that gives a Mediterranean ambience with unique plant life, beaches, and adventure make Simpson Bay one of the most well-known communities in St. Maarten. You can pick from suites or villas at the resort, each with a full range of amenities. Mexican, Italian, Japanese, and gourmet bistro restaurants and traditional coffee shops are available here. You can choose from bodyboarding to kite surfing if you like to participate in water activities.

Marigot is a cultural hub of St. Maarten and one of the Island’s most picturesque ports, with lovely old buildings, hiking trails, and delicious restaurants. This lively town lies on the French side of the Island. It is highly well-liked by tourists because of its various photo opportunities, whether of the Caribbean, the remnants of Fort St. Louis, or the charming gingerbread-stle cottages that line the streets.

What to do in St. Maarten

Mullet Bay Beach, Orient Bay, and Simpson Bay are just a few of the stunning beaches on the Caribbean Islands. There are also several hidden coves with pristine waters across the Island. Despite being known for its Caribbean beaches, greenery dominates most of the region. Due to the Island’s extensive vegetation and subtropical temperature, a wide variety of flora and fauna now call St. Maarten home. The National Nature Reserve at Oyster Pond’s mangrove swamps and expansive beaches provide safe havens for the local fauna. Mangrove swamp tours are ideal for nature enthusiasts who want to see a variety of creatures. Herons, racoons, mongooses, and a plethora of fish and crustaceans call Oyster Pond home. Prepare yourself for sea turtles, dolphins, and humpback whales to emerge from the vast beaches of the Northeast.

There are other activities for history, culinary, sports, and art enthusiasts. Landmarks, including Fort St. Louis and the Border Obelisk, are available in Marigot, the French capital of St. Maarten. However, the National Heritage and Rainforest Adventure museums locating on the Dutch side of the peninsula.

What to eat in St. Maarten

Understanding St. Maarten’s culture is essential to ensure you experience the most excellent parts of the Island. There are many insidiously ingrained Western features, as one might expect from a nation with such solid colonial ties to Europe. Consider including French St. Martin’s culinary heritage in your travel plans since world-class cuisine is available. In the mouthwatering fusion cuisine served in Anse Marcel, La Savane, and Grand Case, traditional European flavours are re-imagined using West Indian spices and tones.

If you’re visiting the Dutch portion of St. Maarten, why not join a cultural tour to learn everything there is to know about the neighbourhood rum distilleries? The Guava Emporium, Topper’s Rhum Distillery, and Souliga Distillery are essential stops for anyone who enjoys a little drink.

When to go to St. Maarten

Planning your travel for December through May will provide you with the finest weather. You’ll enjoy the finest weather if you travel to the Island between January and April. Still, you won’t experience the influx of spring breakers that arrive as students finish their semesters. Additionally, if you travel in January or February, you’ll have the best chance of participating in the Carnival events. The temperature can range from 23 °C to 30 °C during these periods.