For pocket-friendly, sun-drenched, all-inclusive beach breaks, it’s hard to beat the Caribbean. Dependable options include the Dominican Republic, whose family-friendly resorts — including Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and the more upmarket Cap Cana — are backed by direct flights from the UK.
On Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, clients can split time spent between all-inclusive resorts in centres such as Cancun or Playa del Carmen with more adventurous pursuits such as exploring Mayan ruins or Xcaret Park.
Active families will love biodiverse Costa Rica. Along with marvelling at wildlife, the whole family can enjoy rainforest activities, like zip-lining and canopy walks in Arenal and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and arriving at Pacuare Lodge by raft. Factor in the excellent infrastructure and resort options on its two coasts and it ticks a lot of boxes.
Other popular options for adventurous families include the Galápagos Islands and Peru, from following in the trail of Paddington Bear to exploring Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley.
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“Latin America holds enormous appeal across generations,” says Laura Rendell-Dunn, destination specialist at Journey Latin America. “Younger kids will love splashing around in the calm aquamarine seas on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, or in the secluded bays that hug Brazil’s Emerald Coast between Rio and São Paulo, while budding scientists, historians and geographers will revel in Latin America’s prolific wildlife, impressive archaeological sites, indigenous cultures and mind-boggling landscapes. And, of course, there are plenty of adrenalin-fuelled activities to enjoy along the way.”
Rendell-Dunn’s top picks include Peru, although she notes it’s more suited to teenagers than young children due to the high altitude of many of its star attractions. For more of an all-rounder, she recommends Costa Rica or Belize, where “in just a week your client’s little tribe can experience a truly wild Indiana Jones-style holiday in this laid-back English-speaking nation”. Being Anglo-Brazilian, however, she reserves her highest praise for elsewhere.
“Brazil makes an excellent destination for a family holiday. Whether it’s enjoying Brazil’s fun-loving, samba-swinging carnival culture, playing football on Copacabana Beach, sipping water from a coconut or paddling in a dugout canoe in the Amazon, it’ll always be my number one because there’s so much to do.”
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Original Travel’s 10-day Family Adventure on the Yucatan Peninsula starts at £3,390, including flights.
Explore offers a 14-day Family Rainforest Adventure to Costa Rica with a July 4, 2020 departure, including flights, from £3,825 for adults and £2,660 for children.
