If your idea of ​​a vacation in paradise involves hiking through nature, marveling at stunning scenery, and spotting exotic wildlife, you may want to consider Costa Rica and Mexico as destinations for your next break.

The Americas are the best place to head for adventure vacations, with Peru, Canada and the USA popular destinations with people who prefer camping in the middle of nowhere to spending the night in luxury downtown hotels. from the city. But when planning your getaway, it’s worth looking at what’s on offer in other countries.

For example, Costa Rica has the perfect terrain for adventure getaways, with dense rainforests, volcanoes, and a beautiful coastline to explore. The government is committed to conservation and there are more than 40 national parks in the country, which help preserve forest and coastal habitats of all kinds of exotic flora and fauna.

A good starting point for adventures in Costa Rica is the Arenal Volcano National Park, where you’ll find one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

You can be forgiven for fearing that vacationing in the shadow of an active volcano is dangerous, but it’s actually perfectly safe and quite spectacular. There are small eruptions every 40 minutes or so, during which lava is propelled skyward, a view best enjoyed after dark from the comfort of your campsite.

The park is also home to a lake and fast-flowing rivers, creating plenty of opportunities to try rafting, kayaking, and waterfall climbing. Much of the area is covered in dense cloud and rainforest, which you can enjoy hiking through or taking a zipline tour above the canopy.

Manuel Antonio National Park is another place you won’t want to miss on your Costa Rica vacation. It is located on the Pacific coast of the Central American country and you will find tropical jungle next to beautiful beaches, sea caves and imposing cliffs.

If you can resist the temptation to spend your time here relaxing on the beach, you can go trekking or surfing. But what really sets Manuel Antonio apart from other parks in the country is the variety of wildlife you’re likely to see.

It’s easy to see turtles and tropical fish at low tide, while exotic birds like toucans, parakeets, vultures and motmots live in the trees. There are also three different species of monkeys, along with sloths, iguanas, and basilisks in the park.

Adventure vacations in Mexico are also likely to be a satisfying option, as the vast country has just about every type of landscape imaginable. There are endless trekking spots and historic sites in remote locations throughout the country, along with beautiful settings for water sports, both on the coast and in some fearsome rivers.

Whether you’re planning an epic coast-to-coast trek through Mexico City or a shorter break, one of the best ways to spend your vacation is discovering some of the country’s fascinating Mayan archaeological sites.

The ruins of Chichen Itza, the largest pre-Columbian site in Mexico, are a must-see attraction. It was once a key city in the Mayan civilization and although it was abandoned hundreds of years ago, you can see from the remains of buildings such as the great stepped pyramid, El Castillo, how impressive it once must have been.

Also worth trekking to the mountaintop archaeological site at Monte Albán and the lost city of Palenque, which was absorbed into the jungle after being abandoned following the arrival of Spanish settlers in the area. A lot of work has been done to uncover some of the ancient buildings and now you can clearly see the palace that was once home to the rulers of the city.

Yaxchilan is also a fascinating place to visit, and not just because of the ruins there. The trip itself is an adventure, as the site can only be accessed by boat on the Usumacinta River.

It’s not the only reason you’ll need to jump into the water during your Mexico adventure vacation, as you won’t want to miss out on a boat tour of the gigantic waterfalls of the beautiful Sumidero Canyon.

And there are stunning beaches on both coasts, so you can enjoy a surf break in Cancun or Puerto Escondido.