Why you should visit Latin America for a winter getaway

With jungles, mountains, wildlife and watersports, let Spanish-speaking America satisfy your sense of adventure

Go wild: head for the jungle in Costa Rica (Getty Images)

For adventure, head for London Gatwick. The Sussex airport has departures across Spanish speaking America, from Mexico and the Caribbean to the mountains and jungles of Costa Rica and Peru. Cancun is the gateway to the Yucatán Peninsula, the broad shoulder of Mexico — at its best between November and February, I reckon. Culture and coast coincide at Tulum, where a Mayan city is dramatically located above the Caribbean.

Delving inland, the finest Mayan site in Mexico (and I have checked) is Chichen Itza. The tallest pyramid in this magnificent city, built a millennium ago, was named El Castillo (“the castle”) by the awestruck Spanish conquistadors. But I like to lace archaeology with adventure. If you delve deeper into the Yucatán, you can trek through raw jungle to reach the enigmatic ruined city of Calakmul.

About 1,000 miles south and a little east of the Yucatán, rainforest drapes itself beautifully across Costa Rica. The capital, San José, is handily located at the heart of a verdant nation that has let nature run wonderfully wild. You can access dramatic highlands draped in cloud forest and profoundly rich in bird and animal life. The towering landscapes have been sculpted by the restless earth, and its power still flows — on display at the Arenal volcano, where molten lava lights up the night sky.

You’ll find a wealth of interesting wildlife in Spanish-speaking America (Alamy)

Terra is a little firma at Punta Cana, at the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic. Close to the airport and the big resorts, Bavaro Adventure Park generates plenty of adrenalin with zip lining and zorbing (rolling downhill in a giant plastic inflatable ball — much more fun than it sounds). But for a richer experience, sign up for a 4x4 or overland truck tour into the interior. The Dominican Republic is the second largest nation in the Caribbean (after Cuba), and has a wealth of wildlife. You will encounter creatures such as iguanas and migrating birds, get to swim in natural pools fuelled by waterfalls, and have the opportunity to meet the local people in their villages. Or plan an adventure based around the nature reserves, staying in one of a blossoming number of eco-lodges.

Looking ahead to next summer, Lima beckons. The June solstice is a magical time to be in Peru — whether in Cuzco, on the Inca Trail or deep in the Amazon jungle.

Book a British Airways holiday with a deposit and pay the balance as late as five weeks before you travel (£150 per booking up to a holiday of £1,500). Terms and conditions apply. Visit BA.com/wintersun