The Americas

Unbound

From the great cities of North America and the beaches of the Caribbean coast to the rainforests of Central America and the extraordinary landscapes of South America, the Americas offer almost limitless variety.

Think iconic road trips, national parks, vibrant culture, world-class food and wine, tropical escapes and vast wilderness - all capable of being combined into journeys that feel as adventurous, indulgent or wonderfully unhurried as you choose.

North America

  • Canada's sheer scale allows completely different journeys: Vancouver and the Rockies, Toronto and Niagara, Québec's French heritage, Atlantic Canada or remote wilderness lodges.

    Best time: May–October; December–March for skiing.
    Perfect for: Families, wildlife, rail journeys, skiing and road trips.
    Interesting fact: Canada is the world's second-largest country by land area.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine a city with Canada's extraordinary wilderness rather than choosing one or the other.

  • Mexico delivers far more than exceptional beaches. Mexico City, Oaxaca and colonial towns reveal extraordinary food, art and history, while the Caribbean and Pacific coasts provide world-class resorts.

    Best time: November–April for many regions.
    Perfect for: Food, culture, families, beaches and celebrations.
    Interesting fact: Cacao was cultivated and consumed in Mesoamerica long before chocolate reached Europe.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine a cultural stop with a coastal stay.

  • The United States is effectively many destinations in one, ranging from New York and California to Hawaii, Florida, the Deep South and some of the world's great national parks.

    Best time: Entirely dependent on region.
    Perfect for: Families, road trips, cities, entertainment, nature and events.
    Interesting fact: The country contains 50 states across an extraordinary range of climates and landscapes.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Build itineraries around one region rather than attempting to cover too much territory.

  • California combines Los Angeles, San Francisco, Pacific coastline, wine country, desert and spectacular national parks.

    Best time: April–October, depending on region.
    Perfect for: Road trips, wine, beaches, families and food.
    Interesting fact: California's redwood forests contain the tallest trees on Earth.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Drive part of the Pacific coast and add Napa or Sonoma.

  • Florida combines Miami's energy, Palm Beach sophistication, family attractions around Orlando and idyllic islands in the Keys.

    Best time: November–April.
    Perfect for: Families, beaches, nightlife, golf and winter sunshine.
    Interesting fact: The Everglades form the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Pair Miami with the Keys or Palm Beach for contrast.

  • Hawaii's volcanic islands combine extraordinary beaches with rainforest, mountains and a distinctive Polynesian culture.

    Best time: Year-round, with April–June and September–November particularly attractive.
    Perfect for: Honeymoons, families, nature, beaches and adventure.
    Interesting fact: Hawaii is the only US state composed entirely of islands.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Visit two islands for contrasting experiences rather than trying to cover the entire archipelago.

  • Las Vegas is unapologetically spectacular: extraordinary hotels, restaurants, concerts, sporting events and entertainment surrounded by stark desert scenery.

    Best time: March–May and September–November.
    Perfect for: Entertainment, dining, celebrations and events.
    Interesting fact: Much of what visitors call the Las Vegas Strip actually lies outside the incorporated City of Las Vegas.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine Vegas with the Grand Canyon or another Southwest landscape.

  • The six New England states offer charming towns, rugged coastline, mountains and some of America's most celebrated autumn scenery.

    Best time: May–October, particularly September–October for autumn colour.
    Perfect for: Road trips, countryside, food and autumn travel.
    Interesting fact: New England comprises Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Travel by car and stay at characterful inns and country hotels along the way.

  • New York City remains one of the world's great short-break destinations, combining theatre, art, shopping, restaurants, architecture and an extraordinary energy.

    Best time: April–June, September–December.
    Perfect for: City breaks, theatre, food, shopping and celebrations.
    Interesting fact: The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Build the trip around a few pre-booked highlights but leave time simply to explore.

  • From New Orleans and Nashville to Charleston, Savannah and the landscapes of the Deep South, this region combines extraordinary music, food and cultural history.

    Best time: March–May and September–November.
    Perfect for: Music, food, road trips and culture.
    Interesting fact: New Orleans played a pivotal role in the birth and development of jazz.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Create a road journey connecting two or three cities rather than flying directly between them.

  • America's national parks protect some of the continent's most dramatic landscapes, from Yellowstone and Yosemite to Zion, Grand Canyon and the deserts of Utah.

    Best time: Varies considerably by park.
    Perfect for: Nature, families, photography, hiking and road trips.
    Interesting fact: Yellowstone, established in 1872, is widely recognised as the world's first national park.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Pair luxury lodges with private guiding to make a national-park itinerary comfortable as well as adventurous.

Central America

  • Belize combines Caribbean coast, rainforest and important Maya sites with exceptional diving and small luxury retreats.

    Best time: December–April.
    Perfect for: Diving, adventure, beaches and wildlife.
    Interesting fact: Belize is the only Central American country with English as its official language.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine jungle and reef in one itinerary.

  • Costa Rica has become synonymous with nature, from cloud forest and volcanoes to Pacific beaches and wildlife-rich rainforest.

    Best time: December–April for many areas.
    Perfect for: Families, wildlife, adventure, wellness and honeymooners.
    Interesting fact: Costa Rica abolished its standing army in 1948.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine two contrasting ecosystems with a few days at the beach.

  • Guatemala rewards adventurous travellers with colourful indigenous culture, colonial Antigua, volcanic landscapes and remarkable Maya archaeology.

    Best time: November–April.
    Perfect for: Culture, history, adventure and photography.
    Interesting fact: Tikal was once one of the great cities of the ancient Maya world.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine Antigua, Lake Atitlán and Tikal.

  • Panama combines a sophisticated capital, tropical rainforest, Caribbean and Pacific coastlines and, of course, its remarkable canal.

    Best time: December–April.
    Perfect for: Culture, nature, islands and multi-centre journeys.
    Interesting fact: The Panama Canal allows ships to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific without navigating around South America.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Add rainforest or islands to a Panama City stay.

South America

  • Argentina moves effortlessly between sophisticated Buenos Aires, Mendoza's vineyards, Patagonia's vast landscapes and the magnificent Iguazú Falls.

    Best time: Depends on region; spring and autumn suit Buenos Aires, while Patagonia is best during the southern summer.
    Perfect for: Food and wine, adventure, cities and scenery.
    Interesting fact: Tango developed around the Río de la Plata region of Argentina and Uruguay.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine Buenos Aires with either Mendoza or Patagonia.

  • Bolivia offers some of South America's most surreal landscapes, from the immense Salar de Uyuni salt flats to high-altitude La Paz and Lake Titicaca.

    Best time: May–October for generally drier conditions.
    Perfect for: Adventure, photography and distinctive landscapes.
    Interesting fact: Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat on Earth.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Use private guiding and allow time to acclimatise gradually to altitude.

  • Brazil is vast and exuberant, with Rio de Janeiro, the Amazon, extraordinary beaches, wetlands and an unmistakable culture built around music, food and celebration.

    Best time: Depends heavily on region.
    Perfect for: Beaches, nightlife, wildlife, cities and adventure.
    Interesting fact: Brazil is the largest country in South America.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine Rio with one dramatically different environment such as the Amazon or Pantanal.

  • Chile stretches from the Atacama Desert through vineyards and sophisticated Santiago to Patagonia's glaciers and mountains.

    Best time: September–April for many itineraries, with regional variation.
    Perfect for: Wine, landscapes, adventure and road journeys.
    Interesting fact: The Atacama is one of the driest non-polar regions on Earth.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Contrast Atacama with Patagonia for a truly remarkable journey.

  • Colombia combines energetic cities, Caribbean coastline, coffee country and beautifully preserved colonial towns.

    Best time: December–March and July–August are generally popular.
    Perfect for: Culture, food, beaches, cities and adventure.
    Interesting fact: Colombia is the only South American country with coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine Cartagena with Medellín and the coffee region.

  • Mainland Ecuador provides colonial cities, mountains and Amazonian landscapes, while the Galápagos offer one of the world's great wildlife experiences.

    Best time: The Galápagos can be visited year-round, with different wildlife highlights through the seasons.
    Perfect for: Wildlife, families, photography and expedition travel.
    Interesting fact: Charles Darwin's observations in the Galápagos contributed to the development of his ideas on evolution.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Explore the islands aboard a high-quality expedition vessel.

  • Peru combines extraordinary archaeology with Andean landscapes, Amazon rainforest and one of South America's most exciting food cultures.

    Best time: May–September for the Andes and Machu Picchu.
    Perfect for: History, food, trekking, families and adventure.
    Interesting fact: The Andes are the ancestral home of the potato, which has been cultivated there for thousands of years.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Travel gradually through the Sacred Valley before visiting Machu Picchu.

  • Compact Uruguay combines relaxed Montevideo, historic Colonia del Sacramento, vineyards and stylish Atlantic beach destinations such as José Ignacio.

    Best time: November–March for the coast.
    Perfect for: Beaches, food, wine and relaxed road trips.
    Interesting fact: Colonia del Sacramento was founded by the Portuguese in 1680.
    Velvet Hippo recommends: Pair Buenos Aires with Uruguay for an easy two-country journey.

Your Journey Starts Here

Ready to begin planning your next escape? Get in touch and let us create a travel experience tailored around you.

Call 020 3051 2325, message on WhatsApp, or Request a Quote.

Stay Inspired

Discover new destinations, exceptional experiences and carefully selected travel ideas, along with the latest offers and inspiration from Velvet Hippo.