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Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala & Venezuela
Recommended destination: Puebla
By Condor Verde Mexico • 8 July 2026
Puebla & Cholula
Puebla, set between mountain ranges and volcanoes about a two-hour drive east of Mexico City, was founded in early colonial times and fairly bursts with baroque flourishes, colorful facades, and the patterns of its famed Talavera tiles. Its historic centre is one of Mexico’s most attractive, with grand churches, lively plazas, traditional markets, and a rich culinary heritage that includes mole poblano.
Just next door, Cholula is one of Mexico’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements and was once home to hundreds of temples, before Hernan Cortes ordered many of them destroyed and replaced with churches. It is best known today for its great pyramid, now topped by the Church of Our Lady of Remedies.
Excursions
We offer wonderful excursions in Puebla and Cholula:
- Puebla’s historic city center (3h)
- Visit to Cholula (5h)
- Puebla & Cholula (7h)
- Puebla street food (3h)
- Traditional poblano cooking class (4.5h)
- Cholula & tortilla cooking class (5h)
- Cholula & pulque tasting (5h)
This is one of our favorite excursions:
Puebla’s historic city center & Talavera factory (5h)
We will explore Puebla’s historic city center on foot, taking in its baroque flourishes, colorful facades, and the patterns of its famed Talavera tiles. Our first stop is the Zocalo, the heart of the city, where the Cathedral and surrounding historic buildings frame one of Puebla’s liveliest squares. We will also visit the Biblioteca Palafoxiana, a historic 17th-century library and one of the city’s cultural landmarks, before continuing to the Callejon de los Sapos, known for its antique shops, handicrafts, and characterful storefronts.
We continue to one of Puebla’s oldest Talavera factories. Here, we will learn about the history of this traditional ceramic craft, the production process, and the techniques used to shape, glaze, and hand-paint each piece. The visit includes time in the workshop and gallery, followed by a hands-on painting activity where we can decorate our own Talavera piece.
Boutique hotels
Puebla also offers a wonderful selection of boutique hotels, including Casa Reyna, Palacio Julio, Casona de los Sapos, and Casa Haus.
Caribbean beach extension: Roatan
By Condor Verde Guatemala • 8 July 2026
The island of Roatan in Honduras is the perfect Caribbean beach extension to a Guatemala itinerary. After exploring Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and Tikal, a short direct flight takes travellers to this tropical paradise, known for its vibrant coral reefs filled with tropical fish, shy turtles, and graceful eagle rays, as well as white-sand beaches and lush jungle.
Roatan is part of the Bay Islands, located roughly 60 km (37 miles) off the northern coast of Honduras. The archipelago also includes the islands of Utila and Guanaja, along with more than 60 islets and cays.
Today, many residents of the Bay Islands continue to live much as they have for generations: fishing, dancing, and preserving local traditions. The Garifuna people and descendants of British settlers speak a distinctive Caribbean-accented English.
The gorgeous boutique hotel Ibagari (see video), on the southern tip of the island, is the first and only hotel in Honduras to receive a prestigious MICHELIN Key. This luxury resort welcomes guests aged 12 and over, and features 19 beachfront suites, a full-service on-site dive centre, and the acclaimed Luna Muna restaurant.
In addition to its legendary diving and snorkelling, Roatan offers kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, golf, fishing, visits to neighbouring islands, and Garifuna cultural experiences.
New: Amarena Canvas Beach Hotel
By Condor Verde Costa Rica • 8 July 2026
Amarena Canvas Beach Hotel is a new hotel on Playa Hermosa, along Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast. Set between Jaco and Esterillos, the property features 16 tented villas close to the beach. The canvas walls open fully to the surroundings, allowing guests to feel more connected to the coastal setting while still having the comfort of a hotel room.
Facilities include a swimming pool, spa, and restaurant, making it a relaxed beach stop for travellers exploring this part of Costa Rica. Playa Hermosa is known for its long stretch of dark sand, surf, and easy access to the Central Pacific region.
The hotel can also be included as part of a wider Costa Rica itinerary. It works well before or after a stay in Manuel Antonio, known for its national park, beaches, and wildlife. Travellers continuing south can then head towards the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park, one of Costa Rica’s most biodiverse rainforest areas.
3 ways to see Angel Falls
By Condor Verde Venezuela • 8 July 2026
Between the rainforest of the Amazon Basin and the watershed of the Orinoco River lies Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of South America’s most spectacular natural areas. This remote region is marked by rugged mountains, deep forested canyons, and extraordinary tabletop formations known as tepuis. From Auyan-tepui, Angel Falls plunges 979 meters, making it the highest waterfall on Earth.
Angel Falls can be experienced in three ways: by canoe to the base of the falls as a day tour, with an overnight stay in hammocks, or by helicopter overflight.
By canoe to the base of Angel Falls
Early in the morning, we travel by motorized dugout canoe, or curiara, along the Carrao and Churun rivers, passing lagoons, rapids, and the dramatic landscapes of Canaima National Park. At 979 meters, Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world, plummeting from the giant Auyan-tepui tabletop mountain into Devil’s Canyon. After a short rainforest hike, we reach a viewpoint facing the spectacular falls. There is time to swim in the lagoon at its base before returning to Canaima in the afternoon.
With an overnight in hammocks
It is also possible to stay overnight near the falls in a hammock camp, allowing more time to experience the remote setting of Canaima National Park and the landscapes around Angel Falls.
By helicopter over Angel Falls
Another unforgettable way to experience Angel Falls is from above, on a scenic helicopter flight. The aerial view reveals the full height of the world’s highest waterfall as it drops 979 meters into Devil’s Canyon. From the air, you can appreciate the vast scale of Canaima National Park, with its ancient tabletop mountains, dramatic cliffs, and endless jungle.
