31 days in Caribbean & South America Itinerary

Willemstad is the capital city of Curaçao, an island in the southern Caribbean Sea that forms a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Willemstad: Kleine Knip (in Sabana Westpunt) and Museo di Ka'i Orgel (in Barber). There's much more to do: snap pictures at Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, kick back and relax at Blue Bay Beach, see the interesting displays at Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, and take in the waterfront at Handelskade.

To find ratings, photos, other places to visit, and other tourist information, use the Willemstad trip itinerary planning website.

Malmo, Sweden to Willemstad is an approximately 23.5-hour combination of flight and car. The time zone changes from Central European Standard Time to Atlantic Standard Time, which is usually a -5 hour difference. Expect warmer temperatures when traveling from Malmo in January; daily highs in Willemstad reach 34°C and lows reach 28°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Sat) to allow time to fly to Caracas.

Tropical weather, great food, and memorable jungle surroundings seem like all the ingredients Caracas needs to become a must-see destination.

On the 12th (Sun), explore the wealth of natural beauty at Parque Nacional El Avila. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 13th (Mon): make a trip to Paseo de Los Proceres, then pause for some serene contemplation at Iglesia Nuestra Senora de Las Mercedes, then get a taste of the local shopping with Plaza Francia, and finally take in the architecture and atmosphere at Iglesia Sagrado Corazon de Jesus.

For where to stay, more things to do, maps, and tourist information, go to the Caracas visit planner.

Fly from Willemstad to Caracas in 3 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Mon) to allow enough time to fly to Merida.

An affluent and forward-thinking Andean city, Merida gives good access to a range of outdoor sights and experiences, while itself having a bustling and entertaining urban core.

Merida is known for sightseeing, nature, and shopping. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: contemplate the waterfront views at Laguna de Mucubaji, take in nature's colorful creations at Jardin Botanico de Merida, see the interesting displays at Museo de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Merida, and take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Sierra Nevada.

For more things to do, photos, maps, and more tourist information, go to the Merida trip itinerary planner.

Traveling by flight from Caracas to Merida takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from Caracas to Merida due to the time zone difference. On the 17th (Fri), you're off to Medellin.

Nestled between rising hills in a narrow valley, Medellin serves as an energetic melting pot of people from all socio-economic classes.

On the 18th (Sat), spend a fun day on foot with Walking tours. There's still lots to do: see Off-Road Tours, don't miss a visit to Plaza Botero, see the interesting displays at Museum Pablo Escobar, and get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Parque Explora.

For reviews, other places to visit, maps, and tourist information, read our Medellin trip tool.

You can do a combination of bus, car, and flight from Merida to Medellin in 8.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or do a combination of bus and car. In January, plan for daily highs up to 32°C, and evening lows to 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Tue) early enough to fly to Bahia Solano.

Bahía Solano is a municipality and town in the Chocó Department, Colombia. On the 22nd (Wed), delve into the lush surroundings at Jardin Botanico del Pacifico and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Playa El Almejal.

For traveler tips, photos, maps, and tourist information, read our Bahia Solano online tour itinerary planner.

Traveling by flight from Medellin to Bahia Solano takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. When traveling from Medellin in January, plan for slightly colder days in Bahia Solano, with highs around 28°C, while nights are somewhat warmer with lows around 28°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 23rd (Thu) to allow enough time to travel to Esmeraldas.

Esmeraldas is a coastal city in northwestern Ecuador. Kick off your visit on the 24th (Fri): tour the pleasant surroundings at Playa Tonsupa and then stroll through Cumilinche Beach.

To find other places to visit, traveler tips, maps, and other tourist information, refer to the Esmeraldas itinerary planner.

Explore your travel options from Bahia Solano to Esmeraldas with the Route module. Traveling from Bahia Solano in January, expect nights in Esmeraldas to be about the same, around 27°C, while days are a bit warmer, around 33°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Fri) early enough to travel to Machalilla National Park.

A trip to Machalilla National Park provides an opportunity to witness the wetlands and forest of Ecuador and its rich plant and animal life, threatened by poaching and deforestation.

Kick off your visit on the 25th (Sat): step off the mainland to explore Isla de la Plata and then kick back and relax at Playa de los Frailes. On the 26th (Sun), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: make a trip to Agua Blanca.

To see other places to visit, reviews, photos, and tourist information, go to the Machalilla National Park day trip tool.

Explore your travel options from Esmeraldas to Machalilla National Park with the Route module. January in Machalilla National Park sees daily highs of 34°C and lows of 27°C at night. On the 26th (Sun), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Mancora.

In a busy little beach town, Mancora tourism industry continues to grow, largely thanks to the sunniest climate of any region in the country.

Start off your visit on the 27th (Mon): enjoy the sand and surf at Las Pocitas Beach, indulge in some personalized pampering at Fisiomundo Peru, and then get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Acuario Mundo Hippocampus. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: don't miss a visit to Puerto Velero and then enjoy the sand and surf at Playa Vichayito.

To find reviews, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read Mancora trip planner.

Explore your travel options from Machalilla National Park to Mancora with the Route module. In January, plan for daily highs up to 36°C, and evening lows to 27°C. On the 29th (Wed), you're off to Quito.

High in the Andean foothills, Quito remains one of the world's most photogenic capital cities, featuring two dramatic mountain ranges as its backdrop.

On the 30th (Thu), take in the architecture and atmosphere at Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco, then admire the landmark architecture of Fundacion Iglesia de la Compania, then get to know the fascinating history of Quito Old Town, and finally deepen your understanding at La Ronda. On the 31st (Fri), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: examine the collection at Museo Etnohistorico de Artesanias del Ecuador Mindalae and then take in the spiritual surroundings of Basilica del Voto Nacional.

To see other places to visit, photos, where to stay, and other tourist information, go to the Quito vacation planner.

Traveling by car from Mancora to Quito takes 12 hours. Prepare for a bit cooler weather when traveling from Mancora in January: high temperatures in Quito hover around 26°C and lows are around 16°C. On the 31st (Fri), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can fly to Bogota.

Colombia's heart and soul, Bogota has earned the nickname "Athens of South America" thanks to its abundance of universities, libraries, and lower-level schools.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Bogota: Zipaquira (Museo Arqueologico de Zipaquira & Catedral de Sal de Zipaquira), Bioparque La Reserva (in Cota) and Centro de Memoria El Cuartico (in Valledupar). There's much more to do: see the interesting displays at Gold Museum (Museo del Oro), steep yourself in history at Bolivar Square, take in the awesome beauty at Monserrate, and explore the world behind art at Museo Botero del Banco de la Republica.

To see ratings, more things to do, maps, and more tourist information, refer to the Bogota trip itinerary maker tool.

Getting from Quito to Bogota by flight takes about 5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Quito in January, Bogota is slightly colder at night with lows of 7°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Tue) so you can travel back home.