Easter Spring Breaks 2024

Latin America has a rich and varied tradition during Easter time and each country celebrates in their own unique ways. With many local traditions and festivities, why not enjoy a get-away break over Easter with the locals or visit one of those bucket-list destinations you have long dreamt of.

Guatemala and in particular Antigua has one of the largest Easter celebrations anywhere in the world. Combining re-enactments of the Passion, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Christ, many visitors and locals participate in the processions throughout the city including the carrying of large decorated floats throughout the streets. It takes over 100 people to carry each float, considered a great honour, with each carrier being replaced by a fresh carrier every 15 minutes or so. In addition to this, colourful carpets produced by residents and made of fruit, flowers and pine needles grace the entire streets.

After the festivities, why not explore further this wonderful country such as the site of Tikal, the ruins of an ancient Mayan city located in the middle of the jungle. We also recommend visiting Lake Atitlán, a huge body of water inside a volcanic crater. Ringed by steep, verdant hills, it’s known for its Mayan villages and volcanoes with striking pointed cones.

Combining Guatemala with other Latin American destinations in a unique experience and a cultural wonder to be enjoyed by the whole family

Few places on earth combine the remoteness, sheer mystery and spectacular vistas than the Easter Islands, in the middle of the South Pacific. Now belonging to Chile, Rapa Nui is the most isolated, inhabited island in the world.

Located 2000 miles (3200 km) west of Chile and over 4000 km from Tahiti, it was first discovered by the Dutch in 1772; Admiral Jacob Roggeween landed there on Easter Sunday and gave the island its present name. He was the first European to describe the unusual statues carved from the volcanic rock from Rano Raraku. Standing as tall as 18 ft (5.5 m) and weighing up to 100 tons, the statues are known as moai, and each are supposed representations of clan chieftains.

We offer several 4 to 5 day tours of the Easter Islands often as part of a larger tour of Chile. Why not visit this Spring Break and include a visit to Patagonia, the Lake District or the Atacama regions of Chile.  We can also help arrange skiing in Chile during the months of June to August.

Peru is a wonderful country to visit during any time of the year. However, planning a visit to Cusco and Machu Picchu during Spring Break or Easter (Semana Santa in Spanish) offers a chance to observe local traditions, enjoy good food, and witness how Catholicism and Inca culture is combined in a unique way.

The Procession of El Señor de Los Temblores (The Lord of Earthquakes) is a fine example and takes its name from the story of a statue of Christ. During the 1600’s, the then King of Spain sent the statue to Cusco to help convert the local people to Catholicism. It was installed in a church, and during a major earthquake in 1650, was taken out by the locals after which the earthquake miraculously stopped. Ever since then, the figure has held great importance to the people of Cusco, and on each Easter Monday, the people of Cusco carry the statue around in a procession passing the Main Square.

Food is another important aspect of Easter in Peru as it is both a sign of gratitude and an opportunity to rejoice at reaching the end of the Lenten fast. On Thursdays, it is customary to taste the twelve different traditional dishes. Because of the Catholic prohibition against eating red meat during Lent, most plates feature Andean plants, grains, and vegetables such as potatoes, corn, and squash. Some dishes may include fish or shrimp. Delicious desserts follow such as arroz con leche, mazamorra, apple compotes and empanadas.

We can help arrange a wide variety of tours to Peru to cater for all budgets and interests. From family tours to luxury tours, we can offer wide variety of trips during Spring Break and the rest of the year but remember that there is so much more to see in Peru than just Machu Picchu.

Why not visit the north of the country and to the rich cultural region of Trujillo and Chiclayo? Or for the adventurous, how about the great Ancash trekking capital of Huaraz? Here you will find the highest tropical mountain range in the world with hundreds of trekking routes and climbing opportunities not to mention several pre-Inca cultural sites of great importance.

Brazil, the land of samba and carnival is also a land of incomparable beauty and amazing natural sites. With great cities like Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, you can also visit the magnificent Iguazu waterfalls and the vast Amazon rainforest. We arrange many tours to Brazil from 6 day escapes to 14 day trips. Escape to the tropical heat of Brazil this Spring Break and enjoy the surf and samba that Rio and all the other Brazilian beach destinations have to offer.