Hi, everyone. We're planning our April vacation with our two sons, 14 and 17. This will be our last family vacation because our son goes to college next year. We're trying to find a spot with hiking/touring excursions. We're looking at Mexico for its jungles and ruins, etc, and the Carribean for the rain forests and volcanos. Anyone experienced jungles or rain forests? Thank you.

jan, <BR>costa rica is very nice with its active volcan arenal and the monte verde cloud forests. there are the pacific and carribean coasts within a days drive of each other. it is "safe" or safer than other c american countries and not very expensive. it is basically a one stop ecotourists dream come true. fly into to the capital san juan and begin from there. buenas suerte

If you want jungles and rain & cloud forests, I suggest Costa Rica too. There are many tours that leave from the capital of San Jose (not San Juan)that will take you for one, or several days to various parts of the country to see the forests, volcanos, diversity of the country. It is a beautiful country with wonderful and friendly people.

I agree with earlier posts. We were in Costa Rica last summer & thought it was great. I highly recommend seeing the nesting turtles if you can (We saw them at Tortuguero on the east coast, but I think in April may be the season for the west coast.) Personally, I thought Monteverde was way overrated. We made reservations through Costa Rica Expeditions - they were excellent, but pricey. Their web site at http://www.expeditions.co.cr/trippla...aricaexplorer/ has lots of good information. <BR> <BR>You might also consider Belize/Guatemala. Together they have great ruins & wonderful snorkeling in addition to rain forests. We were there many years ago.

The jungliest jungle I've ever been to was on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. It is absolutely gorgeous and has tons of wildlife (monkeys, toucans, scarlet macaws, tree sloths, iguanas, etc.), great hiking and all sorts of excursions. If money is no object I highly recommend Lapa Rios which is a terrific ecoresort. www.laparios.com We were there last November-December and it was fantastic. The volcanos are in a different region of Costa Rica, but flights within CR are short and not a problem. We went to Arenal volcano which was interesting but we liked the central and southern Pacific coasts better than the area around the volcano. <BR> <BR>Costa Rica isn't the place for ruins though. This November we are going to Mexico for that. You might want to look into one of the places we are staying there which is Rancho Encantado, Laguna Bacalar. Here is a website: http://www.encantado.com/ <BR> <BR>Also, I have heard good things about Guatemala for ruins and jungle but haven't been there yet.