North America travel guide
Three of the biggest countries in the world are in North America – Canada, USA and Mexico. Each state and province has its own identity shaped by dramatically different terrain, climate and communities. The incredible distances involved in traversing these lands make for epic journeys that range from ocean voyages along the Inside Passage to diving deep into the cenotes and Mayan history of Yucatan. Islands tell their own stories, too – Hawaii, with its debate on independence, and Baffin Island, where Inuit villages and scientists share the ice with polar bears.
Get your kicks on Route 66, sure, but don’t forget the beaches and rainforests of the Yucatan Peninsula, the glaciers of the Icefields Parkway, and wild Denali Highway. ![]()
Navigating the distances – and six time zones – involved is best left to the experts. They’ll know, depending on your interests and requirements, whether you’re better off whizzing around the highlights of Western Canada, exploring Mexico’s Caribbean or Pacific coasts, or zooming in to focus on the Delta Blues and civil rights movements in the Deep South.
Keep reading our North America travel guide to find out the best way to explore this vast continent.
Keep reading our North America travel guide to find out the best way to explore this vast continent.
North America is...
diverse. Landscapes, cultures, weather and wildlife transform from state to state.
North America isn’t...
just the USA. There’s also Canada, the second biggest country in the world, Mexico and the self-sufficient islands of the Pacific and Arctic.
Our North America Vacations
Denali National Park vacation in Alaska
Experience untouched wilderness off the beaten path
From
US $2440
12 days
ex flights
Alaska Glacier Bay small ship cruise
Get close up to Alaska where the big ships can't go
From
£3999 to £6000
8 days
ex flights
Alaska adventure vacation, salmon run
Active small group adventures in a retrofitted school bus
From
US $4090
20 days
ex flights
Western Canada highlights tour
Ten days exploring natural highlights of West Canada
From
£1695
10 days
ex flights
Canada small group vacation
A journey across the Rockies and Vancouver Island.
From
US $4630 to US $5580
16 days
ex flights
Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon vacation
Take in some of the USAs greatest landscapes
From
US $3199 to US $3849
8 days
ex flights
East Canada self drive vacation
Two week road trip through East Canada.
From
£1988
14 days
ex flights
California, Nevada and Arizona vacation
Journey into the remote wilds of Western America
From
US $1921 to US $2420
11 days
ex flights
Canadian Rockies hiking vacation
Mountain and glacial scenery with flowers and wildlife
From
US $4799 to US $4879
13 days
ex flights
National Parks hiking vacation in America
A superb hiking adventure through the USA's most famous national parks
From
US $4210
15 days
ex flights
Johnstone Strait kayaking expedition in Canada
Kayaking expedition through remote wildlife-rich archipelago
From
CA $1895
6 days
ex flights
Yukon dog sledding vacation, Canada
Husky adventure vacations in Yukon
From
CA $1465 to CA $4098
14 days
ex flights
Canadian Rockies activity vacation
Adventure through the Canadian wilderness
From
US $2980 to US $3325
15 days
ex flights
Kenai Peninsula adventure vacation in Alaska
Orcas, Humpbacks and Glaciers: Experience Alaska's coastline
From
US $2340
9 days
ex flights
Wolf watching vacation in Yellowstone, USA
Expert guided trips to track & watch wolves in Yellowstone
From
£2615
7 days
ex flights
West Canada vacation
Two week wildlife adventure through Western Canada
From
£2675
15 days
ex flights
Los Angeles to Las Vegas tour, USA
Discover California, Arizona and Nevada's best attractions
From
US $1220 to US $1330
5 days
ex flights
Kayaking with Orcas in British Columbia
Kayak with orcas and humpacks in beautiful British Columbia
From
US $1235 to US $1545
4 days
ex flights
Deep South Delta Blues tour
A journey through America's cultural and musical heritage
From
US $5279 to US $6249
12 days
ex flights
Central America vacation
Explore some of the very best Aztec & Mayan sites
From
US $2350 to US $2630
16 days
ex flights
Northwest Passage Arctic cruise, Canada and Greenland
Retrace the steps of the intrepid Franklin Expedition
From
£11500
17 days
ex flights
Johnstone Strait kayaking tour in Canada
Our oceanside private camp in a wilderness paradise.
From
CA $1595
4 days
ex flights
Mexico tour with Day of the Dead Festival
Explore rainforests and volcanic islands
From
US $4879
16 days
ex flights
Wellness retreat in Mexico
A 7-day wellness trip to relax and clear your mind
From
US $2495
7 days
ex flights
Canadian Rockies and Vancouver Island vacation
Valleys rich with wildlife, bear, deer & moose
From
US $6879 to US $7049
15 days
ex flights
Arizona and New Mexico self drive vacation
Explore the variety of Arizona and New Mexico.
From
£2465
14 days
inc UK flights
Mexico small group vacation, culture & beach
2 week discovery Mexico's Aztec, Zapotec & Mayan cultures .
From
US $1504 to US $1820
15 days
ex flights
Yellowstone wildlife tour in Fall
Bears, wolves, bison & moose in Yellowstone's autumn
From
£2995
7 days
ex flights
Yellowstone and Grand Teton wildlife vacation
Wildlife trails in world famous national parks
From
US $7049
12 days
ex flights
North America map & highlights
Have we mentioned that North America is huge? At almost 250,000km, Canada has the longest coastline in the world after Russia. The Rockies chug along for 4,800km from British Columbia to New Mexico. Baja, the second longest peninsula on earth, is in North America, too – 1,200km of whale-traversed waters, sugar pine forests, deserts and mountains. Trains can be far and few between, especially when compared with Asia and Europe, so most vacations to North America use road transport on land (converted school bus, anyone?) or small ships to explore the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Instead of highlight-hopping and spending all your time on the hoof, the best vacations take their time, diving deep into one spectacular region.
1.
Alaska, USA
2. Baja California, Mexico
3. British Columbia, Canada
4. Inside Passage
5. Manitoba, Canada
6. Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
2. Baja California, Mexico
3. British Columbia, Canada
4. Inside Passage
5. Manitoba, Canada
6. Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Alaska, USA
1. Alaska, USA
Alaska is the USA’s wildest state. Neighbouring Denali and Wrangell St Elias national parks are bear, moose, wolf and caribou country, as well as the setting for Mount Denali (6,190m), the highest mountain in North America. On the south-east coast, Glacier Bay National Park is a popular and dramatic stop for small ship cruises – and a feeding ground for humpback whales.
Baja California, Mexico
2. Baja California, Mexico
Once whispered amongst in-the-know marine biologists, the Baja Peninsula has made a name for itself as a top whale watching destination over the last decade. Jump on a boat, kayak or paddle board to explore the southern tip, where sea turtles, pelicans, orcas, manta rays, sea lions and a whole cast of whales – including the mighty blue whale – live.
British Columbia, Canada
3. British Columbia, Canada
Squeezed between the Pacific Ocean and Coast Mountains, Vancouver is British Columbia’s much-loved main city. Beyond the city limits, there’s about 60 million hectares of river gorges, mountains and rainforest, where you can bed down in low-impact lodges run by First Nations Canadians and track bears with experts. Vancouver Island is just across the water, too.
Inside Passage
4. Inside Passage
The 1,500km-long Inside Passage offers calm ocean sailing between Seattle and Alaska via the beaches and kayaking coves of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. It’s not just sailors who have taken advantage of this safe passage for thousands of years, either – whales and orcas also chase krill north in the summer.
Manitoba, Canada
5. Manitoba, Canada
Most people go to Manitoba province for one reason: to see polar bears. Join guides in the inhospitable Arctic tundra or stay in a wilderness lodge where polar bears wander the horizon while you sip your morning cuppa. Ghostly belugas hunt in Hudson Bay, caribou cause traffic jams while licking salt off the roads, and over 100 bird species (and the Northern Lights) soar overhead.
Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
6. Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
The Yucatan Peninsula pokes into the Caribbean Sea, reaching out towards Cuba. It’s home to Cancun, yes, but we recommend making tracks for the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, Uzmal and Kabah instead. Merida is the capital city of Yucatan, where you can cool off with a horchata under the palms of the Plaza Grande or wander the ultra-modern Mayan World Museum.
Our top North America Vacation
Denali National Park vacation in Alaska
Experience untouched wilderness off the beaten path
From
US $2440
12 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2022: 12 Jun, 3 Jul, 24 Jul, 14 Aug, 27 Aug
2022: 12 Jun, 3 Jul, 24 Jul, 14 Aug, 27 Aug
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about North America or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
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Fast facts about North America
What are the largest cities in North America?
The answers are quite different, depending on if you’re counting by population or area. By population, the biggest cities in North America are Mexico City, New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and Chicago. By area, the biggest cities in North America are Ottawa, Jacksonville, Houston, Mexico City and Phoenix.What is the tallest mountain in North America?
Mount Denali – “the tall one” in the local Koyukon Athabascan language – is the tallest mountain in North America. It’s also one of the most isolated peaks on earth, climbing 6,190m out of Alaska’s Denali National Park, part of an ancient, sleeping chain of volcanoes. Mount Logan (5,959m) in the nearby Canadian Yukon comes a close second, followed by Pico de Orizaba, an inactive snow-capped volcano south-east of Mexico City.
What is the highest waterfall in North America?
It’s thought that Pu’uka’oku Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America, dropping 840m from a cliff face in Molokai, Hawaii. It’s even taller than Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the highest building in the world. However, there’s no standardised way to measure a waterfall – some measure its full height, while others only count the unbroken stream of water – so any claims to highest waterfall fame are best taken with a pinch of salt.Other towering waterfalls in the USA include Yosemite Falls (739m) and Ribbon Fall (491m) in California’s Yosemite National Park. Time your visit here wisely, as both are seasonal and reliant on plenty of snowmelt. Canada’s tallest waterfall is up for debate, but they’re both in British Columbia. James Bruce Falls is 840m in total height, while Cerberus Falls has the tallest unbroken drop of water (475m).
What is the longest river in North America?
The Missouri River (3,767km), which flows from the Rocky Mountains in Montana before joining the Mississippi River at St Louis, is the longest river in North America. The Mississippi (3,730km) isn’t far behind, starting north of Minneapolis, near the Canadian border, and sinking as far south as it can go, emptying out in the Gulf of Mexico at New Orleans.
More about North America
When should you visit North America? Our guide will help you decide. We also highlight some of the best festivals in North America.
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