We know winter might not be totally gone yet, but we wanted to pick up everyone’s spirits with some fantastic spring time locations to visit and enjoy.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles has always been a crucible for new ideas in the arts, design and lifestyle, and with one third of California’s population living in the metropolitan area’s 4,850 square miles, this sprawling, glamorous, change-obsessed place is something to behold. Come spring, you can spend your days immersing yourself in the culture, enjoying attractions, including the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Avenue of Stars and strolling through Santa Monica, all with reliably pleasant weather and diminished crowds. Then return to home bases like the posh and private Peninsula Beverly Hills, the glamorous Maybourne, the zen Nobu Ryokan and more Indagare favorites.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Best time to visit: Feb-Oct
How to reach: Direct flights from most major cities
Cartagena
With an old town surrounded by colonial-era fortifications built by the Spanish (and a Miami-esque skyline as well), Cartagena is both a stunning time capsule on the shores of the Caribbean Sea and a contemporary mecca for sun-seekers. Blessed with abundant tropical fruits and fresh fish, cuisine in Cartagena is often a delicious fusion of Caribbean, Mediterranean and international influences, and the slew of new modern restaurants have brought the food scene to the next level. And with world-class music, a strong cultural focus on film and literature (Nobel Prize-winning Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez kept a home here) and chic shops and hotels like Casa San Agustin and Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Hotel, the lure of this seaside city is undeniable.
Cartagena was always a desirable conquest for pirates and enemies of the Spanish Crown; and for this reason, the defense of the city from these threats was a question of priority for its inhabitants from the first decades of the existence of the city. Once the primitive nucleus of Cartagena and the outlying district of Getsemani were fortified, there was a need to erect a structure on San Lazaro Hill that would prevent an enemy attack from its peak, since the hill dominated the walls and the only entrance to the city, the Media Luna Entrance in Getsemani. In addition, this hill was the intermediate point between the city and the nearby Popa Peak, where some heavy guns and canons were installed between 1769 and 1780 to cross fire with the castle and make an enemy attack more difficult from the large beach of Playon Grande in Pie de la Popa.
Location: Cartagena, capital of Bolívar departamento, northern Colombia, at the northern end of Cartagena Bay.
Best time to visit: December to April. The city’s tropical climate means that, although temperatures tend to stay around the mid-80s year-round
How to reach: Cartagena Rafael Nunez Airport
All flights to Cartagena land at Cartagena Rafael Nunez Airport. The airport code is CTG,and it can also be referred to as Rafael Nunez or Rafael Núñez Intl.
Machu Picchu, Peru
No matter how many photos you’ve seen of Machu Picchu, nothing comes close to the real thing. You can get to the citadel in under a day, but consider a five-day trek for the full Inca trail experience. The route takes you along panoramic mountain passes, ancient walls, and winding rivers before you can finally set your well-deserved sights on this ancient wonder of the world.
This 15th-century Inca citadel, cradled between two Andean mountain peaks, comprises expertly constructed agricultural terraces soaring out of the mist. April marks the end of the rainy season—and right before peak season kicks off—so there will be fewer tourists than usual. Rest your feet at Panorama B&B in Machu Picchu Pueblo, which is the gateway town for more treks to the Inca ruins.
Location: Machu Picchu, also spelled Machupijchu, site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains.
Best time to visit: One of the best times to visit Machu Picchu is April and May; the rainy season has passed, the mountains are emerald
How to reach:
1. First, you need to get to Cusco.
2.Then, from Cusco, you can choose to ride the train or trek. Most travelers enjoy the comfortable train ride to the Machu Picchu Station in Aguas Calientes.
3.Finally, take a short bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu for your tour.