The people will always make the place. For as much as world-class vacation packages can promise to entertain and impress, experienced travelers know that even the globe’s greatest destinations are really only as memorable as the family or friends you elect to bring along with you. The recipe for a truly unforgettable vacation calls not only for an awe-inspiring location, but also for a travel entourage worthy of the memories. Given that family vacations are unique in their ability to commemorate common bonds, resurrect familial friendships and establish a new generation of worthwhile memories, consider this your invitation to pair a worthwhile destination with a deserving audience.

As long as the people make the place, a family reunion is the perfect way to celebrate some of Earth’s foremost sights and sounds! Below are a few destinations that Discover Corps has found successful for family reunions in the past:

Explore the Jungle in Costa Rica

Afford yourself and your entire family the holistic Costa Rican experience where the entire party will contribute to a worthwhile enterprise, while enjoying flora and fauna you won’t find anywhere else on the planet. An eight-day, fully immersive endeavor is your ticket to authentic Costa Rican hospitality, where you’ll spend time making the acquaintance of rainforests, hot springs and open shorelines.

When you’re not introducing your toes to soft, white sands or taking in indigenous wildlife, the entire family can bond over a shared wildlife rescue center volunteer experience, where together you will care for injured or impaired jungle creatures. Find yourself face-to-face with jungle sloths, spider monkeys and marmosets, an educational opportunity and time contribution all rolled into one. There’s so much to love about Costa Rica, from your opportunity to learn the local farming customs of La Fortuna, to morning hikes under rainforest canopies and around volcanoes. All in all, your drive for a top-tier family vacation experience is satisfied the moment you take to Costa Rican soils.

Sail the Seas of The Galápagos Islands

One of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Galápagos Islands provide another sight-worthy destination for the entire family to enjoy. A family reunion in the Galapagos, a volcano-laden archipelago decorating the Pacific Ocean and home to diverse, untold speciation, is a lifelong memory in the making. When visiting these islands, you and the entire family witness restricted sights and sounds, a dream vacation that for most remains a dream.

Beyond just the fantastic wildlife, a family reunion needs comfort.  Five-star hospitality accommodations leave you in wonderful proximity to staple attractions like the Quito Cathedral and Independence Square, perfect for family or individual activities. On this trip, you and the entire family are provided every opportunity to learn about local sustainability customs, harvest techniques, smart water usage and more. And of course, you’ll catch sight of a wildlife portfolio available in the Galápagos, and nowhere else. Species like the blue footed boobie and the Galápagos giant tortoise await your discovery in this ideal family vacation setting.

Dance the Night Away in Cuba

Take the entire family to Cuba for a synthesis of culture and cuisine that will make lifelong memories easier than ever to fashion. Havana is a tribute to all things historical in Cuba, with an eye for the sensory. Impress the entire family with a city preserved in its own era, where  you punch your ticket toward Havana art, music, and society.

Find yourself in love with Havana’s inviting atmosphere by the end of your first day, when you and the entire family will visit the buzzing Malecon boardwalk and Vedado neighborhood, before a quality dinner with cityscape panoramas. Things only get better on days two and three, Lloyd join your family in frequenting a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a vintage jazz cafe alike. And after you sample the culinary products from Sloppy Joe’s Bar, we promise you’ll end up with a new standard for genuine Cuban cuisine. And best of all, stay casas particulares, or family-run bed and breakfasts, so each day of your family reunion starts the right way – with home-cooked meals from locally sourced ingredients and a healthy dose of Cuban optimism.

Explore the Culture of India

You’ll note the unique aesthetic from your first moment on Indian soil. While this may not jump out as your typical family reunion destination, India is incredibly accommodating when you have a plan of action. On this trip, you’ll join protective efforts for the Tiger Watch. Through involvement with a local tiger sanctuary, bolstered by efforts from communities and associated charities, you and the whole family will be gifted a holistic perspective of natural conservation efforts, including a drive to sustain tiger populations in the country. You’ll even contribute to tiger monitoring campaigns, an engaging, invigorating experience for any and all family members during your reunion.

Your time in India is also characterized by constant movement, so if your family is an active one, you’ve met a worthy destination. One day, you’re snapping photos of crocodiles and leopards in Ranthambore; the following afternoon, you’re gazing upon tiger populations in the National Park. At the end of busy days, family reunions deserve distinctive accommodations that settles the entire family, making having a plan that much more important! 

Contribute to Global Sustainability with Your Entire Family 

Meet your family’s aspirations for adventure head-on, and provide each member with the satisfactory travel experience of a lifetime whenever you make a family reunion vacation with purpose your getaway of choice. Pair a family reunion with Indian landscapes, Cuban-sourced coffee or Costa Rican action, all with the added bonus of contributing to worthy environmental and sustainable causes, helps your time together take on new dimensions. For more destination guides and accommodation reviews, hotels and vacation rentals, check out Trip101.

John Gallagher is an english and theology double major from San Diego, California. He currently works as the lead sports editor for the Troubadour Newspaper, and serves as the head script writer and editor for university Multimedia organization, the Baron Broadcast. He has also contributed to social content platform The Odyssey as a regular content creator. Gallagher was raised in San Diego, California, and has travelled his home state extensively. He recognizes In-N-Out Burger as the national treasure it is, and misses California’s perfect climactic conditions on a regular basis while at school in Steubenville, Ohio.