Central America activities
Ruminating the ruins
The Mayan civilisation dominated Central America and, in particular, present-day Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador, from around 2000 BCE onwards, and peaking between 600-900AD. But boy, did they peak. The Mayan Trail, or Ruta Maya, was created as a tourist route in the 1990s, allowing archaeological stunners to be rescued from the jungles’ natural takeovers and revealed to the world. Many of the well preserved ones are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the Trail now covers over 2,400km.
Although you will never tire of these masterful pyramids, palaces and ancient principalities, there are only so many you can do, so many people do a Mayan pic 'n' mix from Mexico, Belize and Guatemala’s finest, as that works geographically, allowing you to take in different contemporary cultures en route. Or, if you are making southern Guatemala your base, don’t miss Honduras and El Salvador’s Mayan marvels next door. Always with beaches thrown in along the way, because this is Central America after all. Bursting with history, but also with life. And life’s a beach, right?
Although you will never tire of these masterful pyramids, palaces and ancient principalities, there are only so many you can do, so many people do a Mayan pic 'n' mix from Mexico, Belize and Guatemala’s finest, as that works geographically, allowing you to take in different contemporary cultures en route. Or, if you are making southern Guatemala your base, don’t miss Honduras and El Salvador’s Mayan marvels next door. Always with beaches thrown in along the way, because this is Central America after all. Bursting with history, but also with life. And life’s a beach, right?
Costa Rica wildlife vacation
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
From
US $4760 to US $5460
15 days
ex flights
Costa Rica highlights vacation & beach
Short highlight itinerary covering city, forests and beach.
From
£1995
13 days
ex flights
Central America highlights tour
Experience five Central American countries in just two weeks
From
US $3450 to US $3970
16 days
ex flights
Tailor made vacation in Belize
Explore the rainforests, rivers & coral reefs of Belize
From
US $4300 to US $4950
12 days
ex flights
Central America tours
Travel through 6 Central American countries
From
£3807 to £3981
22 days
ex flights
Costa Rica tailor made vacation, highlights
Discover Costa Rica's natural and cultural wonders
From
US $2970
13 days
ex flights
Another world of wildlife
Costa Rica has long been on the wildlife lover’s wishlist and rightly so. Touring here to fawn over fauna is a breeze and still one of the top things to do in Central America. And with turtles, quetzals, howler monkeys, sloths, caiman, otters, dolphins… you can take your pick of iconic species.
Wildlife wonders don’t stop for borders however, and Belize is bursting with beauty, with the second largest coral reef in the world. So diving and marine conservation volunteering vacations are big here, especially in Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Belizean rainforests are also home to jaguars, pumas, tapirs, crocodiles, scarlet macaws and toucans, to name but a few. Monkeys and other myriad marvels speed through the forests that line Nicaragua’s Rio San Juan river as well as the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve and Panama has more bird species than Costa Rica. And a lot fewer tourists than other Central American countries around to disturb them too.
Wildlife wonders don’t stop for borders however, and Belize is bursting with beauty, with the second largest coral reef in the world. So diving and marine conservation volunteering vacations are big here, especially in Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Belizean rainforests are also home to jaguars, pumas, tapirs, crocodiles, scarlet macaws and toucans, to name but a few. Monkeys and other myriad marvels speed through the forests that line Nicaragua’s Rio San Juan river as well as the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve and Panama has more bird species than Costa Rica. And a lot fewer tourists than other Central American countries around to disturb them too.
Camping on the lagoon islands off the Baja Peninsula, where grey whales come to give birth and nurture their babies, is about as stirring as wildlife watching gets.![]()
Whale of a time
Go whale watching between February and April along Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula for a veritable carnival of cetaceans that sing and dance their way along the 3,000km of coast. Highly responsible tours here mean that the grey whales are not disturbed by the few boats that head into the lagoon, and may even come up to greet you - nudging their babies up to say a whale sized "hello!"
Our top trip
Costa Rica wildlife vacation
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
From
US $4760 to US $5460
15 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2023: 28 Nov
2024: 13 Jan, 23 Jan, 27 Jan, 30 Jan, 10 Feb, 20 Feb, 22 Feb, 2 Mar, 7 Mar, 9 Mar, 19 Mar, 27 Mar, 13 Apr, 4 May, 11 May, 1 Jun, 8 Jun, 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 20 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 7 Sep, 28 Sep, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 5 Nov, 12 Nov, 14 Nov, 16 Nov, 19 Nov, 21 Nov, 23 Nov, 26 Nov, 28 Nov, 30 Nov, 19 Dec, 21 Dec, 28 Dec
2023: 28 Nov
2024: 13 Jan, 23 Jan, 27 Jan, 30 Jan, 10 Feb, 20 Feb, 22 Feb, 2 Mar, 7 Mar, 9 Mar, 19 Mar, 27 Mar, 13 Apr, 4 May, 11 May, 1 Jun, 8 Jun, 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 20 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 7 Sep, 28 Sep, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 5 Nov, 12 Nov, 14 Nov, 16 Nov, 19 Nov, 21 Nov, 23 Nov, 26 Nov, 28 Nov, 30 Nov, 19 Dec, 21 Dec, 28 Dec
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Panama is a palette of prettiness. In Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park we swam among red snapper and multicoloured parrot fish, saw birds of every colour, green turtles and neon frogs.![]()
Adventure
Costa Rica is adventure central, with a world of waterfalls, rapids, ziplines and rainforest trekking. Nicaragua’s San Juan River is superb for kayaking expeditions, stopping to camp in rainforest camps and passing through indigenous Rama villages en route. Sea kayaking and snorkelling are sublime in Belize, and canoeing, cycling or camping around Guatemala is the way to go.
More Central America articles
The best time to visit Central America is in the dry season from January to March, or November to April if you're planning to visit Nicaragua, Panama and Honduras.
Central America means different things to different people, and while Costa Rica is one of its most established destinations, the whole region is home to beautiful coastlines, wildlife rich rainforest and Mayan marvels.
Welcome to the idyllic isthmus, the bit in the middle packed with ancient Mayan heritage, rainforest adventure, coastal spectacles and Creole culture that covers the gamut from hot to cool to oh so chilled.
La Ruta Maya in Guatemala encompasses some of this ancient civilisation’s most impressive sites – with glyph-covered stelae, giant pyramids and vast temples scattered over many kilometres through the tropical rainforests.
Traveling overland in Central America is definitely for adventurers, ready to travel through numerous countries on an epic odyssey through volcanic landscapes, coastal contrasts and ancient cultures.
Cycling in Central America takes you from Mayan ruins to Pacific beaches, from rainforest to cloud forest, across borders, away from the crowds and into remote villages.
For every Mayan site to explore there’s a rainforest waterfall to jump under, and for every long journey there seems to be beach awaiting, making traveling in Central America with kids a joy.
Many vacationmakers are concerned about whether it is safe to travel to Central America.
Our experts and seasoned travelers have plenty of advice on visiting Central America, explaining how best to tackle this vast region that's relatively new to tourism.
We talk about wildlife conservation, preservation of ancient Mayan cities and the polluting effects of giant cruise ships, but this responsible tourism in Central America guide looks first at the people.
