Things to do in Guatemala

Belize also hides a Mayan “underworld” in the incredible Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave – complete with ancient ceramics and the calcified and crystallised skeletal remains of sacrifice victims. A longer tour can take you all the way along the isthmus, through Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, to the Panama Canal, using a combination of public transport, minibuses and purpose built overland vehicles. These little countries may seem superficially similar, but when you begin to look beneath the surface, they each have their own unique histories, indigenous cultures, coasts, jungles and wildlife.

These tours are made even easier by the Shengen-style Central America Border Control Agreement, which means that tourists can cross borders between Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua for 90 days without lengthy entry and exit formalities.

Real water babies can navigate the country by raft – rushing over the Class IV rapids and more tranquil creeks of the Cahabon and Dulce Rivers with expert adventure guides. This is a thrilling way to explore the dense jungle, where rivers often act as the only “roads” and you may catch glimpses of parrots, hummingbirds and toucans along the way. Reward yourself after a hard day’s paddle with a dip in natural hot springs or the impossibly turquoise waters of the Semuc Champey pools.