A land studded with fiery volcanoes, where jaguars roam the remnants of lost Maya temples and where you can swim amongst turtles on pristine, Caribbean beaches, Central America is a place for adrenaline junkies, beach lovers, adventure seekers and culture vultures.
Despite being equal in size to Thailand, Central America packs quite a punch for such a small landmass, both in terms of culture and adventure. Although the Maya cities that once dominated Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize may now be in ruin – replaced by the colourful colonial cities of Spanish invaders – indigenous culture still lives on strongly through the continent’s 7 countries where 20 Maya languages are still spoken.
Those Maya ruins are reason enough to visit Central America, where the remnants of one of history’s most mysterious civilisations has left behind over 4000 years’ worth of archaeological marvels shrouded in dense jungle. The pyramids of Tikal are a highlight, alongside the intricate carvings that adorn Copán in western Honduras.
Beside trekking to long-lost temples, the Jungles of central America are a must-visit for thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies; The canopies of Costa Rica’s cloud forest are crisscrossed gravity defying ziplines and the fiery volcanoes that are dotted throughout the continent are ripe for hiking, or riding a board down at 70 mph in the case of Nicaragua’s Cerro Negro.
If you are more of a beach bum than daredevil, Central America’s beaches are some of the finest in the World. Surfing hotspots line the Pacific coastline of El Salvador and Nicaragua while Belize, Costa Rica and Panama offer more of a Caribbean vibe, where you can swim with sharks, dive glorious reefs and soak in the sun on palm-fringed, tropical islands.
