Things to do in Central America
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?
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 holidays 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 holidays 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!"
Costa Rica wildlife holiday
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
From
£4449 to £5649
16 days
inc UK flights
Costa Rica wildlife holiday, Coastal Secrets
Wildlife rich waterways of Tortuguero to the dense jungle
From
£5379 to £6149
16 days
inc UK flights
Highlights of Belize holiday, tailor made
Explore Belize's ancient cultures & natural wonders
From
£1700
11 days
ex flights
Costa Rica family adventure holidays
Wildlife and adventure for the whole family
From
£1850
15 days
ex flights
Guatemala in depth tailormade holiday
Active and cultural experience of Guatemala's highlights
From
£3000 to £4000
11 days
ex flights
4 week Central America tour
Fast-paced adventure through the best of Central America
From
£2156 to £3620
28 days
ex flights
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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 travel all depends on which countries you plan on visiting.
Central America means different things to different people. Find out more in our guide.
An idyllic isthmus packed with ancient Maya heritage, rainforest adventure and Creole culture.
Read on to learn about Maya history, as well as the top sites that line the route.
Cycling takes you from Maya ruins to Pacific beaches to cloud forests.
For every Maya site to explore, there’s a rainforest waterfall to jump under.
Many holidaymakers are concerned about whether it is safe to travel to Central America. The short answer is yes.
Our experts and seasoned travellers have plenty of advice on visiting Central America.
We talk about wildlife conservation, preservation, pollution and people.
Find all our Central America guides in one place, from Costa Rica to Nicaragua.
