Central America is the thin section of land that links the North American continent with the South American continent. Geographically part of North America, it is made up of seven small, mostly tropical countries that have much more in common with South America and Mexico than the more affluent north. Yet they represent a complex mixture of cultures, ancient ruins, tropical wildlife, active volcanoes and great beaches. List of countries in
central america travel guide: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama.
25. Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park is a protected wilderness area on Costa Rica's northern Caribbean coast. Its beaches are famous nesting grounds for sea turtles, including endangered green turtles. The park's freshwater creeks and lagoons, which can be navigated by boat or canoe, shelter spectacled caimans and river turtles. It is one of the most visited national parks in Costa rica.
24. Ometepe Island
Ometepe is an island formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. Its name derives from the Nahuatl words ome and tepetl, meaning two mountains. It is the largest island in Lake Nicaragua. Ometepe is a good place to see pre-Columbian artifacts, including petroglyphs, and is home to some of the world’s best rock art.
23. Semuc champey
Semuc Champey is a beautiful natural area near the town of Lanquin in Alta Verapaz of Guatemala. It consists of a natural 300 m limestone bridge, under which passes the Cahabón River. Atop the bridge is a series of stepped, turquoise pools, a popular swimming attraction. Although it can be difficult to get to, Semuc is becoming more and more popular with travelers. [wiki]
22. Santa Ana Volcano
The Santa Ana Volcano or Ilamatepec is a large stratovolcano located in the Santa Ana department of El Salvador. At 2,381 metres above sea level, it is the highest volcano in the country. The volcano was the inspiration for one of the active volcanoes in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's famous French novella (The Little Prince), based on his life with his Salvadoran wife Consuelo de Saint Exupéry, who was The Rose in the story.[wiki]
21. Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is a small National Park in the Central Pacific Conservation Area located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Manuel Antonio comprises a diverse array of ecosystems including lush rainforests, white sandy beaches and beautiful coral reefs. Established in 1972, it is the destination of as many as 150,000 visitors annually. In 2011, Manuel Antonio was listed by Forbes among the world's 12 most beautiful national parks.[wiki]
20. Panama Canal
Stretching across the Panama Isthmus and regarded as one of the modern-day wonders of the world, the Panama Canal is a vast and complex canal system built to allow ships passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is a key source of Panama’s thriving economy and has become a major tourist attraction. Visitors can take either a partial or complete crossing of the canal. Many visitors choose to explore the canal by visiting the Miraflores Locks Museum.
19. Caracol
Siting high on the Vaca Plateau, 500 meters (1650 ft) above sea level, Caracol is the largest Maya site in Belize. It was once one of the largest ancient Maya cities, covering some 168 square kilometers (65 mi²). At its peak around 650 AD it had an estimated population of about 150,000, more than twice as many people as Belize City has today. The largest pyramid in Caracol is Canaa (Sky Place), at 43 meters (143 ft) it is still the tallest man-made structure in all of Belize.
18. Joya de Ceren
Joya de Cerén is an archaeological site in La Libertad Department, El Salvador, featuring a pre-Columbian Maya farming village preserved remarkably intact under layers of volcanic ash over 1400 years ago. It is often referred to as the "Pompeii of the Americas", in comparison to the famed Ancient Roman ruins. The site consists of a museum and 10 excavated buildings. It takes about 1.5 hours to see everything.[wiki]
17. El Tunco
El Tunco is a little surf village in El Salvador. Only a few years ago this place was unknown and quiet. It is now the most visited town of El Salvador by backpackers and surfers all year long and by Salvadorians on the week ends for the nightlife. There are now around 20 hostels, bars, restaurants and everything needed to practice surfing. El Tunco is actually the gateway to the surf spot El Sunzal, and is a few kilometers away from El Zonte and Punta Roca, two other famous surf spots.[wikivoyage]
16. Ambergris Caye
Ambergris Caye is the largest island of Belize located northeast of the country in the Caribbean Sea. Most of the action on Ambergris Caye can be found in its biggest village, San Pedro. Visitors will find a large number of restaurants, bars and accommodations. Ambergris Caye is one of the best of Belize’s island for soaking in the sun during the day and partying at night.
15. Arenal Volcano
Until the past few years, Arenal was the most active volcano in Costa Rica, and it’s frequent, small explosions once provided incredible shows of spewing lava. However, in 2010, Arenal’s cycle entered into a resting phase, putting an indeterminate pause on the eruptions. Although visitors won’t be able to see the volcano spewing ash and lava anymore, they’ll still be treated to stunning sights as they hike in the mountains or raft down the rivers. Arenal is one of Costa Rica’s most scenic and accessible attractions.
14. Copan
Copán is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in western Honduras. It is a site famous for its remarkable series of portrait stelae. The stelae and sculptured decorations of the buildings of Copán are some of the very finest surviving art of ancient Mesoamerica. Some of the stone structures at Copán date back to the 9th century BC. The city grew into one of the most important Maya sites by the 5th century with more than 20,000 inhabitants but was mysteriously abandoned a few centuries later.
13. Bocas del Toro
Located in the Caribbean Sea on the west coast of Panama, Bocas del Toro is an archipelago of six forested islands and numerous smaller uninhabited islets known for their laid-back vibe. Bocas del Toro is a popular tourist destination where natural, unspoiled beauty and outdoor adventure are the main attractions. Numerous beaches offer white sands and activities like sailing and diving. Jungle trekking, canopy tours and mangrove kayaking provide visits to Ngobe Indian settlements as well as views of exotic birds and exotic animals.
12. Granada, Nicaragua
Granada is the oldest colonial city and most historically important centers in Nicaragua. Located in western Nicaragua along the shores of Lake Nicaragua, it’s popular with travelers ranging from shoppers and spa lovers to nature lovers who like to sail on the lake, zipline through the forests and hike to Mombacho, a dormant volcano. Iglesia de la Merced, a beautiful cathedral, is the city’s top tourist draw.
11. Ruta de las Flores
Ruta de las Flores (Flower Route) is a 36-km (22-mile) long road that winds through the Salvadoran countryside. It goes through picturesque colonial towns, featuring great food and galleries. Those who like the good life can feast on local food, particularly at the weekend markets, browse the craft tiendas, or undertake firsthand research into why El Salvadoran coffee is renowned across the world. If the pace is too slow, you can hit the Cordillera Apaneca, a volcanic mountain range filled with waterfalls, mountain bike trails.
10. Leon, Nicaragua
Leon, Nicaragua’s second largest city. Situated along the Chiquito River, Leon is rich in Spanish colonial architecture as well as arts and culture, and teeming in students and backpackers. The region also is known for its eight volcanoes; indeed, an eruption destroyed the first city in 1610. Located just a few miles inland of the Pacific Ocean, Leon is also home to popular beaches like Poneloya and Las Peñitas, which offer water activities and nightlife options.
9. Antigua Guatemala
Antigua is a small city surrounded by volcanoes in southern Guatemala. Known for its old-world style Spanish architecture by way of palaces, cathedrals, universities and hermitages, Antigua is a charming jewel in Guatemala. The Santa Catalina Arch in Antigua has become a visual cue to let everyone know that they’ve arrived. The city is a particularly popular tourist attraction during Holy Week.
8. Caye Caulker
One of the best known Belize Islands, Caye Caulker’s casual atmosphere, cheap prices and abundance of bars and restaurants draw numbers of backpackers and tourists who are looking for a break from traveling around Central America. There are many dive shops on the island, and several dive tours are available to premier spots like Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Turneffe Atoll, Caye Caulker Marine Reserve and the famous Blue Hole.
7. Lake Atitlán
Lake Atitlán was described by Aldous Huxley as the most beautiful lake in the world. Situated in the Guatemalan highlands, the lake is a stunning exhibition of natural splendor. The portal to Lake Atitlán, the city of Pananajachel, is also a portal to an indigenous world of the Mayans and other ancient peoples. Popular attractions include a butterfly sanctuary, nature reserve, and San Pedro Volcano, considered a tough hike.
6. San Blas Islands
The San Blas Islands of Panama are an archipelago comprising approximately 365 islands and cays, of which only 49 are inhabited. The San Blas Islands are one of the most popular places to visit in Panama due to their unspoiled beauty, indigenous people and simple way of life. Electricity and modern conveniences are limited on the islands, which offers a relaxing atmosphere and appealing solitude to many tourists.
5. Panama City
The largest city in Panama, Panama City is considered the most cosmopolitan capital in Central America. This historic city has an old town filled with charming buildings as well as trendy restaurants and boutiques. While a visit to the city’s most famous attraction, the Panama Canal, ranks at the top of most sightseeing itineraries, exploring the cobblestone streets and colonial buildings of the historic quarter. Panama City is one of the best places to visit in Central America.
4. Roatan
The largest island in Honduras Bay, Roatan is popular with travelers seeking a tropical vacation. The island of Roatan is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Honduras because of its beautiful scenery and variety of activities. With its gorgeous beaches and coral reef, Roatan provides opportunities for diving, snorkeling and swimming. The island also features many attractions like the Iguana Farm, the Caramola Gardens and the Roatan Butterfly Garden.
3. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Located in central Costa Rica with lush green mountains and tropical jungle, shrouded in clouds. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is one of the country’s most coveted tourist destinations due to its astonishing natural beauty, extraordinary biodiversity and abundance of activities including ziplining and canopy tours.
2. Belize Barrier Reef
The Belize Barrier Reef is a 300 kilometer (190 miles) long section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second largest coral reef system in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It is Belize's top tourist destination, popular for scuba diving and snorkeling and attracting almost half of its 260,000 visitors. The reef also includes the Great Blue Hole. The deeper one dives into this massive sinkhole the clearer the water and the array of bizarre stalactites and limestone formations become more complex and intense.
1. Tikal
Located in the lowland rainforest of northern Guatemala, Tikal was once one of the largest cities of the Mayans. Archaeologists estimate that, at its peak, Tikal’s population ranged from 50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants. Today, however, all that is left of this ancient metropolis are a number of beautiful Mayan ruins. It’s most famous for its five towering pyramids as well as the rainforest’s varied flora and fauna.
Reviewed by Bynn Du
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5/13/2016
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