Central America
Small Ship Cruises & Expeditions
Discover the best of Central America
Enveloping rainforests teeming with wildlife, cloud-shrouded volcanoes, charming colonial towns, mysterious Mayan ruins and seemingly endless white-sand beaches
A skinny belt of countries and islands connecting two much larger continents, Central America doesn't look like much on the map. But looks have never been more deceiving: enveloping rainforests teeming with all manner of wildlife; cloud-shrouded volcanoes; charming colonial towns; mysterious Mayan ruins; and seemingly endless white-sand beaches await travellers curious enough to come looking for them. And as much fun as they are to explore by day, these lands truly come alive at night - often to the beat of salsa, calypso or reggae.
These places may be unfamiliar, but now's the best time to get introduced, here are some of the Central America's key desitinations:
Panama. The 80km Panama Canal, transporting 12,000 ships a year between the two great oceans, is undoubtedly one of the world's greatest engineering feats. While the canal put the country on the map, there is another Panama few know about: sandy-beached islands on both coasts, steamy jungle rainforest cut by pristine waterfalls, and cool, misty mountain valleys spread with coffee plantations and framed by volcanoes.
Nicaragua. It boasts an enormous freshwater lake, with twin volcanoes piercing its centre, and one of Central America's least-spoiled colonial cities, Granada, on its shore.
Mexico. Ancient and brand-new, all at once. Beyond the stereotypes of mariachi bands and tacos, Mexico is a cultural giant of the Americas. A massive and diverse country, its history stretches across thousands of years from the ancient Olmec, Maya, and Aztec, though the arrival of Cortés and three centuries of harsh Spanish rule. For all its familiarity, Mexico is capable of surprising at every turn; to make the mistake of reducing it to a beach resort is like confusing the USA with Las Vegas.
Certainly, beaches and beach life rank high as reasons to visit. Add to the mix ancient sites and vibrant indigenous culture, the cosmopolitan neighbourhoods of one of the world's largest city and a cuisine successfully exported around the world, and you've got yourself una buena vacacion.
Guatemala. Land of the Maya, Guatemala is the quintessential Central American experience. Incredible Antigua, one of its mandatory stops, was once the capital of an enormous swath of the Americas. Frozen in time for centuries thanks to repeated earthquakes, today it has been impeccably restored in all its rubble and glory. From crater lakes to the ruins of Tikal, it's a miracle Guatemala is still off the radar for so many.
Costa Rica. An eco-tourist's dream, Costa Rica has become synonymous with all an unspoiled tropical paradise can be. Rarely does reality measure up to hype, but Costa Rica certainly comes close. The country's quiet history as a backwater free of colonial excesses has today become a boon, and Costa Rica has cashed in on its purity. And not without merit: blessed with beaches and biodiversity, this is a verdant land of misty volcanoes, roaring rivers, and lush jungles teeming with exotic fauna.
Belize is small in size, big on beauty. Belize is an anomaly. Peaceful, democratic, English-speaking, it seems in many ways not to belong in Central America at all. And indeed, to an extent, it is more a Caribbean nation than a Latin one, looking out from the coast rather than inland for its trade and alliances. On the other hand, it has plenty of distinctively Central American features as well. Above all, it offers a blend of cultures and races that includes Maya, Mestizo, African, European, and Asian. On a Belize adventure, you'll discover remarkable marine life, profuse jungle vegetation, ancient Mayan ruins, and above all, friendly and easy-going people.
NOTE: Be sure to stay up-to-date with the current travel advice, which may change at short notice and differ depending on the location you wish to travel.
Central America Highlights
