Central America travel guide
An isthmus is defined as 'a strip of land with sea on either side, linking two larger areas of land', which is, essentially, a geographical summary of Central America - the bit that links North and South America. But that’s a little dismissive to say the least. We prefer the anatomical definition, where an isthmus is a vital connecting tissue or organ. Such as the respiratory system provided by Costa Rica's Monteverde cloud forests. Or the beating heart of Nicaragua and Guatemala's voluptuously volcanic landscapes.
The only Central American coup these days is a natural one. This region has coastlines like no other; Caribbean on one side and Pacific on the other. That’s what you call sublime sedition.
Indigenous culture flows through Central America, from Panama’s Embera and Guatemala's Maya to Mexico’s 60 indigenous groups. And, with the Caribbean on one side and the Pacific on the other, water is an omnipresent life force where marine life thrives, such as the whales of Baja or turtles of Costa Rica’s eponymous Tortuguero National Park. And of course, just about everywhere, there is beach bliss. Happy Isthmus, everyone.
Central America is...
at peace. No coups, no revolutions, no guerillas. Sure, there are still issues, but not related to civil war anymore, thankfully.
Central America isn't...
Costa Rica on the cheap. Each country has its riches, from indigenous peoples to coral reefs, to voluptuous volcanoes. And everywhere, beaches.
Our Central America Holidays
Coast to coast cycling holiday in Costa Rica
Take in the variety of Costa Rica by bike
From
£3199 to £3699
15 days
inc UK flights
Central America cycling holiday
Colonial cities, cloud forests and tropical island paradise
From
£3429 to £3909
16 days
inc UK flights
Central America small group tours
Explore some of the very best Aztec & Mayan sites
From
£2049 to £3185
16 days
inc UK flights
Mexico bespoke holiday, Cultural Heartlands and Caribbean Coast
Explore one of Latin America' most vibrant destinations
From
£2326
14 days
ex flights
Costa Rica wildlife holiday
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
From
£2829 to £3599
16 days
inc UK flights
Central American holiday, La Ruta Maya
Magnificent cities, pyramids and temples
From
£3749
16 days
inc UK flights
Self drive holiday in Costa Rica
Tailor made, flexible self-drive in stunning Costa Rica
From
£2405
17 days
ex flights
Costa Rica highlights holiday & beach
Short highlight itinerary covering city, forests and beach.
From
£1375
13 days
ex flights
Costa Rica holiday, coast to coast
Discover the dramatic contrasts of Costa Rica's coastlines
From
£1660 to £3285
16 days
ex flights
Costa Rica tailor made holiday, highlights
Discover Costa Rica's natural and cultural wonders
From
£2200
13 days
ex flights
Belize holidays, tailor made
Explore the rainforests, rivers & coral reefs of Belize
From
£3375
14 days
inc UK flights
Baja and the Sea of Cortez adventure cruises, Mexico
Small ship cruise to see the whales and wilderness of Baja
From
£2925 to £3037
8 days
ex flights
Central America tour, Managua to Panama City
Central America tour through Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama
From
£3539 to £3559
15 days
inc UK flights
Mexico, Belize & Guatemala tour, Mayan encounter
Travel through paradise between the Yucatan & Guatemalan.
From
£935 to £1190
17 days
ex flights
Costa Rica and Nicaragua self drive holiday
Self drive highlights of Nicaragua and Costa Rica
From
£3130
16 days
ex flights
Costa Rica tour, small group
Express trip through the wonders of Costa Rica
From
£1084 to £1445
9 days
ex flights
Nicaragua holidays, tailor made tour
An insight into Nicaragua's fascinating and tumultuous history
From
£3650
13 days
inc UK flights
Costa Rica self drive holiday, natural history
Discover Costa Rica's natural history and impressive scenery
From
£1235
14 days
ex flights
Guatemala & Mexico overland holiday
Discover Mayan ruins and pristine beaches of the Caribbean
From
£1017 to £1245
13 days
ex flights
Central America small group tour
Epic Central American journey from Mexico to Costa Rica.
From
£2060 to £2265
33 days
ex flights
Costa Rica tailor made holiday, vistas and volcanoes
Discover Costa Rica's hidden gems
From
£3270
12 days
inc UK flights
Belize and Guatemala adventure holiday
Explore the highlights of Central America
From
£2568
12 days
ex flights
Costa Rica adventure holiday
Fall under the spell of Costa Rica
From
£900 to £1219
16 days
ex flights
Central America tour on a shoestring
Highlights of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize
From
£1142 to £1289
22 days
ex flights
Costa Rica wildlife holiday, Coastal Secrets
Wildlife rich waterways of Tortuguero to the dense jungle
From
£3299 to £3999
15 days
inc UK flights
Mexico small group holiday, culture & beach
2 week discovery Mexico's Aztec, Zapotec & Mayan cultures .
From
£786 to £1000
15 days
ex flights
What we rate & what we don't
Underrated
Guatemala
Guatemala is just gorgeous. Culture vultures will swoop in on the Mayan ruins at Tikal, Topoxte and Yaxha. The colonial period is captured perfectly in city of Antigua (Easter here is stunning). And for nature lovers, hiking through cloud forest-covered volcanic slopes is verging on ethereal. As is Lake Atitlan, enveloped by volcanoes and indigenous lands. Guatemala also has Pacific surfdoms and Caribbean coves. Told you. Gorgeous.
Mexico’s national parks
Most holidays in Mexico follow the cultural circuit, but it also boasts 67 national parks. Although for some reason they don’t talk about them a lot. Archipiélago Espíritu Santo National Park on the Baja Peninsula is famous for the whales, Mexico City’s stunning Desierto de los Leones is famous for not really being a desert, but rich, ancient oak forest, and Iztaccihuatl-Popocatepetl Zoquiapan is sheer volcanic virtuosity.
Culture in Costa Rica
Don’t keep your head in the cloud forests all the time, but take time to absorb the people and culture of Costa Rica. Because this country has been so beautifully preserved thanks to its people. From the Creole-speaking Afro-Costa Ricans of the Caribbean, to the Bribri of the Talamanca Mountains, they’re all well worth getting to know.
Nicaragua
This country has been reborn since the 1960-70s revolutionary years, and yet is still unknown territory for tourists. Touching two seas, it has the Caribbean in the east and Pacific in the west, with jungles and volcanoes in between. Think luscious, lava and littoral and you got it. And loving, too – because Nicaraguans have warm, open hearts and boy do they love to party.
Rated
Wildlife
Costa Rica is top of wildlife lovers’ wishlists, its rain and cloud forests, surf and sands home to turtles, quetzals, howler monkeys, sloths, caiman and dolphins. Wildlife doesn’t stop for borders though. Belize is bursting with beauty, with the world’s second largest coral reef. Nicaragua boasts jaguar, monkeys and nearly 700 species of birds. And for whales, Mexico’s Baja is bliss. Each country has a wild side.
Mayan Trail
A 2,400km trail around the great pyramids, palaces and ancient principalities from Mayan civilisation, which dominated Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. Many are UNESCO sites and, although you can’t fit them all in, most tourists visit Mexico, Belize and Guatemala’s finest, as that works geographically. Or start in southern Guatemala, taking in Honduras and El Salvador Mayan marvels next door.
Cycling holidays
See the isthmian idylls from a saddle, with small group holiday experts to guide you from coast to coast in Costa Rica, for example, taking in Pacific, volcanic, rainforest and Caribbean landscapes en route. Or two weeks will take you on a slow, sensuous journey through Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama.
Indigenous cultures
Ancient cultures are awesome but there are so many contemporary indigenous cultures, with incredible histories and lifestyles too, so do incorporate visits to these communities if they are open to tourists. Which many are. Such as the Bribri of the Costa Rica, the Guatemalan Mayans and no fewer than 60 indigenous groups in Mexico, the most prolific being Nahuatl, Yucatec (Maya), Zapotec and Mixtec.
Overrated
Cruise liners
We are not a big fan of the giant floating hotels, with their dodgy environmental records and roll on roll off attitude to tourism. Feb-mid April is peak season for cruise ships in Central America, which frequent the big ports of Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, so stay clear of these places and head off the beaten path to support grassroots tourism instead.
Busy US holidays
The honeypots of Costa Rica, Mexico and Belize in particular (the only English speaking country in Central America), pack out during US public holidays. That's because they are the nearest stop for sunshine and so, rightly, they make for a wonderful quick escape – especially as Americans have relatively little vacation time in contrast with Europeans. So it’s a good time to check out other Central American options if you want to avoid crowds.
Cancún
Mexico’s answer to all inclusive, all concrete, all wrong. Located on the Yucatan Peninsula, it has given this region a yucky reputation, and yet there are so many businesses and organisations that are doing the responsible and resplendent thing on Yucatan. You just have to fly in and keep going, cycling, hiking or swimming, to discover the world beyond the resorts.
Eco everything
Costa Rica and Mexico are eco experts, the former having protected its habitats way ahead of others and the latter the birthplace of ecotourism, led by Mexican environmentalist, Hector Ceballos-Lascurain in 1983. However, beware of bandwagon bounders, calling themselves ‘eco’ just because they are rural, remote or just a tad rustic – with no connection with community or culture. This Central America travel guide shows you the bigger picture.
Food, shopping & people
Eating & drinking
In Costa Rica, casado is a set lunch in local restaurants, usually consisting of gallo pinto, plantain and salad – plus beef, fish or pork.Nicaraguan fare is a revelation, from its salsa criolla sauces, Güirilas tortillas to its famous Flor de de Caña rum.
Belizean falmaau means fish with coconut milk.
Food trails and gastro tours are big in Mexico, with taco trails, market tours, and yummy Yucatan seafood at every turn.
Oaxaca’s traditional cuisine has been listed by UNESCO as an ‘intangible cultural heritage’. Who needs Michelin, when you have that status for your food?
Our top Central America Holiday
Mexico bespoke holiday, Cultural Heartlands and Caribbean Coast
Explore one of Latin America' most vibrant destinations
From
£2326
14 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about Central America or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
People & language
Learning some Spanish, however sparse, is a must in Central America, as it is the national language everywhere, except Belize, where it's English. Indigenous languages are also spoken in rural areas; Mexico alone has 60 indigenous groups. In Costa Rica people are known as ticos. Most are a blend of European and native roots, but indigenous people number around 60,000. And the Caribbean coast is jammin’ with Afro-Caribbean and Creole culture.
In Costa Rica the ubiquitous greeting “Pura vida” also means "good". So if asked “¿como estas?” You can reply “¡pura vida, gracias!”
If nothing else, just practise “hola”, “adios” and “gracias”.
Spanish newbies learn “quiero” (“I want”) when asking for something in a shop or restaurant. But go for “quisiera” instead – it’s more polite.
Gifts and shopping
In Costa Rica head to the town of Sarchi for all things artisan, especially woodwork.Fair Trade coffee from Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras is a great gift. Buy Nicaraguan Flora de Cana rum to spice it up too.
Choco Guate Maya in Guatemala is a top chocolate, with top ethics.
Handcrafted hammocks made by deaf workers at the Café de Sonrisas in Leon, Nicaragua are the business. They ship worldwide too.
For textiles, Guatemala is the only place to go.
We started our Mexican trip at the massive pyramids of Teotihuacan. It felt like being handed a glass of champagne when you board a plane; you know immediately that you’re in for a classy ride.
How much does it cost?
Prices vary of course, with Panama, Costa Rica, Belize and parts of Mexico being more expensive. But here are some general guidelines.
Bunch of bananas = £0.85
Flora de Cana rum and coke = £1.50
Bottle of local beer = 65p - £1
Lunch in a Nicaraguan ‘cafetin’ = £3
Average lunch in Costa Rica = £4 - £5.50
Flora de Cana rum and coke = £1.50
Bottle of local beer = 65p - £1
Lunch in a Nicaraguan ‘cafetin’ = £3
Average lunch in Costa Rica = £4 - £5.50
More about Central America
The best time to visit Central America is in the dry season from January to March, or November to April if you're planning to visit Nicaragua, Panama and Honduras.
Welcome to the idyllic isthmus, the bit in the middle packed with ancient Mayan heritage, rainforest adventure, coastal spectacles and Creole culture that covers the gamut from hot to cool to oh so chilled.
Central America is crammed with adventure, wildlife and the legacies of ancient civilizations, so there's never a dull day on holiday here.
Travelling overland in Central America is definitely for adventurers, ready to travel through numerous countries on an epic odyssey through volcanic landscapes, coastal contrasts and ancient cultures.
Cycling in Central America takes you from Mayan ruins to Pacific beaches, from rainforest to cloud forest, across borders, away from the crowds and into remote villages.
For every Mayan site to explore there’s a rainforest waterfall to jump under, and for every long journey there seems to be beach awaiting, making travelling in Central America with kids a joy.
Our experts and seasoned travellers have plenty of advice on visiting Central America, explaining how best to tackle this vast region that's relatively new to tourism.
We talk about wildlife conservation, preservation of ancient Mayan cities and the polluting effects of giant cruise ships, but this responsible tourism in Central America guide looks first at the people.
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: DeLoyd Huenink] [Is/Isn't: Andrés Sanz]
[Underrated: Christopher Crouzet]
[Rated: Stephen Pedersen]
[Overrated: Prayitno]
[People & language: Dale Cruse]
[How much does it cost?: Rosalind Chang]
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