Dreaming about Travel: Central America

The thin section of land that connects North America with South America is known as Central America. Comprised of seven small countries, it's the perfect destination to experience gorgeous tropical locations without being far from home! 
​

Known as "Mother Nature's Best Kept Secret", Belize is made up of jungles, waterfalls, Mayan ruins and caves. Belize has some of the best dive sites in the world just waiting to be explored! Some of its most well-known sites include the Blue Hole, a collapsed cave in the ocean that offers incredible diving; Lamanai, one of Belize's largest Maya sites that was settled around 900 B.C.; and Mountain Pine Ridge, a reserve with 300,000 acres of forest, caves and Thousand Foot Falls - the largest waterfall in Belize! 

Costa Rica is one of the world's most bio-diverse counties and contains about 5% of the world's species. Perfect for nature lovers, you can experience amazing landscapes from beaches to mountains, to incredible rain and cloud forests. There are 121 volcanic formations in Costa Rica with seven of them still active, including Arenal Volcano, which is one of the 10 most active volcanoes in the world and a must-see destination while visiting. You'll want to be sure you also get the chance to experience Costa Rica's breathtaking natural hot springs and waterfalls, or even go on an exhilarating zip lining adventure! 

Do you love to surf? If so, El Salvador needs to be on your list! It has incredible surf towns across its coastline that bring surfers from all over the world. Like Costa Rica, El Salvador is also full of volcanoes and is called "the Land of Volcanoes" with more than 20 volcanoes in the area with two of them still active. While visiting, check out Tazumal, El Salvador's most impressive Maya ruin from around 5000 B.C.; Playa El Tunco, a small beach town to hit some waves; and Suchitoto, a colonial city and cultural hub of El Salvador to experience the arts, delicious food and exciting festivals. 

Located south of Costa Rica is Guatemala, filled with extraordinary landscapes and deep culture. When making your travel plans here, you'll definitely want to add these places to your list: Tikal National Park, the first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site; Antigua, the former capital of Guatemala and the perfect place to grab a cup of authentic Guatemalan coffee; and Lake Atitlan, the deepest lake in Central America. 

The heart of Central America is Honduras, which translates to "great depths" in Spanish for the deep waters along its coast. Not only that, but Honduras is home to the second largest barrier reef in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef. This makes a fantastic destination for snorkelers and divers alike! While visiting, you'll want to be sure to snorkel and dive at Utila, explore the Copan Ruins, white water raft along Rio Cangrejal, and view colorful wildlife in The Moskitia. 

Nicaragua is the largest of the Central American countries and also has the largest area of primary-growth rainforest north of the Amazon. There are few ancient ruins left in Nicaragua, but picturesque colonial towns--like Granada and Leon--make up for it with their pastel-painted churches and vibrant local festivals. Must-do's in Nicaragua include Miraflor Nature Reserve to immerse yourself in native flora and fauna, a volcanic trek and go volcano-boarding on the black sand slopes of Cerro Negro, a ferry ride from Granada on Lake Nicaragua and snorkel off the Corn Islands and Pearl Keys.

Panama is most famously known for the Panama Canal, an engineering marvel that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean that is not to be missed.  Be sure to see this in action by visiting the Miraflores Locks to learn more about its incredible history. Other exciting adventures await you in Panama, including the Presidential Palace, the official residence of the country’s president and Amador Causeway, a breakwater connecting four islands for fantastic views.

Start your Central American adventure today by contacting Brentwood Travel!
Call us at 314-439-5700 or send us an email!