Central America Holidays
America
Central America contains Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama. Although countries like Costa Rica and Belize have been drawing tourists for years, countries like Nicaragua and El Salvador are a bit off the beaten track but have a lot to offer the intrepid traveller. The area has a rich and colourful history dating back to pre-Colombian civilizations thousands of years ago to the more recent Spanish Colonial past. Pre-Colombian ruins can be viewed and visited all over Central America and make for an intriguing visit. With its long coastline, visiting beaches, snorkelling, and diving are popular activities all along Central America. Other activities like jungle treks, ziplining, and driving through the country are also popular activities.
Central America Holidays Guide
If you are looking to quickly explore Central America from the comparative luxury of a cruise ship, there are numerous cruise ship lines that cruise mainly up and down the Caribbean side of the countries visiting ports of call. With a one or two week cruise you get to visit several countries and experience life aboard a cruise ship as well. There is also the popular cruise through the Panama Canal that joins the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
For those inclined towards the relaxed life of a resort, countries like Honduras, Belize, Costa Rica and Panama have a lot to offer in terms of both beachside resorts, and – in the case of Costa Rica and its northern Liberia region – golf and jungle-based resort areas. This is the option for the traveller who is inclined to choose a more pampered form of travel where everything is accessible and readily available. Tours can be arranged to the surrounding countryside through the front desk and associated tour operators.
The wildlife of Central America is truly astounding and in countries like Belize, Nicaragua, and Belize there is an astonishing proportion of the world's biodiversity situated in a relatively small land mass. There are remarkable species of insect, bird, and animal life to see and wonderful plant and floral life. This is the jungle, and in an ordinary jungle walk in a national park, you will be able to see monkeys, sloths, butterflies, macaws, and lizards. Costa Rica is a destination for eco-tourism, responsible low-impact travel to ecologically sensitive areas that respects the well-being of local people as well as the environmental footprint of tourism.
Throughout Central America, in countries like El Salvador, Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala you can find ruins of ancient Mayan cities. Often these ruins are in an easily accessible place such as the ruins located next to the Colonial town of Chalchuapa in El Salvador. Other ruins like the Tikal Ruins of Guatemala are located in the middle of the jungle, adding to the sense of adventure of your visit.
The beaches of Central America are incredible, and offer numerous opportunities for soaking up the sun, surfing, snorkelling, and diving. While visiting these areas you can stay in laid-back towns and stay in a small hotel, or you can even stay in small cabanas on the beach with your back right against the jungle for a memorable week or two.
Other attractions include the submerged and above ground caves of Belize. You can either tour these caves or engage a tour guide. There is some gorgeous scenery in these caves and often they play host to abundant wildlife. For a unique ecosystem, Lake Nicaragua contains a freshwater species of shark and contains the largest freshwater volcanic islands in the world. There are also numerous Colonial cities throughout Central America to visit.
Whether you are a history buff interested in exploring the history of colonization in the region, or you're interested in the pre-Colombian history of Meso-America, there is a wealth of opportunity in Central America. From snorkelling to jungle hikes, the region contains numerous ways to explore and see the diverse wildlife of the region.