Central America has so much to offer from Caribbean beaches, rainforests and hikes. Here is a round up of what I consider the best things to do to help you plan your trip.
Watch a live volcano erupt
In Antigua Guatemala, you can do an overnight hike up Acatenango volcano and watch its sister volcano Fuego erupt through the night. The eruptions happen during the day too but at night (cloud cover permitting) you can see the red lava spewing. The hike is tough and goes up to 4000 metres in altitude but is the best experience I did on my backpacking trip. I would recommend booking with OX Expeditions who really know their stuff.
Visit the rainforest
The Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. As well as Manuel Antonio’s National Park, which although busy is still stunningly beautiful and I would recommend to go, Osa’s Corcovado Rainforest is more off the beaten track. Manuel Antonio had monkeys and butterflies whereas when I went to Corcovado we saw white nosed coatis and tapirs which is a lot rarer to see. If you head more north you can visit the cloud forest’s of Monteverde just another example of how diverse and exciting Costa Rica is.
Explore Mayan ruins
Exploring ancient cities for any history buff is a highlight activity in Central America. In Mexico you can tick off one of the 7 Wonders of the World: Chichen Itza. While impressive, my personal favourite was Tikal in Guatemala. So much less crowded, the sunrise tour means you can hear the jungle wake up. As well as amazing architecture you’ll see toucans, tarantulas, monkeys and coatis.
Go off grid and enjoy island life
Just off of Panama, the San Blas islands offer a unique opportunity to go island hopping for a few days with no electricity, hot water or WIFI. Just sun, sea, snorkelling and volleyball its perfect for solo travellers or couples looking for a different kind of getaway. There’s different styles of trips and accommodation depending on what you’re after on Viator.
