A skinny belt of countries and islands connecting two much larger continents, Central America and the Caribbean don’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 mile upon glorious mile of 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.
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
Smoking volcanoes spin by as a sea of Mayan weaving lurches from one side of the chicken bus to the other. With the Mayan majority on constant display
Beyond the stereotypes of mariachi bands and tacos, Mexico is a cultural giant of the Americas. A diverse country, with history that stretches thousands of years
Belize is an anomaly. Peaceful, democratic, English-speaking, it seems in many ways not to belong in Central America at all.
