Central America

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Overview

With cerulean seas and verdant forests, magnificent Maya ruins and smoking volcanoes, Central America is like a tropical fairy tale except all of it is real.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Teatro Nacional
San José
On the southern side of the Plaza de la Cultura resides the Teatro Nacional, San José’s most revered building. Constructed in 1897, it features a columned…
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around
Featuring lush jungle, picture-perfect beaches and craggy headlands, this tiny park (1680 acres/680 hectares) absolutely brims with wildlife (and often…
Playa Negra
Cahuita
At the northwestern end of Cahuita, Playa Negra is a long, black-sand beach flying the bandera azul ecológica, a flag that indicates that the beach is…
Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo
Antigua
Founded by Dominican friars in 1542, Santo Domingo became the biggest and richest monastery in Antigua. Following three 18th-century earthquakes, the…
Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho
Nicaragua
It’s been a few decades since this 1345m volcano, the defining feature of the Granada skyline, has acted up, but it is still most certainly active and…
Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Ambergris Caye
At the southern tip of Ambergris, the 6.5-sq-mile Hol Chan Marine Reserve is probably Belize's most oft-visited diving and snorkeling site. It offers…
Convento y Museo San Francisco
Granada
One of the oldest churches in Central America, Convento San Francisco boasts a robin's egg–blue birthday-cake facade and houses both an important convent…
Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal
Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal
From 1968 until 2010, Volcán Arenal was an ever-active and awe-striking natural wonder, producing menacing ash columns, massive explosions and streams of…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Colonial cities, adventure treks, scuba diving, surfing: all there is to do in Central America can be overwhelming. Here’s our guide to the region’s best.

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Best Places to Visit

From coral reefs to Maya ruins and beyond, here are some of Central America's unmissable places.

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Articles

Latest stories from Central America

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Senior woman on the path between memorial buildings of Shakhi Zinda Mausoleum which is memorial complex of Islamic architecture from 9 to 12. century in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
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A woman looking up at the memorial buildings of Shah-I-Zinda Mausoleums in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Solo Travel

The 23 best places for solo travelers around the world

Jun 12, 2025 • 23 min read

Whether it’s the atmosphere or the culture, some places are naturally suited for people traveling alone. These 23 spots are perfect for solo travelers.