Central America is dwarfed on the map by its surroundings – the vastness of the North and South American continents, and the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans on either side.
But though it’s relatively diminutive, it’s incredibly diverse. Visitors can discover magical Mayan ruins shrouded in lush rainforest, active volcanoes, colonial cities and incredible underwater landscapes lying off the beach-lined coast. The shorter distances mean that trips needn’t be too lengthy, and it can prove easier and cheaper to combine countries here than in South America.
It will also satisfy many client types, with families or those seeking a higher degree of comfort able to find a well-established tourism industry in Mexico and Costa Rica, and those who want to get off the beaten track able to show off passport stamps from the likes of lesser-visited Nicaragua and Honduras.
It’s a hotbed of adventure tourism, with visitors able to trek, raft, zip-line and snorkel among the stunning natural landscapes.
For value
Good value on the ground, Mexico also has the advantage of numerous flights from the UK, including direct options from British Airways and Virgin, so there’s no need to spend extra hopping around the region.
Intrepid Travel’s range of Basix tours are designed with value in mind, and the 15-day Mexico Unplugged is just £680 excluding flights. It makes use of local transport, and one to two-star accommodation, and many activities are optional so guests can choose where to spend and where to save.
The itinerary is expansive, visiting Mexico’s colonial cities, Mayan ruins, rainforests, waterfalls and its Caribbean coastline.
For families
With direct flights, stable politics and a well-established tourist industry, Mexico is a great bet for families. The Adventure Company has a range of tours specially-designed for those who want to take the kids, and the new nine-day Magic of Mexico is a great addition to the portfolio. Departures in 2012 start from £1,699 per adult and £1,269 per child including flights, with kids over eight years old welcome.
The itinerary is centred on the Yucatan peninsula and has been tailored to families, with child-friendly activities including swimming in underwater caves and horse riding through the jungle, plus free time so that mums and dads can spend quality time with just their own brood.
For comfort
Costa Rica became popular as an adventure tourism destination in the late 1980s, and these days the country welcomes more than two million visitors annually. With more than 60% hailing from North America and Europe, the standards are high, so it’s an easy place not to rough it.
Journey Latin America has a small group Discovery Tour in Costa Rica, for those who still want the adventure experiences – local fiestas, indigenous markets, new trails – but also comfort, with stays in small, family-run hotels and guesthouses. The 11-night tour starts from £2,398 including flights, and visits the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Arenal Volcano, the Tortuguero National Park and the jungle-fringed beaches of Cahuita.
Hotels commonly used include Hotel Don Carlos in San Jose, once the residence of Presidential families, Hotel El Viandante, a small spot with great views of the Cloud Forest, and Cabinas Arrecife, where the wooden cabins are 100ft from the Caribbean Sea.
For singles
Small group tours are a good bet for solo travellers, with a relatively high proportion of passengers travelling alone and the group structure providing extra security, as well as companionship from likeminded individuals.
For those who want to be sure all their companions are in the same boat, Explore offers special solos departures, with every group member travelling alone. Quetzals of the Cloud Forest is a leisurely-paced 13-night wildlife tour of Costa Rica, with solo departures on January 14 and February 25 starting from £2,232 including flights.
It’s packed with experiences sure to form the bonds of lasting friendships, with the itinerary featuring treks around volcanic craters to spot fiery-throated hummingbirds, boat trips through the birdlife-rich Tortuguero canal system, visits to thermal springs, zip-lining and relaxing on the beach. It’s relatively comfortable tour staying in hotels and lodges.
For explorers
Those who like to get off the beaten track will love Tucan Travel’s 15-day Scenic Granada itinerary, which starts from £1,000 excluding flights. From Antigua, Guatemala, it heads into Honduras, one of the region’s least-visited countries. Highlights here include the Mayan ruins at Copan and the island of Roatan, an unspoilt Caribbean idyll with some of the cheapest diving and snorkelling in the world. Then it’s on to equally off-the-beaten-track Nicaragua.
The itinerary is based around Granada, a characterful colonial town at the foot of a volcano. Activities include trekking on an active volcano in the Masaya National Park, boat tours of the islands on Lake Nicaragua and zip-lining in the cloud forest. It’s not only the destinations that will make clients on this tour feel adventurous – Tucan uses local transport, so they’ll get to mingle with locals and see the authentic side of each destination.
Zip-lining with Tucan Travel
