From tropical islands to volcanoes to food tours, here are all the best things to do in Central America!
Central America is a special place. It is a dream destination for backpackers and budget travellers as prices are low and opportunities for adventure and getting off the beaten track are in abundance.
Central America is an eclectic destination. Not only is the nature and wildlife incredible, the region is dotted with history from Mayan sites to colonial towns. Friendly people, interesting local cultures and diverse food from top to bottom make Central America a place that you should definitely try to visit at least once!
I’ve travelled to Central America many times over the past 15 years. It’s one of my favourite regions in the world to travel because it just feels like such an adventure! Here is my list of all of the must-have experience and best things to do in Central America.
Watching a volcano erupt in Guatemala
Camping at the top of Acatenango volcano to watch the nearby Fuego volcano spurt smoke and lava into the sky is bucket list material. I’m not sure how this skipped my attention for so long, but it now sits as one of my favourite travel experiences I have ever had, and certainly one of the best things to do in Central America.
The hike itself is a bit of a challenge but you are rewarded ten fold. When you get to the base camp, you can sit and watch Fuego erupt and blow smoke into the sky. When the sun goes down is when the real magic begins. In the darkness you can actually see the lava erupt from the top and spill down the sides of the volcano. It is a Central American experience that cannot be missed!
More info: Everything you need to know about the Acatenango Volcano Hike in Guatemala
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Sailing in the San Blas islands, Panama
The San Blas Islands are located off the coast in the Kuna Yala region of Panama.
These islands look like a child’s drawing of a tropical island has come to life. Hundreds of tiny islands covered in coconut palms with soft white sand and crystal clear turquoise waters. Most of the islands are uninhabited.
Firmly on Latin America travel bucket lists is the 5 days journey from Panama to Colombia by boat. I’ve been lucky enough to do this trip twice over the years and it still stays on my list of things I hope to do again one day.
When I first did the trip almost 15 years ago, you had to find a boat through notice boards at hostels or word of mouth. Now it is a lot easier and you can book online through Blue Sailing.
If travelling on to Colombia is not in your plan, you can still visit the San Blas islands on a day trip or stay overnight on one of the islands. I would definitely recommend staying overnight if you have the time. Sunset in the San Blas islands is truly spectacular!
Swim in a cenote in Mexico
Cenotes are naturally formed pools found all over the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. They are created when a limestone surface dissolves and collapses, exposing the ground water underneath. They come in all shapes and sizes, some are open, some are deep and cave-like.
Cenotes are popular spots for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Their crystal-clear waters and stunning underground landscapes are the perfect escape from the Mexican sun. Visiting a cenote is one of the best things to do in Central America and something everyone should make time for when visiting the Yucatan.
There are an estimated 10,000 cenotes in and around the Yucatan peninsula. Some of the best ones are around Tulum and Bacalar.
Volcano boarding in Nicaragua
Central America is filled with amazing volcanoes. Some are best for climbing, some are best for creating beautiful photos, but Cerro Negro in Nicaragua is best for something more extreme. And that is sliding down at 60km/hr on a wooden board. I don’t know how this came about, but volcano boarding at Cerro Negro is now one of the biggest tourist attractions in Nicaragua.
Although this is super fun and a really unique thing to do in Central America, I actually found it to be super scary! Something about standing 700m up staring down the side of a volcano made me so nervous that I almost chickened out of this experience. Everyone else in my group was fine, but if you’re scared of heights, sheeesh! It really is high!
However I wouldn’t have put it on a list of the best things to do in Central America unless I thought the experience was thoroughly worth it in the end!
The best thing to do in Central America for animal lovers: Searching for sloths in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a wildlife lover’s dream because it’s like stepping into a real-life jungle book! Costa Rica is home to more than 500,000 species, about 5% of the estimated species worldwide.
This incredible biodiversity makes it a hotspot for spotting everything from sloths to toucans.
Destinations such as Monteverde cloud forest give you the chance to see rare and colourful creatures up close. Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the best places in the country to spot the three-toed sloth. Taking a guided tour of one of Costa Rica’s many national parks and cloud forests will give you the best chance at spotting the most wildlife. It’s amazing the things that a guide can spot that you otherwise may have walked past.
Snorkelling at Caye Caulker, Belize
Doing a dive or snorkel trip in Caye Caulker is one of the best things to do in Central America. Caye Caulker is a small island off the coast of Belize, blessed with some of the best reefs in the world.
Also accessible from Ambergris Caye, Hol Chan Marine Reserve is teeming with tropical fish, rays and sea turtles. Most snorkelling tours will also include a trip to Shark Ray Alley where you are all but guaranteed to see all kinds of rays and nurse sharks.
There is an abundance of nurse sharks at Shark Ray Alley, that are completely safe to swim with. They swim down near the sea floor so you can float along above them, or view them from the boat if swimming with sharks isn’t your thing.
The best thing to do in Central America for history buffs: Visit Tikal Mayan site in Guatemala
No list of the best things to do in Central America would be complete without including a visit to one of the incredible Mayan historical sites throughout the region.
Tikal is one of the biggest Mayan sites in Central America, occupying over 570 square kilometres. Wandering around Tikal National Park, it feels absolutely huge. There are even stories of people going missing in the jungles of Tikal and never being found.
This is one reason that going with a guide is a good idea, along with the invaluable historical knowledge that they can share to put all of the buildings and ruins into context.
Tikal is an easy and popular day trip from Flores, Guatemala. There are tours available to suit all budgets and travel styles.
Diving in the Bay Islands, Honduras
Utila, a small island off the coast of Honduras, known as one of the cheapest places in the world to go SCUBA diving. If you’re new to diving, there are countless dive schools on the island that offer all PADI certification courses as well as intro and fun dives at bargain prices.
Most dive schools include accommodation with their dive courses, keeping costs low and creating a fun, communal vibe on the island. It’s very easy to make friends and have a good time on Utila!
Every year thousands of backpackers and travellers flock to Utila to get open water certified or upskill on the second largest reef in the world. You can dive with tropical fish, sea turtles, rays, even dolphins and whale sharks making Utila one of the best places to visit in Central America.
More info: The Complete Utila Travel Guide
Climb a volcano on Ometepe island
One of the biggest tourist attractions in Nicaragua is Ometepe, a volcanic island in the centre of Lake Nicaragua. Ometepe is covered in dense jungle, laidback towns and serene beaches.
The island itself was formed from two volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas, both still active.
It’s a challenging hike but climing Concepción volcano is a popular activity on Ometepe. Taking in the views from the top is one of the best things to do in Central America.
The best way to get to Ometepe, take a ferry from San Jorge terminal. I recommend spending at least 3 days in Ometepe to explore all this beautiful island has to offer.
The best thing to do in Central America for foodies: Take a food tour in Mexico
Mexican food is considered one of the great cuisines of the world. Mexico, without a doubt, has the best food in Central America. From the smoky richness of mole to the zesty kick of lime and cilantro, each dish is packed with bold, unforgettable tastes.
Every region of Mecxico brings something special, like Oaxacan tamales or Baja’s fish tacos. The best place to try food from all over the country is in the capital, Mexico City.
We started our most recent 4 month trip through Central America in Mexico City. Taking a food tour was the best introduction to Mexican cuisine. I got to try foods I would never have picked myself from a menu, and had me ordering tacos like a local for the rest of my time there.
Mexican food is hands down the best because it’s a fiesta of flavours in every bite!
Go canyoning at Semuc Champey
This unexpected highlight can be a little difficult to get to. You’re in for a long and rather uncomfortable day of travelling no matter where you come from. Is it worth it? It is a resounding and enthusiastic yes from me!
Canyoning at Semuc Champey was one of my favourite things that we did in Central America.
I had seen photos of the crystal clear, cascading lakes online before I went and knew I was in for a nice day. What I didn’t expect was how deep into the caves we would go. There’s sliding down underground waterfalls, climbing up cave walls on precariously balanced ladders and closing your eyes and falling through holes in the rock into underground pools. It was so much more intense than I was expecting, but also so much more fun!
And at the end, you come out and relax in pristine pools surrounded by lush jungle. Semuc Champey has to be one of the best places to visit in Central America. While it is becoming more popular, the difficulty in getting there keeps a lot of the crowds away. If you make the journey, you will be rewarded!
The best way to organise a canyoning tour is in the town of Lanquin when you arrive. If you’re short on time, consider taking a 3 day tour from Antigua which includes return transport.
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Looking for more inspiration for travelling in Central America?
How to visit Teotihuacan from Mexico City
Crossing the border from Belize to Guatemala
