Winter is an ideal time to visit Central America – and, now is the time to book if you’re hoping to find the best deals and the best places to stay. This is the dry season, which makes exploring and outdoor adventures more enjoyable too. With so many great destinations, the only real question is where to go!
Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio National Park may be Costa Rica’s smallest park, but it’s one of the best when it comes to wildlife. Hit the trails and keep an eye out for the loud and incredibly social howler monkey as well as capuchin and squirrel monkeys, ridiculously adorable sloths, agoutis, iguanas, and more, with over 100 animal species inhabiting the area. It’s a bird watcher’s paradise too, with a practically endless list that can be seen. After exploring the jungle, look forward to relaxing on one of the ultra-soft, white sand beaches that are in the park.
Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica
Arenal Volcano National Park showcases the nearly 5,400-foot-high volcano that was Costa Rica’s most active volcano until 2010 when it entered a resting phase, but when you visit you can still see multiple eruptive vents where steam occasionally pours out. There are lots of options for exploring the waterfall-filled, lush landscape more in-depth, like a ride in the Sky Tram through the rainforest or soaking in the thermal hot springs. La Fortuna waterfall, which plunges more than 230 feet at the base of the dormant Chato volcano, is a must-visit, as is the short trek to the lava fields, an alien-like, almost “moonscape.”
Placencia Peninsula, Belize
The Placencia Peninsula hosts the longest stretch of sand in mainland Belize and is often referred to as “barefoot perfect.” The 17 miles of golden beaches are ideal for a stroll, enjoying a refreshing dip, or lounging in the sun. The area stretches across three villages — Placencia Village, Seine Bight, and Maya Beach, with Placencia Village featuring a tourist strip with bars and eateries along the coastline, while Maya and Seine Bight are known for their tranquility and fine white sand. From here you can also explore one of the small, remote islands which offer particularly unspoiled stretches like the crescent beach on Hunting Caye.
Roatan, Honduras
If you’re looking for tranquility and relaxation, but you don’t want to spend your days twiddling your thumbs, Roatan is ideal. One of Central America’s more overlooked tropical destinations, this island is rarely found on a beach lover’s travel bucket list, but that’s only because most haven’t gotten the word about it. It’s a mecca for snorkelers and divers, it’s home to the largest barrier reef in the Caribbean’s, as well as an abundance of idyllic beaches framed by warm, clear blue waters filled with thousands of marine creatures, canyons, and the most extensive variety of coral and sponges in the region. Even if you don’t want to spend all of your days in or on the water, you’ll find practically an endless number of other things to do, like an incredibly scenic game of golf, zip line rides through the jungle, and exploring beautiful parks packed with waterfalls, exotic birds and monkeys.
Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a favorite destination for wildlife lovers and thrill-seekers, home to howler and capuchin monkeys as well as hundreds of bird species. Listen for songbirds and the sounds of the other creatures echoing through the forest. Don’t forget your binoculars so you can get a closer glimpse too. While you’re exploring, you’ll be surrounded by a lush canopy of ferns, moss, and flowers that make more postcard-perfect shots too. The Sky Trek zip lining tours and the Sky Walk hanging bridges are an especially unforgettable way to check out the unspoiled treetops, with a bird’s-eye view.
Chiquibul National Park, Belize
By visiting Belize’s largest national park in the dry season, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see hundreds of macaws, a time when they flock here in large noisy groups rather than pairs. The park also hosts Central America’s longest known cave system which features impressive underground passages and cave chambers. Nearby Caracol is a must-visit, home to Mayan ruins which include the nation’s tallest structure, a 136-foot-high pyramid.
Bocas del Toro, Panama
Panama not only offers an ideal destination for warm weather and sunshine in the winter, but it’s especially budget-friendly too. Unlike busy tourist destinations such as Cancun, you’ll find everything is a lot more economical, and there are far fewer tourists too. Bocas del Toro, which sits on the northwestern Caribbean coast, is an archipelago of nine tropical islands that’s renowned for providing the best scuba diving and surf breaks in the country. The orange-tiled roofs and Spanish colonial architecture of old town Panama City offer a striking contrast to the skyscraper skyline across the bay, and in Casco Viejo, music pours onto the street from every alley and corner after dark.
Guatemala
Guatemala is quickly becoming one of Central America’s most popular tourist destinations, thanks to its change in government, with lots of attractions renovated or expanded in recent years, including Tikal National Park which is home to one of the largest Mayan cities ever uncovered and the most spectacular ruins in Guatemala. The park is adding extensions to remote archaeological sites in Peten, like the partially excavated El Mirador, accessed by helicopter or a five-day trek. Lake Atitlan is another must-experience, a crater lake surrounded by three volcanoes as well as a number of villages where Guatemalans live a traditional life. In addition to soaking up the culture and enjoying nature, all sorts of recreational activities are possible, including hiking, biking, swimming, and kayaking.
