Weather-wise, the best season to travel Central America is in late winter or early spring, such as from January through April, when there is less humidity. The fall has pleasant temperatures as well, when compared with the summer heat, but visitors should be aware that hurricane season runs from September to November. Among the biggest draws in the region are the possibilities for cheap vacations and vacation deals that can help you plan an exotic trip you might not be able to afford otherwise.

Beginning at the northern region, Belize vacation destinations have long been a favorite choice for travelers to Central America, as the beautiful country has great beaches and natural attractions including rain forests and waterfalls. For instance, popular attractions in Belize include the Community Baboon Sanctuary with its resident howler monkeys, Belize Zoo home to the rare black jaguar, Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Green Mountain Butterfly Farm, and Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Preserve, the world’s first preserve for jaguars.

Backpacking enthusiasts will find Placenia Peninsula an ideal location while those interested in exploring ancient ruins can visit the Altun Ha Maya dating back to 200 BC, and the Mayan ruins at Caracol are another stunning historic site. For a more private vacation with fewer crowds, and lower rates for airfare, cruise vacation packages, and accommodations, the best time to book Belize vacation destinations is during the summer months of June through October, provided you don’t mind the heat. During the winter months of November through May, there are more tourists and prices for Belize vacation destinations increase during the high season.

Central America vacations to the central region include the countries of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, while the southern region includes Costa Rica and Panama. Guatemala’s mountainous region provides consistent warm weather, which makes travel to Central America a year-round option. A point of interest while in Guatemala is the Tajumulco Volcano, which is the highest point in Central America, at 13,816 feet.

Honduras offers many areas for hiking and water activities, making a trip here one of the best Central America vacations for travelers who plan to spend time outside and want to avoid the crowds of the most touristy spots. In the Pico Bonito National Park near La Ceiba, hikers enjoy trails through lush landscape past several waterfalls. Near Trujillo, spelunking enthusiasts can explore the Cuyamel Caves.

While vacationing in Honduras, plan a boat tour to the Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge, go bass fishing at Lake Yojoa, or go scuba diving on the coral reefs of the Bay Islands. For the adventurous, there is white-water rafting on Cangrejal River or try canopy touring where cables attached to a harness take you on a guided tour through the rainforest canopy.

Vacation spots in Costa Rica offer numerous opportunities for outdoor activities, such as hiking through several national parks and tropical jungles, observing active volcanoes, photographing the countries wildlife and bird population, fishing, sunbathing, and snorkeling. Tortuguero National Park is one of the most popular destinations; the park is accessible only by boat or small plane and offers miles of guided hiking trails through the jungle, as well as canoe excursions, and wildlife viewing.

When planning to travel to Central America, whether for winter vacations or summer vacations, consider seasonal vacation packages that offer the best deals and discounts. It’s becoming more popular to spend honeymoons here, and the tourist infrastructure has grown to help travelers plan the perfect destination wedding, romantic getaway, or simply a relaxing beach trip.

Central America Travel Deals

Central America travel deals often focus intently on Costa Rica, a destination that, over the years, has become the center-point for eco-tourism. Mountains, volcanoes, cloud and rain forests, waterfalls, hot springs, and more combine together creating an unbelievable nature retreat that makes it one of the best Central American destinations. That being stated, all Central American countries have plenty of special things to offer, from exquisite geography to warm and friendly locals to plenty of opportunity for both adventure and relaxation. The best Central America vacation deals focus on the fascinating cultural aspects of this unique, attractive, and inexpensive region.

Many people thinking about a diving vacation in Central America automatically look for a Belize vacation deal, which is the right thing to do considering the country’s reputation for unparalleled diving opportunities. There are dozens of resorts that focus on water-based activities like fishing, snorkeling, and diving the Belize Barrier Reef. Diving the Blue Hole is another major goal for experienced divers conquering the best dive sites around the world.

A Belize vacation deal can be anything from a cheap flight to an all inclusive vacation. There are adventure packages that take visitors on a thorough exploration of the rainforest and reefs, two of Belize’s biggest attractions. Belize is also famous for many Mayan ruins like Altun Ha. There are plenty of Central America travel deals that include these types of tours. The best Central America vacation deal will touch on all the best of Belize, and offer Belize hotels close top beaches in areas with plenty of amenities. Alternatively, any history buff might enjoy tours of some of Central America’s colonial cities, such as Granada and Leon in Nicaragua, and Antigua and Flores, Guatemala.

Central America Vacation Ideas

Central America vacation ideas cover surprisingly diverse landscapes and experiences, and will appeal to a broad spectrum of people. These are some of the smallest countries in the world that are not islands, but there is nonetheless much to see and do. Central America travel tips for Panama, the southernmost country of the group include a couple of must see attractions. At the top of the list is the famous Panama Canal, one of the greatest engineering marvels of the modern world. Cruise ships that ply the waters of the Caribbean who visit here usually do so as part of transiting the canal either from or to the Pacific Ocean. If you aren’t on a cruise, you can book tours of the canal itself and possibly witness one of the huge liners making the passage. These tours usually also include sightseeing in Panama City, including charming Spanish colonial Casco Antiguo, the oldest part of the city.

Where to go in Central America in this region also includes the unique San Blas Islands, which stretch out along the Panama coast all the way to the border with Colombia. There is excellent snorkeling here, and the indigenous Kuna people provide fascinating cultural interactions. While here, do purchase a mola, the colorful fabric shirt or blouse for which the people are famous. Off the western coast in the Pacific is Coiba National Marine Park, known as the Galapagos of Central America and a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Covered with virgin rainforest, it is home to a vast diversity of life, especially the rare white Coiba spinetail and colorful macaws. This is a great whale watching spot and one of the top scuba diving destinations in the Western Hemisphere.

Just north of Panama is Costa Rica. Costa Rica has set aside an unprecedented percentage of its area as protected areas, meaning it boasts the largest number of amphibians, birds, mammals, reptiles, and plant life in all of Central America. Its biodiversity is one of the greatest in the world. Here, you can speed above the rainforest canopy on zip line tours, climb to the summit of active volcanoes, see nests of rare sea turtles, sail alongside giant whales, go whitewater rafting, soak in tranquil pools below glittering waterfalls or healing natural hot springs, and go deep sea fishing, hiking, surfing, and scuba diving. Among the Central America travel tips for Costa Rica are a number of amazing experiences. At the top of list is Arenal Volcano, an active volcano that slept for hundreds of years until it erupted spectacularly in 1968. It has continued activity up until the present day, with some of the larger eruptions in 1998. While here, you can also visit the Tabacon Hot Springs. Paos Volcano is another hotspot, and receives the largest number of tourists in the country. The Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of the most fascinating places to visit, with canopy zip lines, canopy suspension bridges, and a wide range of Costa Rica hotels from luxury to budget.

Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio National Park, located on the Pacific coast, is also one of the most visited places in the country. It boasts beautiful pristine beaches and a wide range of fauna—from sloths and dolphins to whales and almost 200 species of birds. There are scores of hotels, eco lodges, budget and luxury hotels, and villas with full kitchens. If you are going to Central America and seeking the most sophisticated tourism infrastructure, definitely check out Costa Rica, with good roads, numerous lodging choices, and diverse activities.

Central America vacation ideas for those looking for ancient history will be found in Guatemala and Belize, and to a lesser degree in El Salvador and Honduras. There are fabulous and mysterious Mayan ruins that begin in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula around Cancun and Cozumel, and stretch down the Central American isthmus. The must see Central America travel tips for Mayan ruins include the vast site of Tikal in Guatemala, the massive pyramids of Xunantunich in Belize, and the famous Mayan site of Copan in Honduras.