The 20 Best Places to Visit in Central America (For Nature Lovers)

Creating a “best of” list for any given region, country, or continent is a thankless task.

There’s really no way to be objective, and of course it’s impossible to visit EVERY place in a given destination unless you live there.

So consider our overview of 20 Best Places to Visit in Central America to be a general bucket list of hot spots to visit, particularly if you love nature, wildlife, history, and indigenous culture.

READ MORE: The 16 Best Mayan Ruins to Explore

Best Places to Visit in Central America

1. ATM Cave (Belize)
2. Belize Barrier Reef (Belize)
3. The Cayes (Belize)
4. Hopkins Village (Belize)
5. Arenal Volcano National Park (Costa Rica)
6. Corcovado National Park (Costa Rica)
7. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (Costa Rica)
8. Tirimbina Biological Reserve (Costa Rica)
9. Tortuguero National Park (Costa Rica)
10. Antigua (Guatemala)
11. Lake Atitlán (Guatemala)
12. Tikal (Guatemala)
13. Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras)
14. Roatán (Honduras)
15. Little Corn Island (Nicaragua)
16. Isla Ometepe (Nicaragua)
17. Coiba National Park (Panama)
18. Bocos del Toro (Panama)
19. Panama Canal (Panama)
20. Soberania National Park (Panama)

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN BELIZE

1. ATM Cave

Located an hour from San Ignacio, this awesome attraction is officially known as Actun Tunichil Muknal.

Protected as part of the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve, it’s an excellent adventure aimed at people who enjoy active Central America travel.

Visiting the ATM Cave requires a hike through the jungle, a swim inside the famous underground cave, then wading a half-mile up the river.

Then there’s a mile-long hike through rooms of stalactites and stalagmites, with names such as “The Cathedral.”

Eventually you’ll reach the glistening remains of ancient human sacrifices the Maya people made to their gods, as well as pottery remains that have been dated to 700-900 AD. 

READ MORE: Exploring the Ancient Xunantunich Mayan Ruins of Belize

2. Belize Barrier Reef

Second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef extends 550+ miles, from Cancun to Honduras.

The 190-mile Belize Barrier Reef, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, comprises around 33% of it.

It’s the nation’s #1 tourist attraction and one of the best places to visit in Central America with Scuba…