10 Highlights of Central America Escorted Tours

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The subcontinent of Central America consists of seven states- Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. In Central America you can wander around Spanish Colonial cities, laze on Caribbean islands fringed with white sandy beaches, dive over colourful coral reefs, hike through dense jungle to discover ancient Mayan ruins, or explore the region’s dramatic volcanic landscapes.

With so much to do here, escorted tours can be a great way to discover the region’s highlights:

1. San Andrés Island, Colombia

San Andrés Island is an island in the Colombian archipelago, which lies 230km east of Nicaragua and 750km from the Colombian mainland. The island makes for the perfect exotic island getaway, with crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, coconut palms, mangrove forests and reefs. Nicknamed the “Sea of Seven Colours”, the ocean surrounding the island is full of corals, sponges and brightly coloured tropical fish.

2. Tazumal, El Salvador

Tazumal, which literally means “pyramid where the victims were burned”, is home to a series of Maya ruins dating back to about 100-1200AD. The Tazumal ruins are the best preserved in El Salvador, and the archaeological site features a water drainage system, tombs and smaller pyramids. The ruins can be found within the archaeological area of Chalchuapa, which covers an area of about 10 square kilometres in the department of Santa Ana.

3. Tortuguero Canals, Costa Rica

The area surrounding this network of canals is known as the ‘Amazon of the Caribbean’, because of its dense rainforest rich in wildlife. Taking a boat trip up the Tortuguero canal, you can expect to see birds, sloths, crocodiles, river turtles, Howler monkeys and exotic flora and fauna.

4. Panama Canal

This 48 mile long shipping canal is an incredible feat of engineering that joins the Pacific with the Atlantic Ocean. The canal saves ships from having to take the long and hazardous journey around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America. The construction of the Panama Canal was one of the most difficult and dangerous engineering projects in history, and thousands of people died in the process from yellow fever, malaria and landslides.

5. Coiba Island, Panama

Coiba is the largest uninhabited tropical forested island in Central America. The island still retains 80% of its original forest, and was declared a National Park in 1992. The pristine and untouched nature of the island is largely down to the fact that a penal colony was established here in 1910. Coiba’s waters are teeming with marine life, making it one of the best diving spots in Central America.

6. Golfito National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica

The Golfito National Wildlife Refuge lies 342km south of San José and covers an area of 2,810 hectares. The Refuge is located in a rugged wilderness area with dense evergreen forest, and is one of the wettest places in the world. There are a number of trails throughout the area, making it an ideal place for hiking and bird watching. It is inhabited by a diverse range of wildlife including toucans, monkeys, anteaters, agoutis, raccoons, frogs and snakes.

7. El Tigre Island, Honduras

El Tigre is a volcanic island in the Gulf of Fonseca, and if you climb to the summit of the extinct volcano, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views across Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua all at once. If you’re feeling adventurous you can take the 2-hour walk around the island, or you can just wander around the village, laze on the beach, and taste the local fruits and fish.

8. Antigua, Guatemala

Antigua, Guatemala’s colonial capital, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and has some of the best examples of Spanish colonial architecture in Central America. The quaint city of Antigua is surrounded by three volcanoes- Agua, Fuego & Acatenango. Fuego is active and constantly emits smoke and ash clouds.

9. Granada, Nicaragua

The 16th-century town of Granada is an important political and economic centre in Nicaragua, and has plenty of character, with lots of beautiful colonial architecture. For something to do you can take a horse-drawn carriage ride around the centre or relax in Parque Centrale. If you fancy doing something a bit more active, you can drive to the rim of the Masaya Volcano and look down into the “Boca del Infierno” (mouth of hell).

10. Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Puntarenas is an ecologically rich province in Costa Rica that lies on the Pacific Coast. Here you can take a jungle river cruise through the mangrove forest, or surf some of the waves that roll in from the Pacific. The city of Puntarenas used to be the country’s principal seaport, but is now a docking port for cruise ships. It was here that the Pacific Railroad was first inaugurated in 1910, when the first engine departed from Puntarenas to San José.