Whenever you find yourself abroad – especially in countries where the temperatures are high and the beaches are golden and seriously tempting – it can be hard to muster up the willpower to drag yourself away and do a bit of exploring, let alone exercise. But neglecting the surrounding area is often a crime, and one of the best ways to see what a country has to offer is by hiking through various routes and paths. There are some well-known hiking countries and areas, but hiking is something that can be done throughout the world, so for a totally different experience, try one of these off the beaten path hiking destinations.

Mexico

Mexico is not just about all inclusive deals to Cancun, despite the fun that no doubt can be had there! Mexico has some fantastic terrain which is just waiting to be explored, with sky touching mountains, rapid rivers and deep dark caves all on offer. You may have heard of the Gran Canyon in the USA, but you may not have heard of Mexico’s version, which is located in Sierra Madre Occidental. Copper Canyon is deeper and four times the area of the Gran Canyon – little wonder this whole region is a favourite with hikers!

Cyprus

Cheap Cyprus holidays have for decades been a favourite for tourists looking for beach heaven. But if you do not particularly fancy lazing around on the beach for the duration of your holiday, book a walking holiday to the Troodos Mountains where the highest peak reaches 2000 metres. In the autumn and winter months the air is a lot cooler then on the coast so makes for perfect walking conditions. There is plenty to discover on these walks, including a number of Byzantine churches and deep woods.

Belize

If it is native flora and vegetation which floats your boat on hiking holidays, you’ll love the jungles of Belize. This Central American country is somewhat of a well-kept secret and many Europeans may not know to much about its hiking opportunities, but once you step foot in the country you will be able to appreciate all it has to offer. It’s tropical forests hide wonderful wildlife and there are also many mountainous areas for more hardcore hikers to tackle too.

Not everyone likes hiking – but if you do, you will appreciate going to locations where you may never have even considered. If you have already walked the majority of the well-known routes, or you want a more active excursion to complement your annual summer holiday, book yourself an alternative hiking trip!

Written by Ricky Durrance for Beat the Brochure.

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With an intense environment and a unique geography, Central America is made up of a series of naturally beautiful landscapes, many of which are home to rare and exotic wildlife not easily seen in other countries across the world. Many species of animal prefer to live in tropical areas, so Central America is an ideal habitat, with its rich variety of flora and fauna and ideal climate.

Below, TravelSupermarket looks at the top 5 destinations in Central America to visit to see animals in the wild:

Costa Rica

With a varied landmass, Costa Rica boasts one of the world’s most impressive and numerous concentrations of native animals, adding up to a staggering 850 recorded species. Birds are a big attraction and around 200 varieties flock here, many lighting up the sky with their intense tropical colours and distinct beauty.

Costa Rica is abundant in national parks, nature reserves and wildlife centres and these environments provide plentiful opportunities to study creatures such as spider monkeys and poison arrow frogs, as well as to perhaps come across rare sightings of four-eyed opossums or silky anteaters.

As a year-round destination, visitors have plenty of opportunities to marvel at the exceptional wildlife, but peak times tend to be from December to February, as the bird population is at its most spectacular in the dry season.

Belize

Renowned for having some of the best dive sites in the world, Belize also offers much native life above the water. Despite being a relatively small country, it is one that offers plentiful opportunities for discovering wildlife, including at least 56 species of snakes (eight of these are considered a danger to humans). The country is also a prime location for birds and reptiles that thrive in the conditions in and around the savannahs and lowlands.

With a dramatic and varied landscape, Belize is also home to big cats, including jaguars and pumas who take refuge in the vast forests and mountainous regions. In terms of the ultimate diving experience, Belize offers the stunning Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which attracts more species than any other marine ecosystem. Home to about 65 coral species and over 300 fish species, there is no better underwater environment.

Guatemala

With extreme contrasts and some challenging but starkly beautiful terrain, Guatemala is home to more than 95 species of mammals and around 400 different types of birds. The largest protected area is situated around Mesoamerica, a reserve that sees howler and spider monkeys exist alongside pumas, jaguars, storks and exotic birds such as scarlet macaws.

With a rich terrain resulting in lush vegetation, including areas of tropical forest, areas such as the Petén provide opportunities to get close to nature and more specifically the area’s wildlife. Lizards, iguanas and coyotes have made the land their home, while the waters support a range of creatures including catfish, turtles, lobster and crabs.

The best time to visit is typically from November to April so you’ll have to hurry to book a last minute trip if you want to enjoy the best conditions! However, even during the ‘best months’ to visit the climate can still be variable with rain possible at any time of the year and humidity generally quite high.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua has high levels of biodiversity and consequently, much of the native wildlife resides in protected areas, which make up about 17% of the landscape. With rainforests giving way to lakes and mountains, the country is very diverse and supports many mammals, fish and reptiles.

The Bosawás Biosphere Reserve covers a vast area and subsequently is the second largest rainforest in the Americas after the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. Areas like this are home to unusual mammals, including the three-toed sloth and two species of armadillo, as well as several monkey varieties and big cats such as the puma.

Located in the central part of Central America, Nicaragua is the largest country but also one of its poorest, although it does haven rich history and heritage, making it a fascinating place to visit. A good time to visit is from June to January, when the area looks particularly inviting and the temperature is cool and pleasant.

El Salvador

The smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America, El Salvador has a long and chequered history and benefits from a tropical climate that is favourable for much wildlife.

With its close proximity to the sea, El Salvador has a variety of species of sea turtles, including the leatherback turtle, the hawksbill and the olive ridley, which is the most common. The Hawksbill and Leatherback varieties are unfortunately critically endangered and therefore much rarer. In addition to the turtles, there are 500 species of birds, 1,000 species of butterflies and 800 species of fish in and around El Salvador.

Central America is an intensely beautiful part of the world, benefiting greatly from a variety of rich natural landscapes, making its countries a haven for wildlife lovers worldwide. With a history dating back to the Mayans and Aztecs, there is much to see and do and many areas incorporate some fascinating ruins and the remains of once great cities and towns.

There are plenty of tours that offer the opportunity to see native wildlife in their natural habitat, but it’s important to remain sensitive to the sometimes fragile environments when visiting. With a largely warm and tropical climate, many of the countries can be visited at any time of the year and any visit is bound to be memorable.