Central America: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama
Famed for diverse ecosystems and pristine rainforests that stretch from Mexico to Colombia, Central America holds many treasures both on and off the beaten track. The beaches, reefs, and underwater wildlife of Belize have graced many a screen saver, with the elegantly preserved Mayan ruins of Tikal in Guatemala just a short jaunt through the rainforest away. The Honduran secret has long been seeping through the vines of adventurers' tales as one of the best places in the world to get certified scuba diving, with an epic reef that stretches up the Caribbean and a playground of a national park in Pico Bonito that affords wicked rafting, hiking, and mountain biking. Nicaragua has an incredible dual-volcanic island in the middle of a massive freshwater lake with peaks that beckon to be conquered or just admired from its beaches. The purely Caribbean Corn Islands offer picture-perfect turquoise water, white sand beaches, and rainbow reefs. Costa Rica is the eco-tourism capital of the Americas with a well-established tourist infrastructure servicing its many splendors like Monteverde cloud forest, Manuel Antonio National Park, and Arenal Volcano, among its countless rivers and beaches that offer some of the best surfing and rafting around. For centuries, Panama has been hosting travelers with a magnificent climate, incredible jungles, international trade, and beautiful beaches. The absolutely untouched and pristine San Blas Archipelago off the Caribbean coast is pure splendor and Bocas del Toro is the country's hub for diving, surfing, partying, and lounging. Adventure now!