Central America

Central America is a vibrant, slender bridge between two continents where the rhythm of life is dictated by the rustle of jungle leaves and the crashing of two different oceans. It is a place where you can wake up to the sound of howler monkeys in a rainforest and end your day watching the sun dip into the Pacific with a volcanic silhouette on the horizon.

The journey often finds its heart in Costa Rica, the world’s poster child for eco-adventure. In the shadow of the perfectly conical Arenal Volcano, you can soak in natural hot springs or zip-line through the misty canopy of the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It is a country that lives by the phrase Pura Vida (Pure Life), a philosophy you feel deeply when you spot a sloth moving at its own pace or a bright red macaw streaking across the sky.

To the north, Guatemala offers a profound connection to the ancient past. Standing in the middle of the Great Plaza of Tikal, surrounded by towering Mayan pyramids that poke through the emerald jungle floor, you feel the weight of a civilization that thrived here thousands of years ago. Nearby, the colonial town of Antigua—with its pastel-colored ruins and cobblestone streets—is nestled between three massive volcanoes, offering some of the most dramatic backdrops in the world.

For those drawn to the water, Belize is home to the Great Blue Hole and the second-largest barrier reef on the planet. Whether you’re snorkeling in the turquoise “shark-ray alley” or exploring the colorful streets of Caye Caulker, the Caribbean soul of Central America is unmistakable. From the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal to the surf-washed beach