Central America itinerary – What to See in Central America

Central America is one of the most fascinating places in the world that has been on my mind for years. Impressive Mayan ruins, beautiful colonial architecture, breathtaking landscapes, and relaxing seaside were why I wanted to visit Central America badly.

After one failed attempt to go there a few years ago, I didn’t miss another chance to take a trip to Central America. And the place didn’t disappoint!

Even if I only had 2 weeks in Central America, I used this time to the fullest. I visited four countries during that time: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Belize.

If visiting Central America is on your mind too, below you will find my Central America itinerary, suggestions of other places to see there, and practical information on how to get around. Read on and plan your perfect trip to Central America.

What to see in Central America

Central America consists of seven countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Below, you can find the highlights of each of them.

Of course, the more you see, the better, but frankly speaking, it would be difficult to see them all during your Central America trip unless you have a lot of time to explore the region.

Belize

Best places to visit in Belize:

• Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye – paradise-alike island with the Caribbean vibe
• San Ignacio – a laid-back town with some impressive Mayan ruins in and near it
• Placencia – a coastal resort town
• Belize City – the old capital and the getaway to the country
• The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary – a beautiful nature area
• Caracol – the largest Maya site in Belize
• Belize Barrier Reef – a must-visit place for all fans of scuba diving

Costa Rica

Best places to visit in Costa Rica:

• San Jose – a modern, vibrant capital
• Chirripo National Park with breathtaking views, diverse nature, and some great wildlife spotting opportunities
• Corcovado National Park – one of the wildest and most beautiful places to visit in Costa Rica
• Rincon de la Vieja National Park known for its steaming volcano
• Manuel Antonio National Park – a perfect mix of rainforest, beaches, and coral reefs
• Arenal Volcano – the most popular volcano in Costa Rica

El Salvador

Best places to visit in El Salvador:

• El Tunco – a laid-back village popular among surfers
• Ruta de las Flores – a trail through some of the prettiest towns and villages in the country
• Lake Llopango – the largest lake in El Salvador, perfect for watersports
• Mayan ruins, such as Joya de Ceren Archaeological Park, Tazumal, or San Andres
• Santa Ana – a vibrant second-largest city in El Salvador, a great cultural destination and a good base to explore the area
• Montecristo National Park – with incredible nature and diverse wildlife
• Santa Ana volcano, which you can climb, and the whole Cerro Verde National Park

Guatemala

The best places to visit in Guatemala:

• Antigua – a picturesque colonial town with impressive ruins and volcanoes in the background
• Lake Atitlan – one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, home to indigenous Maya people
• Tikal – probably the greatest Mayan site in Central America, only 85% of it was excavated
• Flores – a very pleasant town at the Lake Peten Itza, getaway to Tikal and other Mayan sites
• Chichicastenango – a colorful town known for its market, the best place to learn more about the Mayan culture
• Quetzaltenango – a second-largest city in Guatemala with some interesting historical sites, getaway to the Western Highlands region
• Rio Dulce – the best place for an outdoor adventure

Honduras

The best places to visit in Honduras:

• Copan Ruinas – one of the most impressive Mayan sites, with great wildlife around
• Roatan and other Bay Islands – A Caribbean getaway, perfect for diving
• Cusuco National Park – an exotic destination with beautiful nature around
• Comayagua – a historical city with colonial architecture
• Tela – a city known for its tropical botanical garden and nice beaches
• Lake Yojoa – the largest lake in Honduras, surrounded by two national parks

Nicaragua

The best places to visit in Nicaragua:

• Leon – one of the oldest cities in Central America, famous for its colonial architecture and large cathedral
• Isla de Ometepe – an island on Lake Nicaragua with two volcanoes
• Granada – the oldest colonial city in Nicaragua
• Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya, where you can peek into the active crater
• Laguna de Apoyo – a crater lake with dark sandy beaches
• Matagalpa – a city known for the coffee production
• Corn Islands – Caribbean islands perfect for relaxation

Panama

The best places to visit in Panama:

• Panama City – the vibrant capital, a mix of modern, old, and colonial styles
• Portobelo – a historical town with a fort
• El Valle de Antón – a charming village and a perfect base for hiking around
• Volcano Baru National Park, with the highest peak in Panama
• Pearl Islands – some people claim these are the most beautiful islands in the world
• Gulf of Chiriqui with amazing nature, some nice beaches and great whale watching opportunities
• Boquete, known also as the coffee-growing capital of Panama
• Panama Canal – one of the most famous landmarks of Central America, a shortcut between the two oceans

How to get around Central America

The most convenient way of traveling around Central America is by tourist shuttles. You are picked up from your accommodation or a meeting point and taken to another place. Shuttles cover connections between the most popular tourist destinations, which are often much more challenging to get between using public transport.

That’s how I traveled around Central America, too, and I can recommend this option, even if it’s not always the cheapest way. Depending on the destinations, I used two services, Gekko Explorer and GuateGo, and I didn’t have any problems with them (although it’s worth reading reviews, just in case).

You can also use local buses, a great way to immerse in local culture and experience the region properly. For long-distance routes, you can expect a bit nicer, first-class buses (although air-conditioning can sometimes be too much in them). You will most likely end up using the famous chicken bus on shorter routes.

For longer distances, you can also fly to save time. The region has a good network of flights, and if you book in advance, the price is similar to the shuttle.

To save time and hassle, you can also use tours to get to some popular attractions near bigger places. That’s what I did when I visited Lake Atitlan, Tikal, and Mayan sites in El Salvador and Belize. I have always used Viator for booking tours, and I can’t complain.

How many days to visit Central America

The truth is, you can easily spend a few weeks in each country and still not see all its attractions. But not everyone has the luxury to travel for longer periods (I don’t), so sometimes all you have is only two weeks.

I think that’s the minimum you should spend there to get a glimpse of the region and see some of its highlights. If you want to focus only on the biggest attractions in each country, here is what you should visit:

• Belize: San Ignacio and Mayan ruins, Caye Caulker
• Costa Rica: Arenal Volcano and other national parks
• El Salvador: Ruta de las Flores, Santa Ana and nearby Cerro Verde National Park, El Tunco
• Guatemala: Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Tikal, Flores
• Honduras: Copan Ruinas, Roatan
• Nicaragua: Leon, Granada, Isla de Ometepe
• Panama: Panama City, El Valle de Antón, Pearl Islands

My itinerary in Central America

I only had two weeks in Central America, and I decided to visit four countries then: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Belize, focusing on their highlights as well as relaxing a bit in between. Below, you can find my detailed itinerary for Central America.

Day 1 – Arrival to Guatemala

From the airport, I went directly to Antigua, Guatemala. Even if I had the transfer booked, it was only in 2 hours, so I got an earlier one at the airport and arrived in the town some 2,5 hours after landing.

Since it was already evening and I was super tired from the whole trip and the jet lag, I only went for a quick stroll around the center to get a feel of the town and its vibrant atmosphere.

Day 2 – Antigua, Guatemala

I spent my first full day in Central America exploring Antigua, Guatemala. And there was so much to see and do! This is one of the top places to visit in Central America, and it is famous for a reason.

The former colonial Spanish capital of Central America was damaged by the enormous earthquake in 1773. Today, you can still find numerous remnants of the former glory, such as ruins of the cathedral and many monasteries.

The town itself has some beautiful and colorful colonial architecture lining the cobbled streets, and wandering around the Old Town is a pure pleasure. The best view of Antigua and its surroundings, including nearby Volcan de Agua, is from the Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint.

With all the fantastic Antigua attractions, you can be sure to spend the whole day sightseeing in the town.

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Read more about Antigua in my article: “13 Perfect Things to Do in Antigua, Guatemala”

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Day 3 – Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Since my Central America itinerary was very packed, I could afford to spend only one day at Lake Atitlan – the place I didn’t want to miss during my trip. And even if I didn’t have as much time as I wished there, I still enjoyed the place to the fullest. I went on a day trip from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. It was a long day, around thirteen hours in total, but it was so worth the effort.

After arriving at Panajachel – the getaway to Lake Atitlan – and taking a quick stroll, I crossed the lake to San Juan La Laguna, the first proper stop on the tour. There I visited the chocolate production demonstration and the textile production – I know these were both very touristy, but I found them interesting, especially the first one.

After some free time to explore the colorful town, the tour went to another destination – San Pedro La Laguna. The town has an entirely different vibe than San Juan La Laguna; it’s more laid back and relaxed, but I liked it a lot, too.

The last stop on the tour was Santiago Atitlán, known for the largest indigenous population of Tzutujile Mayans and the Catholic church from the 16th century. Again, this place has a different vibe than the three previous destinations on Lake Atitlan. After returning by boat to Panajachel, it was time to go back to Antigua.

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Read more about Lake Atitlan in my article: “Day Trip to Lake Atitlan from Antigua, Guatemala“.

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Day 4 – Copan Ruinas, Honduras

The day started very early as I had a 4 a.m. transfer from Antigua, Guatemala, to Copan Ruinas in Honduras. The journey, including border crossing, was smooth, and I arrived at my destination seven hours later.

I’ve heard so much about the safety issues in Honduras, but Copan Ruinas is located almost at the border with Guatemala and is considered a safe place, and I must admit I didn’t feel uneasy even once. On the contrary, everyone was friendly and welcoming, and even if there was some language barrier, the friendly attitude of locals and lots of smiling from me solved the situation.

Copan was my first Mayan ruins in the region, and I loved the place. Over a thousand years ago, it was one of the greatest Mayan centers; today, the area is still full of ruins from that time, covered in fantastic art.

When I visited the place, maybe ten other tourists were wandering around, so exploring the area was a pure pleasure. But the biggest surprise of the Copan ruins was all the wildlife there, especially colorful macaws.

A short walk further from Copan, there is another archeological site – Sepulturas – with even more ruins and hardly any tourists. The town of Copan Ruinas is pleasant too so it’s worth going for a stroll around.

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Read more about Copan Ruinas in my article: “Visit Copan Ruinas – the Amazing Mayan Site in Honduras“.

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Day 5 – El Tunco, El Salvador

I spent this day mostly traveling from Copan Ruinas via Guatemala to El Tunco in El Salvador. The journey was much longer than expected, and I finally arrived at El Tunco around sunset. At least on the way, I could admire the beautiful landscape of Central America and see a bit of the city of Santa Ana in El Salvador (as I had an unplanned stop there).

Day 6 – El Tunco, El Salvador

I was planning to go on a tour to Ruta de las Flores (the picturesque colonial towns), but the tour company canceled it at the last minute. And while I was slightly disappointed, I also couldn’t really complain as I had the whole day to relax in El Tunco.

There is not much to see and do in the coastal town, but it is a laid-back mecca for fans of surfing. While its party scene wasn’t my thing, I enjoyed the vibe of the town, the sound of the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean, and the stunning sunsets.

I also had a chance to try a popular local dish – pupusa – which was so good! This lazy day in El Tunco was very much appreciated.

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Read more about El Tunco in my article: “El Tunco, El Salvador – the Surfers Oasis on the Pacific Shore“.

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Day 7 – Cerro Verde, El Salvador

I had a flight to catch in the evening, but before I went to the airport, I went on a tour to see a bit of El Salvador.

First, I visited the beautiful Cerro Verde National Park, with amazing views of the nearby volcanoes and a small hike around. Then, it was time for Mayan sites: San Andres Archeological Site and Joya de Cerén. They were not as impressive as Copan Ruinas, but I still enjoyed visiting them.

Then, it was time to wrap up my stay in El Salvador and fly back to Guatemala City.

Day 8 – Flores, Guatemala

I caught a morning flight from Guatemala City to Flores. The main reason to go there was, of course, the Mayan ruins in nearby Tikal. But since I had the whole day to spare, I explored Flores a bit, too. The hot weather (38C) didn’t really help, but I still managed to see all the Flores attractions located on the peninsula.

This is such a pleasant colonial town, with colorful houses (some of them really beautiful) and cobbled streets. There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants to sit down and relax – I especially enjoyed those located on the riverfront.

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Read more about Flores in my article: “14 Great Things to Do in Flores, Guatemala“.

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Day 9 – Tikal, Guatemala

I spent most of the day on a tour to Tikal – one of the most important Mayan sites in the classical period and today a major tourist attraction in Guatemala. And what a spectacular place it was!

Tikal is located in the heart of the remote jungle, which is already pretty cool, but all the Mayan remnants around are simply mindblowing. Only a tiny part of the site was uncovered, so it’s crazy to think how much of the town is still hidden around.

But the visible places are also free to explore, so you can climb up to the top of the temples (some of them as high as 70 meters), above the trees, and look at the area from there – the view is unforgettable. You might have seen it in one of the “Star Wars” movies!

Overall, Tikal deserves all the hype it gets and was one of the highlights of my trip to Central America.

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Read more about Tikal in my article” “Visit Tikal, Guatemala – the Spectacular Mayan Site“.

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Day 10 – San Ignacio, Belize

Again, it was a day with an early start as I had a 6 a.m. bus to San Ignacio in Belize. The journey and border crossing were smooth, and I arrived four hours later.

After a quick stroll around the city, I went on a tour to nearby Mayan ruins – Xunantunich. It was another interesting archeological site, with 25 temples and palaces and some amazing Mayan art. There were, again, hardly any people around, so exploring the place was pretty cool.

Once I was back in San Ignacio, I did some more sightseeing in this pleasant city and enjoyed its relaxed vibe.

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Read more about San Ignacio in my article: “7 Exciting Things to Do in San Ignacio, Belize“.

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Day 11 – San Ignacio + Caye Caulker, Belize

Before I left San Ignacio, I went to see another Mayan ruins located in the city – Cahal Pech. It’s smaller than nearby Xunantunich, but I enjoyed wandering around so much since I was alone there!

Cahal Pech was abandoned about 800-900 AD, but the ruins are in pretty good condition, and exploring them is so much fun!

Just a word of warning – the archeological site is located on a hill, and getting there is a bit of a challenge if you decide to walk (like I did). You can always catch a taxi to take you there.

In the late morning, I had a transfer to Belize City, from where I had a boat to Caye Caulker. I can’t explain why I wanted to go there so badly, but it was the right decision. A small island near the Barrier Reef is like a paradise with palm trees, white sand, and turquoise water.

Since it’s a popular destination, there are plenty of accommodations and restaurants to choose from, but the overall vibe is very relaxed and laid-back. This was definitely what I needed at the end of the busy Central America trip.

Day 12-14 Caye Caulker, Belize

I spent two full days on Caye Caulker doing nothing. I was walking around the island, reading books, and simply relaxing. And it felt so good! At first, I planned to go to nearby Ambergris Caye island on one of the day trips, but I enjoyed Caye Caulker so much I didn’t want to leave.

Finally, on my last day in Belize, I took the morning boat from Caye Caulker to Belize City, then a taxi to the airport as I flew back to Guatemala City for my last night in Central America.

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Read more about Caye Caulker in my article: “13 Cool Things to Do in Caye Caulker, Belize“.

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Day 15 Guatemala City, Guatemala

My flight back to Europe was leaving only in the afternoon, so I could have done more of the sightseeing in Guatemala City (and that was my initial plan), but I think I was mentally getting ready for my long trip back home, so I only explored the neighborhood I was staying in (Zona 10) before heading to the airport. Still, it was a very nice end to my trip to Central America.

Final thoughts on visiting Central America

Central America, with its beautiful nature, landscape, and historical places, is such a fascinating place to visit. Since it offers plenty of diverse attractions, everyone can find something interesting for themselves there.

Even if you have only two weeks in Central America, you can still see many places and relax a bit in exotic destinations. But no matter how long your trip to Central America will be, you are in for a treat – this part of the world is pretty spectacular, and it’s so easy to enjoy it. Have a great trip!

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