The biggest mystery concerning Central America is that the region remains such a mystery to people. Packing more into its compact size than many a larger continent, it offers visitors adventure aplenty.

Distinctly different to its much larger neighbours to the north and south, Central American countries such as Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama punch well above their weight in terms of visitor attratcions. Caribbean quality beaches give way to dense jungles full of birds and superb wildlife watching opportunities, whilst mountain ranges and volcanoes erupt from the thick rainforests and scratch the tropical sky. Mayan ruins lie hidden close to colonial cities with interesting architecture and stories to uncover along with Afro-Carib or Creole culture.

Even as travellers move from Mexico through the Ruta Maya, there remains more to see and discover, with the hill towns, hiking options, traditional villages and supeb dive sites of El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua awaiting the intrepid adventurers that get this far.