Central America Green Travel
Guide
Central America: An Overview
Central America lies between North America and South America. For being a relatively small region, it contains some breathtaking natural wonders. It also offers many experiences to feature in a Central America green travel guide.
The region extends around 1,835km long from the northwest to the southeast. It is an area scattered with lowlands, humid swamps and mountains. In fact, four-fifths of Central America is hilly, with emerald-green mountains that snake through the middle of its countries.
The region also has idyllic Caribbean beaches, ominous volcanoes, tropical forests and evergreen forests. These forests are homes to mammals, lots of reptiles (yep, even snakes!) birds and insects.
Central America is home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They range from natural areas, archaeological sites of ancient pre-Columbian cultures, colonial cities and Caribbean fortifications.
With such a wide variety of places to visit and experiences to take in, Central America is a destination worth exploring. Keep reading our Central America green travel guide to learn more about this vast and stunning region of the world.
PURA VIDA AWAITS
When to visit Central America
Central America’s weather is dominated by two distinct seasons: the wet and dry seasons. Although temperatures are similar year-round, rain varies considerably depending on the time of the year. As a result, the best time to visit Central America is generally during the dry season. In most countries, this season extends from January to March.
However, it is worth noting that the rainy season can actually be quite beautiful. It brings greener landscapes, fewer tourists and lower prices. Just be mindful that heavy rains can hit parts of Costa Rica during September and October, so if you’re thinking of visiting that particular country, maybe go another time of the year.
Personally, I went to Costa Rica in December and it was sunny, blue skies for the whole time I was there. However, this time also coincided with peak season. So, if you’re on a budget, it will be best to visit outside of late November – April. I would also stay clear of Central America during US/European public and school holidays.
Keep reading our Central America green travel guide for more information about what to expect in Central America. We also included suggestions for green travel experiences and eco-friendly accommodation options.
What to expect when visiting Central America
Central America has a total of seven countries. Most border both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Each of these countries has a rich history and wonderful natural areas to explore. So, including everything in this Central America green travel guide might be too much! Therefore, we’ve summarised the key main points below.
✦ Costa Rica
There is a reason why we included Costa Rica as the first country in our Central America green travel guide. Costa Rica means “Rich Coast”. When visiting, it is evident that the country lives up to its name. For the sustainable and responsible traveller, Costa Rica is a paradise. Visiting Costa Rica marked me.
Not only is the country beautiful and its people some of the friendliest ones I’ve met but I was also happy that my tourism money contributed towards the economy of one of the most sustainable countries in the world. In fact, 25% of Costa Rica is protected. In the last 30 years, Costa Rica has produced nearly 93% of its energy from renewable sources. It’s easy to see why – the country is teeming with water and volcanoes, which provide hydroelectric and geothermal power.
Other natural areas to explore include 27 national parks, 58 wildlife reserves, 32 protected areas, and 8 biological reserves. Combined, Costa Rica offers a rich adventure through some of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems.
✦ Belize
The only country in Central America where English is the official language (although many people also speak Spanish). Albeit being a small country, Belize is huge when it comes to natural treasures. The country is home to important biodiversity hotspots. It also has many wildlife reserves, jungles and the largest cave system in Central America. And that’s only on land!
Beyond the green palms and turquoise beaches lies an underwater Eden. Here, rays, sea turtles, huge fish of tropical fish and colourful corals abound. They frolic in Belize’s Barrier Reef – the world’s second-largest barrier reef.
✦ El Salvador
The country with a smile, El Salvador offers unique opportunities for ecotourism. The country has several national parks and reserves for you to enjoy nature upfront. One of the main places to do ecotourism is the Cerro Verde National Park. Here, you can frolic among the green while enjoying an impressive view of the Santa Ana and Izalco volcanoes. Other must-visit destinations include the Forest El Imposible and Montecristo National Park.
✦ Guatemala
A country offering many interesting nature-based activities, from beaches to white water rafting, Mayan ruins, volcanoes and rainforest hikes. The country is home to 22 national parks, two of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Some of the best places to enjoy nature in Guatemala are Lake Atitlán, Tikal National Park, Sierra de Las Minas Biosphere and the Pacaya Volcano.
✦ Honduras
A destination teeming with natural areas to explore. Almost 25% of Honduras is made up of protected areas. The country is an ideal place to do ecotourism and being in close contact with nature. Here, you can find exuberant forests, green mountains and some of the most biodiverse reefs you can imagine.
✦ Nicaragua
Nicaragua has been experimenting with ecotourism since the 90s. The country has over 80 nature reserves and protected areas, making Nicaragua one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Within the boundaries of the country, you will find rainforests, mountains and volcanoes.
Due to a turbulent history, ecotourism in Nicaragua is growing slowly. This only means that the country’s natural areas remain fairly untouched. Therefore, they are ideal for the sustainable traveller interested in nature-based activities.
✦ Panama
Panama has one of the most complex ecosystems on earth due to its unique location. The country is a land rich with biodiversity, with a wide variety of ecosystems for the sustainable traveller to explore. They include beautiful beaches, mountain retreats, rain forests and some breathtaking diving sites along Coiba National Park, the country’s UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.
BEYOND THE GREEN
10 green travel experiences in Central America
For this Central America green travel guide, I’ve included some tips on what I consider the best experiences for the sustainable traveller on a visit to Central America.
1. Scuba dive with hammerheads in Costa Rica’s Cocos Island National Park.
2. Go on a wildlife safari in Tortuguero National Park.
3. Snorkel or scuba dive in Belize’s Blue Hole, the largest ocean sinkhole in the world.
4. Reach the top of Santa Ana, the highest volcano in El Salvador.
5. Explore Guatemala’s Tikal National Park, one of the few places declared a natural and cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site for both its archaeological importance and extraordinary biodiversity.
6. Do a jungle hike in the Rio Platano Reserve in Honduras.
7. Go scuba diving in Honduras’ Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.
8. Hike the trails of the Mombacho Volcano National Preserve in Nicaragua.
9. Explore the islands of Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection.
10. Visit the most remote nature reserve in Central America, La Amistad International Park in Panama.
UNVEIL THE WORLD
Central America green travel guide:
7 eco-friendly accommodation options
I didn’t want to finish this Central America green travel guide without including some options for eco-friendly accommodations. I haven’t stayed at the below accommodations. But, I think of them some of the most eco-friendly ones, considering all circumstances.
Remember, sustainable tourism is not very developed in some countries of Central America. This means eco-friendly accommodations are fairly limited.
Of course, this list is by no means exhaustive! I’m sure there are other places that could be featured in this Central America green travel guide. So, I invite you to do your own research to find a place that suits your need.
✦ Costa Rica
1. Evergreen Lodge (Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica): located deep in the jungles of Tortuguero National Park, the Evergreen Lodge has a commitment to preserving Costa Rica’s natural environment. In fact, my stay at Evergreen Lodge and Tortuguero National Park was the highlight of my trip to Costa Rica. It is so wild and remote that I felt like we were somewhere deep in the Amazonian jungles. The nature guides were some of the most hospitable people we came across.
✦ Belize
2. Pine Ridge Lodge (Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Belize): According to their website, the Pine Ridge Lodge “caters to the independent traveller – the more independent, the better”. The lodge is located a stone’s throw away from the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. It’s also the door to the mighty city of Caracol, Belize’s most remarkable Maya ruin. The lodge offers cottages with great views of the surrounding natural settings.
✦ El Savador
3. La Cocotera Resort & Ecolodge (Barra de Santiago, El Salvador): Perched on a western corner of El Salvador’s coastline, La Cocotera Resort and Ecolodge offers simple yet luxurious accommodation. The lodge is designed to complement the natural beauty of its surroundings. It is built from natural local materials and incorporates sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives in its operations. La Cocotera also runs its own turtle preservation project and a parrot breeding scheme. Pretty cool, huh?
✦ Guatemala
4. Earth Lodge (Antigua, Guatemala): An eco-friendly hotel located high in the mountains of Antigua, Guatemala. The lodge offers volcano views and delicious home-cooked meals. The lodge also offers the opportunity to stay in a private treehouse for the night! In addition, they also offer live music, yoga classes and information for hiking the nearby lookouts and waterfall.
✦ Honduras
5. Coco Cabañas (Bahía de Tela, Honduras): This hotel is the first one in the world to be built using recycled plastic bottles! Pretty cool, huh? It is located in Bahía de Tela in Honduras. From photos, it looks pretty basic but I’m not too fussed when it comes to accommodation. Plus, staying here will support creative sustainability initiatives. This way, there is great uptake of them across the world.
✦ Nicaragua
6. Hotel Plaza Colón (Granada, Nicaragua): Located right in front of the main Plaza of colonial Granada in Nicaragua. The Hotel Plaza Colón is the first hotel certified by the Rainforest Alliance in the region. They earned this certification for its sustainable practices. Namely, these practices include employing local tradesmen, a focus on buying all local produce, recycling, water and electricity conservation programs, among others. Another cool initiative is the hotel’s involvement with the ECO-School program. Through it, they help provide environmental education to teachers and students of diverse ages.
✦ Panama
7. Coiba Lostworld Ecolodge (Coiba National Park, Panama): This ecolodge is your portal to discover the hidden world of Coiba National Park in Panama. While staying at the lodge, you can immerse yourself in the wondrous natural places of this beautiful part of the world. Watch whales gliding by, snorkel in the pristine coral reefs, kayak around the island, or relax on the beach. Some of the sustainability initiatives the ecolodge has incorporated include working with NGOs to contribute towards conservation research, using solar energy to heat their water, using all-natural and biodegradable cleaning products, among many others.