If someone offered you the chance to travel to Central America, you'd hardly turn it down would you? The region's well known as an exotic and exciting destination - one that features on many a traveler's bucket list.But, aside from plenty of sunshine, just what is it that makes Central American holidays so special? The following are five of the best. (Photo "Macaw" by coolza)
1. Stunning wildlife
If you love nature, you'll love Central America. The wealth of species is incredible and many of them are endemic to the region - meaning that you can't see them anywhere else on earth. Many of them are also incredibly beautiful - boasting awe-inspiring colors that light up the surroundings.
Of the seven Central American countries, Costa Rica is the pick in terms of its flora and fauna - packing an incredible five per cent of the world's biodiversity into just 0.3 per cent of its landmass. This includes 850 species of birds, 9,000 species of plants and 208 species of mammals.
Particular ones to look out for include the keel-billed toucan, resplendent quetzal, howler monkey and three-wattled bell bird. Pack your binoculars and see what you can spot on a walk through the rainforest.
2. Ancient ruins
Budding Indiana Joneses will have an absolute ball exploring the many Maya ruins found in Mexico and Central America. From the stepped-pyramids of Chichen Itza on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula to the sprawling ruins of Tikal in Guatemala, there's so much to see that you could easily spend a whole trip just visiting historic sites like these.
However, if you only have time for two, then you won't go far wrong with Tikal and Chichen Itza, which are the most famous in the region for a good reason - with both boasting tremendously well preserved and imposing buildings. (Photo "Tikal's Gran Jaguar Pyramid" by hosttas)
3. Diverse cities
Cities in places like the UK, the USA and Tokyo are largely dominated by high-rise buildings containing flats and office space, but in Central America, many of the cities have managed to maintain a much more traditional atmosphere.
You'll find evidence of colonialism in the make-up of many of the centuries-old buildings in cities like Leon, which is home to Central America's largest cathedral, and Granada, which was established by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba in 1524 - both of which are located in Nicaragua.
4. Beautiful beaches
What better way to enjoy Central America's aforementioned sunshine than on one of its many stunning beaches?
Visitors can sample both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts in the space of a single trip, and experience world-class snorkeling, surfing and scuba diving in the tropical water. If you don't want to get wet, simply kick back and chill out on the white sand under the shade of a palm tree.
Despite their attractiveness, many of the beaches are largely deserted outside peak season.
5. Adventure sports
As hinted at above, Central America is quite a playground when it comes to getting active outdoors. As well as offering some incredible water sports by the sea, the region is a hotbed for activities such as zip lining, white water rafting and hiking up volcanoes.
Again, Costa Rica is the place to be if you like this sort of adventure, with the Arenal Volcano National Park offering everything from horse riding to wind surfing, under the shadow of an iconic conical peak.
