Secret Central America: Wanderlust readers reveal their hidden gems
From ancient treasures to island escapes, Central America is packed with adventure. Here are your secrets for navigating its jungle of adrenaline highs and wondrous wildlife…
Follow the flowers in El Salvador
The colourful houses of Apaneca, El Salvador (Shutterstock)
– Jillanne David
Discover a unique island lifestyle
Cayos Cochinos. All yours. (Shutterstock)
Don’t be put off by the news – Honduras is one of my favourite destinations, from visiting Pico Bonito NP (especially Jungle River Lodge) to diving in Utila.
Rent a private island in Cayos Cochinos – we had our own island complete with delicious food and unbeatable snorkelling for $100 (£82) per head!
– Marianne Thomson
The boat to Guna Yala (Shutterstock)
Take a trip with a local guide to the blissful Guna Yala islands in Panama, where you get the chance to meet the affable tribe who tell you how they run their society and tourism business to perfection.
A visit to El Valle afterwards is the perfect antidote to beach life with freshness and lush vegetation. Hire a car to get the most out of the country and take a trip down the Pacific Coast.
– Ann Furey
Take an Easter road trip from Guatemala to Belize
Semana Santa in Guatemala (Shutterstock)
– Melissa Niemandt
(Jenny Hughes)
– Jenny Hughes
Stay longer in Nicaragua
Horse-drawn cart in Granada (Shutterstock)
– Steve Brown
Local living and secret sights
Skeleton in Actun Tunichil Muknal (Shutterstock)
Take on a 45-minute hike through the jungle to the mouth of Actun Tunichil Muknal cave system, then swim through the darkness to climb the ladders.
You are rewarded with a museum: ancient pots, lots of finger bones, and a skull or two, all cemented to the floor with calcite.
Up another level, you’ll find a human skeleton preserved in its entirety, its creamy bones encrusted in frosted, crystal fragments.
– Deborah Gray
Garifuna troupe performs in Hopkins in Belize (Shutterstock)
Get to know the local communities in Belize. They are some of the friendliest people I have met on my travels.
Many people often just go to Caye Caulker, San Pedro and San Ignacio. Venture further south to Hopkins where you can learn more about the Garifuna culture, from their fortnightly drumming sessions.
Or you can head to one of the villages near Punta Gorda, where you can arrange a homestay with
a Mopan Maya family and experience daily village life.
– Nevine El-Sherbini
