Things to Do

Things to Do in Central America

There are 180 attractions in Central America. Archipiélago de San Blas, indigenous guna archipelago with coral islands in panama, is the most popular.

Most Popular By Name
Archipiélago de San Blas
1
Archipiélago de San Blas
Indigenous Guna archipelago with coral islands in Panama
Islands
Archipiélago de Bocas del Toro
2
Archipiélago de Bocas del Toro
Panamanian Caribbean archipelago with diverse marine habitats
Islands
Coiba
3
Coiba
Island and marine park with Pacific biodiversity
Island
Panamá Viejo
4
Panamá Viejo
Ruins of Panama's original colonial-era port city
Archaeological Site
Taboga Island
5
Taboga Island
Small Pacific island near Panama City, sandy beaches
Island
Soberanía National Park
6
Soberanía National Park
Panama Canal watershed forest with rich wildlife
Park
Acatenango
7
Acatenango
Trail
Cerro Chirripo
8
Cerro Chirripo
Trail
Camino de Costa Rica
9
Camino de Costa Rica
Trail
Darién National Park
10
Darién National Park
Remote Panamanian rainforest park and UNESCO World Heritage site
Park
Gatun Lake
11
Gatun Lake
Artificial Panama lake forming part of Panama Canal
Reservoir
Volcán Barú
12
Volcán Barú
Panama's highest volcano offering mountain and ocean views
Volcano
Pearl Islands
13
Pearl Islands
Archipelago off Panama known for beaches and wildlife
Islands
Actun Tunichil Muknal
14
Actun Tunichil Muknal
Cave archaeological site with Maya ceremonial remains and artifacts
Ruins
Caye Caulker
15
Caye Caulker
Small Caribbean island with relaxed vibe and snorkeling
Island
El Pilar
16
El Pilar
Ancient Maya ceremonial center within Belizean rainforest
Archaeological Site
Lake Nicaragua
17
Lake Nicaragua
Central America's largest lake, contains freshwater islands and volcanoes
Lake
Lake Atitlán
18
Lake Atitlán
Scenic volcanic lake surrounded by Maya villages
Lake
Pacaya
19
Pacaya
Active volcano near Guatemala City, frequent eruptions
Volcano
Volcán de Fuego
20
Volcán de Fuego
Highly active stratovolcano frequently producing explosive eruptions
Volcano
Volcán Tajumulco
21
Volcán Tajumulco
Guatemala's highest volcano, forested summit and trails
Volcano
Santa María (volcano)
22
Santa María (volcano)
Stratovolcano with significant historical explosive eruptions
Volcano
Lake Izabal
23
Lake Izabal
Guatemala's largest lake, Caribbean watershed outlet
Lake
Arenal Volcano
24
Arenal Volcano
Active Costa Rican volcano and national park
Volcano
Poás Volcano
25
Poás Volcano
Stratovolcano with a large acidic crater lake
Volcano
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano
26
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano
Volcanic complex with hot springs and fumaroles
Volcano
Irazú Volcano
27
Irazú Volcano
High-elevation volcano with multi-colored crater lakes
Volcano
Cocos Island
28
Cocos Island
Remote Pacific island renowned for marine biodiversity
Island
Stone spheres of Costa Rica
29
Stone spheres of Costa Rica
Pre-Columbian carved stone spheres of mysterious origin
Building
Cerro Chirripó
30
Cerro Chirripó
Costa Rica's highest mountain peak
Mountain
Cordillera de Talamanca
31
Cordillera de Talamanca
Mountain range spanning Costa Rica and Panama, biodiverse
Mountains
Turrialba Volcano
32
Turrialba Volcano
Active stratovolcano east of Cartago
Volcano
Roatán
33
Roatán
Caribbean Honduran island popular for scuba diving
Island
Lake Yojoa
34
Lake Yojoa
Honduran freshwater lake noted for biodiversity
Lake
Pico Bonito National Park
35
Pico Bonito National Park
Tropical rainforest park with rugged mountains and waterfalls
Park
Cerro El Pital
36
Cerro El Pital
Highest peak on El Salvador–Honduras border
Mountain
Lake Managua
37
Lake Managua
Large freshwater lake near Managua, Nicaragua's capital
Lake
Ometepe
38
Ometepe
Volcanic island formed by two volcanoes in Lake Nicaragua
Island
Joya de Cerén
39
Joya de Cerén
Pre-Columbian Maya village preserved under volcanic ash
Ruins
Tazumal
40
Tazumal
Archaeological Maya site with pyramidal ceremonial structures
Ruins
Santa Ana Volcano
41
Santa Ana Volcano
Active stratovolcano with crater lake in El Salvador
Volcano
El Imposible National Park
42
El Imposible National Park
Dry forest national park with biodiversity and cliffs
Wildlife Reserve
Izalco (volcano)
43
Izalco (volcano)
Small, historically active volcano once called lighthouse
Volcano
San Miguel (volcano)
44
San Miguel (volcano)
Stratovolcano dominating eastern El Salvador's skyline
Volcano
45
Momotombo
Symmetrical stratovolcano overlooking Lake Managua, popular landmark
Volcano
Concepción (volcano)
46
Concepción (volcano)
Conical stratovolcano on Ometepe Island, dominant landmark
Volcano
Ambergris Caye
47
Ambergris Caye
Belize cay with coral reef access and tourism
Island
Maderas
48
Maderas
Volcano on Ometepe Island with cloud forest trails
Volcano
Maya Mountains
49
Maya Mountains
Large Belizean range covered by tropical rainforest and reserves
Mountains
Acatenango
50
Acatenango
Stratovolcano near Antigua, popular for trekking and eruptions
Volcano
San Cristóbal Volcano
51
San Cristóbal Volcano
Active stratovolcano near Chinandega with frequent eruptions
Volcano
Lake Ilopango
52
Lake Ilopango
Crater lake east of San Salvador; volcanic caldera
Lake
Lake Petén Itzá
53
Lake Petén Itzá
Large Maya-region lake with island archaeological sites
Lake
Volcán de Agua
54
Volcán de Agua
Extinct stratovolcano overlooking Antigua Guatemala
Volcano
Masaya Volcano
55
Masaya Volcano
Active Nicaraguan volcano with an accessible lava lake
Volcano
Volcán Atitlán
56
Volcán Atitlán
Striking volcano rising above Lake Atitlán
Volcano
Cosigüina
57
Cosigüina
Conical Nicaraguan volcano forming a gulf peninsula
Volcano
Mombacho
58
Mombacho
Stratovolcano near Granada with cloud forest hikes
Volcano
Cabo Gracias a Dios
59
Cabo Gracias a Dios
Border cape marking Honduras–Nicaragua maritime boundary
Cape
Cerro Las Minas
60
Cerro Las Minas
Honduras' highest mountain with montane cloud forests
Mountain
Coatepeque Caldera
61
Coatepeque Caldera
Volcanic caldera enclosing a large crater lake
Lake
Telica (volcano)
62
Telica (volcano)
Active stratovolcano near León, popular hiking destination
Volcano
Cerro Negro
63
Cerro Negro
Active cinder cone volcano with frequent eruptions
Volcano
Orosí Volcano
64
Orosí Volcano
Extinct volcanic peak in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Volcano
San Vicente (volcano)
65
San Vicente (volcano)
Active stratovolcano dominating San Vicente Department skyline
Volcano
Lake Amatitlán
66
Lake Amatitlán
Volcanic lake near Guatemala City with pollution issues
Lake
Miravalles Volcano
67
Miravalles Volcano
Active stratovolcano with geothermal activity and hot springs
Volcano
Solentiname Islands
68
Solentiname Islands
Archipelago in Lake Nicaragua with artist communities
Islands
Swan Islands
69
Swan Islands
Remote Honduran islands in the Caribbean Sea
Islands
Tolimán (volcano)
70
Tolimán (volcano)
Stratovolcano overlooking Lake Atitlán near Panajachel
Volcano
Barva Volcano
71
Barva Volcano
Dormant stratovolcano in central Costa Rica
Volcano
Lake Arenal
72
Lake Arenal
Reservoir near Arenal Volcano, popular for wind sports
Lake
Nakbe
73
Nakbe
Preclassic Maya archaeological site with monumental pyramids
Archaeological Site
Volcán San Pedro
74
Volcán San Pedro
Conical volcano rising above Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Volcano
Isla Barro Colorado
75
Isla Barro Colorado
Tropical island hosting renowned tropical research station
Island
Sierra de los Cuchumatanes
76
Sierra de los Cuchumatanes
High Guatemalan highlands, Central America's largest non-volcanic range
Mountains
Chagres and Fort San Lorenzo
77
Chagres and Fort San Lorenzo
Colonial fort and riverine site guarding the Chagres
Ruins
Chingo
78
Chingo
Border volcano between El Salvador and Guatemala
Volcano
Petén Basin
79
Petén Basin
Lowland region of northern Guatemala rich in Maya archaeology
Archaeological Site
Tiger Island
80
Tiger Island
Small Honduran island in Valle Department with beaches
Island
Almolonga
81
Almolonga
Highland Guatemalan town known for intensive vegetable farming
Volcano
Chagres National Park
82
Chagres National Park
Tropical rainforest park protecting Panama Canal watershed
Park
83
Cordillera Central (Costa Rica)
Central Costa Rican mountain range containing active volcanoes
Mountains
Cordillera de Guanacaste
84
Cordillera de Guanacaste
Volcanic mountain range in northwest Costa Rica
Mountains
Isla Colón
85
Isla Colón
Main Bocas del Toro island with Caribbean beaches
Island
Usulután (volcano)
86
Usulután (volcano)
Stratovolcano dominating Usulután Department, forested slopes
Volcano
Cayos Cochinos
87
Cayos Cochinos
Small Honduran islands and marine reserve, coral reefs
Islands
Chato Volcano
88
Chato Volcano
Extinct volcano west of Arenal, popular hikes
Volcano
Lake Güija
89
Lake Güija
Transboundary freshwater lake on Guatemala–El Salvador border
Lake
San Salvador (volcano)
90
San Salvador (volcano)
Stratovolcano overlooking San Salvador city
Volcano
Volcán Ipala
91
Volcán Ipala
Volcano with dramatic crater lake, Laguna de Ipala
Volcano
Bosawás Biosphere Reserve
92
Bosawás Biosphere Reserve
Large tropical biosphere reserve protecting rainforest biodiversity
Wildlife Reserve
Conchagua (volcano)
93
Conchagua (volcano)
Stratovolcano overlooking Gulf of Fonseca with scenic views
Mountain
Lachuá Lake
94
Lachuá Lake
Karst freshwater lake surrounded by cloud forest
Lake
Lake Alajuela
95
Lake Alajuela
Reservoir feeding Panama Canal and regional water supply
Reservoir
Moyuta (volcano)
96
Moyuta (volcano)
Stratovolcano in southeastern Guatemala near Moyuta town
Volcano
Museo Nacional de Costa Rica
97
Museo Nacional de Costa Rica
San José museum exhibiting Costa Rica's history and artifacts
Museum
Nakum
98
Nakum
Ancient Maya city with large temple plazas
Archaeological Site
Petexbatún Lake
99
Petexbatún Lake
Lake within Maya archaeological region, notable ancient sites
Lake
Tenorio Volcano
100
Tenorio Volcano
Active Costa Rican volcano adjacent to Rio Celeste
Volcano