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Central America

With turquoise seas, lush jungles, majestic Maya ruins, and active volcanoes, Central America feels like a tropical fairy tale—only it’s all wonderfully real.

1. Teatro Nacional

On the southern side of the Plaza de la Cultura stands the Teatro Nacional, San José’s most revered building. Constructed in 1897, it features a columned neoclassical facade flanked by statues of Beethoven and the famous 17th-century Spanish dramatist Calderón de la Barca. Inside, the lavish marble lobby and auditorium are lined with paintings that depict various aspects of 19th-century life.

History
When construction began in the late 19th century, the President of Costa Rica aimed to create a lavish and impressive building worthy of the title ‘National Theater.’ However, Costa Rica’s population was quite small at the time—San José alone had around 20,000 residents—and cost was a major concern. President José Joaquín Rodríguez Zeledón solved this by imposing a tax on coffee, the country’s main export then. The project faced several difficulties until an Italian engineer was brought in to oversee and guide the construction to completion.

The theater’s most famous painting is Alegoría al café y el banano, an idyllic canvas showing coffee and banana harvests. Painted in Italy and shipped to Costa Rica for installation, this image was even reproduced on the old ₡5 note, now out of circulation. Interestingly, the painter never witnessed a banana harvest firsthand, as shown by the awkward way the man in the painting holds the banana bunch—actual workers typically hoist the stems onto their shoulders.

Performances and tours
Costa Rica’s premier theater hosts plays, dance, opera, classical concerts, Latin American music, and other major cultural events. The main season runs from March to November, but performances occur throughout the year. Hourly tours offer guests fascinating stories about the theater’s art, architecture, and the people behind this cultural gem. A highlight is a glimpse into usually off-limits areas like the Smoking Room, which features famous paintings, antique furnishings, and ornate gold trim. Tours are offered every hour in both Spanish and English, accommodating up to 30 people. Children under 12 enter free.

Alma de Cafe
Located inside the theater, Alma de Cafe is one of the most beautiful cafes in the city. It evokes the charm of early 20th-century Vienna, making it a perfect spot to enjoy a cappuccino, crepe, or quiche while admiring the lovely ceiling frescoes and rotating art exhibitions. Their coffee creations, such as the chocolate alma de cafe spiced with cinnamon and clove, provide a delightful midday treat. After soaking up the culture within the theater, you can easily join one of the city walking tours that begin from the cafe.

2. Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio

Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio is a compact park spanning 1,680 acres (680 hectares) that offers a rich mix of lush jungle, stunning beaches, and rugged headlands. The park is alive with wildlife, including sloths hanging from trees, noisy toucans, and lively monkeys. While exploring its scenic trails, you’ll also find breathtaking views of the ocean and nearby islands. To avoid crowds and increase your chances of spotting animals, it’s best to arrive early in the morning and save time to relax on the beach in the afternoon. The park’s beaches and trails close at 4 pm, but the public beach outside the park remains open if you want to continue enjoying the sun.

Cost
Tickets for adults cost $18, and children under 12 pay $5.65. Tickets must be purchased online in advance—ideally the afternoon before your visit—allowing you to enter the park smoothly the next day. The park is open every day except Tuesday. Guided tours can also be booked online.

Rules
Non-alcoholic drinks are allowed inside the park, but single-use plastics, including bags, are prohibited.
Bringing food into Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio is not allowed. A small kiosk inside the park offers snacks if needed.
Pets are not permitted inside the park.

3. Playa Negra

At the northwestern end of Cahuita, Playa Negra is a long black-sand beach flying the bandera azul ecológica, a flag that signifies the beach is maintained to the highest ecological standards. It’s rarely crowded, making it a perfect spot to relax while the Caribbean Sea gently laps at your feet.

Swimming and surfing
Playa Negra is arguably Cahuita’s best spot for swimming due to its clean, calm waters. When the swells are larger, it also offers a good beach break suitable for beginner surfers. It’s an ideal place for kids and adults who want to practice surfing without the crowds found at more popular locations.

Accommodation
Cahuita town is just a five-minute drive away or a 20-minute walk if you prefer to stretch your legs. The town features a great selection of hotels and guesthouses, both in the lively center and the quieter northern area near Playa Negra. If you’re traveling between Playa Negra and town at night, it’s safest to cycle with lights or take a taxi, especially when alone.

Food and drink
Cahuita serves some of the best Caribbean cuisine in the region, alongside surprisingly good Italian and French options. There are also several good dining choices closer to the beach.

 
 
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4. Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo

Founded by Dominican friars in 1542, Santo Domingo became the largest and wealthiest monastery in Antigua. After suffering damage from three earthquakes in the 18th century, its buildings were stripped for construction materials. In 1970, a North American archaeologist purchased the site as a private residence and carried out extensive excavations before it was taken over by the Casa Santo Domingo Hotel. The archaeological zone has since been creatively restored as a cultural route.

The site features the scenic ruined monastery church, an adjacent cloister with a replica of the original fountain, workshops where candles and pottery are made, and two underground crypts uncovered during church excavations. One of these, known as the Calvary Crypt, houses a well-preserved mural of the Crucifixion dated to 1683.

Also included in the archaeological zone are six museums with exceptional collections presented through carefully curated exhibitions. All can be accessed with a single admission ticket. The museum route can be entered either through the hotel or via the Universidad de San Carlos extension on 1a Av Norte. Starting from the hotel side, the route includes:

  • Museo de la Platería, showcasing silverwork masterpieces such as incense burners, candelabras, and crowns

  • Museo Colonial, featuring religious-themed paintings and wooden sculptures from the 16th to 18th centuries

  • Museo Arqueológico, with ceramic and stone artifacts from the Maya Classic period

  • Museo de Arte Precolombino y Vidrio Moderno, presenting Maya sculptures and ceramics alongside modern glass artworks

  • Museo de Artes y Artesanías Populares de Sacatepéquez, displaying traditional handicrafts from the Antigua region

  • Museo de la Farmacia, a restored 19th-century apothecary shop originally from Guatemala City

5. Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho

Rising to 1,345 meters, Volcán Mombacho dominates the Granada skyline and remains an active volcano, occasionally emitting smoke. Visitors can explore its cloud forest, rich with steaming fumaroles and bubbling volcanic activity hidden beneath misty vines and orchids. The area offers three hiking trails of varying difficulty, an organic coffee farm, and other attractions. Tours are available from Granada, or you can drive yourself.

Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho is managed by Fundación Cocibolca, which has developed trails since 1999 and operates an eco-mobile—refurbished military jeeps seating 25 passengers—that climbs the steep 40% grade up to 1,100 meters. It’s best to arrive early to take the short trail through the organic coffee farm or visit the mariposario (butterfly garden) and orchid garden near the parking lot, both included with admission.

At the summit, the park is home to three monkey species, 168 bird species, and over 100 types of orchids thriving in the jungle canopy. Hiking options include Sendero del Cráter, a 1.5 km walk to the fumaroles with great views of Granada and Las Isletas, and Sendero la Puma, a steeper 4 km trek around the crater rim offering even better views. Guides, many English-speaking, are available at the entrance and cost between US$12 and US$22 per group of up to seven people. A guide is required for Sendero el Tigrillo, a challenging two-hour hike to two scenic overlooks.

The park is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but groups of 10 or more can arrange visits on other days. Eco-mobile departures are scheduled at 8:30 am, 10 am, and 1 pm, so plan your arrival accordingly.

If you have a 4WD vehicle, you may drive up the volcano for an additional US$22, plus US$5 per adult and US$3 per child in the vehicle.

6. Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Located at the southern tip of Ambergris Caye, the 6.5-square-mile Hol Chan Marine Reserve is one of Belize’s most popular diving and snorkeling destinations. It is known for its spectacular coral formations and the rich diversity of marine life it supports. The name Hol Chan means “Little Channel” in Maya, referring to a natural gap in the reef called Hol Chan Cut. The walls of this channel are covered with vibrant corals that provide habitat for a wide variety of fish, including moray eels and black groupers.

While the reef is the main attraction, the marine reserve also encompasses sea-grass beds and mangroves. These sea-grass areas are home to nurse sharks and southern stingrays, giving rise to the popular Shark Ray Alley. Snorkelers often have the opportunity to get close to these animals because they have become accustomed to being fed by tour boats.

Trips to Hol Chan are offered by all dive operators and tour companies in the area. For further information and educational displays about marine life, visitors can stop by the Hol Chan Visitors Center.

7. Convento y Museo San Francisco

One of the oldest churches in Central America, Convento San Francisco features a robin’s egg blue, layered facade reminiscent of a birthday cake. It houses an important convent as well as one of the region’s best museums, which focuses on Nicaragua’s pre-Columbian history. The museum’s highlight is the Zapatera statuary—two rows of solemn black basalt statues carved between AD 800 and 1200, originally located on the ritual island of Zapatera.

The museum entrance is through a small door on the left, where guides—some English-speaking—are available for tours; tipping is appreciated. Other notable exhibits include impressive primitivist art, a scale model of the city, and a group of papier-mâché indigenous figures depicted cooking, relaxing in hammocks, and playing on comelazatoaztegams, a 360-degree see-saw.

Most of the Isla Zapatera statues were discovered in the late 1880s and were brought to Granada in the 1920s.

The convent itself was first built in 1585, later destroyed by pirates and William Walker, rebuilt in 1868, and restored again in 1989.

8. Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal

Volcán Arenal was a spectacular and active volcano from 1968 until 2010, known for its dramatic ash plumes, powerful eruptions, and glowing lava flows visible almost nightly. Although its fiery displays have ceased for now, the volcano and its surrounding area remain a remarkable destination for nature lovers and hikers.

Part of the Área de Conservación Arenal, the park offers about 15 km of well-marked trails that wind through rugged terrain and past ancient lava flows. Wildlife sightings are common, with sloths, coatis, howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, and even anteaters among the animals you might encounter.

Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal is located around 17 km west of La Fortuna. The main entrance is on the road to El Castillo, about 13 km west of La Fortuna. The park is easiest to reach by car or as part of an organized tour. Alternatively, you can take a bus to Tilarán and ask the driver to drop you off at the turnoff to the park.

A new area called the ‘sector peninsula’ opened in 2017, featuring 1.2 km of trails, an observation tower, and a scenic lake overlook. While the park’s last entry is typically at 2:30 pm, visitors may sometimes be permitted to enter later and stay in this new sector.

 
 
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