Tours
Tailor-made Central America tours
From the Maya villages in the highlands of Guatemala to the two coasts of Panama. The countries are small, but the mountain roads are slow.
Combining
Which countries go together
El Salvador is smaller than the Netherlands, and a week to ten days is enough for the volcanoes, the Ruta de las Flores, Suchitoto and the coast. In Guatemala, Tikal lies in Petén, a domestic flight from the highlands, so if you also want to see the temples, allow a few extra days.
Nicaragua has colonial towns and volcanoes you can climb, and rougher roads than Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, kilometres say little, because the mountain roads are slow. Panama has two coasts, the Pacific and the Caribbean, with the highlands around Boquete in between.
The countries
Central America, country by country
Each country has its own page, with the regions, when to go and what to know before you leave.
Central America
Costa Rica
Sandwiched between two oceans, with volcanoes and cloud forest that need no introduction.
Discover Costa Rica
Central American highlands
Guatemala
A highland where Maya culture isn't a backdrop but sets the rhythm of everyday life.
Discover Guatemala
Central American Pacific coast
El Salvador
A country that's compact, not small, with volcanoes running all the way to a coast that's never far away.
Discover El Salvador
Central American isthmus
Panama
An isthmus where two oceans almost touch and the rainforest reaches right up to the edge of the city.
Discover Panama
Central American lake district
Nicaragua
Two colonial cities, centuries-old rivals, separated by a lake dotted with volcanic islands, rougher around the edges than its neighbours.
Discover NicaraguaQuestions about a tour of Central America
How many days do you need for a tour of Central America?
For Costa Rica, allow two weeks for three or four regions. For Guatemala two weeks, with a few extra days for Tikal. For Nicaragua two weeks, for Panama ten days to two weeks, and for El Salvador a week to ten days. If you combine two countries, add the time together.
Which countries in Central America combine well?
Each country needs a week to two weeks on its own, so with two countries a trip soon becomes three weeks or longer. If you want to see two countries, we look at how with you, with the current travel advice at hand.
What is the travel advice for Central America?
Travel advice applies per country, not per continent, and within one country it can differ by region. You will find it with the Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, at diplomatie.belgium.be. We follow it for every country on your route, before you leave and during your trip, and discuss with you what it means for your journey.
Your trip
Tell us what you want to see in Central America.
With us, a trip starts with a conversation. We think along about the country, the regions and the pace, and work out the trip with a local partner who knows the country.
Updated in October 2026