5 Epic Things to Cross off Your Bucket List in Central America
Besides Costa Rica, I hadn’t really given much thought to the rest of Central America.
It wasn’t until we randomly decided to go to Nicaragua to meet a friend that I really looked into it.
And after spending nearly a month in Nicaragua, we still almost didn’t travel north through the rest of the region.
Luckily, several serendipitous experiences took us on a journey from Nicaragua all the way to Belize, stopping in every country along the way.
Now I think Central America is one of most incredible places, from the proud culture, rich history and lush wilderness, to high adrenaline adventures.
Yet only a small amount of people will ever think to go there. And its only a few hours by plane from the US; no need to fly to the other side of the world to get these experiences.
As part of my newfound mission to spread Central American travel awareness, here is my list of 5 seriously epic adventures to cross of your bucket list in Central America.
To get you really excited, read about the Best Cities to Digital Nomad in Central America. What are you waiting for? Book that flight!
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5 Epic Adventures to Cross off Your Bucket List in Central America
Hike to an Erupting Volcano
Hiking Volcan Acatenango is a top bucket list item for any adventurer in Guatemala. The hike provides sweeping views of the entire region, including six other volcanoes. One of these, is the very active Volcan Fuego, which can be best seen at night spitting red and yellow lava.
Fear not – Volcan Fuego has been erupting consistently since colonial times.
The overnight hike actually starts the day before, by meeting with the guides in Antigua (one of my favorite cities to digital nomad) to pack your belongings, gather camping supplies, and talk about what you can expect during the hike.
Then, bright and early the fun begins with a shuttle ride to a Mayan village at the base, followed by a 5 hour ascension through four different ecosystems, stopping for a picnic lunch along the way. At the camp, dinner is served with views of the valley and Volcan Fuego’s fiery eruption below.
Wake up again at 4am to complete the summit and watch the sun rise over Antigua Valley. Hikers are usually back in Antigua by mid-day, with plenty of time left to take a nap.
Due to the intense nature of this hike, it is essential to go with an experienced guide.
What to bring:
- Hiking boots or sneakers
- Water
- Warm layers, and a hat
- Don’t worry about having any of your own camping supplies – the tour companies provide all this for you. Even warm coats.
★ Rated: 4.5 out of 5 (90 reviews)
Scuba Dive the World’s Second Largest Barrier Reef
The just off the coast of Belize, is the magnificent Great Mayan Reef – only second in size to Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef. From Caye Caulker, San Pedro, or any one of Belize’s other Caribbean islands, its just a short boat trip away.
Whether you are snorkeling or scuba diving – this is a must-visit! You can even try your luck with spear-fishing (Jack’s new favorite hobby).
The enormous reef system provides diverse scuba diving opportunities including walls, pinnacles, and reef flats. It is also home to the famous Great Blue Hole – a truly once in a lifetime dive.
Only two dive shops to go the Hole from Caye Caulker:
To dive the Great Blue Hole, plan ahead! Dive shops only go on certain days, and it tends to sell out.
Sadly, the Belize Barrier Reef is under threat from oceanic pollution, over-fishing, and rising sea temperatures, resulting in mass coral bleaching. The vibrant, neon colors of fish and coral dwindle every year.
Get this comprehensive list of 99 digital nomad destinations, and you’ll never run out of inspiration.
Ready, set, wander!
Volcano Boarding
In Northern Nicaragua, León attracts hoards of backpackers who are after one thing: volcano boarding. This will definitely earn you bragging rights after crossing it off your bucket list in Central America.
For the adrenaline seekers out there, I’ve heard you can go up to 60 mph. For those of us not seeking much adrenaline (aka me), you can control the speed of the board by digging your heels into the ground.
All the ins and outs of speed control and ‘safety’ are explained by the guides.
It’s one of only three places in the world you can board down a volcano (the others are in Indonesia and Vanuatu).
What to bring:
1 hour of hiking for 60 seconds of fun…. and well worth it. Really enjoyed learning about this baby volcano as we hiked up. The guide was personable, fun, and well educated. Great experience, highly recommended!
★★★★★ Rachel K. (read more reviews)
★ Rated: 5 out of 5 (17 reviews)
Other ways you can experience volcano boarding:
- Stay at Bigfoot Hostel and Volcano Boarding.
- Book a tour with a company like Volcano Day.
- Or through a travel site.
Plan the rest of your trip to Nicaragua:
León Needs to be on Your Nicaraguan Bucket List
Surf Some Epic Waves
Photo Cred: Rudy Ortiz | @rudy.ortiz
El Tunco, El Salvador is the self-proclaimed “surf capital of the world“. I personally haven’t been all over the world to verify this, but it must be among the top of the list. This little surf town is making a name for itself. Come for the surf, stay for the epic sunsets and pulsating weekend parties.
The dry season is November through April, and during this time the waves are slightly more mellow, and better for intermediate and beginners (to me the waves still looked huge).
Starting in May and lasting through October is the rainy season, but don’t let that get you down. This is the time of year with the best surf. Solid swells can hold 10+ feet.
People from all over the world come here to surf, compete, and absolutely rip. El Salvador was selected to host the 2021 (rescheduled from 2020) ISA World surfing games, a stepping stone to the Tokyo Olympics! And 2022 had even more world surfing events on the calendar.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Being a Digital Nomad in El Tunco
I found this on a surf report site and it is so spot on I had to share…
“Couple the tourist-friendly atmosphere of Tunco with the user-friendly peaks of Sunzal [Point Break] and you’ve got a recipe for one helluva stew in the line-up, from young local rippers to giggly Danish backpacker girls out for their first session… and everything in-between.” magicseaweed
Explore a Wonder of the World
Although this *technically* isn’t in Central America, it is super close in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. And while you’re crossing things off your bucket list in Central America, you might as well add it to the list.
Chichén Itzá is an ancient Mayan city dating back to 600 AD.
It was chosen as one of the New7Wonders of the World in 2000, as it is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological sites in the world, and home to a myriad of ancient Mayan marvels.
Mayan ingenuity shines in their use of acoustics, architectural innovation, astronomy, and light and shadow.
The temples are breathtaking, and ball field is something I’ll never forget. I think its best to get a tour guide so you learn all the details that makes Chichén Itzá so iconic.
Tons of tour companies run excursions to Chichén Itzá from Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Cancun. You can book something ahead of time via travel site, or just walk down the street see who will give you the best deal.
Book these experiences in Chichén Itzá:
Central American Bucket List Adventures
What are you waiting for? It’s time to start crossing these epic experiences off your bucket list! The top adventures in Central America:
- Hike to an Erupting Volcano in Guatemala
- Scuba Dive the World’s Second Largest Barrier Reef in Belize
- Go Volcano Boarding in Northern Nicaragua
- Surf Some Epic Waves in El Salvador
- Explore a Wonder of the World in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
How many countries are in Central America?
Central America is a relatively small region between Mexico and Colombia. This region was heavily colonized by the Spanish and the British until the early 1800s. Central America gained it’s independence and the nation states banded together to form the “The Federal Republic of Central America”. You’ll notice many Central American countries have very similar looking flags as a result.
However it wasn’t long before a civil war broke out and the union eventually splintered into the countries we know today.
There are only seven countries that are commonly considered Central America, each with their own unique culture and traditions.
List of Central American countries:
- Belize
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- El Salvador
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Panama
What extreme activities are in Central America?
Central America is home to all kinds of extreme activities. Some of these include: zip-lining, whitewater rafting, volcano boarding, scuba diving, surfing, trekking and hiking, snorkeling, rappelling and canyoning, mountain biking,
I hope you consider Central America on your list of nomad destinations! Plan your trip with the ultimate Central America itinerary.
What’s next on your bucket list?
I really enjoyed this read. Thank you for sharing!
I appreciate your comment! Glad you enjoyed it.