Regions - Central America
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a pristine country that is incredibly well suited to eco-tourism, it brings together natural wonders, animal life, adventure, beaches and intimate accommodations. It is romantic, simple, beautiful, and diversified, and easily covered in 10 to 14 days. Costa Rica has a variety of lovely beaches, but this is not really what makes it special - it's what surrounds the beaches that makes it a great honeymoon spot.
Put on your hiking shoes and your explorers' hats - Costa Rica is synonymous with the great outdoors. On the Caribbean coast, the relatively undeveloped Tortuguero area is the nesting ground for giant green sea turtles. July-November you can see turtles come out of the sea to lay their eggs. The active Mt. Arenal volcano can be a fantastic sight if you are fortunate enough to view the lava flows at night. The Tabacon Hot Springs at its base and the simple rumbling noise it makes are also worth the trip. The Monte Verde region is considered "cloud forest" or high altitude rainforest. You'll find some of the best bird watching here. Manuel Antonio National Park and the laid-back town of Quepos are excellent places for hiking, beach/water activities and bio-diversity. This is a more developed area of the country, although not disgustingly commercial.
For surfing, try Tamarindo Beach on the Nicoya Peninsula. To experience real rainforest, the Osa Peninsula is fantastic - it is only reachable by plane but you'll have the opportunity to see wildlife you might not see elsewhere. Other activities include river rafting on the Reventazon and Pacuare rivers, mountain biking, horseback riding, rainforest canopy tours and whale watching. If you have to have a fix of gambling while here, you can always try "Gringo Gulch" in the capital, San Jose.
One of the top romantic spots here is the Hotel Si Como No - beautiful rooms and suites with gorgeous ocean views. Sunsets in general are romantic in Costa Rica, but especially from the west-facing cliffs between Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park.
Belize
Belize, on the east coast of Central America, is a small, compact country. It is the kind of place where you can wake up in the morning and decide what you want to do for the day, largely because of its multiple personalities: it has wonderful islands and beaches for water activities and relaxation, along with lush tropical rainforests, which provide unique natural and historical sightseeing opportunities, as well as mountains and Mayan ruins. All of it, within easy reach. The many cayes and atolls are home to some of the best, and most prolific, scuba and snorkeling opportunities in this hemisphere. You can pack as much, or as little, into your visit to Belize as you see fit.
The northern part of the country is more agricultural, with gently rolling hills and a more arid climate - here are a number of very nice ruin sites. The southern coastal areas pristine and relatively undeveloped, offering both beaches, water activities and access to fantastic national parks and still more Mayan ruins. The more well-known part of the country is Ambergris Caye, a large island off the northern coast. If Belize has a tourist area, this is it, with resorts, beach and water activities galore. By contrast, the Cayo District, bordering Guatemala, offers a mountain/jungle environment, with inviting lodges, rushing streams, unique cave and dense forest.
Panama
Panama, just noth of South America, is a great spot for those looking for that perfect destination, one which combines unspoiled beauty, endless coastline and remote adventure opportunities, yet one which has not yet been "discovered" by the tourism industry.
Known primarily for the Panama Canal, an engineering feat far greater than most visitors first realize, Panama has grown up during the past fifteen years and now offers countless options ranging from weeks in the deep jungle of the Darien Province to rainforest hikes in the Western mountains bordering Costa Rica. The time to visit Panama is now, as this shining jewel won't remain a "diamond in the rough" for much longer.
