Top 10 Central American Beach Escapes

• Introduction
• 1. Ambergris Caye, Belize
• 2. Barra de Santiago, El Salvador
• 3. Bocas del Toro, Panama
• 4. Hopkins, Belize
• 5. Mal Pais, Costa Rica
• 6. Placencia, Belize
• 7. Roatán, Honduras
• 8. Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
• 9. San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
• 10. San Juan del Sur (outskirts), Nicaragua

Central America has always attracted intrepid visitors in search of unfiltered natural beauty. Now, a set of top-tier, often eco-friendly, resorts is reinventing the region as a world-class beach destination, complete with unspoiled coastlines, coral reefs, and corduroy waves.

WHEN TO VISIT: The region is at its best during the dry season (also peak season), which is usually from December to May, though it varies depending on the exact location. (All prices quoted here are for peak season.) The rest of the year, prices fall but so does the rain. Solitude seekers may want to avoid the holiday season (mid-December through February), when some beaches are crowded with locals.

See Aspen Travel Guide | See New York Travel Guide | See Pennsylvania Travel Guide