Central America and Mexico are known for their diverse landscapes of mountains, deserts and beautiful beaches. Find out about seven unmissable experiences you should try in the region .
Adrenaline seekers make the 40-minute trek up Cerro Negro’s shadeless slopes to the smoking crater where they don coveralls and goggles, mount a wooden board and whizz down a steep incline of black ash to the bottom at speeds of 40-60mph (60-100 kph. One of the best places to practice volcano surfing in the world, Nicaragua’s Cerro Negro is a bucket-list must. For more adventures, visit: https://theculturetrip.com/central-america/nicaragua/articles/15-epic-places-in-nicaragua-you-should-visit/
Head to the Mexican town of San Juan de la Vega for the Exploding Hammer Festival, which takes place every February. It involves strapping home-made explosives to sledgehammers and smashing them into the ground. It can be quite dangerous, so don’t get too close! If Mexico takes your fancy, head to: https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/20-photos-that-prove-mexico-is-the-most-beautiful-place-on-earth/
Rio Celeste is located in the Tenorio Volcano National Park in the Costa Rican province of Alajuela. In the past, visitors were allowed to swim in the river, but it is now prohibited within the park for safety reasons. While you may not be able to take a dip here, seeing this spectacular and surreal blue river is an absolute must when visiting this part of the country. Find out more about the river here: https://theculturetrip.com/central-america/costa-rica/articles/where-does-rio-celeste-get-its-magical-blue-color-from/
Before becoming the it destination of the travel bloggerati, Las Coloradas was just a sleepy fishing village on the Yucatán coast with a penchant for salt production that dated back to the Mayan period. The pink colour comes from the algae, plankton and brine shrimp that reside in the waters of Las Coloradas and become visible as the water evaporates under the beating Mexican sun. For more on Las Coloradas, visit: https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/las-coloradas-a-guide-to-mexicos-magical-pink-lagoon/
The Sloth Sanctuary is located between Limon and Cahuita on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The 320-acre (130-hectare) private nature reserve was previously called Aviarios del Caribe. You can get to the sanctuary via rental car, by taking a Sansa Airlines flight to Limon followed by a taxi ride, hopping on an Interbus via route Limon/Cahuita/Hone Creek/Puerto Viejo (let the driver know you are going to the sanctuary and you can get dropped off right at the gate), or by hiring a private shuttle van. If the Sloth Sanctuary piques your interest, check out: https://theculturetrip.com/central-america/costa-rica/articles/guide-to-costa-ricas-sloth-sanctuary/
Stay on a private island in this Airbnb in Belize. Search for Little Peter Oasis and have your own personal bungalow, floating on the Caribbean Sea. You can snorkel in the nearby reef or go parasailing, and there’s even a helipad that doubles as a putting green. Discover more islands in Central America at: https://theculturetrip.com/central-america/costa-rica/articles/11-secret-islands-in-central-america-that-you-never-knew-existed/
Close to Cancún there is an entire underwater museum to be discovered that many people have never heard of, and it has a mission beyond just the enjoyment of divers. Launched in 2009, this impressive feat of both imagination and engineering includes more than 500 life-size sculptures that are accessible from three separate points in Quintana Roo: Isla Mujeres, Cancún and Punta Nizuc. For further information, dive into: https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/you-have-to-see-mexicos-incredible-underwater-museum/
Discover more about Central America and start your wishlist here: https://culturetrip.travel/CentralAmerica
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?Credits:
Las Coloradas, Mexico
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjt870P77YMmgNbSsxB0p3w
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWRJZ5H4uowgn4-290qQ4Mw
Limon, Costa Rica
http://www.slothsanctuary.com/
Malpaisillo, Nicaragua
https://www.volcanodaynicaragua.com/
San Juan de la Vega, Mexico
https://www.youtube.com/user/friskyb
Malpaisillo, Nicaragua
https://www.volcanodaynicaragua.com/
Little Peter Oasis, Belize
https://www.youtube.com/user/VideoVision360
Cancúun, Mexico
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNtASyjqXCASclS5Lh71v1Q
