20 Lesser-Known Hidden Gems in Mexico and Central America

Cheap and only a few hours away by plane, Mexico and Central America have long been popular destinations for Canadian travellers. The region also has a lot to offer, from archaeological treasures to jungle adventures and beaches. It’s well worth venturing a little off the beaten track, so how about visiting these lesser known but must-see gems in Mexico and Central America?

Isla Holbox, Mexico vacation destination

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Isla Holbox, Mexico

Isla Holbox is a small island off the Yucatan Peninsula in the south of Mexico and is a world away from nearby Cancun. Instead of high-rise hotels and obnoxious spring-breakers, you’ll find quiet beaches and people learning to kite-surf or watching whale sharks. Prepare for your trip with our Mexico packing list.

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Guadalupe Valley, Mexico

The Guadalupe Valley is about an hour and a half from Tijuana. Like many of the world’s most scenic valleys, this is wine country and the vintages produced here are popular throughout Mexico. Several of the wineries also have excellent restaurants.

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Paracho, Mexico

There are more famous destinations for music lovers but if your instrument of choice is the guitar, you can’t visit Mexico and not visit Paracho. This town is home to over 2,000 luthiers who produce some of the world’s most sought-after guitars. You can visit their workshops and see first-hand how these beautiful instruments are crafted.

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Iglesia El Rosario, El Salvador

Beautiful Spanish colonial churches are everywhere in Mexico and Central America but if you can see only one church, opt for the Iglesia El Rosario in San Salvador. Built in 1971, it looks a bit like an airplane hangar from the outside but once you enter the building, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a kaleidoscope.

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El Castillo, Nicaragua

The little village of El Castillo sits on a bend in the Rio San Juan and is named for the 17th century fort overlooking it. Getting here involves a boat trip down the river and apart from the fort and some ecotours nearby, there’s not much to do here except sit back, relax and watch the river flow by.

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Isla de las Munecas, Mexico

Among the famous canals of Mexico City’s Xochimico is an island that truly deserves its place among the world’s creepiest tourist attractions. The Isla de las Munecas, or Island of the Dolls, features hundreds of dolls placed in the trees in homage to a little girl who drowned here.

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Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica

It may be one of the smallest national parks in Costa Rica but Cahuita offers you the opportunity to experience jungle, beach and coral reef all on an easy day hike. The variety of wildlife here is astounding and you might see sloths, monkeys, tree-climbing anteaters known as tamanduas, raccoons, sea turtles and even orcas.

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Guatemala City, Guatemala

Part of travellers’ reluctance to stay in Guatemala City is its reputation for crime. However, if you avoid the most dangerous things you can do while travelling, you’ll find a treasure trove of fascinating museums, beautiful architecture and a bustling nightlife.

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El Valle de Anton, Panama

Popular with Panama City’s upper crust looking for a weekend getaway, the town of El Valle de Anton is located in the caldera of an inactive volcano. There are some stunning waterfalls as well as petroglyphs and hot springs in the area and the town’s market is a good place to shop for orchids and traditional handicrafts.

Lagunas de Montebello National Park, Mexico

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Lagunas de Montebello National Park, Mexico

Near Mexico’s border with Guatemala, Lagunas de Montebello National Park comprises a pine forest and 59 lakes. They may not be among the strangest lakes in the world but they have different colours due to mineral deposits. The park is also home to the Maya ruins of Chinkultic.

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Chichicastenango Cemetery, Guatemala

Chichicastenango, or Chichi, is renowned for its colourful market but it also boasts another attraction that’s definitely not bland. The tombs in the town’s ceremony are painted in vibrant colours, often in the favourite colour of the deceased. You can often find Mayan shamans making offerings to the gods here too.

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Placencia, Belize

Located on a peninsula in southern Belize, Placencia is a village where you can feel as if you’re on one of the country’s more famous cays without having to take a boat to get there. The palm-lined beaches here are so breathtaking that it’s easy to see why Puritans from Nova Scotia settled here in the 17th century.

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Joya de Ceren, El Salvador

Also known as the Pompeii of the Americas, Joya de Ceren is one of the little-known UNESCO World Heritage Sites that you need to visit. In around 590 CE, a volcanic eruption caused the inhabitants of a village to flee and for the next fourteen centuries, a thick layer of ash preserved their homes, manioc fields, utensils and even half-eaten food.

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Actun Tunichil Muknal, Belize

The cave of Actun Tunichil Muknal, or ATM as it’s known in these parts, was once a sacred site to the Maya. Here you’ll find ceramic artefacts, altars and skeletal remains such as the Crystal Maiden, a skeleton that has been calcified to give it a crystallized, sparkling appearance.

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Playa Carrillo, Costa Rica

If you’re always on the lookout for secret beach gems, you’ll love Playa Carrillo on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. A coral reef here makes for spectacular snorkelling while the beach itself boasts white sand, palm trees and Blue Flag status.

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Amador Causeway, Panama

The Amador Causeway links Panama City to the Causeway Islands at the mouth of the Panama Canal and was built from rocks excavated when the canal was built. It’s a great place for a stroll or a bike ride or for watching the sunset. Along the Causeway you’ll also find the colourful Frank Gehry-designed Biomuseo.

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La Esperanza and Intibuca, Honduras

The sister cities of La Esperanza and Intibuca lie high up in the pine-covered mountains of southwestern Honduras and the cool climate provides a welcome respite from the heat you’ll find in most of Central America. The cities are known for the colourful traditions of the local Lenca people.

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Little Corn Island, Nicaragua

Getting to Little Corn Island takes time and dedication, which is why it’s not on many travellers’ radar when they visit Nicaragua. However, this slice of paradise is so perfect that you’ll wonder why it isn’t considered one of the top Caribbean islands yet. When you make it to Little Corn Island, be warned: you’ll stay much longer than you had planned to.

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Isla del Tigre, Honduras

Most visitors to Honduras head to the country’s Bay Islands on the northern coast, making Isla del Tigre or Tiger Island in the Gulf of Fonseca in the south very much off the beaten path. Lazing on the beach, hiking the volcano, exploring the sleepy town of Amapala and gorging on seafood are the main things to do here.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Costa Rica

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Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Costa Rica

Not as famous or popular with visitors as Arenal, Rincon de la Vieja is nevertheless one of Costa Rica’s best volcanoes to visit. It’s still active and the national park surrounding it offers excellent hiking complete with geothermal pools, waterfalls and cloud forest.