BELIZE:

Belize has more in common with its island neighbours than with the fiery volatility of Central America. English-speaking, Creole-dominated and with a thoroughly coup-free history, this tiny country has some of the best diving in the world, dramatic Mayan ruins looming out of untouched jungle and secluded eco-lodges.

Lamanai: This impressive Mayan site is located in its own archaeological reserve. Its 60 significant structures include a grand 34m/112ft-high late Preclassic building, a small temple and a ball court. Lamanai ('submerged crocodile', the original Mayan name of the place) was occupied from 1500 BC and became a major ceremonial centre long before most Mayan sites. The Maya lived here right up until the arrival of the Spanish; two ruined Indian churches nearby testify to the fact that there were still Maya here to be converted. The 90-minute boat trip up the New River from Orange Walk to reach the site is an adventure in itself. The boat passes the Mennonite community of Shipyard and offers the opportunity to see plenty of birdlife and crocodiles.

The Cayes: At 290km (180mi) long, Belize's barrier reef is the longest in the Western Hemisphere. To the west of the reef are numerous cayes offering some of the world's most exciting diving, snorkelling and fishing. Underwater visibility can be an astonishing 60m (197ft) and the coral and tropical fish are spectacular.

Xunantunich: Xunantunich (Stone Maiden), set on a levelled hilltop near the Belize River, is the archaeological pride of Belize. The site flourished as a ceremonial center and is thought to have been abandoned after an earthquake damaged it around 900 AD. The site's tallest building - El Castillo - rises an impressive 40m (131ft) above the jungle.

COSTA RICA:

Costa Rica is Central America's jewel. Costa Rica's enlightened approach to conservation has ensured that lush jungles are home to playful monkeys, languid sloths, crocodiles, countless lizards, poison-dart frogs and a mind-boggling assortment of exotic birds, insects and butterflies. Meanwhile, endangered sea turtles nest on both coasts and cloud forests protect elusive birds and jungle cats. Thrill seekers can fly through forests on zip lines, peer into boiling volcanoes, surf oversized waves and dive with dolphins and whales.

San José: The cosmopolitan capital of Costa Rica is the transportation hub of the country and has several excellent museums, some great restaurants, colorful markets and a fine climate. The best of the museums are the Museo Nacional, which has displays of Costa Rican archaeology, colonial furniture, costumes and religious art; the Museo de Oro Precolombino, which houses a dazzling collection of pre-Columbian gold pieces; and the Museo de Jade, with the world's largest collection of American jade sculptures. The most impressive city building is the Teatro Nacional, built in the 1890s. It hosts plays, operas, ballets and performances by the National Symphony Orchestra.

Monteverde: This small community in northwestern Costa Rica was founded by Quakers in 1951 and is now a popular and interesting destination for both local and international visitors. The small town of Santa Elena is the closest settlement to the Monteverde cloud-forest reserve.

Pacific Beaches: The Pacific coast has a pleasing mixture of luxury resorts and deserted beaches. Golfito, on the southern Pacific coast, is an important port and jumping-off point for the region's fantastic beaches. Heading northeast from the town, the coast features numerous remote coves, with jungle-lodge accommodations and virgin rain forest backdrop. The coastal Parque Nacional Corcovado, on the Península de Osa, has a huge colony of scarlet macaws.

Parks: Over 40 years of government funding have given Costa Rican parks and wildlife quality and quantity of biological reserves and well-preserved ecosystems. The national park northwest of Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal, has at its center the perfectly conical 1633m (5356ft) Volcán Arenal. The volcano has been exceptionally active since 1968, when huge explosions triggered lava flows. The degree of activity varies from week to week; sometimes there is a spectacular display of flowing red-hot lava and incandescent rocks flying through the air, while at other times just a gentle glow.

GUATEMALA:

Guatemala offers Central America in concentrated form: from its volcanoes which are the highest and most active to its Mayan ruins which are the most impressive. Guatemala is the Mayan heartland of Central America and this indigenous Guatemalan culture is alive and well. It survives in the ancient ruins of Tikal, the Mayan/Catholic rituals of Chichicastenango and the blazing colors of everyday Mayan dress.

Guatemala City: Guatemala City is the largest urban agglomeration in Central America. It covers an entire mountain plain and the Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología and Museo Nacional de Arte Moderno have great Mayan artefacts and 20th-century Guatemalan art.

Antigua Guatemala: Antigua was the nation's capital from 1543 until 1776 when the capital was moved to the present site of Guatemala City. Antigua is among the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Americas. Set amid three magnificent volcanoes - Agua, Fuego and Acatenango - its sturdy colonial buildings have weathered 16 earthquakes and numerous floods and fires. Antigua is beautiful during Semana Santa, when the streets are carpeted with elaborate decorations of colored sawdust and flower petals.

Chichicastenango: The highlands town of Chichi is surrounded by valleys and overshadowed by looming mountains. Though isolated, it's an important market town. The locals have combined traditional Mayan religious rites with Catholicism; check out the church of Santo Tomás and the shrine of Pascual Abaj, which honours the Mayan earth god. Incense, food, drink and cigarettes are offered to ancestors and to ensure the continued fertility of the earth.

Flores: Flores is the capital with its church and government building arranged around the main plaza. The city was founded by the Itzáes, and at the time of conquest was perhaps the last still-functioning Mayan ceremonial center in the country. The pyramids, temples and idols were destroyed by the God-fearing Spanish solidiers, and the dispersal of the Mayan citizens into the jungle gave rise to the myth of a 'lost' Mayan city. You can take boat rides to various lagoon settlements and visit the limestone caves of Actun-Can.

Panajachel: The attraction of Panajachel is the absolutely gorgeous caldera lake (a water-filled collapsed volcanic cone). Volcanoes surround the lake, and the town is the starting point for excursions to the smaller, more traditional indigenous villages on the western and southern shores of the lake.

Quetzaltenango: Quetzaltenango, more commonly called Xela ('shay-lah'), is an excellent base for excursions to the many nearby hot springs and handicrafts villages. The town's major sights are the central square and the buildings which surround it and Parque Minerva - built to honour the classical goddess of education in the hope of inspiring Guatemalan youth to new heights of learning.

HONDURAS:

Honduras is the original banana republic, but travel there is easy, enjoyable and inexpensive. The slow pace, natural beauty and low-profile tourism make it particularly appealing to travelers who enjoy getting off the beaten track.

Tegucigalpa: The capital of Honduras is a bustling city nestled into a bowl-shaped valley. The name Tegucigalpa means 'silver hill', as the city was a mining center in 1578. There are plenty of worthy attractions around Tegucigalpa, including the huge Gothic Basílica de Suyapa, where the Virgen de Suyapa, patron saint of Honduras, is believed to have performed hundreds of miracles. La Tigra National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Honduars and has a cloud forest that is home to ocelots, pumas, monkeys and quetzal.

Bay Islands: Roatán, Guanaja and Utila, off the north coast of Honduras, are a continuation of the Belizean reefs and offer great snorkelling and diving. The islands' economy is based mostly on fishing, but tourism is becoming increasingly important.

Comayagua: Comayagua was the capital of Honduras and retains much evidence of its colonial importance. The cathedral in the center of the town was built between 1685 and 1715, it contains much fine art and boasts one of the oldest clocks in the world. The clock was made over 800 years ago by the Moors for the palace of Alhambra in Granada, and was donated to the town by King Philip II of Spain. The first university in Central America was founded in Comayagua in 1632 in the Casa Cural, which now houses the Museo Colonial.

Copán Ruinas: This beautiful village has nearby Mayan ruins of the same name. The archaeological site at the ruins is open daily and includes the Stelae of the Great Plaza, portraying the rulers of Copán, dating from AD613; the ball court and hieroglyphic stairway; and the Acropolis, which has superb carved reliefs of the 16 kings of Copán.

Trujillo: The small town of Trujillo has played an important role in Central American history. Columbus first set foot on the American mainland near Trujillo on August 14, 1502. The town sits on the wide arc of the Bahía de Trujillo and is famed for its lovely beaches, coconut palms and gentle seas.

PANAMA:

While Panama is known mostly for its famous canal but it also offers some of the finest birding, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing in the Americas. It offers astounding wildlife adventures. The country's indigenous name means 'abundance of fish'. Rafters can ride 20 sets of rapids in a single day, wildlife abounds in the scarcely-visited national parks, and a person can snorkel in the Caribbean Sea and swim in the Pacific Ocean...on the same day!

Panama City: The capital of Panama is a modern, thriving commercial center stretching along the Pacific coast from the ruins of Panamá Viejo to the edge of the Panama Canal. Attractions include the 17th-century Metropolitan Church, the Interoceanic Canal Museum of Panama, the Plaza de Bolívar, the presidential palace, the History Museum of Panama and the Spanish 16th-century sea wall.

Boquete: Known for its cool, fresh climate and pristine natural environment, the small alpine town of Boquete is nestled into a craggy mountain valley and is a fine place for walking, bird-watching and horseback riding. Boquete is a good base for climbing the 3475m (11,400ft) Volcán Barú or visiting the volcano's vast national park.

Isla Taboga: This charming historical island, south of Panama City, has an attractive beach, protected rainforest, and bountiful flocks of brown pelicans. Known as the Island of Flowers for the times of the year it is filled with the aroma of sweet-smelling blooms, it's a popular retreat from the city.

Panama Canal: Both an engineering marvel and one of the most significant waterways on earth, the canal stretches 80km (50mi) from Panama City on the Pacific to Colón on the Atlantic. The easiest and best way to visit the Canal is to go to the Miraflores Locks, which offers visitors a good view of the locks in operation. There's also a museum with a model and a film about the Canal. Five-hour boat tours leave from Balboa in Panama City.