Map of Central America & the Caribbean

Paradise is easy enough to track down. Just head for the cluster of small nations located between the two Americas, and you’ll find warm, clear waves lapping at sparkling stretches of sand, plus coconut groves that dance in the ocean breeze. As our map of Central America and the Caribbean shows, there’s plenty of coastline to go around.

But this region isn’t just for beach bums. From the hustle of Havana to the boozy bars of Panama City, there’s a life-affirming energy in the air. Dance

the night away with a glass (or three) of local rum; steer your surfboard through perfect, barrel-shaped waves; or save your strength for trips inland.

Cacophonous jungles await exploration in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, while partially overgrown Mayan ruins beg to be uncovered in Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. Add in smouldering volcanoes, abandoned Spanish buildings, cool cloud forests, and – yes – sloths, and it’s unlikely you’ll ever want to leave.