Central America is the region between the USA and South America. It includes 8 countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
Millions of tourists explore Central America every year – and it’s clear to see why. From ancient Mayan ruins to beautiful tropical beaches, this region has something for everyone. But is it suitable for families?
Stories of gang violence and political unrest put many people off visiting these countries. However, not all of this region is affected by these problems. This post delves more into whether Central America is suitable for a family holiday – and, if so, where to go.
Is Central America safe for families?
As with any part of the world, there are good and bad parts. Some cities in Central America have a notoriously high crime rate such as Tijuana in Mexico and Belize City in Belize. But tourists are generally not targets and the central areas with all the attractions are usually not where the gang violence occurs.
Coastal resorts are generally very safe. Most families experience no safety concerns, and when there is a problem, there is usually resort security around who can swiftly deal with it.
Are there hotels and attractions that cater to families?
You’ll find family resort hotels across Central America. Mexico has some of the most family-friendly resorts in the region sporting pools, kids’ clubs and restaurants with kids’ menus. Many of these are all inclusive.
As for attractions, there are plenty of things for families to do. Many of the countries have nature reserves, where families can take tours and explore the fascinating local wildlife ranging from macaws to sloths. Adventure parks with ziplines through the rainforest can also be found throughout the region. Families will also love exploring the volcanoes and ancient history.
What are the best countries in Central America for a family holiday?
You can find somewhere family-friendly to stay in all the Central American countries. However, there are three countries where families are likely to have the best holiday.
Mexico
Mexico is the most travelled country in Central America. As already mentioned, the country has no shortage of family-friendly resorts. Some of the hotels have incredible pools with multiple slides and hot tubs. And many come with clubs where kids can play for a couple hours while you sip some cocktails in the sun. You can check out some of the best family-friendly hotels in Mexico here.
As for attractions, there’s also a lot to do in Mexico, depending on where you visit.
In Quintana Roo, you’ll find XCaret – a sprawling natural water and theme park that has been described as the ‘Disney of Mexico’. Here you can go on rides, watch shows, see animals, try watersports and even attend a chocolate workshop. There is accommodation on the park, which could allow you to make the most of all the activities here.
Elsewhere in Mexico, there are historical attractions like the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. Tours can be organised from Cancun, where you’ll find many family hotels. Kids can roam and play around these ruins and are likely to be as impressed by them as adults. Other historical sites can be found at Tulum and Coba.
Other attractions that kids will love include snorkelling trips out into the reef, pirate show dinner cruises, interactive aquariums and whale-watching tours. Coastal regions and major cities will offer the best range of activities.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is often said to be the safest country in Central America. Its crime rate is relatively low and it has a long history of political stability. This makes Costa Rica holidays a popular choice for many families.
The country has a range of different kid-friendly accommodation options in most of its touristy areas. This includes hotels, eco-lodges and even jungle tents aimed at families. Amenities like swimming pools are easy to find (some even have swim up bars).
As for attractions, the thing that kids are likely to enjoy the most about Costa Rica is the jungles and the wildlife. There are many animal sanctuaries to explore such as Proyecto Asis in the Arenal volcano area where you can hold monkeys and go on sloth tours. You can also take kayak tours through the mangroves near Quepos or take dolphin watching boat tours from Uvita.
Costa Rica has many family-friendly beaches where kids will enjoy playing. Playa Hermosa, Playa Samara and Manuel Antonio Beach are all great examples. Just be wary that Costa Rican beaches do not have lifeguards and kids should be discouraged from swimming out too far due to the common riptides.
It’s worth noting that Costa Rica is very famous for its coffee. A visit to a coffee farm might not seem like the most exciting trip for kids, but attractions such as the Starbucks Coffee Farm are often ranked quite high on lists of family-friendly activities in Costa Rica due to being interesting and interactive. So, if you’re a parent and coffee lover, don’t miss out on this!
Panama
Panama is also a relatively safe country and also has no shortage of family-friendly hotels, making it another potential country worth considering in Central America. Accommodation includes resort hotels with pools and rustic tree house lodges.
Most people visiting Panama go to Panama City. From here, you can visit the impressive Panama Canal, through which thousands of ships pass every year. There are also interactive museums for kids to explore here and stunning beaches.
Panama also has its fair share of wildlife activities. Located in the middle of Lake Gatun is Monkey Island, which you can take tours of to spot all kinds of monkeys. Jungle trails and snorkelling trips can also be a chance to spot local wildlife ranging from sloths to turtles.
Those that love adventure can meanwhile look into attractions such as volcano hikes, river rafting and ziplining. The small rural town of Boquete overlooked by the towering Baru volcano is a great place to stay when exploring these activities.