Introduction
Central America has a wealth of opportunities for history and culture holidays, with a large number of ruins lying half-hidden and entwined by tree-roots and jungle vegetation, waiting for you to discover them.
The Maya civilization represented the most diverse and densely populated society in the world at one stage, and held sway over vast swathes of Central America, including Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico.
In Northern Guatemala, Tikal was one of the largest cities; the impressive pyramids and palaces stand amidst the jungle as testament to the society's achievements. Elsewhere El Mirador, Uaxactun Yaxchilan and Yaxha deserve your attention too. In Mexico, Palenque also boasts a large number of ruins, tombs and temples, all overlooking dense jungle.
There are a number of minority groups and indigenous tribes in Central America but some of the easiest to visit are the Kuna in Panama; visit their tiny islands to learn about cultural traditions and see the community at work.
These are just a handful of the options available though. You can also tailor-make your history and culture holiday in Central America by adding a city stay, wildlife holiday or other excursion to your itinerary; talk to a destination specialist to see what we can do for you.