Latin America refers to countries where Spanish, Portuguese and French are spoken and covers North America’s Mexico.
Central America is usually defined as consisting of seven countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Within Central America is the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot, which extends from southern Mexico to southeastern Panama.
South America includes the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
Also included in Latin America are some Caribbean countries including Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Planning a Costa Rica adventure? Our self-guided journey took us from volcanoes and cloud forests to wildlife-rich beaches and remote eco-lodges. We stayed in five incredible hotels and rated each with our unique TripWorthItTM Travel Index Tool. Discover which properties scored highest and see the highlights in our cinematic videos filmed across Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, and the Osa Peninsula.
Costa Rica’s rainforests, volcanoes, and pristine beaches make it an adventurer’s paradise. As one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, it’s perfect for a self-drive tour. I crafted a 2-week road trip to avoid crowds, maximize unique experiences, and see sloths, toucans, and all four monkey species—plus explore cloud forests, hanging bridges, and stunning beaches.
