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The 10 Best Resorts in Central America of 2025

The 10 Best Resorts in Central America of 2025

Trips to Central American resorts always seem to start with a big exhale. After all, there's something about the region's unspoiled natural beauty, superlative hospitality, and easygoing pace that instantly prompts shoulders to relax and stress to melt away. For Travel + Leisure readers, it's tough to beat the quiet luxury exemplified by hotels in Costa Rica, but properties in Nicaragua, Belize, and Honduras capitalize on their pristine waters in increasingly compelling ways. Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 180,000 T+L readers completed the 2025 survey. A total of more than 657,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, inn, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below: Rooms/facilities Location Service Food Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.
How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Costa Rica
20 Best Things to Do in Belize The Casona con Piscina guest room at Hacienda AltaGracia.
Auberge Resorts Collection
No matter where in Central America they traveled, T+L readers sought out resorts that champion nature and wellness. All three properties in Belize are well-positioned for guests who want a luxe home base for snorkeling or diving excursions to the country's renowned barrier reef. The highest ranked—No. 6 Matachica Resort & Spa—is nestled on Ambergris Caye, which T+L readers consistently vote as one of their favorite islands in Mexico and Central and South America. When guests aren't lounging in the hammock of their thatched-roof casita or villa, they're likely sipping cocktails and basking in sea views at Danny's Tree Bar or out on the water. Snorkel gear and kayaks are complimentary, and a section of the reef is just offshore. The resort can also arrange a boating excursion to snorkel or dive in Hol Chan Marine Reserve, where more than 150 fish species and roughly 40 types of coral are thriving.
Half the honorees on this year's list (including this year's No. 1) are located in Costa Rica, which was T+L's 2024 Destination of the Year. Whether they're in the surf hub of Nosara (No. 5 Tierra Magnifica Boutique Hotel) or the cloud forests of Monteverde (No. 3 Hotel Belmar), each one embodies the sentiment of pura vida , with a reverence for nature and some of the warmest hospitality you'll encounter throughout the world. Astute readers will notice this year's list marks the end of Nayara Tented Camp's four-year winning streak. Though it slips to No. 2, WBA voters raved about their stays at the secluded glamping resort set against the backdrop of Arenal volcano. 'Unforgettable experience and memories from this place,' shares one guest. 'We were truly blown away by the service, the views, the location, food, and everything.' Another person thought the staff was particularly impressive, writing that they've 'been to several high end hotels in the world, and by far, this hotel has the best trained and knowledgeable staff.'
Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection: Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica Casa Grande, a two-bedroom guest room at Hacienda AltaGracia.
Auberge Resorts Collection
Tucked into the verdant foothills of Costa Rica's Talamanca Mountains, this 50-casita hideaway centers the guest experience on immersive adventure, cultural discovery, and soul-centering wellness. The property's 180 acres encompass a coffee farm, horse stables, an organic culinary garden, and a holistic spa. Active adventures include zip-lining through the jungle, scaling giant ficus trees, or venturing out into the pitch-black night to search for nocturnal animals with a wildlife guide. For fun that's equally invigorating but lower adrenaline, there's a variety of culinary options, including a hands-on Tico baking class, cocktail workshops, and visits to family-owned farms nearby. Casa de Agua offers a range of signature treatments that incorporate Central American wellness practices, as well as Eastern modalities like Reiki. As T+L readers will attest, no matter how guests choose to spend their time, they'll find a restorative experience worth flying for.
1. Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection: Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica
Reader Score: 98.89
2. Nayara Tented Camp: Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 97.89
3. Hotel Belmar: Monteverde, Costa Rica
Reader Score: 97.66
4. Rancho Santana: Tola-Rivas, Nicaragua
Reader Score: 97.39
5. Tierra Magnifica Boutique Hotel: Nosara, Costa Rica
Reader Score: 96.36
6. Matachica Resort & Spa: Ambergris Caye, Belize
Reader Score: 96.20
7. Victoria House: Ambergris Caye, Belize
Reader Score: 96.00
8. Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa: West Bay Beach, Honduras
Reader Score: 95.20
8. The Lodge at Jaguar Reef: Hopkins Village, Belize
Reader Score: 95.20
10. Nayara Springs: Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica Reader Score: 94.83
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Tourism is increasing over prepandemic levels, overwhelming popular destinations
Tourism is increasing over prepandemic levels, overwhelming popular destinations

Yahoo

time23 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Tourism is increasing over prepandemic levels, overwhelming popular destinations

'Portugal's Travel & Tourism Sector Enters Golden Era.' 'Travel & Tourism in Poland Set to Surpass Economic Records.' 'France Set to Maintain Unmatched 2024 Growth in Travel & Tourism.' The World Travel and Tourism Council's news and press release page is chock full of articles highlighting one fact: the world's most visited destinations are overwhelmed with tourists, and the postpandemic tourism boom doesn't seem to be slowing down. Global travel was already swelling in 2024, when international travel reached 99% of its prepandemic levels, according to UN Tourism's World Tourism Barometer. In the first quarter of 2025, international tourist arrivals increased by 5% compared to the first quarter of 2024 and 3% compared to the first quarter of 2019. This surge of vacationers is in part due to 'revenge travel': people are going on the long-awaited trips they weren't able to take during the pandemic. Partly as a result, popular sites and vacationing spots are facing an influx of tourists. One of the countries most challenged by the flood of tourist traffic is Spain, which welcomed about 94 million foreign visitors in 2024—about double the country's entire population of 49 million. The barrage of foreign tourists is making destinations busier and prices more expensive, and locals as well as domestic tourists are getting pushed out of their own regions. For Spain's 25 most popular coastal destinations, where hotel prices have risen 23% in the past three years, foreign tourism rose last year by 1.94 million people while local tourism dropped by 800,000. In contrast, about 1.7 million more Spaniards vacationed inland to more affordable areas last year compared to the year before. But locals aren't relinquishing their hometowns and regional vacation destinations easily. In Barcelona, which has a population of 1.7 million and saw 15.5 million domestic and foreign visitors last year, protesters took to the streets this year and last to splash tourists with water guns. In Paris, staff at the Louvre, the world's most-visited museum, went on strike in June, protesting the crowds, the lack of staffing, and the working conditions. The museum currently caps daily visitors at 30,000, which brings the maximum yearly attendance to 9.3 million—about 5 million more than the Louvre was designed to receive. While locals are protesting overtourism, governments are trying to satiate their constituents without losing the economic boost that tourism provides. On a global scale, travel and tourism represented 10% of the global economy in 2024. Travel and tourism in Spain is expected to make up 16%, or $303.3 billion, of the country's national economy, and the same sector in France is expected to make up 9.3%, or $319.2 billion, of its output. In trying to appease both sides, the government of Italy imposed a five-euro (almost $6) tax last year to tourists traveling into the city in an attempt to mitigate tourism at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fee, implemented in April, is applicable only to day trips, not longer visits, and is in effect for only 54 days of this year's peak tourism season. Residents of Venice, whose population has shrunk from about 175,000 in the 1970s to below 50,000 last year, said that the entrance fee turned their city into an amusement park and will not do much to discourage tourists. Governments are also tightening regulations on short-term vacation rentals, specifically Airbnb, which limit the housing supply and therefore increase residential housing prices. The vacation rental company, which denies it has a role in hiking housing prices, is currently appealing a decision to take down around 66,000 properties in Spain that violate local rules. London and Paris, too, have capped the number of nights a property can be rented a year to 90 days. This story was originally featured on Solve the daily Crossword

I'm a Mom in Paris—and These Are My 11 Must-visit Spots With Kids in the City of Light
I'm a Mom in Paris—and These Are My 11 Must-visit Spots With Kids in the City of Light

Travel + Leisure

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I'm a Mom in Paris—and These Are My 11 Must-visit Spots With Kids in the City of Light

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More Americans Are Taking A Road Trip This Summer. But Can They Afford It?
More Americans Are Taking A Road Trip This Summer. But Can They Afford It?

Forbes

timean hour ago

  • Forbes

More Americans Are Taking A Road Trip This Summer. But Can They Afford It?

Americans are taking more road trips than ever. Here's what it means for you. getty The Great American road trip is back. But it's not the free-spending adventure it used to be. Americans are hitting the highway like never before – Enterprise Mobility reports a record 60 percent of Americans plan on traveling via personal or rental vehicle to their summer destination – but the classic joyride is overshadowed by economic anxiety. This summer is about dodging financial potholes and enduring screensaver-worthy traffic. "The summer road trip offers people the opportunity to explore the country with the flexibility and freedom to go where they want, when they want," says Bridget Long, senior vice president of North American operations for Enterprise Mobility. "Freedom and flexibility are key – and why many are turning to road trips this summer." Here are some of the key trends shaping the 2025 summer road trip: Less is more. 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"It's a nation slowing down long enough to appreciate what we have, to understand where we came from, and to create meaningful connections with both places and people." Sherren was surprised when her 85-year-old mother nixed an opportunity to visit Paris in favor of a road trip to see Lincoln's Springfield and the Oregon Trail. It's not all nostalgia. Staying home just feels safer. Jackie Mondelli, Squaremouth's chief marketing officer, cites her company's data: 34 percent of travelers under 40 feel more anxious about flying. "This also feels like a continuation of a trend that started during COVID, when people turned to RVs and road trips to reduce the risk of exposure," she says. "Since then, many have discovered they enjoy the freedom and flexibility of traveling by car." The control factor is huge, says seasoned road tripper and pro organizer Stephanie Deininger. "People want to explore their own country, not just fly over it," she says. "There's a growing desire to get to know your own state, your own region, your own neighbors. I think this will continue as people crave in-person connection." What does the 2025 road trip look like? Enterprise's data suggests Americans — in addition to saving money and avoiding air travel — are interested in culinary and cultural escapes. It found 50 percent of those surveyed said that their dream holiday includes a combination of relaxing and sightseeing activities, and 46 percent said they are looking to enjoy local food. There may be no better reason to take a road trip. The United States has some of the most diverse cuisine on the planet, from lobster rolls in Maine to Tex-Mex in the Southwest. You can plan your entire trip around food (and it is definitely worth it). And there's plenty to see. Shari Margolin, a travel advisor, just completed an epic road trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. "National parks offer stunning beauty, affordability, and memorable vacation experiences," she says. Most American road trips will take place in July, according to Enterprise. And people are going big. "We've found roominess – the need for extra space – and a large trunk to be two of the top desired features of a rental for summer travelers," notes Long, the Enterprise executive. She says 47 percent of respondents to her survey planned to rent an SUV, and 37 percent are opting for a roomy sedan. How to take a successful 2025 road trip Want to actually enjoy your 2025 road trip? Steal these pro tips: Pack like a pro — and plan ahead. That's the advice of travel advisor Stacie Vinson. On a recent road trip with her toddler, her cooler burst open in the middle of a road trip and she lost her child's water bottle. "I didn't have a backup, and there wasn't a general store in sight for miles," she says. "Needless to say, my toddler threw a tantrum." 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The road trippers I talked to for this story say they're proceeding with caution. They're planning their trips carefully, watching their bottom line, and expecting the unexpected. That's always a good idea, but perhaps never more than during the summer of 2025.

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