Once a defensive complex guarding the Panama Canal's entrance, Fuerte Amador now serves as a portal to Panama's fascinating past. Pay a visit to the Miraflores Visitors Center for an interactive look at the canal's history, operations, and global significance, or discover the Frank Gehry-designed Biomuseo, which celebrates Panama's biological and cultural diversity. From Fuerte Amador, it's a short trip into bustling Panama City, with its cobblestoned Casco Viejo district and colonial-era architecture. Taste your way around this UNESCO-recognized City of Gastronomy, sampling everything from fresh ceviche to golden empanadas, before finding tranquility in the Metropolitan Natural Park, the only tropical forest located within a capital city in Latin America.

Sailing through the legendary Panama Canal, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, brings to life the incredible potential of human achievement. Connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Caribbean Sea, this engineering icon, which began operating in 1914, raises ships 85 feet above sea level to Gatun Lake, then lowers them at the other end. While traversing the Panama Canal, keep an eye out for monkeys and sloths in the lush surrounding jungle.

Situated on Costa Rica’s tropical Caribbean coast, Puerto Limón is an excellent base from which to visit the coral reefs of Cahuita National Park, the wildlife-rich lagoons of Tortuguero National Park, or even the nearby beaches Playa Piuta and Playa Bonita. But the quaint port town itself is well worth exploring if you have a few hours to spare. Stop by the bustling Mercado Municipal to stock up on local snacks and fresh fruit (Limón is the heart of Costa Rica's banana industry), before enjoying your bounty in Parque Balvanero Vargas, a leafy oasis with a Neoclassical bandstand and sloths lounging in the trees.

The largest of Honduras' Bay Islands, Roatán Island is a veritable paradise plucked straight from a storybook. Surrounded by the dazzling, biodiversity-rich Mesoamerican Barrier Reef – the second largest in the world – it's a renowned destination for scuba divers and snorkelers. There's plenty to do on land, too: experience the island's rich Garifuna culture in the historic village of Punta Gorda, encounter free-roaming wildlife and zipline through lush tropical jungle in Gumbalimba Park, and sample delicious local cuisine such as tapado, a traditional Honduran seafood soup.

Santo Tomás de Castilla in Guatemala attracts adventurers with activities like waterfall hikes, rainforest explorations, bird-watching, and tours of UNESCO ancient Maya cities. The country is rife with wildlife: more than 400 species of birds—including toucans and parrots live in the jungle interior. As a former Belgian colony, colonial landmarks, including the 16th-century Spanish fort Castillo de San Felipe, dot the landscape. Unlike its neighbors, Guatemala is still developing, and as such offers an uncharted and genuine experience: local markets promise many authentic shopping opportunities, with beautiful locally crafted goods at negotiable prices.

Belize City is the largest city and former capital of Belize. Situated on the eastern coast of the country, the city is a vibrant and diverse urban center that offers a mix of cultural experiences, historical sites, and access to the natural wonders of the country. Its happy location along the Caribbean Sea adds to its appeal, promising visitors lots of fun in the sun, whether you chose to relax on one of the sandy beaches found outside the city, or explore the underwater world of the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The nearby caves and atolls are prime spots for snorkeling, diving, and marine adventures. Unsurprisingly, the region is rife with Mayan ruins, and Belize City's proximity to these significant archaeological sites allows visitors to explore the rich Maya heritage of the region. Ancient archaeological sites such as Altun Ha, Cuello, Xunantunich and Nohoch Che'en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve are all located a short distance from the city and feature impressive pyramids and ceremonial plazas. For those who are more interested in modern day and history should stroll the city to St. John's Cathedral, built from 1812 to 1820, for a chance to see the oldest Anglican cathedral in Central America as well as Swing Bridge, an iconic drawbridge, that connects the north and south sides of the city.

Ease into island life on Cozumel. Situated on Mexico's scenic Yucatán Peninsula, it serves as a gateway to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the largest reef system in the Americas and a biodiversity hotspot that supports a dazzling array of coral and hundreds of tropical fish species. If snorkeling or diving don't appeal, soak up the sun on white-sand beaches or get lost in Mayan mysteries with a visit to the ruins of San Gervasio, once a significant site of worship of the goddess Ixchel. When hunger strikes, you can't go wrong with island favorites like tamales, shrimp tacos, and citrusy ceviche.

Ease into island life on Cozumel. Situated on Mexico's scenic Yucatán Peninsula, it serves as a gateway to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the largest reef system in the Americas and a biodiversity hotspot that supports a dazzling array of coral and hundreds of tropical fish species. If snorkeling or diving don't appeal, soak up the sun on white-sand beaches or get lost in Mayan mysteries with a visit to the ruins of San Gervasio, once a significant site of worship of the goddess Ixchel. When hunger strikes, you can't go wrong with island favorites like tamales, shrimp tacos, and citrusy ceviche.

Mexico is no stranger to beautiful beaches but Progreso offers something a little bit special – its pier is the longest in the world, extending for four miles into the Gulf of Mexico. Its warm, shallow waters and golden sands may tempt you to stay here for a few hours, soaking up the tropical vibe, but it's worth rousing yourself to visit one of the many sights within easy reach of Progreso. The magnificent Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá are a two-hour drive away, the site of Uxmal is one-and-a-half hours away, while in just 30 minutes you can visit the Laguna Rosado (pink lake) with its resident flamingos plus the small but impressive Mayan ruins of Xtampú and Xcambó.