Take a Hike in Central America

In Guatemala, at Lake Atitlán is the Atitlán Volcano. The hike takes 5 to 6 hours to complete.

Beautiful Lake Atitlan is among the top attractions in Central America and among the best hikes. This is an impressive crater lake flanked by three volcanoes and surrounded by steep, scenic hills.

The ultimate test for hikers is reaching the top of the Atitlan Volcano.

The 1968 Trail in La Fortuna is located in the Arenal Volcano National Park in Costa Rica. The trail is divided into two parts—the Lava Flow Trail is 1.5 miles long, and the second trail is a forest trail about 2.8 miles long. The hike takes 1.5 to 2 hours.

There are great views of the Arenal Volcano as the hike leads hikers through the jungle. About 4,000 years old, Arenal Volcano was a cone-shaped volcanic mountain with its last major eruption being around 1500 A.D. However, the volcano awoke again and erupted, destroying three towns, killing people, and damaging crops, livestock, and forests. It remained active until 2010.

The park offers visitors a chance to hike through the lava fields and to get a 360-degree view of both Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal.

Take the Celestine Waterfall Hike in Panama. Chiriqui is a popular stop for both locals and visitors. You can explore pristine beaches, lush jungles, and sugarcane fields.

The Celestine Waterfall is surrounded by lush jungle, and there is a nice hike to this hidden gorge.

Take the 3- to 4-hour Cerro Gaital Hike in the Anton Valley of Panama. Hikers hike through wet, muddy, dense forest, offering them a challenge on the slippery slopes.

Cerro Quemado in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, will take you on a 2 to 6-hour round-trip hike.

The hike to the Cerro Quemado begins in the city of Quetzaltenango. You can hike on your own or with a guide. There are different trails.

Once you reach the 9000 ft. active volcano, there are amazing rock formations. It is popular among rock climbers, with a spectacular view at the top over the valley. The best part of this hike is to see groups of locals getting to the top while loaded with candles, flowers, and drinks to make their offerings, sing, pray, and chant since this is a sacred mountain.

You’ll find Rio Celeste 40 minutes east of Bijagua de Upala in Costa Rica. The hike takes 1.5 to 2 hours.

The Rio Celeste is located in Tenorio Volcano National Park and is among the most famous waterfalls in the country. The water spills over a cliff into a pool below. Legend has it that God painted the sky blue and afterward, cleaned his paintbrush in the river that feeds Rio Celeste. The hike takes hikers through lush rainforest with tropical birds in the trees above.

In Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, you can hike to the Santiaguito Volcano.

The Santiaguito is part of the Santa Maria volcano and is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in Central America. Visitors are not allowed to come too close to the craters. The Santiaguito hike, therefore, brings you to one of the viewpoints on Santa Maria, from which you can see Santiaguito erupting.

Near Lanquin in Guatemala you’ll find Semuc Champey, one of the most popular hiking locations in the country. The hike takes 45 minutes to complete.

Located in a remote oasis in the middle of the jungle, Semic Champey will take hikers along a series of turquoise pools formed over a natural limestone bridge where the Cahabon River feeds the pools. It is possible to swim in the pools.

The Tiger Fern Trail is located in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize.

The trail takes hikers through the jungle with views of the Basin and Victoria Park. It becomes a challenge as the terrain gets rougher and the elevation higher.

There is a secluded double waterfall swimming hole.