The best resorts in Central America, according to Travel + Leisure readers marry luxurious accommodations with activities that celebrate adventure and nature.
As it did last year, Costa Rica leads the pack of winners for 2022’s best resorts in Central America with a whopping seven spots. Belize managed to secure two spots on the list, with Nicaragua snagging the last slot this time. It seems, for now, Costa Rica’s hospitality prowess remains unmatched by its neighbors.
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. Hotels (including safari lodges) were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city hotel, resort, or safari lodge based on their locations and amenities.
Belize continues to represent an incredible value, with a landscape that can go toe-to-toe with Costa Rica, offering lush rain forests, powder-sand beaches, and pristine waters for diving and snorkeling. Eco-lodge Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort (No. 6) is a prime example, offering personalized service and friendly staffers who lead “excursions that are excellent due to their top-notch tour guides,” according to one voter, who also gushed, “Hamanasi now has a special place in my heart!”
Rancho Santana, which came in at No. 4, is a dynamic surfing spot in Nicaragua. One person mentioned its “spectacular beaches, fishing, turtle sanctuary, and truly unique birding.” Other highlights include farm-to-table dining and its “excellent private beach” that one reader praised. Another fan summarized: “hidden treasure.”
4. Rancho Santana, Rivas, Nicaragua
Score: 96.75
The best resorts in Central America all elicit similarly enthusiastic comments from readers. So what set this year’s No. 1 apart?