I’ve traveled to every country in Central America. There are 5 places I can’t wait to return to.

I’ve visited Belize twice now, and I always love spending time on Tobacco Caye, an island that’s the perfect retreat when I need quiet, nature, and relaxation.

There are only a handful of small hotels and guesthouses on this tiny, 3-acre island off the coast of Dangriga, but its small size is part of its charm.

I spent my week relaxing, snorkeling, taking walks around the island, and enjoying the delicious meals prepared at my guesthouse, Tobacco Caye Paradise. Here, I stayed in one of the over-water cabanas.

It was the perfect week spent completely unbothered and disconnected, relaxing in a hammock overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

I’ve visited Guatemala five times now, and each time I visit, I return to Antigua.

The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visiting feels like stepping into a time machine, with its cobblestone streets and old Spanish architecture.

While there, I love hiking the nearby Volcán de Acatenango — a volcano that offers spectacular views of its erupting neighbor, Volcán de Fuego. Even after completing this hike three times, I’m always amused by the beauty.

Although I absolutely love Costa Rica’s beaches, my favorite spot to visit is actually inland. That’s because, in my opinion, the Monteverde region really embodies the country’s biodiversity.

Here, I especially enjoyed hiking through the Monteverde Cloud Forest, a high-elevation forest shrouded in mist. The hanging bridges on the trails provide a unique way to get a bird’s-eye view of the incredible landscapes, from the emerald-green hills to the rumbling rivers and waterfalls below.

During the day, other than some birds and insects, I hadn’t observed much wildlife. However, this all changed when I went on a guided nighttime hike. From bats flying overhead to tree frogs hunting for insects, the forest came alive after dark.

When my guide asked if I’d ever seen a tarantula, and I answered no, he then tapped a stick gently outside a small hole near a tree root. A giant spider crawled out. It brought an entirely different perspective to the forest I had experienced earlier that day.

During my trip to Honduras, I spent most of my time on Utila, a Bay Island off the country’s northern coast.

I primarily came to scuba dive in the Mesoamerican Reef, which was full of life and did not disappoint.

Even when I went for a swim right off the dock of my guest house, I saw a wide range of marine life, including fish, colorful coral, and an eagle ray.

After visiting Nicaragua four times, I can confidently say León, a historic city in the northwestern part of the country, is my favorite place to visit.

The city is a great hub for a variety of outdoor adventures. About an hour outside León, I went volcano-boarding on Cerro Negro, a volcano that last erupted in 1999. And as a beach lover, I love that the Pacific coast is only a 30-minute bus ride away.

What struck me most, though, was a much deeper experience. As a self-proclaimed history nerd, my favorite experience in León was visiting the Museum of the Revolution.

It’s rare to have the opportunity to learn about historic events firsthand from the people who lived them, but in this museum, many of the guides are veterans of the war.

When I visited, my guide pointed out his picture in many of the museum displays. Hearing about his experience fighting in the revolution when he was just a teenager was so impactful.