World Travel · Americas · Central America & Caribbean

Central America & the Caribbean

Ancient Mayan cities, sensational food, cloud forests and some of the world's best beaches — the tropical heart of the Americas, and superb value.

Mexico
Ruins & food
Costa Rica
Wildlife
Dec–Apr
Dry season
Caribbean
Beaches & reefs

Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean

Ancient Mayan cities, sensational food, cloud forests and some of the world's best beaches — the tropical heart of the Americas, and superb value for Australians.

Mexico is one of the world's great travel destinations — Aztec and Mayan wonders, the food capital of the Americas, and beaches from Tulum to the Riviera Maya. Beyond it, Costa Rica, Belize and Guatemala deliver extraordinary biodiversity and Mayan heritage, while the Caribbean — Cuba, Jamaica, Barbados and beyond — is the quintessential sun-and-sea escape.

Family-run since 1974, Cooee blends the ruins, the reefs and the rhythm into trips that suit families, couples and adventurers alike.

🌮 Highlights of the region
  • Chichén Itzá, Teotihuacán & Tulum — Mexico
  • Mexico City & Oaxaca — food & culture
  • The Riviera Maya & Yucatán beaches
  • Costa Rica — volcanoes, cloud forest & wildlife
  • Belize's Blue Hole & Guatemala's Tikal
  • Cuba, Jamaica & the Caribbean islands

Highlights of the tropics

Ruins, reefs, rainforest and rum — pick your mix.

Plan your trip

Ready for the tropics?

Mayan ruins, Costa Rican wildlife or a Caribbean beach — family-run since 1974, we'll build a trip around the ruins, reefs and rhythm you're after.

Start Planning My Trip Call 0409 661 342

Family-run since 1974 · ATAS Accredited · 50,000+ travellers

Central America & Caribbean — straight answers

Mexico is visa-free for Australians for up to 180 days (keep your stamped entry record). Most of Central America — Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, Panama — is visa-free or visa-on-arrival. Many Caribbean islands are visa-free too, but rules vary by island, so confirm each. See our getting there & visas guide.

The dry season, December–April, is best — sunny and reliable. Avoid the June–November hurricane season for the Caribbean islands. Costa Rica's wildlife is easiest to spot in the dry months when animals gather near water. See our best time to visit guide.

The main tourist regions — the Yucatán (Cancún, Tulum, Mérida), Mexico City, Oaxaca and the Riviera Maya — are well-travelled and rewarding with normal precautions. Check Smartraveller.gov.au for specific states, use registered transport, and travel with a good operator. See our itineraries guide.

Costa Rica is one of the world's great wildlife and eco-tourism destinations — cloud forests, volcanoes, both Pacific and Caribbean coasts, and extraordinary biodiversity, all in a compact, safe and welcoming country. Its eco-lodges are superb. See our Americas activities.

Yes — Mexico pairs naturally with a US trip (a short hop from many US cities), and Central America links well with a wider Latin America journey. Cuba and the Caribbean make a relaxed finale. See our where to stay guide.