New nonstop flights from the U.S. to Central America are creating easier access to this nearby tropical region—Costa Rica, Belize, Panama, and the other countries nestled on the lush ribbon between North and South America. If you include adjacent Colombia, the new routes represent a lot of additional options this year in a region known for value. These options have long been more affordable than most Caribbean islands; now they’re often more convenient too.

When I visited Belize a few months ago, it recalibrated my thinking about near and far. Years ago, a multi-flight trip to Costa Rica resulted in so many delays and cancellations that my family lost two vacation days. New nonstops make the tropical climate, rich biodiversity, and ancient cultures of Central America much more accessible.

The new flights depart from Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. We’re tracking them for you in Nonstop Flights to Make Your Travels Easier. They come at a time when nearly every Central American country is undertaking major airport improvements—and coincide with the opening of some noteworthy new resorts. A Ritz-Carlton opened in Costa Rica in February, and this year Four Seasons will unveil its third hotel in Colombia—a collection of 16th-century buildings in Cartagena’s lively Getsemaní district, part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Read on for a glimpse of the tropical trips your fellow travelers are enjoying with the help of locally based WOW List experts. If you could use a WOW trip, we’re at the black button below.

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BELIZE: barrier reef waters, wet cave canoeing, private catamaran trips to quiet cayes…

Travelers Laurie and Michael Schuftan celebrate their anniversary with a beach BBQ at Moho Caye.

“My husband, Michael, and I had a wonderful time celebrating our 30th anniversary in Belize! With Patricia’s guidance, I opted to spend three nights in the jungle and four nights in the beach area. Our private villa at the Lodge at Chaa Creek was beautifully appointed and set amid the lushness of the jungle. Anniversary wishes, fresh fruit, and a ready-to-hatch butterfly pupa greeted us in the villa.

For the next three days, our driver, David, expertly navigated the very rustic roads to our private jungle cruise on a pontoon boat, tours of Xunantunich, Cahal Pech & Barton Creek Cave, and down to Placencia. He knew people everywhere!

Our home for the last four nights was a gorgeous beachside villa at Naia Resort & Spa. Again, we were greeted with anniversary wishes, flowers and balloons. We had a fantastic day on a private catamaran to Moho Caye, where we snorkeled and our guide Mike and Captain Leo grilled a delicious BBQ lunch on the beach. We found Belize to be an enchanting country, with its diversity of topographies and cultures and very warm, welcoming people.” —Laurie Schuftan

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GUATEMALA: Mayan archaeological sites, lush mountains, colorful arts, volcano views…

Tikal National Park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photo: Shutterstock

“Our time in Guatemala planned by Patricia was well-designed and executed. We were able to see some of the most interesting and beautiful parts, and for the most part, without feeling rushed. Highlights included a stay at the Mesón Panza Verde, a historic mansion in Antigua with a lush garden and views of the volcanoes. We got a good history of the city on our informative walking tour, which included time in the extensive market and ended with lunch in a beautiful restaurant.

The Laguna Lodge was built into the mountainside overlooking Lake Atitlán. There was a gorgeous view of the lake and surrounding volcanoes from our terrace. Tours of nearby villages were most memorable because of the vibrant colors of clothes, as well as streets and murals and cemeteries.

Finally came a flight to Flores, where we met our excellent guide, Eric, with whom we toured the Yaxha and Tikal national parks, major sites of the Mayan civilization. As we walked through the public squares and climbed to the top of temples, we were accompanied by howler monkeys. We stayed in Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel, which is surrounded by nature and has a great collection of Mayan artifacts. One regret for this last part of our trip was that we didn’t have one more day to stay at the hotel and enjoy it.” —Judy Albrecht

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COSTA RICA: cloud forests and high bridges, birdwatching and ziplines, hiking and horseback rides…

A quetzal, captured on an iPhone through the guide’s telescope. Photo: Traveler Joe Lyle

“We’ve just returned from our second trip to Costa Rica, expertly organized by Irene. Our first visit took us to the Osa Peninsula and Manuel Antonio National Park. This time, we asked Irene to plan an adventure exploring other parts of the Pacific coast, and she created an itinerary that included the Monteverde Cloud Forest and Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula.

One highlight was a day spent hiking through Selvatura Park, where we marveled at the breathtaking views from eight suspension bridges high above the forest floor. We were fortunate enough to spot a quetzal, a bird that many birdwatchers visit Monteverde specifically to see. The Senda Monteverde Hotel offered several walking paths and was conveniently close to the Aguti Wildlife Reserve for hiking and exploration. We didn’t need to go far to encounter a large family of coatis playing, agoutis darting about, and wild pigs squealing—sometimes right outside our front porch! At the Nantipa resort in Santa Teresa, we relished our beachfront bungalow and were treated to spectacular sunsets each evening.

What made both locations so special was the option to tailor our experience—whether we wanted a laid-back retreat or an adventurous one, with activities like zip-lining, horseback riding, surfing, and immersing ourselves in nature. We’re already planning our next trip to Costa Rica.” —Joe Lyle

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PANAMA: seeing the historic Canal up close, with special VIP access

Traveler Tammy Frost: “We were maybe 15 feet from the edge of the canal…”

“I decided I wanted to travel between Christmas and New Year’s pretty late (only two months before the holiday). Initially I was attempting to do the arrangements myself, with no luck in being able to make reservations, when I came onto Wendy’s site and, in desperation, filled out the survey. Pierre got back to me quickly and was able to put together an itinerary.

Pierre had mentioned that he was going to try for the ‘backstage pass’ of the Panama Canal. Well, he was able to pull it off, and what an experience it was! We got to go beyond the locked fences where the rest of the people were forced to stay, and we were maybe 15 feet from the edge of the Canal. We were told by the Canal manager who got us into the restricted area that only dignitaries, royalty and very important people were given that privilege. Then, to top it off, we were lucky enough to be there when a massive cruise ship entered the Canal, and we watched it move through the first two locks and got amazing photos.” —Tammy Frost

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COLOMBIA: beautiful beaches and walkable cities, salsa dancing and street art, chocolate and rum tastings…

Traveler Lauren Schor and family with the iconic palenqueras of Cartagena.

“Boris and his team put together a fabulous five-night getaway for our family of three. From our first conversation, I knew he understood exactly what we were hoping to get out of this trip—culture, food, activities, and some time to unwind. We took an easy five-hour direct flight from New York to Cartagena. We spent three nights relaxing at the Sofitel Barú beach resort, which is brand-new and a 90-minute drive from the airport and the city. Boris had suggested we do the bioluminescent plankton night activity, which we all loved! Swimming in the warm water with glowing microorganisms around us was incredible!

We spent another two nights at Casa Pestagua, a beautiful boutique hotel in the walled city. Cartagena is a colorful, picturesque, walkable small city with beautiful spots around every corner. Boris arranged some amazing activities for us: a private salsa dancing lesson in a nightclub; a chocolate, rum, and exotic fruit tasting; a street food tasting and street art walk; a historical tour of the city; and a cooking class on our last morning.

People back home were surprised to hear that we were going to Colombia because of the country’s history and reputation, but we never felt one bit unsafe. If you’re thinking about going to Colombia, go now, before it gets too popular and crowded, and definitely let Boris plan your trip!” —Lauren Schor

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