Belize
Belize is the odd one out in Central America: it was British, so everyone speaks English, and it feels more Caribbean than Latin American. It is also tiny, with fewer people than a mid sized city. The Belize Barrier Reef, second largest in the world, is a big draw for divers and snorkelers to explore its kaleidoscopic marine life. Mayan temples, like the imposing Caracol, hold stories of ancient civilizations. Creole, Garifuna, and Maya traditions infuse the air with rhythm and flavor. Inland it is jungle. Offshore it is cayes, low sandy islands you reach by boat. It is a small country: about 400,000 people, fewer than a mid sized city.