Nicaragua

Nicaragua is Central America's quieter, wilder alternative to its busier neighbours, a land of smoking volcanoes, colonial cities and near-empty beaches where prices are gentle and crowds are few.

This is a natural fit for soft adventure and regenerative travel: board down the ash slopes of Cerro Negro, kayak the islets of Lake Nicaragua, hike cloud forests, or surf the consistent Pacific breaks around San Juan del Sur.

At its heart are two jewel-box colonial cities, Granada and Leon, and Ometepe, a twin-volcano island rising from the lake. Add community lodges and warm hospitality, and you have one of the region's most rewarding under-the-radar escapes.