It was over 3,000 years ago when tribes who’d been on the move over large swathes of what is now known as Central America began to settle down in the region’s tangled rainforests, scrubby plains and misty mountains.  They had no written language but created a complex civilisation the astronomy and architecture of which was more sophisticated than any other on the continent. Their cities, featuring giant pyramids and ornate temples, were inexplicably abandoned by 1,200AD but the ruins of these stand testament today to the Maya’s achievements, and their descendants still populate the region with their own language and traditions.

There are too many of these architectural masterpieces to name here but on this holiday we have picked out the most stunning and most significant for your visit. But it isn’t all about history – the natural landscapes of unrestrained jungles swarming with wildlife, craggy mountains cut through by rivers and caves, immaculate powdery beaches and the second longest barrier reef in the world are well worth discovering in themselves.

Put these together, mingled with the graceful heritage of colonial Spain, and you have a marvellous self-contained holiday where you will encounter top highlights in Belize, Guatemala and Mexico in just two weeks.