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Imagine bunking down in a fully equipped tree house or a cozy lodge, surrounded by miles of wilderness. Find adventure and luxury in nature-filled Central America.

Danielle and Kirk Leach dreamed of a honeymoon filled with fresh air, secluded beaches and—most of all—a spirit of adventure. They wanted a private, comfortable retreat, as different from their busy Los Angeles hometown as possible, with activities like swimming, horseback riding and snorkeling. They found it all in the romantic wilds of Honduras.

Yes, Honduras. Central America may not be an obvious choice for a honeymoon, but it offers newlyweds virtually everything they might hope for—gorgeous strands, mist-shrouded mountains, amazing wildlife, ancient ruins and posh hotels—and for a lot less money than they might spend elsewhere. "All the stress of the wedding planning just dissolved into those beautiful sunsets," Danielle says.

The fact is, unspoiled, underappreciated Central America boasts a wide variety of earth-friendly vacation options, ranging from rugged nature preserves filled with monkeys and exotic birds to sybaritic resorts set on stunning white-sand beaches and surrounded by coconut palm trees. To be sure, things move more slowly in this part of the world, so traveling around requires patience. But you end up with all the romance and memories of a shared adventure—a trip of a lifetime, really. Here, our country-by-country guide to the region's best post-nuptial vacation spots.

Belize: Ease Yourself In

Wild and lush Belize could be the best bet for adventure seekers who also love champagne. Belize is Central America's only English-speaking country, and it offers the area's most sophisticated infrastructure. But that doesn't mean you won't find solitude: Belize is so lightly populated the entire country has just three traffic lights.

And though you’ll be deep in the wilderness, you’ll still find truly luxurious lodging options, including the decadent 21-room Lodge at Chaa Creek<. This private 330-acre resort is located in the Cayo district, near the Guatemala border. Awe-inspiring Maya ruins surround the lodge, and there are plenty of opportunities for canoeing, mountain biking and hiking. Also near the property, see spectacular forest wildlife, a butterfly sanctuary full of rainbow-colored species and the rushing Macal River. Your best bet: Book one of the new treetop suites—they’re as close to a grown-up tree house as you’ll ever get. But this isn’t the bare-bones hideaway of your childhood: You’ll find Mexican-tile floors, a large mahogany bed, a whirlpool tub and a great big veranda that’s perfect for bird-watching. There’s little sense of “roughing it”—not when you can get a massage on your veranda and drink chilled bubbly in a tubful of suds (chaacreek.com).

Costa Rica: King and Queen of the Forest

Gorgeous Costa Rica is well known for its dense and beautiful rain forests, but the country’s better-kept secret is the Osa Peninsula, along the southwestern coast. The protected forests of Corcovado National Park cover much of this out-of-the-way area, and a variety of lodges along the edges offer accommodations so that you can explore the park’s pristine wilderness.

Nearby Luna Lodge is surrounded by waterfalls, and it’s so deep in the jungle that you’ll be treated to the darkest, most star-filled night skies you’ve ever gazed at. The lodge’s seven palm-thatched bungalows are set well into the rain forest, and they’re made of white cane for further camouflage among the trees. Each has a soaking tub and a garden shower; from your veranda you’ll be able to spot toucans, kingfishers, hawks and parrots. Just don’t forget to bring your binoculars (lunalodge.com).

The Osa’s most deluxe place to stay is the 14-room Lapa Rios Eco-Lodge. This complex sits on 1,000 acres of rain forest—there’s so much land that you could spend all day trekking through the woods without ever seeing another person. Take it easy and lounge by the swimming pool, or occupy yourselves with dozens of on-site activities, rang-ing from nature walks to yoga to surf lessons. And while all the activity will keep you busy, it’s the bungalows and the food that are sure to impress. Dine on Costa Rican specialties like coconut-crusted fish, chicken stuffed with papaya, pork stew and creamy tres leches cake. Since the bungalows have their own verandas, after dinner you can spot macaws and monkeys without even lacing up your boots (laparios.com/honeymoon.html).

Panama: Beyond the Canal

Sure, the Panama Canal is an engineering marvel and a worthwhile attraction, but there’s more to Panama than its most famous site. The country also offers a lush rain forest full of birds and plants that could wow even the most experienced eco-traveler.

You’ll also find comfortable resorts here, including the three-year-old Gamboa Rainforest Resort in Soberania National Park. This sprawling 145-room jungle hotel is as modern as it is remote, with multiple restaurants and pools and plenty of activities. Just don’t go looking for thatch-roofed bungalows. Instead, you’ll find the kind of rooms you might expect at a business-style hotel back home, complete with in-room telephones, air-conditioning and built-in blow-dryers in the bathrooms.

The resort’s highlight: an aerial tram that carries passengers up into the trees to the top of the forest’s canopy so they can watch for monkeys and sloths, and birds such as toucans and parrots. There’s also a freshwater fish aquarium, a botanical garden, a butterfly nursery and a reptile exhibit. Take some time to hike around the property—you’ll also see turtles and iguanas doing a little exploring of their own (gamboaresort.com).

Guatemala: Explore the Past

For the truly outdoorsy couple, Guatemala is an unpretentious treat for the senses. Perhaps the most culture-rich part of the region, this is a country studded with ancient Maya ruins— and yet, since it’s off the beaten path, it’s a great deal. Most visitors start in Guatemala City and move along a well-traveled corridor toward the picturesque town of Antigua. But, if you explore beyond these thoroughfares, you can visit the temple-and-pyramid-filled ruins of Tikal, a sprawling, 2,000-year-old metropolis that’s arguably Central America’s most important archaeological treasure. (Tip: Be sure to stop along the way at Lake Atitlan, to take in the mountain views and hike through an Alpine-like forest of deep-green pine trees.)

The hotels located near Tikal are basic and a great value—but they’re also surprisingly comfortable. The 15-room La Casa de Don David offers lovely lakeside bungalows, family-style meals and shuttles to the ruins, all for a mere $58 per day. Don’t worry that the meager price translates to a meager guest room—your dollar just goes farther here. Sure, the walkways are made of sand, and you’ll have to forgo the luxury sheets and polished service of a more expensive resort. But Don David offers a warm, rustic, camp-style atmosphere that’s casual, friendly and refreshingly nature-focused, perfect for couples who are more interested in bird-watching than getting massages. You can swim in the clear, warm lake, ride horseback to Tikal and truly relax in this quiet stretch of rain forest. It’ll be just you and the monkeys—and you won’t have to share them with crowds of other visitors (El Remate, Flores Peten; lacasadedondavid.com).

Honduras: Big on Adventure

This is the least developed nation on our Central America honeymoon list. The advantage: great prices, unspoiled surroundings and very few tourists. Honduras’ primary attractions are its quiet, gorgeous beaches, the kind you probably didn’t know you could find in this “undiscovered” country.

So, where should you stay? The 56-room Anthony’s Key Resort is on a private island off the coast of Honduras. Here, on the coconut-palm-studded shores, you can go snorkeling, canoeing, kayaking, swimming with dolphins and horseback riding. Your very own wooden bungalow comes with mahogany furniture, a private deck that juts out over the Caribbean and a hammock that’s perfect for a nap after your picnic on the beach (anthonyskey.com).

Or, do as Kirk and Danielle Leach did, and rent your own private island with a villa. The dozens of islands off the coast of Honduras are mostly privately owned, so they’re rarely listed with travel agents. You can find one on the Embassy of Honduras’ website at hondurasemb.org/tourism.htm. It may seem quirky to research your honeymoon this way, picking through online listings, which are sometimes in Spanish. But trust us—this level of pure privacy is worth the extra effort, especially when you realize that you’ll often pay less than $100 per night for your villa. In spite of a bumpy ride on a small plane and a drenching rainstorm, Kirk and Danielle Leach say they wouldn’t trade their fabulous Central American honeymoon for all the freshly roasted coffee beans in Costa Rica.