What makes up your island fantasy? Sugary sands? Transluscent water? Palm trees bursting into crowns of bright green? Take a look at these photos of the Cayos Cochinos islands in Honduras -- so resplendent, you'll hardly believe they're real.

Honduras's Cayos Cochinos -- aka the Hog Islands -- is an archipelago 19 km north of Honduras's Caribbean coast, near La Ceiba. Part of the Honduras Bay Islands (which as includes Roatan, Utila and Guanaja), Cayos Cochinos includes two larger islands (Cochino Pequeno and Cochino Grande) along with eleven tiny islands. In particular, the island of Chachauate is absolutely remarkable. Chachauate Key is home to a Garifuna settlement, as well as some of the most stunning scenery I've ever beheld.

Visit our Cayos Cochinos Photo Gallery! Photo by Kirsten Hubbard, 2008

Britney Spears in Costa Rica? With Mel Gibson?

No, it's not some new cross-generational love match in the tropics. According to People.com, Britney Spears and her father, Jamie Spears, are joining the actor and his wife at the Gibsons' Costa Rica estate for some R&R. "Mel and his wife Robin clearly saw a woman in crisis and wanted to extend themselves in any way possible," a source told People.

Mel Gibson purchased the Costa Rica estate in September 2007 for $26 million US. The 300-acre property is located in Costa Rica's Guanacaste region.

You might be more familiar with the colorful Keel-Billed Toucan (the national bird of Belize), the larger Toco Toucan, or the Froot Loops Toucan. But I chose this toucan photo as my Central America Photo of the Month because tiny Collared Aracari Toucans have personality to spare.

This particular Collared Aracari Toucan is one of the residents at the wonderful Macaw Mountain Bird Park & Nature Reserve in Copan, Honduras. Just a short drive from the famous Copan Ruins, Macaw Mountain serves as a rescue and rehabilitation center for the region's diverse birds. The park is home to dozens of Scarlet Macaws, Blue-and-Yellow Macaws, Great Green Macaws, owls, toucans, toucanets and other native birds of Honduras -- many of which you'll get the chance to hold!

And this little guy? He was a part of Macaw Mountain's interactive exhibit. But the way he was brandishing that big beak of his, I wasn't about to reach out.

• Read more about the Collard Aracari Toucan
• Take a Photo Tour of Macaw Mountain

Everyone's talking about the long-awaited addition to the Indiana Jones trilogy: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. But many people don't know about the real Crystal Skulls of Central America's Maya empire.

That's right -- Crystal Skulls do exist, though their origins are controversial. The most famous Central America Crystal Skull is the Mitchell-Hedges Crystal Skull of Lubaantun, Belize. It was formed from a single piece of quartz, but for its detachable jaw. Inexplicably, it was carved against the crystal's natural axis, which should have made it shatter. Many people believe Crystal Skulls have supernatural powers, some good... and some otherwise.

• Read more about the Crystal Skulls of Central America.
• See photos of the Lubaantun Maya Ruins, where the Mitchell-Hedges Crystal Skull was found.

Starbucks is famously revamping its image: you've seen the headlines in Time magazine and on CNN. Supposedly the company has become too commercial -- what with teddy bears and breakfast sandwiches killing the classic ambiance -- and it wants to strip down to what's really important. Judging by Starbucks' recent contest, it's truly on its way.

Starbucks is now offering the chance to win a trip to Costa Rica. But this isn't a Costa Rica beach bum type of vacation. Instead, it's a working vacation, where you'll join an Earthwatch expedition and become actual, active members of a Costa Rica field research team. According to Starbucks, "Those selected for this year’s expedition will be working with the farmers of CoopeTarrazú to help them better understand and manage their land. Not only will participants be conducting research that will encourage more sustainable and environmentally sound farming practices, they will also get to eat, learn and celebrate with scientists and coffee farmers in one of the world’s most beautiful regions."

Maybe it's not a vacation for everyone, but it's definitely my kind of trip. Enter to win at Starbucks.com.

Playa Dominical -- aka Dominical Beach - and Drake Bay are two of Costa Rica's most picturesque destinations.

Most famed as a Costa Rica surfing beach, Playa Dominical is located on Costa Rica's Central Pacific Coast between Manuel Antonio and the Osa Peninsula. Not far from Dominical Beach, Drake Bay is located at the top of the Osa Peninsula in Southern Costa Rica. For now, Drake Bay is only accessible by boat, and serves as a base to explore Corcovado National Park and Isla del Cano.

Take a look at these photos of Dominical Beach & Drake Bay by photographers Mark A. Shepherd of West View Photography and Anita Hermecz.

Image Copyright Anita Hermecz

Every article on Belize’s Maruba Jungle Resort & Spa begins with mud. Usually in first-person. So, before I talk about the Maruba Resort’s arrestingly wild interior design, intriguing penchant for hibiscus flowers, robust rum punch and in-suite hot tubs, I’ll follow the crowd and begin thus.

I am halfway through the Maruba Jungle Resort & Spa’s famous Mood Mud Massage, which has been featured in every possible travel publication, including Caribbean Travel + Life, Spa Finder, and now, About.com. Naturally, I had to indulge...

Read more about my experience at the Maruba Resort & Jungle Spa!

Traveling to Costa Rica in May?

While San Jose in May ejoys mild temperatures -- at least by tropical standards -- the beach regions on Manuel Antonio and Limon are pretty steamy. Don't expect anything to be open on Costa Rica's Labor Day, May 1.

Take a look at our guide to Costa Rica in May for average temperatures and rainfall in popular regions, as well as special events and May holidays.

• Costa Rica in May
• Costa Rica in June
• Costa Rica in July

Just a note to warn my fellow travelers about the pay phones in the Belize International Airport.

A few weeks ago, a number of American Airline flights were delayed, due to the Texas tornadoes, and my husband and I were awaiting the arrival of two parties. To let everyone know we were aware of the delay, we used the pay phones twice to call U.S. cell phones. We charged the calls to our debit card. Knowing the calls might be expensive, we kept them short, about two minutes each.

A few days later, I checked my statement. The cost? around $42 dollars -- PER CALL.

What should we have done? Used a calling card. They're for sale in a number of the Belize Airport gift shops. Calls should cost a dollar or two a minute -- not twenty. I haven't tried pay phones at other Central America airports, and now I never will. Have you? Did you fall for any other Central America travel scams? Email me at gocentralamerica (at) about.com. Let's keep everyone informed.

By now, there are numerous luxury resorts in Belize, but take it from me: Ka’ana stands out. Unlike the sprawling resorts of Costa Rica – or even San Pedro on Belize's Ambergris Caye – the Ka’ana Boutique Resort & Spa in Cayo, Western Belize truly embodies the most stylish term in the travel lexicon, “Boutique”.

Soothing spa services, some of Belize's top gourmet cuisine, and a perfect inland location put Ka'ana on the map. But from nightly treats sneaked in your in-suite refrigerator to wine tastings with the resort's General Manager before dinner, it's the details that make Ka'ana Boutique Resort & Spa Belize's swiftly rising star.

• Read my review of the Ka'ana Boutique Resort & Spa
• Take a photo tour of the Ka'ana Resort