Find flights
Deals
When to book
FAQs & Tips
Airlines

Find cheap flights to Central America from £177

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from the United Kingdom to Central America departing on 15/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
0 bags
Sun 26/5
Sun 2/6

Search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Central America

In the last 7 days, travellers have searched 44,335,567 times on KAYAK, and here's why:

Save 28% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

Track pricesNot ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Free to useThere are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Best Central America Flight Deals

Cheapest return prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours

San José
San José1 stop£515
Panama City
Panama City1 stop£551
Guatemala City
Guatemala City1 stop£569
Managua
Managua2 stops£564
Belize City
Belize City1 stop£575
San Salvador
San Salvador1 stop£525
Liberia
Liberia1 stop£545
San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula1 stop£608
Coxen Hole
Coxen Hole2 stops£645

Good to know - Cheap tickets to Central America

Low season

May

High season

February

Cheapest flight

£177
Best time to beat the crowds (5% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 14% lower on average.
Flight from London Gatwick Airport to Panama City

FAQs - booking Central America flights

  • What visa do British citizens need to fly to Central America?

    UK citizens don't need a visa to visit any of the countries in Central America, providing they are only going as tourists. You will be given a visa for tourism upon arrival, which generally lasts between 30 and 90 days. If you need to stay longer, then you will need to apply for a visa through the embassy of the country that you are visiting. You need to make sure that you have at least six months on your passport when you enter the country.

  • What are some important rules of the road when leaving the airport in a hire car?

    It’s vital that you are aware of the road laws when you leave the airport in a hire car. You need to check each country’s laws specifically to make sure you are familiar with them. For example, if you are hiring a car in Panama, then you must make sure everyone is wearing a seat belt at all times, and children under five years of age need to be in a child seat. Most car hire agencies have child seats available as extras, but be sure to check beforehand.

  • How can I fly directly to Central America from the UK?

    You can get direct flights to Central America from Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Gatwick Airport. For example, from Heathrow, you can fly directly to Mexico City with British Airways or Aeromexico. From London Gatwick, you can fly to Cancun and San Jose with British Airways.

  • Which airline offers direct flights and is known for its good service?

    British Airways offers direct flights to Central America and is renowned for its good service. It is considered to have great ground and cabin staff, who go the extra mile to help customers. The quality of the onboard facilities is also considered to be high, with tasty meals, great entertainment and comfy seating.

  • How long is the flight to Central America?

    An average direct flight from the United Kingdom to Central America takes 22h 47m, covering a distance of 5324 miles. The most popular route is London - San José with an average flight time of 15h 41m.

  • What is the cheapest flight to Central America?

    The cheapest ticket to Central America from the United Kingdom found in the last 72 hours was £497. The most popular route is London Heathrow to San José Juan Santamaria Intl and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was £522.

  • What are the most popular destinations in Central America?

    Based on KAYAK flight searches, the most popular destination is San José (40% of total searches to Central America). The next most popular destinations are Guatemala City (28%) and Panama City (11%). Searches for flights to Managua (7%), to San Salvador (6%) and to Belize City (4%) are also popular.

  • How does KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a given destination and date is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Central America

  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Central America flight deals.
  • Central America is a large continent that has lots of countries and airports. When you’re travelling to a country in the north, such as Mexico, you can take frequent and well-priced flights from Manchester and London to airports like Cancun Airport (CUN) and Mexico City Airport (MEX).
  • Flights from most large cities in the UK are more convenient than if you go from smaller airports. This is because they tend to be quicker and cheaper. For example, a flight from Newcastle to Cancun usually requires at least one change, whereas flights from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) can be direct. It’s also slightly cheaper to depart from London than it is from Newcastle.
  • If you want to visit countries in Central America, then you can take a quick flight with TUI Airways to Cancun. If you want to find a competitive fare to San Salvador, El Salvador, you can take a flight with United Airlines.
  • Mexico City Airport is one of the more busy terminals in the continent and is considered a gateway to Central America. Before you book your trip, it’s a good idea to browse KAYAK for alternative flight deals to Guatemala City Airport (GUA) or San Jose Airport (SJC).
  • You should avoid visiting Costa Rica around the Easter celebrations if this is not your purpose for visiting, as the prices of flights are likely to be higher during this period. In Costa Rica, Easter is a major event and there is a week-long celebration, with parades and lots of colours. So, if you are not visiting for Easter, try and book before or after these celebrations.
See more tips

Top 5 airlines flying to Central America

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from the United Kingdom to Central America? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.8
KLMOverall score based on 1626 reviews
7.3food
8.4crew
7.2entertainment
7.8boarding
7.6comfort
Airline reviews

We left one hour late because of technical difficulties. The economy comfort seats are great for the price. The crew was mediocre, they do not provide a pleasant experience, they just deliver food and drinks and give orders, not very amicable, no service and hospitality focus.

8.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Feb 2024AMS - ATL
Read more about KLM reviews

We left one hour late because of technical difficulties. The economy comfort seats are great for the price. The crew was mediocre, they do not provide a pleasant experience, they just deliver food and drinks and give orders, not very amicable, no service and hospitality focus.

Seats are fair enough for medium tall people. Good food all the trip. Fight attendances are warm

no issues at all... Kudos to the food. This time was really really good

The food was ok. The crew seemed like they were cranky. I had one guy get mad at me for passing in between the storage area to get to the other toilet. I can understand if it's not allowed but reprimanding me like I'm a student saying "This is the last time!" was not appropriate. During my meal time, there was a French family around me. No problems there but when we usually have meals, they are supposed to put their chair in the upright position. These people did not do it and the steward did not tell them to raise their seat in the upright position. However, I was told to do so! So, me and another person next to me had to eat with the monitor almost touching our faces. Furthermore, a lady in front of me was putting her feet up and preventing another elder passenger from putting her seat back. To make it worse, she was continuously hitting her back into her seat, shaking my monitor while I was watching a movie. A crew member did speak to her about it but then she accused me of pushing her seat forward! The crew member gave me a death stare and told me to stop pushing the seat forward. I did not even touch her seat at all, if I did, she would know it. Her boyfriend also stood up and tried to push her seat even further past the maximum decline to no avail. None of these people were reprimanded but the steward, some bald guy, was extremely friendly with them and did not even try to instruct them to do anything until it was time to land. I resisted the urge to really argue with them because I would have obviously been seen as the aggressor (I have no idea why). I hardly said anything on this flight except "more wine please" and "sorry" if I bumped into someone accidentally. Overall, it was an annoying flight and I had to resist the urge to yell at the steward and the people he was overly friendly with. The happiest moment of this flight was leaving it.

One of the vstewardeses wanted to bump me of the plane for absolutely nothing. There is CCTV in the plane ans everything can be verified. Very disappointing , you all will see, o other 5 years and the passangers who does not smile to flight attendent will be bumped off...

The worst airline. Cancelled flight 30 min before boarding and rebooked on flight after 3 days.

Mostly fine. Minor delays departing and arriving. Quite a cramped plane, not so much as regards legroom but very narrow seats. Quiet nice food. Non-working USB charger. Flight attendants were helpful but not particularly proactive — one had to work to get their attention (but all was fine once they notice you), very Dutch style:)

I travel frequently. The flight was late again... KLM should really try and be on time

The flight itself it was great nice food the crew were very nice and helpful, Checking in from Birmingham wasn't great long queues for bag dropped, And I had my hand luggage case taken away from me even though I requested to have it with me as I had breakables items. I was told I can not because of the length of the flight with no explanation at all no options was given for me to take my fragile items out of my case it was taken away with hold buggage I find the staff member who was checking me in very unpleasant !! Can we please be advise if the rules have changed about the the carry on hand luggage it will be easier to be advise on booking your tickect if we not allowed to take the hand luggage with me. Overall I had a good flight .

The plane was clean and the staff was friendly. Food and drinks as expected on international flights. The entertainment system was old style, with a pullout controller, and selections not as extensive as on other flights.

The check in was horrible. I stood in line for 1 hour to check in with an Air France ticket. Then I was told I had to go to Delta counter onstead to check in instead. It made no sense.

Old cabine without flat bed in business for a 12 hour flight is not acceptable

Did not find the wheelchair that supposed to assist and went to a long queue for transit security chk which was very slow and boarding desk wanted to close counter although that they knew that I am minutes away because of their mistake of not providing the wheelchair.

Business class in the second leg - CDG-EVN was a disaster.

Everything went smoothly with Air France. There was a delay in departure which seemed to relate to the immigration services being short staffed.

Food could have been better especially the breakfast. Overall it was a good flight

No bording was given for next trip on same carrier, food was very moderate.

No birding was given for next trip on same carrier, food was very moderate.

Crew was professional. Boarding has few seats . Since the plane was not full would have been nice to change seat on the internet

The crew was great and handled our unexpected detour with proactive communication.

Terrible. 2 hour delay. Sat on the tarmac. Missed my connecting flight. Had to ARGUE with Customer service to get a hotel and food. Terrible experience with my loyal carrier

The plane was delayed 2 hours. The wifi did not work. The seat in first class was not comfortable because the bottom felt like it lost all of its padding. And I did not like when the flight attendant made me wait at my seat to use the bathroom and didn't tell me why. If there were too many people using the 1st Class bathroom, she should have told me to go in the back, coach bathrooms. I guess I have to feel fortunate that they found 2 local pilots to still fly the plane tonight after the original pilots ended up at an airport 60 miles away due to high winds.

All good except paid for wifi that did not work

Unfortunately our flight was delayed by 45 minutes due to Kate arriving aircraft. Once we stated everything was great.

Textbook great flight. On-time departure and arrival, clean plane, good food, friendly flight attendants. Checked baggage delivered promptly.

Our flight from Denver to Honolulu was delayed by close to 4 hrs. The only concession that was offered was a $15 food voucher to be used at the airport. They texted the vouchers after we boarded so there was now way to use them.the food they did serve was cold. I can’t recommend this airline.

Liked Seat space in Premium Plus Disliked delay, poor management of boarding groups, missed meal at landing.

Poor. 3 hours on the tarmac waiting for maintenance. We’re told numerous times it will be 10 minutes. Once going tv was blurry. Seat cramped. Not good at all. Missed an important meeting as a result.

United requires seat selection in order for those booking together to stay together.

This was for the LOS to FRA leg of the flight Checking in and boarding was not good The staff at the gate were not helpful and targeted the customer and delayed the customers boarding unnecessarily The flight was delayed for about two hours and later for a change of boarding gate The waiting area was overcrowded with no seats available for passengers and lots were left standing for a long period of time

I was at the airport on time , I checked in my luggage . The plane was delayed and the gate was change. The flight board did not give information . I did not get chance to fly. I am going to make a claim for it

I always try to book flights that don’t charge for baggage. Yet I was charged $75 for this flight.

Never flown with LH before so all in all wasba good experience. Also good to know that approx 24hrs prior the flight opens up for being able to organise the seating free.

It was a short flight, no real service (which is okay). Very bumpy because of weather.

I'm Canaadian. I hate Air Canada. I used to give them a pass on their international service. No longer, They suck across the board now! Old planes, exhausted staff bad food and shitty entertainment. Your seats need reupholstered! Start with that...

Good experience. Food was great and passengers helped rearrange seats so our family could be seated together

Great flight. Left on time, not very crowded. Quiet and the right temperature.

No eye patches , socks given out for overnight flight! The snack on the short haul was a cube of chocolate! The seat was uncomfortable for a long haul - not enough cushioning!

Very very poor. Reliability is the main issue. The flight from Bangalore to Frankfurt was delayed by 8 hours and hence we couldn’t make the flight from Frankfurt to St. Louis ( which was later canceled by Lufthansa ) . Bangalore airport lounge 080 is EXCELLENT. The shower in the lounge is first class. Wished they had some extendable lounge chairs for sleeping for the weary passengers. FRANKFURT AIRPORT IS HORRIBLE! WILL NEVER EVER FLY IN OR OUT OF FRANKFURT. There is no jetways for the Lufthansa flight and the bus took so long to reach the next terminal. We had to clear immigration and security checks again and again though we are transit travelers.

Deplaning at Frankfurt required ck=limbing steep stairs with no provision for escalator or elevator.

We paid to have overhead carry-on baggage. When we got to the gate we were told that our carry on bags would need to be checked and go below because the flight was full. Notably we were nowhere near the last people to board and about 30 other passengers also had to check their carry-on bags. Other than that the flight was fine.

Very bad plain although I paid A business class ticket I was stuck in a stiff fixed seat without any entertainment or Wi Fi for 5 hours I will never ever book a flight on British airline.

Self check in Kiosk did not recognize that I had prepaid for my luggage. This caused a 40 minute delay even though I had my British Airways email receipt for the prepaid luggage.

Crew were very friendly and helpful. They explained to us in detail the delay in our takeoff due to the storm that rolled in from Belfast and did their best to make up the time. Always great to fly BA!

Staff were very helpful. The free WiFi for messages was also very useful to keep in touch

Crew was more interested on looking at their phones than welcoming passengers during boarding.

The crew was very attentive and kept busy serving a variety of treats!

Terrible. Missed my flight to final destination because of delayed British Airways flight. Had to spend 12 hours in airport and $1500 for new plane tickets

The crew on board were all very pleasant and happy to help. The flight had the old business class seats. The departure board in the business lounge did not update and kept on saying ' gate open' but never said boarding. When I got nervous about the departure time and walked to the gate I was told off rudely for being late.

Offered vegetable curry when it was actually tofu which I don’t care for.

Book Cheap Central America Plane Tickets

Recent return flight deals

11/5Sat
1 stop
26h 21mLGW-SJO
21/5Tue
2 stops
38h 24mSJO-LGW
£515
8/5Wed
1 stop
29h 47mLGW-SJO
14/5Tue
2 stops
32h 46mSJO-LGW
£521
22/10Tue
1 stopKLM
27h 05mLHR-SAL
30/10Wed
1 stopKLM
17h 30mSAL-LHR
£525
21/10Mon
1 stopKLM
27h 05mLHR-SAL
29/10Tue
1 stopKLM
17h 30mSAL-LHR
£547
23/10Wed
2 stopsUnited Airlines
21h 35mLHR-GUA
14/11Thu
1 stopUnited Airlines
18h 25mGUA-LHR
£581
7/5Tue
2 stopsUnited Airlines
21h 54mLHR-GUA
14/5Tue
1 stopUnited Airlines
18h 25mGUA-LHR
£582
1/10Tue
1 stopLufthansa
20h 25mLHR-GUA
4/11Mon
2 stopsLufthansa
17h 20mGUA-LHR
£586
23/10Wed
1 stopLufthansa
17h 40mLHR-GUA
13/11Wed
1 stopLufthansa
22h 55mGUA-LHR
£587
21/5Tue
1 stopBritish Airways
26h 30mLHR-PTY
25/5Sat
1 stopBritish Airways
18h 55mPTY-LHR
£628
20/10Sun
1 stopBritish Airways
36h 15mLHR-PTY
25/10Fri
1 stopBritish Airways
35h 20mPTY-LHR
£684

Search by stops

Search by airline

Search by price

Recent one-way flight deals

15/5Wed
3 stops
29h 29mLGW-PTY
£177
12/5Sun
1 stop
20h 03mLGW-GUA
£218
28/5Tue
2 stops
28h 32mLGW-SJO
£218
11/6Tue
2 stopsKLM
27h 10mLCY-SJO
£491
12/6Wed
2 stopsKLM
16h 10mLCY-SJO
£492
28/5Tue
1 stopLufthansa
16h 45mLCY-SJO
£748
11/6Tue
1 stopLufthansa
16h 45mLCY-SJO
£759
8/7Mon
1 stopBritish Airways
15h 13mLHR-GUA
£888
10/8Sat
2 stopsUnited Airlines
26h 25mLHR-BZE
£1,224
10/8Sat
1 stopUnited Airlines
30h 45mLHR-BZE
£1,255

Search by stops

Search by airline

Search by price

Last minute flights to Central America

Last minute flight, train and bus deals

27/4Sat
multi-stopKLM
15h 41mLHR-SJO
15/5Wed
multi-stopKLM
14h 59mSJO-LHR
£562
29/4Mon
multi-stopLufthansa
37h 00mLHR-SJO
23/5Thu
multi-stopLufthansa
15h 15mSJO-LHR
£583
29/4Mon
multi-stopLufthansa
37h 00mLHR-SJO
23/5Thu
multi-stopLufthansa
15h 15mSJO-LHR
£590
1/5Wed
multi-stopAir Canada
36h 00mLHR-SJO
11/5Sat
multi-stopAir Canada
29h 50mSJO-LHR
£595
29/4Mon
multi-stopAir Canada
33h 05mLHR-SJO
23/5Thu
multi-stopAir Canada
29h 45mSJO-LHR
£597
27/4Sat
multi-stopUnited Airlines
21h 40mLHR-SJO
14/5Tue
multi-stopUnited Airlines
19h 45mSJO-LHR
£661
27/4Sat
multi-stopUnited Airlines
29h 46mLHR-SJO
15/5Wed
multi-stopUnited Airlines
20h 40mSJO-LHR
£662
27/4Sat
multi-stopFinnair
29h 05mLHR-PTY
30/4Tue
multi-stopFinnair
14h 55mPTY-LHR
£762
28/4Sun
multi-stopFinnair
15h 35mLHR-SJO
3/5Fri
multi-stopFinnair
21h 30mSJO-LHR
£767
29/4Mon
multi-stopKLM
27h 10mLCY-SJO
23/5Thu
multi-stopKLM
21h 04mSJO-LCY
£919

Search by stops

Search by airline

Search by price