Central America's exuberant greenery is now home to so many good hotels that visitors have a previously unheard-of luxury: Choice

Not only are the quality and variety of accommodations in Central America on a sharp upswing, but getting there is also increasingly easy. El Salvador-based Taca has long been the dominant regional as well as international carrier, but several U.S. airlines now have non-stop flights to the area from more than 15 American cities, and new players—Honduras's Sol Air (786-621-316), for one—are making fares, particularly for flights to and from Miami, more competitive than ever.

Once there, you can choose from among big beach resorts and tiny inns, first-class business hotels and private rental villas. Particularly noteworthy are the small, boutique-style places that artfully combine pampering with an unsullied natural environment. Here, 11 of the newest and best.

All prices quoted are for the current month, which is low season.

Belize

The country code is 501. The U.S. embassy is at 29 Gabourel Lane in Belize City (227-7161; usembassy.state.gov/belize).

Maya Island Air's flights from Belize Cityto Ambergris Caye, the most popular of the country's barrier reef islands, take about 25 minutes (800-225-6732; mayaairways.com). Once there, water taxis and golf carts get you around. For quick eats in San Pedro, the only town, have the chicken or shrimp soup at Ambergris Delight Restaurant & Pizza (226-2464; entrées, $9-$18). For dinner, try the French-Thai Rendezvous, which is owned by a winemaker who imports grapes from Europe and produces 2,000 bottles a month (226-3426; entrées, $17-$28). North of town, Portofino has eight palapa cabanas and three balconied suites on stilts (in the largest suite, a bathtub overlooks the lagoon). The restaurant, which has a veranda, was just renovated (220-5096; portofinobelize.com doubles, $200-$300; entrées, $20-$31).

Minutes from Ambergris Caye, the small resort island of Cayo Espanto is perfect for honeymooners and exhausted captains of industry: Each of its five sea-view villas has a king-size bed with Yves de Lormes linens, and four have private plunge pools. Meals are included, and are served on your deck or pretty much anywhere you like. Spa treatments and outings on land and sea are also available (888-666-4282; aprivateisland.com doubles, $895-$1,550).

In the southern Belize town of Placencia, the reopened (after Hurricane Iris tore it apart) Turtle Inn is a collection of comfortable Indonesian-style cabins. Each has a screened porch and an enclosed garden with an outdoor shower. During my stay, a wild fox had taken to napping in the tree just outside my front door. There's a swimming pool, a long white beach, and an open-air restaurant serving very good Italian food—all befitting the owner, Francis Ford Coppola. Great for families, too (800-746-3743; turtleinn.com doubles, $175-$200; entrées, $13-$36).