Central America

Central America is the southern region of North America, beginning south of the Gulf of Mexico (the exact location is defined variously) and ending at the border between Panama and Colombia. In the most common definition, it consists of the nations between Mexico and Colombia.

There was a nation of Central America in the early 19th century, consisting of the present day nations of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica (and a portion of the modern Mexican state of Chiapas). This was sometimes known as the United Provinces of Central America or the United States of Central America.

Area: 540,000 km² (208,500 mi²)

Population: 37 million approximately

Language: Out of the 13 countries in South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Guyana, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela), 9 speak Spanish. Of course they have other native languages and dialects but Spanish is the official and most used language.

The 4 non-spanish speaking countries are: Brasil (Portuguese), French Guyana (French), Suriname (Dutch) and Guyana (English), but these last three territories have a very small population.

Is good to know too, that Central America is also Spanish-dominated in language terms. Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Cuba, El Salvador, Republica Dominicana and Guatemala are spanish-speakers. Only Belize, Bermuda and the Caribbean Islands speak other languages (most of then French and English).

If you consider that Mexico (that is considered now North America) speaks Spanish, and almost 20% of the US residents are hispanics, and their number in Canada (which is half English, half French) is increasing dramatically, you can see that Spanish is by far the most spoken language in all the Americas.

Belize population: 279,457
Costa Rica population: 4,016,173
El Salvador population: 6,704,932
Guatemala population: 14,655,189
Honduras population: 6,975,204
Nicaragua population: 5,628,517
Panama population: 3,000,463

Central America’s seven countries are only a quarter of Mexico’s size, but the diverse topography, culture, ecology, and activities coexist nowhere else in the world. Within the narrow isthmus, rainforest, volcanoes, coral reefs, and beaches await alongside Maya ruins. Largely marginalized and somewhat feared by travelers in past decades, Central American countries are finally emerging from years of violent political instability into a relatively peaceful period. All have democratic governments, and the wounds left by the once-prevalent civil wars are slowly healing. Once the destination only of bold (or foolhardy) adventurers, today’s Central America—inexpensive and compact—is the budget traveler’s new frontier.

BODACIOUS BEACHES
Where to begin? Placencia, Belize has miles of white-sand beach, as do Tela, Honduras, Manzanillo, Costa Rica, and San Blas Archipelago, Panama.

BEST DIVING AND SNORKELING
The Bay Islands of Honduras and The Cayes of Belize embrace the largest and most colorful reef in the western hemisphere.

BEST BIG ROCKS
Ruins at Tikal, Guatemala, are huge and impressive, but you’ll avoid crowds at Uaxactún, Guatemala and Caracol, Belize. Don’t miss the stunning intricacy of Copán, Honduras.

BEST HIDDEN SECRETS
Camp and cook in gorgeous Laguna de Lachuá near Chisec, Guatemala. Go wild in La Mosquitia, Honduras’ untamed jungle. Stay on an isolated Caribbean island in the autonomous Kuna region of Panama.

BEST NATIONAL PARKS
Explore endless trails of unique flora, fauna and bird life in Parque Internacional La Amistad, which extends from Costa Rica into Panama. Mimic monkeys in Parque Nacional Corcovado, Costa Rica. Hike through virgin rainforest in Parque Nacional Santa Barbara, Honduras.

BEST PLACES TO GET STEAMROLLED BY PIPING HOT MAGMA
Climb Cerro Chirripó, Costa Rica’s highest peak. If mere height isn’t enough, Volcán Arenál, also in Costa Rica, froths lava nightly above the town of Fortuna.

BEST PLACE TO BUILD YOUR BATCAVE
At Cavernas de Venado in Costa Rica, spiders, bats, and rushing water are all that’s keeping you from an underground waterworld. At Belize’s Tunich Hill Cave, intact human skeletons are eager to greet visitors.

Central American cuisine is very diverse and at the same time very similar. Though each country has its own way of preparing these dishes, most of the ingredients are common to each country. Main ingredients include, beans, rice, corn tortillas, beef and chicken.

Following are a few examples of central American cuisine.

Fast Food Restaurant - A little shop with a hand painted sign that indicates food is sold there which has a little area where you can stand at a counter or sit at a bench to eat.

Panades - Corn turnovers stuffed with beef, chicken, beans, or fish, deep fried and garnished with cabbage. Eight for $1 US.

Garnaches - Fried corn tortillas, like nacho chips but round and the size of small pancakes, with beans, cabbage, and cheese piled up on them. Six for $1 US.

Salbutes - Flat round circles of fried corn masa (the dough used to make corn tortilla) with stacks of stewed chicken and cabbage with tomatoes and cilantro on top. You can substitute chicken for beans. Four for $1 US.

Bollos or Tamales - Seasoned corn dumplings stuffed with chicken and wrapped in plantain leaves. Two for $1 US.

Tamalitos - Grated fresh corn steamed in corn husks, sometimes with chicken. If you don't want the chicken be sure to say "con no carne." With pollo, two for $1 US. Without chicken, four for $1 US.

Cowfoot Soup - A delicacy that cannot be found just anywhere. No, you don't have to eat the foot, but the soup is worth the usual price of $2.50 US and is served with rice.

Rice and Beans - The staple meal in Belize. Red beans cooked in rice and served with your choice of meat and a salad (coleslaw or potato salad). Often can be purchased by the plate at a choice of $1.50, $2, or $2.50 US.

Stewed Beans and Rice - Red beans stewed and served on top of white rice with your choice of meat and a salad. Not always found in fast food restaurants. $2.50 to $3.50 US.

The most important climatic factor to consider when planning a trip to Central America is the rainy season, or invierno (winter), generally between May and November; the rest of the year is the dry season, or verano (summer). On the Pacific Coast and in the highlands, the seasons are distinct, while on the Caribbean Coast, some rain should be expected regardless of season. Temperature is determined by altitude rather than season; the highlands experience moderate highs and pleasantly cool nights while the coastal and jungle lowlands swelter.

Dry season is the tourist “high season,” meaning larger crowds and larger prices. Budget travelers should consider a rainy season visit. Even then, the sun generally shines all day, excluding furious but fleeting afternoon rainstorms. Dry season travel is for those in search of a tan or access to areas where roads and trails can be washed out for weeks. The year’s best parties are usually during Semana Santa, the week-long Easter holiday.

Whirlwind Best of Central America (2 Months)
A selection of the best and most-talked-about tourist spots starts in Guatemala City from where you’ll head west to Antigua and revel in the contrast between simple cobblestone streets and grand colonial ruins. Continue west to peaceful Panajachel, on the shores of Lago de Atitlán. Cruise around the giant lake by ferry and stop in villages along the shore. Climb one of the encroaching volcanoes before heading to Quetzaltenango, a starting point for exploring western Guatemala’s endless outdoor opportunities. After hiking with the howler monkeys and the elusive quetzals, find a bus headed for Chichicastenango, and peruse the world-famous Maya market. Jump north to the incomparable ruins of Tikal to see the work of their ancestors. From there, hop across into Belize and spend a couple days in San Ignacio, the region’s up-and-coming hub for adventure tourism; canoeing, caving, Maya ruins, and waterfalls are all within easy reach. Skip out of San Ignacio on a bus down the Hummingbird Highway, stopping along the way to explore Blue Hole and Five Blues National Parks. Peek into Belize’s eerie limestone underbelly—caves hollowed out by millennia of erosion. Farther south on the coast, Placencia provides a pleasant break from a busy itinerary. Sit on the beach and sip a fruit shake, or hire a boat out to one of the nearby cayes to snorkel along the world’s second-longest coral reef. When you’re ready to move on, grab a boat to Honduras’ Bay Islands, where you can take advantage of beautiful reefs and the cheapest scuba certification in the world. With your lust for tropical reefs satisfied, jet south to La Ceiba and party in Honduras’ nightlife capital. Sleep off your hangover because you’ll need a clear head to appreciate Copán, the most studied Maya ruins in Central America. Next, head for Parque Nacional Montecristo, where you can climb El Pital, a mountain shared by Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. For a different type of archaeological wonder, head to Joya de Cerén to see the Western Hemisphere’s version of Pompeii: a Maya city preserved in volcanic ash. Then grab a bus south to León, Nicaragua’s liberal university city, where you can lounge in the park and watch the bustling young student life. Or, skip over to Granada, León’s more conservative counterpart and the oldest city in Nicaragua, for the eclectic culture that makes it a continual tourist favorite. Keep going south and shop ’til you drop at Masaya, home to one of Nicaragua’s most famous—and cheapest—craft markets. Push on to the Isla de Ometepe, smack in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. Here the lush Volcán Maderas hides a tranquil lake within its crater. When all the volcano-climbing makes you hungry for some magma, roll south to Fortuna, Costa Rica, and watch Volcán Arenal belch fiery lava; don’t miss the area’s hot springs and waterfalls. Move on to cool off in the cloudforests of Monteverde, then wander the Nicoya Peninsula to Playa Tamarindo for some serious beach time—surf, sleep, and party. Still farther south lies Parque Nacional Chirripó, site of Costa Rica’s highest point, where you can see the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at once. The last stop on the Costa Rica leg is un crowded Parque Nacional Corcovado, where rainforest comes tumbling into the sea. Last, but certainly not least, head to Panama: stop first in Boquete and hike one of the areas’s many trails, including Panama’s highest peak, Volcán Barú, then try to spot those elusive quetzals you missed in Guatemala. Bocas del Toro promises pristine turquoise waters and spotless white-sand beaches. Relax in the Caribbean atmosphere before heading to Las Tablas on the Azuero Peninsula. If you arrive during Semana Santa (Easter Week), you’ll get swept up in the wild carnival; otherwise, revel in visits to the surrounding national parks and secluded islands. After all the roughing it, catch a bus to the very metropolitan Panama City; the capital pampers trail-weary visitors with movie theaters, hoppin’ nightlife, and great international cuisine. Make sure to sneak a peak at the adjacent Panama Canal.

La Ruta Maya (3 Weeks)
This tour loops out from Flores, Guatemala through some of the best Maya sites in the region, saving the power-hitters for the end. From Flores, your first stop is the secluded El Mirador, perfect for the truly intrepid Maya enthusiast; swallowed by the forest, it’s tough to reach and remains largely unexcavated and undisturbed. Continuing through the jungle, head to stately Uaxactún, where ruins barely resist the encroaching trees. Next, cross the Belizean border to the northern ruins of Lamanai, reached by a half-day river trip from the town of Orange Walk. Stay in Belize and check out two more sites from San Ignacio: Xunantunich and Caracol. From northern Belize take a leap south to the ruins of Quiriguá in eastern Guatemala. The stelae (pillar-like carved stones) are among the finest in the Maya world. Your tour rounds out with the two most impressive sites in the region. Researchers flock to the world-famous ruins of Copán, one of Central America’s (and the world’s) most impressive cultural treasures. Finish with a bang: Tikal is without a doubt the most outstanding Maya site of them all. Explore this ancient marvel from the town where the route started: Flores, Guatemala.

Jungle Jaunt (1 Month)
Beginning in the Nicaraguan capital, Managua, an ecotourism jaunt through southern Central America begins with a stop at the Isla de Ometepe for the gorgeous twin volcanoes and the world’s only freshwater sharks. Jump the border to Costa Rica and check out the piping hot lava of the active volcano at Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja just north of Liberia. Continue south along the Interamerican Highway to Monteverde, where you can coexist with the local fauna in biological reserves and an awe-inspiring cloudforest that sings with the sounds of living jungle. Before leaving town; stop off at Volcán Arenal. Bypass San José’s urban confusion and head straight to Parque Nacional Chirripó, accessible from San Isidro, to capture a rare view of both the Atlantic and the Pacific from Costa Rica’s highest point. Soak up some luxury at the nearby aguas termales. Tearing yourself away from the high, visit the coastal town of Puerto Jiménez and explore Parque Nacional Corcovado to witness untold varieties of birds, beasts, and botanical beauty. Journey south again to Panama and the town of Cerro Punta to hike Panama’s highest peak through the haze of its cloudforest. From the nearby town of David, hop a short flight to Bocas del Toro before cruising over to Isla Bastimentos for a glimpse of nesting turtles and other Atlantic wildlife. Lastly, fly to Panama City and Central America’s only urban national park, Parque Nacional Metropolitano.

Bronze or Bust: A Caribbean Coast Tour (1 Month)
Arriving in Belize City, take a boat to Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye to scuba and snorkel the second largest barrier reef in the world. Fly or take the Hummingbird and Southern coastal highways to Punta Gorda, Belize’s sleepy southern gateway to the mountains and the country’s largest Maya population. Take a ferry to Livingston, home of Guatemala’s vibrant Garífuna culture and rich tapado stew. Take another ferry to Omoa, an idyllic Honduran fishing village with easy access to waterfalls, beaches, and transportation to Guatemala and inner Honduras. Use La Ceiba as your party port on the way to the Bay Islands, the best white-sand beaches in Central America. Bus it to Tegucigalpa and catch a flight to San José, Costa Rica. If you want to extend the itinerary, fly into Managua, Nicaragua, and hop another flight to Bluefields, a hip party town. From San José, fly to Tortuguero, a small but increasingly popular seaside village accessible only by boat or plane. If your tan still isn’t perfect, head to the ethnically diverse Puerto Viejo de Talamanca with numerous surfing beaches and a chill reggae vibe. Tear yourself away and journey on into Panama through the Bribrí/Sixaola border crossing. From Almirante, take a water-taxi to Archipelago de Bocas del Toro, a grouping of islands ripe for hiking, diving, and fishing. If your pocket book still allows it, head by bus from Almirante to David, then fly or take an express bus to Panama City. From there, take a flight to El Porvenir, the westernmost island of the San Blas Archipelago, home of the Kuna, Central America’s most independent traditional indigenous population. Take your time and explore the rich and diverse culture of the Kuna before heading home.

Feasts and Fetes (4½ Months)
Start this cultural party tour off right in Crooked Tree, Belize with the local Cashew Festival (first weekend in May). Enjoy the local cuisine, dance away the warm nights to the omnipresent punta music, and drink the delicious locally made cashew wine, all in homage to the village’s cash crop. Continue the festival tour with the Carnaval in La Ceiba: ask any Honduran and they’ll tell you, “Tegucigalpa thinks, San Pedro Sula works, and La Ceiba parties.” And Carnaval is the grand-daddy of them all (third week in May). San Pedro Sula takes a break from its work for La Festival Juniana, a cultural celebration whose entire month climaxes in the last week with street dancing, costumed parades and music by radio pop stars and the national symphonic orchestra (last week of June). Finish off the month at Alajuela’s annual Mango Festival, in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, where vendors, chefs, and farmers come together to celebrate their favorite produce in a region known informally as la tierra de los mangos (end of June-early July). From here, it’s only a short commute to Liberia, where the Expo-feria Ganadera Liberia takes over in mid-July. This week-long party is the biggest sabanero (cowboy) rodeo in the country, bringing cattle ranchers together for bullfights, street games, and dancing (July 19-29). The town of Antigua, Guatemala, puts on an annual local Carnival. The festive spirit of Antiguans comes out in full force with parades, calypso competitions, and, of course, all-night parties (July 25-Aug. 3). Just a short trip away, Festival San Salvador is the biggest party in El Salvador, with some 200,000 Salvadorans celebrating the capital city’s patron saint with a circus, parade, and spectacular fireworks show (Aug. 3-6). Though not the blown-up experience of San Salvador, Somotillo’s patron saint celebration for San Lorenzo is well known as an exceptional representation of the more local and simple celebrations of the region (Aug. 10). Head back up north as Guatemala City residents fill the streets with carpets for their saint and celebrate the crowning of their city as the nation’s capital (Aug. 15). After the party, relax while listening to the best national musicians as they compete for recognition in two of the most traditional and region-specific music forms, in Estelí at the Festival de Mariachis y Mazurcas (third week in Aug.). At the end of August, the streets of Limón fill with parades and floats, dancing and music celebrating Costa Rica’s Afro-Caribbean heritage. Look out for lectures, art displays, and beauty pageants. Conclude your festival extravaganza in good taste at the Feria Internacional del Mar, on Isla Colón in Panama, which serves up a variety of the amazing seafood the Caribbean waters have to offer (Sept. 15-19).

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