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Introducing Central America
Tiny on a map, Central America packs in more diversity than any similar-sized area on the planet. No matter when or how long you visit, daily adventures are there for the taking. They come in all styles – fun, easy, bumpy, challenging, surprising, fulfilling – the sort you’ll be talking about for decades.
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Caribbean white-sand beaches and offshore reefs border lazy backpacker towns while, not far away, coffee-scented mountains reach, Dr Seuss–like, through smoke-ring clouds. Spanish haciendas line the cobblestone streets of 16th-century colonial towns under the ominous gaze of lava-gurgling volcanoes. Wander through dense jungle to find Mayan pyramids that date back a millennium as bulldog-sized rodents scurry past and howler monkeys commute in the treetops above you.
Best are the people you’ll meet. Skip from country to country on open-boats over chocolaty waters, witness colorful modern Mayan life, not much changed over the centuries, or kick back in a Garífuna village, the home to African-Carib culture. Excellent Spanish schools abound so try a border-crossing study hop or stay with a local family to discover more about daily life.
Central America – Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and, parts of southern Mexico – is distinctly apart from its bigger, more well-known American neighbors. That it remains a mystery to so many, makes the trip all the more rewarding.
Last updated: Oct 20, 2009
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Central America
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Central America Overview
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Our Top Picks For Central America
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1 Parque Nacional Corcovado, Costa Rica
Remote national wonder of coastal rain forest where macaws circle above and whales dance offshore
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2 Northern Cayes, Belize
Nurse sharks and stingrays brush against snorkeled bellies by unreal reefs at Caye Caulker
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3 Bay Islands, Honduras
Scuba-diving heaven: these islands offer best-deal courses for marine rich reef dives
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4 Antigua, Guatemala
A gorgeous tri-volcano-clad colonial town with a lively Holy Week and Spanish schools
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5 Copán Ruinas, Honduras
Mountain adobe village boasting fabulous Maya ruins, plus heaps of horseback and tubing options
