| This fascinating destination of the Americas had been | | | | also provides highly fertile soil for agriculture necessary |
| cultivated by thriving agrarian cultures for 3,000 years | | | | to sustain the incredibly dense populations in urban |
| before Europe's arrival in the New World. The modern | | | | centers like San Salvador. Costa Rica attracts |
| existence of more than eight ancient cultures can still | | | | adventure-seekers from all corners of the world to its |
| be found today and a triumphant preservation | | | | thrilling white water rapids and mystic cloud forests, |
| movement of these indigenous people is underway. | | | | while the truly daring are drawn to Nicaragua's |
| Central America offers mesmerizing insight into the | | | | smoking and belching Santiago Crater, tucked |
| beauty of life and tradition that has sustained centuries | | | | between two active volcanoes in Volcán Masaya |
| of repression, shifting political alliances and some of | | | | National Park. |
| nature's mightiest forces. | | | | Central America is also teeming with vivacious urban |
| Bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific | | | | life. San Jose, Costa Rica's capital city, is one of the |
| Ocean, the Central American isthmus is a narrow | | | | most modern and international cities in the region, |
| tropical and volcanic landmass that connects Mexican | | | | blessed with more years of peace than many Central |
| North America to the northwestern lowlands of South | | | | American cities have experienced in recent decades. |
| America. Early in the 19th century, this region was | | | | Bars and Nightclubs are packed every night of the |
| known as The United States of Central America but | | | | week and booming commercialism, museums and |
| today is comprised of the seven independent nations | | | | gourmet restaurants seem to momentarily erase the |
| of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, | | | | less affluent reality in the background. To the south, |
| Costa Rica and Panama. | | | | Panama City is also a vibrant and expansive |
| Relax, Explore and Discover | | | | metropolis spawned from the commerce generated |
| The most spectacular Mayan ruins can be found in | | | | by the adjacent Panama Canal. |
| Guatemala at Tikal, a ceremonial center of pyramids, | | | | Travel to Central America to come face to face with |
| plazas and museums tucked beneath a thick and | | | | a collection of cultures and lifestyles more diverse and |
| enchanting rainforest canopy. Belize provides the | | | | complex than you had ever imagined. Explore the |
| traveler with a slower pace along its white sand | | | | diverging histories of a region bound by a common |
| Caribbean coastline dotted with world class reefs for | | | | past and struggling to achieve a prosperous future. |
| the passionate scuba diver. The entire landmass is a | | | | The possibilities are endless in Central America. |
| geographic wonder of active volcanic chains, which | | | | |