Central America - América Central

THE Central America encompasses the countries located on the isthmus between the Mexico and the Colombia.

countries

Belize The only Central American country with no border on the Pacific coast, and also the only one in which English is the official language. Still, many people here speak Spanish.

Costa Rica Costa Ricans like to call their country "the Switzerland of Latin America" ​​and, in fact, it has mountainous lands, political neutrality and relative wealth to back up that claim.

El Salvador The only Central American country without a border on the Atlantic coast, marked by past decades of civil war.

Guatemala One of the centers of Mayan culture and civilization.

Honduras A long Caribbean coastline adorned with beaches and coral reefs and a mountainous island home to Mayan ruins and colonial cities

Nicaragua Nicaraguans like to call their territory the country of lakes and volcanoes, and in fact these are the two defining geographic aspects.

Panama The richest country in the region, mainly due to the eponymous channel. It gained independence from Colombia in the early 20th century.

although the Mexico is closer to the countries of Central America, culturally and economically speaking, we place it in the North America due to the more accepted geographic conventions.

the islands of Caribbean they are also listed in a separate region.

Cities

• Belmopan (or Belmopã), the capital of Belize.
• Guatemala City, capital and largest of the Republic of Guatemala.
• Belize City, the former capital and still the most important city in Belize.
• Panama City, capital, most populous city, and the main financial, corporate, cultural and economic center of Panama.
• Managua, capital of Nicaragua.
• San José, capital of Costa Rica.
• San Pedro Sula, a city in Honduras and capital of the department of Cortés.
• San Salvador, capital and largest city of El Salvador.
• Tegucigalpa, the capital and largest city in Honduras.

Other destinations

• Coconut Island, a Costa Rican island located in the Pacific Ocean, where Jurassic Park was filmed.
• Isla Coiba National Park, marine reserve on the Pacific coast of Panama.

Understand

Speak

Due to the extensive Spanish presence in the region, the most spoken dialect is the Spanish language as a primary language, especially of government and in cities. However, the English is the official language of Belize, a former British colony, but you'll notice that Spanish is still spoken a lot in the country. In addition, English is co-official on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, along with indigenous languages. English-speaking people can be found on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama. The region's indigenous languages ​​are still spoken in many rural areas.

To arrive

People from industrialized countries should have no problem crossing borders and can expect a border fee of around $2-$20, depending on the country. When you cross the border, no one will signal you to get your stamp. You will have to go to the immigration agency and get your stamp. Generally, it is not necessary to get a visa in advance.

By airplane

Cheap scheduled flights are available from the United States to Central American airports. There are very regular buses from Chetumal, in the Mexico, to the city of Corozal in Belize, which takes an hour and costs around 4 US dollars. You may have to pay an exit tax, or a fee to validate the Mexican visa for multiple entries when you leave Mexico, and there is also an exit tax when you leave the airport in Belize. Juan Santamaría, Costa Rica, also receives flights from Europe (Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid) and from the USA (Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Houston, phoenix, Charlotte, Orlando, etc.). O Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in Nicaragua and the Comalapa Airport, in El Salvador, also have many destinations.

Because direct flights to Central America from outside the Western Hemisphere are very expensive, it is often cheaper to go through the US, for example, a flight from sydney to the Mexico City it costs about $2500. if you go with Jetstar to Hawaiithen with Hawaiian Airlines for Los Angeles. and then by bus (or plane) to Mexico City, it will cost less than $1000.

Circular

Look

Knife

Buy

Virtually every country in Central America accepts the US dollar. Other currencies are difficult to exchange. You can exchange Mexican pesos at the borders of Belize or Guatemala but other than that there is not much option. The US dollar is the official currency of El Salvador and Panama, so there is no need to exchange money in these countries. You can buy just about anything or any service in dollars, but it can sometimes be cheaper to buy in the local currency. Coins like Córdoba or Lempira are usually highly inflated so just what you need. Almost all banks change money from US dollar to local currency and a passport is usually required to do this. Aside from border towns, coins are always useless when brought from outside the country to exchange money with official money changers at the borders. If bringing US money to Central America, make sure the bills are new, clean and not torn or not exchangeable. Two dollar bills are considered lucky until you bring some tips. Banks in Belize do not exchange Guatemalan Quetzal, which must be exchanged at the border or at some travel agents and tour operators. ATM can be found in banks and in major cities, but outside it is often difficult to find a working ATM. Most ATMs have local currency and dollars. In Central America, you can often find cheap purchases ranging from gifts to personal needs. Almost anything can be traded with the exception of luxury department stores. Tourists tend to pay a higher price; that's why it's useful to be skilled at haggling.

With the

Guatemala is the country of tamales; there are regular tamales made of but corn or stuffed with meat, chicken, turkey or pork, and tomatoes, and sometimes chile. "Black Tamales" are similar to the previous ones, but they are sweet. Have patches (potato tamales, "cambray tamales" (small candy shaped like "masa" balls), "chipilin" tamales, and many others. Rellenitos (fried banana bonbons stuffed with beans) are a tasty dessert sold on street corners. Black beans are the main food, after corn of course. There are a variety of soups ("broths"). Guatemalan cuisine is a mix of Mayan and Spanish dishes. Gallo pinto is a mixture of rice and beans with a little coriander or onion thrown in, it is the national dish of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. This mixture is called Casamiento ("marriage") in El Salvador and Guatemala. And, on the north coast of Honduras, casamiento is made with coconut milk. Pupusas and "chicharron con yuca" (pork skin and cassava) are very popular dishes that originated in El Salvador. Nacatamales, which are large tamales that contain pork meat , potatoes, rice, chile, tomato and pasta are steamed in platano leaves. They originate in Nicaragua and can be purchased in the colonial city of Granada. Oven tamales, wrapped with platano leaves, are very good in Costa Rica. Grilled octopus is a very tasty dish in Panama. Fresh fruit is delicious, but avoid fruit that don't peel before eating, because if you're not used to Central American dietary patterns you can get sick.

drink and go out

Horchata is a drink made from rice and is of Spanish origin. It is served in many countries in Latin America. Another popular drink in most Central American countries is "Rose de Jamaica" (Hibiscus sabdariffa. "Tamarindo" also makes a very popular drink)Piña Colada, a drink made from pineapple juice, coconut cream, crushed ice and rum , is served on all islands on the Atlantic side.

There are two great rum producers in Guatemala, distilling some of the best rums in the region, Ron Zacapa Centenario (aged 12 and 23) and Ron Botran añejo (25 years old). Flor de Caña, rated one of the best rums in Latin America, is made in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua. Visits to the Caña Flor factory can also be made.

sleep

what a sleepy hummmmmmmmmmm

Stay in touch

Safety

Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica are generally safer than Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Belize, which suffer from maras (street gangs) and also have the highest crime rates in the region. Police are often not seen as trustworthy. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported last year that Guatemala had the highest homicide rate in all of Latin America, with 70 homicides per 100,000. By comparison, the homicide rate in the United States is 5.6 homicides per 100,000. Traveling at night is dangerous anywhere in Central America, especially in national capitals. Illegal drugs are common in the region. Don't get involved! Entering South America by land might seem like a good idea when you look at a world map, but it's not. The Colombian border of Panama's Darien province is surrounded by a dangerous region and has the only break in the Pan American Highway. Known as the Darien Gap, it is full of unscrupulous drug dealers and militias capable of kidnapping or killing. Stay away.

Health

Tropical diseases such as Dengue and Malaria are endemic to much of Central America, especially rural and Caribbean.

If you want to go to the Panama, you will need a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate.

In recent months, the Zika virus has spread across much of Central America, but it is advisable to check official government notices as well as country guides before you go, as the situation can vary dramatically between or even within countries.

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