Central America Travel

Central America is a relatively narrow strip of land linking the huge continents of North and South America. At its narrowest point (in Panama) it is only 60 km wide. Most of its territory is rugged highlands, between 1000 and 2000 meters; in height. The mountain chain that runs through the length of the region links the Mexican highlands to the Andes. The highest peaks rise to over 3000 m and some are active volcanoes.

The most extensive lowlands are the marshy coastal plains of Belize, Honduras and Nicaragua, facing onto the shallow, calm and enclosed Caribbean Sea. The west coast faces the rollers of the open Pacific Ocean. There are good beaches on both coasts, though the Caribbean coast is fringed with a long coral reef. The Caribbean coast has a hot tropical climate with rainbearing onshore winds all year round, though the summer months (May October) are wetter. Sea level temperatures range from 20 to 30' C, and the natural vegetation is tropical rain forest. The mountains are cooler and a wide range of different wildlife habitats occur here as the climate changes rapidly with increasing altitude. On the west (Pacific) side of the mountains, the climate is drier with a clearly defined wet season (November / April) and heavy rain from May to October.

The vegetation here is tropical Savannah. The region hall a rich cultural industry. The ancient Mayan empire flourished between 300 AD 800 AD and was based in present day Belize, Guatemala and Honduras, as well as extending into the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico . Many spectacular ruins of temples, step pyramids and other buildings still exist. The area was conquered by the Spanish in the seventeenth century, so the official language is Spanish in all Central American countries (except Belize which was a British colony and never came under Spanish rule). The countries became independent in the 1820s and 1830s but most (except Belize and Costa Rica) have had turbulent political histories in the 20th century.

The Maya ruins and Caribbean islands with white sandy beaches attracts visitors from all over the world. CostaRica's pristine national parks, several in tropical rain forests, attract international scientists and visitors interested in wildlife watching and the natural environment.

You can see mountain mining villages, vast wilderness areas, unusual wildlife and ecological systems ranging from large Caribbean lagoons to high altitude cloud forests. The landscapes can be spectacular from almost any spot in El Salvador a volcano is within sight, some of them still active.

Central America is somewhere between stage one (traditional society) and stage two (preconditions for take off). Central America is not only a geographical bridge between North and South America; historically it has also been an intermediate region between North and South American cultures. The lowlands of Nicaragua and Costa Rica seem to have formed a very ,loose boundary between the overlapping cultures of indigenous Central and South American peoples.At least two-thirds of Central Americans are of mixed ancestry. Census figures estimate that 60 percent are of mixed European and American Indian descent (called ladinos in Guatemala and mestizos elsewhere), 5 percent are of mixed European and black origin (mulattoes), and 1 percent are of mixed American Indian and black ancestry (zambos). A further 20 percent are “pure” American Indian, or Amerindian, as they are often called in Central and South America. Some 12 percent claim white European ancestry, while the descendants of Chinese and East Indian indentured labourers and others make up about 2 percent. Most of those classified as American Indians live in Guatemala, making up more than 40 percent of that country's total population. Many of the remaining American Indians live in adjoining Honduras and another large group in El Salvador; elsewhere, only in relatively empty Belize are American Indians a significant element (about 10 percent) in the population. Almost all American Indians in Guatemala are Maya.

Central American wildlife is similar to but not as rich as that of South America. A number of species also have North American ties, and some endemic species have evolved from western Panama, eastern Costa Rica, and the highlands of Guatemala, Honduras, and northern Nicaragua. Uncontrolled hunting, the demand of external markets, the destruction of natural habitats, and the pressures of a growing human population, however, have taken a severe toll on Central America's wildlife; many of the region's better-known inhabitants are endangered or seriously depleted species, and some are in imminent danger of extinction.

The jaguar, ocelot, jaguarundi, and margay, all South American cats, may be found in the isthmus but are becoming rarer. The puma, gray fox, and coyote have colonized from North America, the latter only as far as northern Central America. The raccoon has used the isthmus as a corridor into South America; and, in reverse, the armadillo and the opossum have made their way into the United States, and the quiet kinkajou and giant anteater have used the isthmus as a route into Mexico.

The Central American rainforests are relatively sparsely populated with mammals, generously populated with reptiles, and extremely rich in birds and insects. The shaded forest floor supports few grazing ungulates, the peccary, the tapir, and the deer being among these; all are sought for food. Other forest mammals are arboreal. For example, monkeys are represented throughout Central America by the howler and the spider; the capuchin is found as far north as Honduras. The red-backed squirrel monkey of Panama and Costa Rica (where it is protected) has been heavily sought for the biomedical industry.

Water animals and reptiles are numerous. The amphibious river otter is on the endangered list. One of the more unusual mammals is the manatee, which inhabits lagoons and estuaries; it has been decimated through hunting, however. The landlocked shark found in Lake Nicaragua is one of the more interesting freshwater fish. Among the more familiar endangered reptiles are sea turtles. The tortoiseshell of the hawksbill and the meat of the green turtle are particularly prized, and the eggs of others are eaten. Lizards are well represented and include the gecko; the large common iguana and the related black iguana are sold live for meat in local markets.

Spanish is the dominant language of Central America and the official language in six of the republics; English is the lingua franca of much of the Caribbean coast and the official language of Belize. Many of the American Indians are monolingual; some speak Spanish as a second language; and a considerable number speak more than one American Indian language. Roman Catholicism is the professed religion of six out of every seven Central Americans; almost all others adhere to various Protestant faiths. The conversion of the indigenous peoples during colonial times was often accompanied by the absorption of Roman Catholicism into the rituals of pre-Hispanic beliefs and practices, and these remain today.

You can have a good trip to Central America at any time of year. On the whole, Central America's busiest tourist seasons are during the dry season from around mid December to April and again during the North American summer holidays, mostly July and August.

Travelers go to Central America for many reasons. Many are en route between North and South America. Others come to pursue special interests. Ecotourism is very popular in Central America. The rain forests with their abundant wildlife are a particular attraction. They're just as interesting as those in the Amazon and a lot more accessible for most people.