Please find useful information about Oaxaca below:

Weather in Oaxaca

Map of Oaxaca

DID YOU KNOW

• Oaxaca City has the best homemade Mole and Chocolate in the country.

• Oaxaca City was formerly known as Huaxyacac, a Nahuatl word, until the Spanish conquest in 1532 when it was renamed Nueva Antequera.

NIGHTLIFE

• Oaxaca has a selection of good night spots to suit those looking for a party! Check out the following bars: La Divina (Rock Bar), La Tentacion (Salsa), Candela (Salsa), El Elefante (All Music) Bar Central (Electro Launge: Chill out), La Cantinita (Mexican / Wrestling Atmosphere), Café Borgo, El Decano (Mojitos) , La Nueva Babel.

• Listen to live Mariachi bands in the Zocalo and then continue to Alcala Street to start your bar hopping expedition.

THINGS TO DO

• Visit the Santo Domingo Church.

• Listen to live music in the Zocalo.

• Learn about the history of Oaxaca in the Casa Juarez and local theaters.

• You can experience Oaxacan delicacies like Chapulines Fritos (fried grasshoppers) and Mole in the “20 de Noviembre Mercado” and even taste a locally-brewed Mezcal.

Included Activity with Bamba Pass

Oaxaca: Hierve el Agua, Mitla, Teotilan del Valle, Tule and Mezkal Factory       

Hierve el Agua. Due to the variety and high concentrations of mineral salts, a prehispanic irrigation system and various waterfalls are now petrified. A series of small natural pools have been excavated to form an esplanade called "the amphitheater", from which you can admire the amazing scenery.  There are two distinct levels: in the lower level there are springs and the irrigation system, and in the upper level there are many facilities for visitors. 

Mitla.  Its name in Nahuatl means "Place of the Dead", while the Zapotecs called it lyobaa, meaning "Place of burials" Mitla was a place of residence for the Zapotec priestly class. It was inhabited from the classic period of Monte Albán (100 to 650 AD) , and reached its peak in the post-classical period (750 to 1521 AD). The layout of the city was probably planned with structures grouped in five sets, currently called the Columns, the Church, the Stream, the Adobes and the South.

Teotitlán del Valle. This town is where woolen rugs are made on domestic looms. The artisans here use natural dyes such as indigo, moss and grana cochinilla. We will take you to an artisan´s house to see the process of making a rug. 

Santa María El Tule.  Among the natural beauties of this town is the huge, ahuehuete cypress called "El Árbol del Tule". The tree is a wonderful example of Oaxacan flora, 40 meters high with a diameter of 52.58 meters, it weights around 509 tons and is approximately 2000 years old. We suggest you visit the handcraft market of the community and to sample the wide variety of local foods.

INCLUDES:

Transportation

English Speaking Guide

DOES NOT INCLUDE:

Entrance Fees to Hierve el Agua: $3 USD, Miltla $3 USD.

Food

Please call our toll free 01-800-4622622 number to book directly with Bamba Experience and book and get your discount

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Tour of Monte Alban, and Indigenous Towns Short Escape

Book now!

Normal Price: € 16

Bamba Pass Holder Price: € 11

Description:  This adventure begins at 10:00 a.m. when we pick you up at the hostel of your choice.  You will visit the Monte Alban ruins, the greatest ancient capital built by the Zapotec culture and the most important archaeological site in Oaxaca.  Then, you will continue to Arrazola to visit a famous wood-carving village, followed by Cuilapam de Guerrero, a 16th century Dominican ex-monastery.  Lastly, you will stop in San Bartolo Coyotepec to visit the home of the popular regional black clay pottery. 

*Transportation and English Speaking Guide are included, entrance fees are not.

Recommended hostels

Paulina Hostel

Address: Trujano 321, Centro

Telephone: 951 516 2005

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Casa de Don Pablo Hostel

Oaxaca, Mexico Melchor Ocampo 412

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Ancient Mecca of the Zapotecas "cloud people" and Mixtecas, two of the most highly advanced civilizations in pre-Hispanic Mexico. It was built around 700 BC and mysteriously abandoned over 1000 years ago. Bamba Experience will make sure you don't leave Oaxaca without visiting these ancient ruins.  This archeological site is one of those you can't miss. Guided tours available.

A perfect place to stop on your way to the coast of Oaxaca. Located on the Sierra Madre Occidental at 2750 mts. above sea level and surrounded by a beautiful pine tree forest and some waterfalls. A spectacular scenery best discovered during treks. Also famed for its magic mushrooms.

Population. 21,000 Elevation. 12 m.

This small fishermen’s village has organized to receive tourists, though the services are only a few. Worth the visit is the mangrove lagoon, great for bird-watching. Here the community has adapted an island in the lagoon as a green-house for recovering it after hurricane Paulina. They also have crocodiles that are reintegrated to the lagoon once they have reached a size suitable for its survival. This beach receives turtles which are very well kept by the community. If you are lucky you may help the people to set the turtles free.

A commercial,  well developed tourist destination full of spectacular beaches and many  bays along the coast. Most of these bays are really spectacular, get your snorkel equipment and go for it. If you are not confident in the water book a snorkeling tour safely. You will find different kinds of accommodation from cabanas, camping spaces and hostels to high-end resorts and 5 star hotels. Take a walk downtown and blend with locals and other tourists. To fully discover the bays of Huatulco you can sign up for a boat trip with the local operators.

This is a very peaceful and quiet place. Close to the city of Oaxaca, up in the mountains different villages organized for receiving tourists  From this area you have a great view of the valley and the nature is amazing. The locals are very friendly. The oficina de turismo offers bicycle rentals and tours and can guide you through the senderos (walk paths) that take you to each one of the villages. There´s a path for bicycles, a path for pedestrians and of course a road for the motor vehicles.

Little quiet village surrounded by miles of clean sand. Worthwhile stop if you've been doing some hard traveling. Watch out for the waves, they look inviting but are potentially dangerous because of strong tides. Once you're there it is very easy to get to Boca Del Cielo a cluster of houses and fishing boats all along the lagoon's shore. Board a "lancha" and get to a beautiful deserted beach. Be ready to bargain the hotel prices as some owners will initially quote prices higher than they are prepared to settle for. Don't expect lots of activities, instead relax and rest for a few days and then hop-on Bamba again.

pop. 500,000 elev. 550 m.

Chiapas capital city has all type of services, some interesting museums, and what is really worth is a visit to the Cañon del Sumidero.  Food is good too, but there´s not much to do here, so a couple of hours stop would be enough. We recommend you to stay in San Cristobal and visit Tuxtla for the day.

We also offer trips to the best areas in the state of Chiapas. Such as: Montebello Lakes, Agua Azul, Misol-ha, Palenque, Sumidero Canyon and transfers to the major tourist destinations in Guatemala. Check our add-on section for more information.

Palenque is a Maya archaeological site near the Usumacinta River in the Mexican state of Chiapas, about 130 km south of Ciudad del Carmen. It is a medium-sized site, much smaller than such huge sites as Tikal or Copán, but it contains some of the finest architecture, sculpture, and bas-relief carvings the Maya ever produced. The site was already long abandoned when the Spanish arrived in Chiapas. The first European to visit the ruins and publish an account was Father Pedro Lorenzo de la Nada in 1567; at the time the local Chol Maya called it Otolum meaning "Land with strong houses", de la Nada roughly translated this into Spanish to give the site the name "Palenque", meaning "fortification".

Activities:
-The Temple of Inscriptions above the tomb of Pacal the Great

-The Palace, actually a complex of several connected and adjacent buildings and courtyards built up over several generations on a wide artificial terrace. The Palace houses many fine sculptures and bas-relief carvings in addition to the distinctive four-story tower.

-The Temple of the Cross, Temple of the Sun, and Temple of the Foliated Cross. This is a set of graceful temples atop step pyramids, each with an elaborately carved relief in the inner chamber.

An amazing archeological site. The adventure starts when yo take a boat to get  the site. Once there the labyrinth welcomes you. Take a look at the huge Ceibas (maya´s sacred tree) up to 120 feet tall. Some howler monkeys come here to feed, if you re lucky you might spot them -or at least listen to their howl.

You'll find hard to believe what you're seeing when you arrive to these multicolor lakes, though you can only visit a few, there are more than 50 of them. Ask around and you can walk to the ones off-route. If nature is what amazes you, Montebello is the place to be. Take the rustic boat ride, it's all peace and quiet. Bring your camera.

Very close to Palenque, this waterfall is worth visiting, you can swim and take a walk down the caves (if you have a flashlight), restaurants here are pretty good and inexpensive.

River Misol-Ha (meaning "Streaming Water"), in the "Chol" tribe area of Chiapas, creates one of the state's most wonderful natural sights as the river falls off the edge of a cliff and 35 meters (120 feet) down into a deep pool of water surrounded by lush vegetation.

The water at the foot of the waterfall is deep (scuba divers have reported depths of 45 feet), and there are signs warning visitors of this. You should only swim here if you are a good swimmer, and children should be watched carefully. The water is deliciously refreshing.

A scuba diver who has been in the the pool has told us that it is cone-shaped and at the very center is an opening about 6 feet in diameter that is possibly a subterranean waterway which connects to somewhere farther downstream.

A small walkway will take you behind the curtain of water created by the waterfall. There are some caves behind, of which local people waiting there will give you a guided tour in return for a small tip.

The serene and impressive Lake Atitlan will amaze you with the breathtaking scenery from the winding road that leads you to the crystalline waters framed by two volcanoes leading you to the lake-side town of Panajachel.  The interesting town is populated by locals of Maya descent, Europeans and hippies who moved here in the 60's and 70's and decided to stay.

Activities:
Panajachel is a quaint lake-side town with a spiritual vibe that attracts travelers from around the world.  Some have become so enchanted with the natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere of Lake Atitlan that they have stayed and now call it home.  Locals gather in the Circus Bar at night to enjoy a drink with friends.  The 400-acre Atitlan Nature Reserve is filled with colorful and exotic local flora and fauna such as country’s national bird, the quetzal, and commonly heard howler monkeys.  In the Atitlan Butterfly Sanctuary surround yourself with a myriad of 35 different species of vividly colored and patterned butterflies.  Visit the picturesque lake-side towns of San Pedro, San Marcos and Santiago by boat stopping to walk through the cobblestone streets and alleyways overlooking the water. 

Bamba Recommends:
-Take a boat tour around the lake to visit the quaint lake-side villages of San Marcos, San Pedro and Santiago. 

-Hike up the inactive San Pedro Volcano in the early morning to admire breathtaking views from the top before the afternoon clouds roll in.

-Swim in the crystalline clear waters of Lake Atitlan to re-energize yourself and cleanse your soul. 

Facts:
-Panajachel’s nickname is Pana. 

pop. 160,000 elev. 2170m.

Cholula a beautiful colonial city which is told to have 365 churches, count them yourself! Don’t forget the one on the top of the widest pyramid in the world.

Facts:
-Admission fee: $45 pesos.
-Opened to public in 1946. 

Activities:
-Besides drink beer? Extreme water sports available, quad-biking, diverse tours to nearby sites.

Bamba Recommends:
Take the ferry to Isla Mujeres and/or Cozumel, if you're into diving these places are the ones to be in.
For the Mayan Riviera, especially Cancun and Playa del Carmen, when high-season, make reservations prior to your arrival or you will have trouble finding a place to sleep.
Bathing suit, sunglasses and sandals is pretty much what you need to enjoy the Caribbean.

Facts:
-Yucatan Peninsula was supposedly created when a meteor crashed into earth many many years ago.

The city was founded in 1540 by Spanish conquistadores as San Francisco de Campeche atop the pre-existing Maya city of Canpech or Kimpech. The Pre-Columbian city was described as having 3,000 houses and various monuments, of which little trace remains.

The city retains many of the old colonial Spanish city walls and fortifications which protected the city (not always successfully) from pirates and buccaneers. The state of preservation and quality of its architecture earned it the status of a UNESCO Worl Heritage Site in 1999. Originally, the Spaniards lived inside the walled city, while the natives lived in the surrounding barrios of San Francisco, Guadalupe and San Román. These barrios still retain their original churches; the one in Guadalupe is almost 500 years old.

Merida is a city of contrasts. You will find elegant hotels, restaurants and malls in the northern part of the city. Downtown, there are hotels and restaurants to suit every budget. A large central market and numerous small shops are found all around the main plaza. Merida has a rich cultural life which also reflects its diversity. Many free concerts, performances and other events are held daily.

The city's ambiance is colonial and the climate is tropical. The daytime temperature varies; in January, it is about 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 Celsius) and in June, about 95 F (35 C). To beat the heat, most people are busiest in the mornings. They have lunch and siesta, then go back to work for a few hours in the late afternoon. The cool breezes from the Gulf of Mexico drift into Mérida in the evenings and this is when many of the residents spend their time outdoors. You can see them visiting and talking as they stroll along the streets, sit in the plazas or dine in the many sidewalk restaurants.

From Merida, it is easy to take day trips to a vast array of destinations: archaeological sites, ecological parks, typical villages, caves, beaches, colonial missions and more. Take your time and really explore the Maya sites… walk for miles along the Gulf of Mexico… attend a village festival… photograph the wildlife… crawl through a cave or swim in a cenote...

Celestún, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Celest%C3%BAn&oldid=174208279 (last visited Jan. 22, 2008).

Tulum is on the Yucatan Peninsula, in Mexico. It is one of the earliest resorts in Mexico, offering a place of worship and solitude for the Mayan Kings, clergy and Gods in early times. The tropical beach backdrop is the main attraction of this picturesque, much-visited small ruin on the shore of the Caribbean Sea. Shortly after your arrival, you will understand why early Mayans picked this beautiful place to relax.

Be prepared for LOTS of people and tour groups at the archaeological site. To avoid the crowds, it is best to stay overnight and visit the ruins early in the morning before the buses arrive, or later in the afternoon. Morning is recommended as you can catch spectacular vistas as the sun is rising over the Caribbean.

Three Tulums What most folks really need to know, and only manage to figure out once there, is the fact that there are really three different areas all referred to as TULUM only minutes away from each other, not close enough though to walk to and from.

Tulum Pueblo sits split by highway 307 running South-North. "El Pueblo", as referred to by locals, is home to most workers of the tourist industry and where many of the stores, supermarkets, two bus stations, inns, hostels and small hotels are found. This section of town has a definite feel of existing mostly to cater to the Tulum ruins. Tulum pueblo is indeed a destination for shopping, great restaurants, night life, booking tours, banking, shopping for food, local vegetables, fruits, cafes, and local flavor. Do not miss it !.

Tulum Playa nests along the coastline highway that leads into the Sian Ka'an Biosphere [Ecological Reserve], the Caribbean white sandy beaches to the east, an impressive mangrove & wetland reserve to the south. Tulum Playa embraces many of the fancier, ecological, boutique and spa hotels, and it has a decent to excellent selection of restaurants and night spots. There are also a number of affordable beach front cabana-type lodging locations. Walk the beach and simply step in and inquire about accommodations and rates. You will be surprised and delighted.

Tulum Ruinas is the archaeological site where the Maya ruins of Tulum stand. It is conformed by a-mile-long road leading into the ruins from highway 307. The road is flanked by several restaurants, a commercial area geared to one-day visitors, a huge parking lot, a small bus station that operates part-time and a handful of middle range hotels.

Quinta Avenida, also referred to in English as 5th Avenue, is the main tourist thoroughfare in Playa. It is a pedestrian only, cobblestone lined street which spans approximately 20 blocks. Along 5th Ave. you will find a variety of restaurants, bars, clubs, shopping opportunities and various services. In Playa, nearly everything starts from this street.

The best beach is Playa Tukan at the north end of town off of Calle 26. It is best to arrive early. Rent a canopy bed on the beach. Draw the canopy back and catch the rays, then pull it back again for an afternoon nap. Mamitas Beach Club has plenty of beds and great music playing during the day. Be aware that some women do go topless but this is not widely accepted by locals.

Nightlife is definitely happening in Playa del Carmen, but is not as wild as its neighbor to the north, Cancun. Typically, Playa's shops and restaurants close around 10pm, but nearly all of the clubs stay open through most of the night. A number of the best nightclubs are located on the beach. If you are interested in nightlife (dancing, drinks late until the evening/morning), then be sure to visit Blue Parrot, El Pirata, Santenera, and Hotel Deseo. The Blue Parrot had until recently a fun fire show around 9 PM some nights, but still offers beach dancing, swings at the bar, and plenty of dancing. Santenera has a beautiful roofdeck bar. Deseo also has a roofdeck bar, but it comes with beds. Very relaxing and beautiful.

Scuba diving and snorkeling is plentiful around Playa, though the reefs are off the shore require a boat to get to. The offshore reef is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest coral reef system in the world. All hotels have a dive shop, though many can be found on 5th Ave. Better open-water scuba diving can generally be found in Cozumel so if this is the focus of your trip it is best to stay there. Excellent snorkeling is located at Puerto Morelos, located roughly halfway between Playa del Carmen and Cancun, and in the lagoon at Akumal, on the way to Tulum. Several dive shops in Playa del Carmen do offer cenote diving south of town.

There are many internet cafes in Playa del Carmen, most of which also offer international phone service. Prices start at around US$1 an hour.

Cenotes are cavernous freshwater sinkholes which are found all over the Yucatan peninsula. Many of them are open to the public for swimming, diving, and exploration. Many are open, however some of them are partially underground and the caves associated with these cenotes can run for miles underground. Cenotes also vary in size with openings as little as a foot wide to as large as a small lake. The water clarity in these cenotes is often unsurpassed, often exceeding 200 feet, and makes for exceptionally good swimming. Some of the bigger cenotes are available as tourist destinations, many are locally owned, and many more still are either undiscovered or undeveloped. Entrance to the commercial cenotes is correlated to the amount of development (i.e. if there are washrooms, restaurants, showers, etc.) with fees ranging from US$1-20. One of the most popular cenote tour companies is Hidden Worlds.

Tulum is approximately an hour south of Playa and most famous for its beautiful Mayan archaeological site which sits on a low cliff overlooking a beautiful beach and the turquoise Caribbean sea.

Cozumel, the large island off the coast of Playa is famous for snorkeling and scuba near the Great Maya Reef, the large coral system. Note that Cozumel is also a main port for Cruise ships, so can be quite busy sometimes!

Spanish language classes are available by the week at International House Maya Riviera, located on calle 14 off Quinta Avenida, and at Playa Lingua, located on calle 20 between Quinta Avenida and Avenida 10.

An old fort, the “Castillo de San Felipe”, sits on the river at the point where it meets Lake Izabal. The Spaniards built this old structure in 1615 to protect the Spanish ships from pirates that used to pillage in the area. Now it’s a public attraction with a park, a swimming pool and a restaurant around it.

The town of Livingston is settled at the mouth of the river, on Amatique bay. This colorful town is an unusual mix of Garífuna, Maya and Latino cultures, but the Garífuna influence is the strongest of them all. Most of the people living in Livingston is of African origin, and preserve a strong culture. Visiting this original town and it’s culture is a unique experience. Livingston is known as a very fun place to stay, so if you have a chance, stay for a couple of days here.

Other attractions around Río Dulce include a manatee reserve, boat trips around the river, natural hot sulfur waters, the cascades of “Siete Altares” , the beautiful beach of “Playa Blanca” and “Las Escobas” river. Río Dulce is a favorite vacation spot for many Guatemalans so you will definitely notice vacation houses around the river. Buses from Guatemala City arrive to this paradise every day, but there are also regular flights departing from Guatemala to the nearby city of Puerto Barrios.

*www.aboutguatemala.com

San Ignacio and sister-town, Santa Elena make up Belize's second largest urban area. The two towns are separated by the Macal River and Belize's only suspension bridge, the one-lane Hawksworth Bridge (Built in 1949).

Known locally as "Cayo," San Ignacio is located along the Western Highway about 70 miles and 90 minutes drive time from Belize City. Teeming with Guatemala-bound travelers, archaeologists, peace corps workers, North American retirees and thrill seekers, "Cayo" is a unique blend of America's Old West and tropical backwater with frontier-like wooden shops on narrow streets.

Excursions around San Ignacio include a short trip to nearby Cahal Pech, a Maya archeological site. It's a quick cab ride or a 20-minute uphill walk from town.

Macal River canoeing is very popular. Stopovers include a Blue Morpho butterfly-rearing facility and "medicine trail". The Iguana Conservation Project and baby iguanas are located at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel.

Rent a bike, walk or jog 1.5 miles along scenic Branch Mouth Road to the "Hammock Bridge" where the Macal and Mopan rivers join up. From the shaded river bank, you can watch for wild parrots along with lazing iguanas and enjoy a swim in the heat of the day.

Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, also known as the local reef. The local reef is close enough that you can see the waves breaking on it from the island itself.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Has been protected for longer than the local reef, and so it usually has more mature marine life as well as more people, though it's never terribly crowded. It's further away than the local reef.

Shark and Ray Alley. Tour operators will toss food into the water in order to attract nurse sharks and southern sting rays. You can swim with them, and even touch them if you're quick. Nurse sharks can bite, contrary to myth, but they are also territorial so these sharks are very used to humans.

The Blue Hole is a 40 meter deep circular hole in the ocean, with many fish, sharks, and corals. The Blue Hole is possibly the most famous dive site in Belize, even though it's nearly straight down. It's at least an hour boat ride away from Caye Caulker.

Snorkeling
Longer "Full-day" snorkeling tours are offered by numerous local businesses, for approximately $100-110Bz. They usually leave around 10AM and return around 4:30PM. Stops include the Coral Garden, Shark and Ray Alley, and Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Be sure to check whether your tour guide will include lunch, since some only include snacks. The full-day trip offered by Ragamuffin Tours includes lunch, snacks, and a Rum Punch "happy hour" on the way back. With all operators, check to make sure they have equipment that is in good shape.

The creation of Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary - a manatee reserve near Belize City is due to the efforts of a Caye Caulker local named Chocolate. He offers guided tours to the Manatee reserve approximately every other day, as do a few other tour operators. Chocolate's shop is at the north end of Front Street, near Ragamuffin Tours. Be warned that you don't get to swim with the manatees in the sanctuary and some days may be more difficult to see them. Most manatee tours include one or two snorkeling stops. Manatees can be seen all year long, and in the summer months can be seen near Hol Chan Marine Reserve as well as other local areas. The younger ones are curious and will swim close to you, unlike the more mature manatees, which generally avoid people (for good reason).

Seagull Adventures, about a block from the Front Pier, offers snorkeling tours to more distant locations that most other tour guides will only go to for diving. Examples include Blue Hole (about $230Bz per person), Tourneffe Atoll (about $120Bz per person), etc. Ask the owner a few days in advance to find out what the schedule is. The best time to catch her is in the evening, around 6pm -- during the day she's usually gone on the snorkeling trips.

Carlos Tours next to the Sandbox Restaurant is another local favorite.

Diving. Caye Caulker is popular with divers, and there are several dive shops on the island. Local dive shops offer trips to the Blue Hole, the Turneffe Atoll, Half Moon Caye, Hol Chan Marine reserve, and others. Check in a few days in advance to find out what their schedule is.

You can get your Open Water PADI certification at Belize Diving Services for about $600Bz ($300US). It takes 3-4 days, providing the weather is fair. The certification includes 2 shallow-water dives, and 4 open-water dives. All dives are done in the ocean, since they have no swimming pool. Belize Diving Services is located near the soccer field, in the northern half of the town. Similar services and prices are offered at Frenchie's, near the Split.

Sea Kayaks. Tsunami Adventures, extreme north end of Front St. This is a great way to explore the northern mangrove forest. Head for the leeward side of the island (the west side) for smoother water and to avoid paddling into the wind. Cost for a two-person kayak is $15Bz per hour for the first hour, then $10Bz for each additional hour.

Take a break from it all. Chill out at The Lazy Lizard located at "the split," a little bar on its own near what can only be described as the island's only beach, however there is no sand here.

At the mouth of the Amatique Bay, in the northern department of Izabal, lies a unique town called Livingston, very different from any other town in Guatemala. The people and culture of Livingston, of Afro-Caribbean origin, makes this spot a very special place. Livingston was founded in 1795 by the Garifuna people that came to Guatemala from Honduras. Garifuna culture began on the island of St. Vincent, when African slaves mixed with the native Indians from the island.

The only way of getting to Livingstone now days is still by boat, but that is not a problem for many visitors, since there are many speedboats connecting this town with Puerto Barrios, Rio Dulce and Belize. Maybe its because of this “isolation” that Livingston has been preserved as one of the most authentic Garifuna communities.

Traditions, food and music is preserved with pride by the happy and open people of Livingston. So if you visit this beautiful place, don’t forget to try some of the delicious Caribbean influenced meals. A town where you can start your day with banana pancakes watching the sea and end up at night dancing reggae and punta amongst joyful people has to be a worth visiting place.

After you’ve experienced the magic of Livingston, you may want to visit some of the wonderful natural destinations surrounding the town. Siete Altares is private park with a series of fresh water ponds forming cascades in the middle of lush vegetation. You can get to Siete Altares walking on the beach from Livingston or by boat.
Playa Blanca, accessible only by boat, is a golden sand beach where you can spend a wonderful day beneath gorgeous palm trees. It’s all about relaxing and enjoying life in Livingston, a wonderful place to visit.

*www.aboutguatemala.com

Sontecomapan es located in Veracruz. In Sontecomapan a small group of families has dedicated their efforts to preserving the damaged eco-system and equilibrium caused by overexploitation and deforestation of the lagoon's natural environment.  By the implementation of eco-tourism, the community hopes to preserve the eco-system and sub-tropical environment of the rivers, channels and lagoons in the area so a wide variety of wildlife can survive in the area.   

In the village of Toltepec, Oaxaca townspeople have united to establish the Union de Productores de San Rafael Toltepec, an organization founded in 1997 to develop the harvest of cocoa beans and production of organic chocolate.  Apart from chocolate, the organization also produces brown sugarloaves from the sugar cane they cultivate in the local sugar mills.  The final products include Chocolate with brown sugarloaf and cinnamon, Chocolate with honey, Chocolate with coffee and Traditional Chocolate.  Currently, the community is in the process of constructing a chocolate processing plant.

Many tourists visit Chichen Itza as a day trip, especially from Cancun, more than 100 miles away. This archaeological site is also an hour and a half away from Merida, the capital of Yucatan. The Mayan communities near Chichen Itza have developed many wonderful sites for travelers to rejoice in the Maya Cultural heritage. It is recommended you avoid a day-trip visit to Chichen Itza and schedule a night or two to enjoy all the activities nearby. This allows time to see more than just a portion of this large site. If you stay a night here, come to the archaeological site early in the day before the sun is so hot, and before most of the day-trippers arrive. This is a large park and usually visitors are on a tight schedule, consider the services of a guide. They can be found in the museum at the entrance and are very nice and reasonably priced. If you tire of their company, they will not be offended if you mention that you would like to visit on your own. A guide can give you information on sleeping overnight at the site.

History
Chichen Itza was a center of pilgrimage for the ancient Maya for over 1,000 years. The Sacred Cenote (a large natural well or limestone sink hole) was holy to the ancient Rain God "Chac".

About 987 ruler of the Toltec people of central Mexico came here, and with his Maya allies made Chichen Itza the most powerful city in the Yucatan. The ruler called himself "Kukulcan", the name of the Mesoamerican Feathered Serpent deity (also known as "Quetzalcoatl") and Chichen Itza became a center for worship of that god as well. More buildings were built here in a mixture of Maya and Toltec styles.

About 1221 the Maya revolted against the rulers of Chichen Itza. The city was not abandoned, but as political power shifted elsewhere it declined and no major new buildings were constructed. Chichen Itza remained a place of pilgrimage for the Maya until it was conquered by the Spanish Conquistadors in the 16th century.

The structures of Chichen Itza were overgrown with jungle and slowly decayed until major archaeological projects began in the 1920s. Since then, more of the ancient structures have been cleared and restored and more and more tourists come to visit.

San José is the country’s most highly populated province. Located in the Central Plateau, it extends to the northeast, crossing the impressive mountains of the Central Mountain Range, which includes national parks, forest reserves, and fertile lands, with an abundance of coffee plantations.

Costa Rica’s capital, San José, is in the Central Valley. It’s an extensive plain, guarded by majestic volcanoes and green hills, honoring the natural richness that exists throughout the national territory.

Founded in the first half of the eighteenth century, San José is nowadays a city where visitors of the entire world converge; metropolis full of interesting places, faces, and colors reflecting the history of a population.

Its architecture is diverse, as may be the people walking its streets. In the north sector of the city you can find the most refined samples of urban development of the early last century. There are many houses and buildings of European inspiration, built with a profound Costa Rican sense of style.

Among the most representative places of the city, we can mention the National Theater, Costa Rica’s pride, and historically, house to some of the best artists, national as well as foreign. Inaugurated in 1897, fruit of the determination of merchants, intellectuals and politicians, who were able to identify the importance an opera house could have, to present the best artistic productions in the world.

Nonetheless, a list of world class museums, parks, hotels, theaters, and historic buildings, are some other options to be discovered by the thousands of tourists visiting San José yearly.

Once in the city, visitors may choose among dozens of one-day tours to the most outstanding natural places, inside and out of the Central Valley, as well as having access to a great variety of sports adventures and activities for exploring.

* www.visitcostarica.com

Coban means “the land of clouds”, and in the Guatemalan rainy season that’s absolutely true. The city of Cobán is at a height of 1316 m above the sea level in the middle of a major coffee-growing area irrigated by crystal clear rivers and surrounded by rainforests. It’s the department capital of Alta Verapaz, 205 km North West from Guatemala City.

Coban is one of the oldest cities in Guatemala, founded by Dominican friars in 1543; in the XIX century the city was developed by German coffee growers that were expelled later during the WWII, when most of the Germans living in Cobán supported Hitler. The influence of the Europeans is still visible in some buildings and in old coffee farms. The city’s population is of 86,000 people and the economy is still based on agriculture and handcraft exportations.

The city is the perfect starting point to several destinations, most of them related to the eco-tourism. The closest National Park is the “Biotopo del Quetzal”, a protected rainforest laden with orchids, wide-leaf and pine trees, moss, ferns and bromelias . There are plenty of waterfalls and caves in the mountains of Alta Verapaz, easy accessible with the several tours offered in Cobán by the Tour Operators. The most visited are Semuc Champey, which is a series of waterholes cascading down through the cloud forest and the caves of Lankin.

If you’re looking for some adrenaline, whitewater rafting is a good suggestion. If you plan to stay a little while in Coban we suggest you to visit the Dusseldorf coffee plantation, the Rey Marcos caves and the orchid nurseries outside the city. To visit this wonderful place, take a bus or a plane from Guatemala City or take a shuttle from Antigua.

*www.aboutguatemala.com

*www.travelbelize.org

There exists a vague, and at times somewhat precarious, path that encircles pretty much the whole lake. New holiday homes and hotels have restricted some of the access to the lakeside path, but it's still possible to walk it. It's a very rewarding and enjoyable hike. Swim in the beautiful water anytime you need to cool off. Thumb down a boat from any of the countless jetties if you get tired and want to return back home.

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The city of Quetzaltenango is the second most populated city of Guatemala, and the capital city of the department of the same name. Quetzaltenango is also known as Xelajú, or Xela for short. It’s located in a mountain valley at an altitude of 2333 m above sea level, and it’s population (estimated 300,000) is mainly indigenous.

Xela’s history begins in pre Columbian times, but it was until the 19th century when Quetzaltenango’s development was improved as a result of the introduction of coffee plantations. It became the most important urban center of the region; some remarkable Belle Époque buildings and houses of this period can still be found around the city.

Quetzaltenango has become a popular destination for foreign students studying Spanish, and naturally, the number of Spanish Schools has increased over the years. Restaurants, coffee shops and hotels have proliferated too due to a recent tourist increase.

The natural beauty of the region surrounding Xela and traditions of the nearby towns are very worth visiting. Some of the most visited destinations include thermal mountain pools, eco-tourism activities and volcano climbing. Quetzaltenango can be a great starting point to visit some of Guatemala’s most authentic villages.

*www.aboutguatemala.com

Copán was one of the great centers of Maya civilization over a thousand years ago. The beautiful ruins have some of the most impressive pre-Columbian art anywhere. Near the ruins is the town of the modern town of the same name, with hotels and other facilities for visitors.

The ruins are quite substantial and a major tourist attraction in western Honduras. While less visited than more famous tourist attraction ruins like Chichen Itza, many people find them even more interesting.

Copán is in and around a river valley among rolling hills, at an elevation so it is not so very hot as some of the Central American rainforest sites.

The ruins of the ancient city are quite extensive. They are not as huge as Tikal in Guatemala or Teotihucan in Mexico, but there is more sculpture here than any other Pre-Columbian city. If you love Maya art or ancient ruins can you can easily spend 2 full days here.

Besides the ruins, the countryside is attractive. Slow paced local life is quite calm. Many tourists that visit Copan only walk into the main archaeological park, and never realize that there is a charming colonial town adjoining the archaeological park. Whatever your time schedule, you should make it a point to at least go into town for lunch.(There are a couple of restaurants at the visitors center, where many tourists end up having a bite before returning). In addition, there is a good museum with many local artifacts located in the center of town, and finally, there is Las Sepulturas, the only residential Mayan site that is open to the public in the Mayan World. This small site (Las Sepulturas) answers many questions about how the elite of this magnificent civilization lived. If you have the time, you should plan on an overnight stay at Copan. There are several hotels and hospedajes, with prices and services ranging from $5.00 US to $70.00 US per double room. Accommodation may be arranged in advance with any of the different tour operators featured in the directory.

Besides visiting the ruins, there is a nice museum in town. You might take some Spanish classes, there are 2 schools that are good.

* www.hondurastips.honduras.com

San Pedro Sula Located in the northern part of the country, San Pedro is only a few miles from the coast and has always played a major role in Honduran history. The city was founded the 27th of June, 1536 by Don Pedro de Alvarado himself. The Spanish conqueror founded it with the name of "Villa de San Pedro de Puerto Caballos" and within the next 5 years it was known as San Pedro Sula, with the name Sula deriving from the local dialect Usula, meaning "valley of birds".

San Pedro Sula might seem at first glance as a modern city with few options for the visitor to enjoy. Aside from its fantastic restaurants, museum and cultural center, San Pedro makes a great place from where to launch your discovery of Honduras. Geographically blessed with many attractions nearby, it is connected by the most complete network of highways in Central America, making it a breeze to visit the different points of interest in the area. Following are a few of the more interesting options, however, we recommend that you consult with the local tour operators to get the best out of your venture to discover Honduras.

Golf
There are two 9 hole Golf courses in the neighborhood of San Pedro Sula. The Lomas Golf & Country Club, located in Choloma, on the road towards Puerto Cortes, and the Lima Country Club, located in la Lima past the airport on the road towards El Progreso. Both are open to the public and equipment rentals are available.

El Cusuco National Cloud Forest Park
 Located just west of San Pedro Sula, in the impressive Merendon Mountain Range that dominates the city, this cloud forest is probably the one park with the best infrastructure for tourists in Honduras. It is easily reached by taking the western highway towards Copan, turning off at the entrance to the town of Cofradia and continuing up a dirt road to the village of Buenos Aires. From this village you are in the proximity of the park and its visitors center. I must warn you that the dirt road from Cofradia on is not easy, and that during the rainy season, it is imperative to have a four wheel drive vehicle to make it to the visitors center. The center has basic installations, including camping facilities, running water and toilet facilities. In addition, information on the different trails in the park is provided, as well as the different species living in the park. Perhaps the most famous of these is the enigmatic Quetzal, famed to be the loveliest of all tropical birds, which has been sent to the brink of extinction because of loss of habitat as well as over hunting because of its beautiful long tail feather.

For those with the spirit to camp, the early morning sightings will certainly be more than your prize for enjoying this lovely natural park in Honduras.

Lake Yojoa and Pullapanzak Waterfall
The largest natural lake in Honduras, Lake Yojoa is a haven for black bass and big mouth bass fishers. It also offers some of the best bird watching opportunities in Honduras. Motmots, toucans, parrots and many other tropical birds live around the lake and the two protected national parks that surround it: Santa Barbara and Azul Meambar National parks. The lake is located 100 km south of San Pedro, on the road to Tegucigalpa, and can be reached within 90 minutes of downtown San Pedro Sula. Lake Yojoa offers great opportunities for both, those who wish to visit the area for the day as well as for those wishing to spend several days exploring the natural wonders of this lovely tropical area. There are several hotels within the area, the largest and most complete one is Brisas del Lago, located on the northern coast of the lake. Just beyond Brisas del Lago is Finca Las Glorias the newest hotel in the area and very charming, located within a working coffee and orange farm. To get there, take the detour to the road leading to the town of Peña Blanca. On this same road you will pass by the Hotel Agua Azul, a more basic hotel with a large open air deck looking onto the lake. From this deck I have seen a variety of birds, the most distinguished of which were some lovely motmots. The Hotel Brisas del Lago offers a large swimming pool, good food and comfortable rooms. In addition, several water activities can be arranged here, including catamaran sailing on the lake. The other hotel in the area is the Hotel Los Remos, located on the southern shore of the lake, just off the main San Pedro Sula to Tegucigalpa highway. In addition, the hotel Oasi Italiano, located on the road leading from Lake Yojoa to San Pedro Sula also offers overnighting possibilities and good food.


* www.hondurastips.honduras.com

In and around this tropical community you can find many exciting points of interest. To the south of town one can search for the Cuyamel Caves (these are highly elusive and very few people actually know were to find them), archeologists date these back to pre-Columbian times. About 14 kilometers along a dirt road that parallels the spectacular coastline you will find the village of Santa Fe a Garifuna (black carib's) community with the most pristine beaches and a couple of great restaurants, one named El Caballero or better known to the English tongue as Pete's place, probably the best place to eat fresh sea food in all the north coast. Just about four kilometers after having left Trujillo towards Santa Fe you will pass the lovely Campamento Hotel & Restaurant. This rustic, yet full service resort offers all the basic comforts in a true paradise environment. Food here is great. From Santa Fe you can continue on along the coast to the end of the road to Guadalupe, where you will find some of the better Garifuna artisans. Another nice tour is to the Guaimoreto Lagoon, a perfect place to look at birds or just enjoy its exceptional virgin beauty.

Among the many sites and sounds of Trujillo is Capiro and Calentura, a large national park and a great place to hike, hide and enjoy the view. Fucagua, a non profit organization has taken special interest and is actively participating in the conservation of this park. They are also a great source of information regarding this protected area. A new visitor’s center is almost finished and will soon be open to the public. For information on the park, visit Fucagua's offices, located on the road leading to Villas Brinkley Hotel. The evening hours are great to go and take a hot bath in the natural hot springs , there's even a little hotel there in case you get to lazy to go back to town which is really only five minutes away.
The bay around Trujillo is one of the most beautiful unspoiled bays in the world. Nearby is Puerto Castilla modern port facilities where you can watch the big freight ships come in out of harbor. Trujillo is the type of place you could spend a lifetime and feel you were lost in a warp. Among the vast historical scope, you will discover its upbeat night life ranging from the energetic Garifuna barrio of Cristales, to the beach "Champas".
If you need some pampering the Christopher Columbus Beach Resort Hotel might just do the trick, on the beach at the airport in Trujillo. The La Quinta Hotel, located next to the airport offers total comfort for a very reasonable price. Although not on the beach, a two minute walk will have you at some of the best beaches in Central America.
A little out of the beaten path, Casa Kiwi, located on the road between Puerto Castilla and Trujillo, on a great stretch of white sand beach. Without doubt, the best views of Trujillo can be had from their vantage point, offering a lookout of most of the bay, the mountains behind the city of Trujillo and lovely sunsets in the afternoon. Casa Kiwi offers the oly backpacker setting in Trujillo with private rooms and dormitories for larger groups or budget travelers that prefer to share rooms. Their complex includes a lively beach bar and restaurant, a complete information center where you can get info on local activities and even plan your trip to La Moskitia. Access is easy with the regular Trujillo to Puerto Castilla buses that run all day starting at 6:00 a.m and stoping after the 6:00 p.m. departure. Internet and phone facilities on premises.

* www.hondurastips.honduras.com

The capital of Honduras, Tegucigalpa, got its tongue twisting name from the ancient Nahuatl language, and translated means "silver mountain". In effect, Tegucigalpa came to being during colonial times as a mining center. "Tegus" as its inhabitants affectionately call it, is a mix of an old colonial city that has turned into the modern capital of Honduras. As a matter of fact, Tegucigalpa became the most important mining center in Central America during colonial times. 

A city with very pleasant climate, Tegucigalpa is nestled in a valley at about 3000-ft making its climate ideal. A gateway into Pacific coast, as well as to the numerous attractions that are located in central and southern Honduras. 

Getting around Tegucigalpa can be a confusing experience. Despite the colonial history of the city, it does not have the typical Spanish layout of square streets around the Central Park. This is mostly due to the fact that terrain around the city did not allow this. Originally two separate cities, Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela have grown into one big city. The Choluteca River is still the official boundary between the sister cities, and Tegucigalpa is by far the better of the two. The majority of colonial buildings and higher end neighborhoods being located within its boundaries. Today, both cities have been officially joined, sharing the same city mayor, etc. 

Tegucigalpa offers several attractive options around its surroundings. There is something to suit any interest, for the nature lovers, the Tigra National Park offers a once in a lifetime experience, also different colonial towns once important for their mining activities, and what could be considered one of the most important handicraft centers in Honduras is very close to Tegucigalpa. To get the best of these areas, we recommend you look up one of the tour operators in the directory, these are professionals with a high degree of expertise in their field.

* www.hondurastips.honduras.com

The Corn Islands are little gems of white coral sand and classic turquoise Caribean Sea waters. In the two islands, located at 50 miles from Bluefileds, live approximately 8,000 people descendant from the original Miskito population, european pirates, British landowners and African’s slave that wrecked in its waters.

This area was a favourite haunt of pirates who roamed the Carribean, so is probably that many ancient wreck (some certainly still containing their rich cargo) lie under the waters around Corn Islands.

For centuries Corn Islands were under British domination until the year 1894 when the government of  Nicaragua declared his sovereignty. The English language is still spoke in the Atlantic Coast.

Legend has it that the first name give to Corn Island was Skeleton Island due to table scraps left over left over the resident Kukra Indian's cannibalistic appetites. English pirates and a few French, Duch, and other Europeans used the islands as a base of operations and resupply for their raids against the rival Spanish Empire's fleets and settlement region.

After a cenury, the British give up piracy but did not leave Corn Island. They stayed as colonists, first planting sugarcane then cotton. Plantations were worked by African slaves imported to replace the indigenous population the was decimated by disease or intermixed with new arrivals.

Emancipation came in 1841 at the order of Queen Victoria and is still celebrated with the annual Crab Festival, the crustacean being the basis for the soup newly freed slaves cooked to celebrate liberation.The English drifted away, leaving behnd their language as well as their names like Blandford and Hodgson.

The food that you can find on the islands is very good. You may walk along the beaches and stop an any restaurant and find a variety of sea food including fish, lobster, shrimps and crabs.

Not miss coco bread and a "RunDown," the official meal of Corn Island usually served for special occasions, which is a stew consisting of local seafood (or meat) and "bread kind" (breadfruit, cassava, plantains, coco, banana & sweet potato.) It is cooked down in coconut milk.

* www.www.nicatour.net/en/nicaragua

The capital of Nicaragua is spread across the southern shore of Lago de Managua and is crowded with more than a quarter of Nicaragua's population. It's been racked by natural disasters, including two earthquakes this century, and since the 1972 earthquake the city has had no center. Those returning to Managua after a few years will notice marked changes. An improving economy has produced a construction boom. It will be obvious, however, that the recovering economy has not benefited everyone, as poverty is still widespread.

There are at least three good pool places if you're in a group, Pool8, and the two Time Off locations. All are downtown. Time Off has excellent snacks.

You can catch good Latin American movies some Wednesdays at 7pm at the theatre near Art Cafe (a bar) near the Parque de las Palmas.

Visit Granada which is the oldest colonial town in the american continent. It has beautiful colorful and picturesque churches. While you're there, take a 2 hour tour of the Granada islands, 365 in total.

If you like Volcanoes, the Masaya Volcano is the best to visit. There is a travel center at the site where you could arrange a small tour for a very small fee. Watch the crater fumes rise up to the sky.

If you're feeling like going to a more tropical place, try flying from the Augusto Cesar Sandino (Managua airport) into Nicaragua's atlantic coast. Try to specially visit Corn Island and try their fresh garlic butter shrimp and other seafood that gets freshly caught each day. Swim in beautiful turquoise water or take a glass bottom boat ride and/or scuba diva in the coral reefs.

If you care for the beach scene but would rather not go that far, try going to one of Nicaragua's best and most popular destinations: San Juan del Sur. This is a nice beach that has from $10 hostels to $70 nice hotels up to expensive condo rentals. There is something for every pocket. While in San Juan del Sur try to visit nearby practically unpopulated beaches of majagual and marsella, among others. Also, for a more comfortable tourist scene you could always visit Montelimar Beach Resort which is like 10 minutes from Pochomil Beach in the pacific. Rooms average of $75 all inclusive (buffet, soft and alcoholic drinks).

See

• There's the 6 main churches, the Cathedral, La Merced, Guadalupe, Xalteva, San Francisco and María Auxiliadora, which all have interesting historical backgrounds and are in very different states.

• Then there's Lake Cocibolca (also known as Lake Nicaragua), directly down the road, it's the 10th largest fresh-water lake on earth and the only one to have fresh-water sharks, named the Nicaragua Shark. It is not the safest area in town, it is advised tourist avoid this area at night. However, during the day this is a nice place to catch a breeze, and there are many Nicaraguan families that come here to pass the time. Vendors pass selling all kinds of food.

• The local market is definitely worth a glimpse, it's chaotic little market stands where you can get almost everything. The market is open everyday except holidays around and in the old Market hall, you can't miss it.

• The Central Park with the Cathedral and the Colonial houses surrounding it. The lively center of town with a lot of handicrafts or snacks to buy, or just sit down at a bench and watch the city and its people.

• The streets themselves with their charming Colonial colored houses are always worth a wander themselves.

• Take a boat tour of the Isletas. Your guide will tell you how all the islands are owned by millionaires. You will even visit an old fort that is on the island. Not to mention you will see adorable monkeys that live in the tree.

Do

• ¡Wow Tours!. Take a boat tour around the hundreds of isletas in the Lake Nicaragua. ¡Wow Tours! is a Nicaraguan owned company that offers community tours of the islands, where you will meet the local people who inhabit them.
• Bluemountain Horsebackriding.Discover local farming and the area around the Mombacho-Volcano on horseback.
• Go up the church tower at the church La Merced (about 1US$) and watch the sun go down over the bustling city.
• Take a Canopy tour, where you will go flying on cables through the rainforest trees on the side of Mombacho Volacano. ($25USD)
• Try interesting drinks at local market stands (such as cacao de leche, linseed drink or red beet drink, beware: often painfully sugary!).
• Get happy with Mangos! You can buy heaps of Mangos at the market for about 1 Cordoba each (which equals about a 17th of a Dollar).
• Take a bus to Masaya and visit the local and giant hand craftmarket (good advice: better see the new than the old market, same stuff, half the price).
• Get a very inexpensive table or seated massage at Seeing Hands Blind Massage, located in Euro Cafe on the central park.
• You can also go to the Volcano reserve and watch over the wide land, see the Managua lake and maybe get some stinky smoke in your lungs and be happy about the beautiful nature surrounding the Volcano.
• The Laguna de Apoyo is a deep Volcano crater lake and presumed to have the clearest water in Nicaragua, you can swim and even snorkel in there. Overnight stays with either the Bearded Monkey or the Oasis are arrangeable too.
• Volunteer! La Esperanza Granada is an organization that sends volunteers into local schools to help out, or supports women's working groups, built a community centre etc. etc., for the impoverished outskirts of Granada. Volunteering is completely free of charge, minimum commitment is eight weeks.
• Local cinema at the Hostel named "Bearded Monkey", which shows two movies each day for only about a Dollar entry-fee, has a really good selection of movies too, for friends of independent cinema, they rent DVDs all day long.
• The Choo-Choo train There's that weird train that goes all around town, originally for kids, but hey, great fun, it plays the latest reggaeton-tunes over and over again and it only costs five cordobas. Hop on whenever you find it.
• Casa Tres Mundos (Casa de Leones), a cultural center where there's often concerts or theater or movies shown, it has a little gallery of local artisans which are happy to show you around. A piano's in there to practice, too.
• Horse and carriages circle the city center.
• Cafe Nuit My favorite disco in Grenada. Live music starts at 10 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It is a great place to practice your salsa and reggaeton.
  

It is the beach nearest Managua. Almost desert during the week, it gets very crowded with people, especially from Managua, in the weekend. The beach is wide and the water is good for swimming.

It is not a village, but a tourist resort and to go in, a toll is required (nearly 15 cordobas) Differently from other Nicaraguan places, a tourist may be assaulted by inhabitants very willing to offer him food and accomodation.

Winds normally blow offshore on the Nicaraguan Pacific Coast , creating dangerous windsurfing conditions, Pochomil's wind usually blow in a side-shore-to-side-off-from-the-left direction due to the Crucero Mountain Range, making ocean sailing safer.

Even if it is forbidden, turtles eggs are on sale, but you are invited not to acquire them for avoiding endangering this wonderful animal survival.

In all the restaurants of Pochomil an excellent fish soup may be tasted.

*www.nicatour.net/en/nicaragua

Do

Options on the island include:

• hike to the top of Volcan Concepcion (~ 8 hours return, strenuous)
• hike to the top of Volcan Maderas to a crater lake (~ 6 hours return, less strenuous)
• hike to a 35-m waterfall on the south side of Maderas (several hours return)
• see petroglyphs at the village of Finca El Porvenir
• go horseback riding
• rent a bicycle and explore the island on your own

Trails are generally unmarked and the terrain is rough. Local guides are inexpensive and highly recommended.

San Juan del Sur is a small and very nice village placed inside the bay with the same name that overlooks the pacific ocean 60 kms west of Granada and 24 Kms from Costa Rica's frontier.

Enclosed by prehistoric volcanic hills, San Juan del Sur is characterized by a very broad beach of white sand, that is 3 Kms long, and with very good climate for the whole part of the year it permits to practise surf, underwater fishing, deep sea fishing and bathing.

Those who like walk around San Juan del Sur will find scenic vistas and wildlife sightings, the view from the top of the sorrounding hills is breathtaking.

A short walk up the bluff on the south side of San Juan del Sur's beach takes you to the lighthouse and William Walker's ruined fort. On the trail you'll see few people, out many fabulous views-gaze upon the far-off.

Things to do
Hang out, talk, drink, eat. It is very laid back here. Move a bit and you might find a good beach to surf.

Rent bicycles and explore the smaller beachs to the south and north. They cost $5 per day to rent, but are not in very good condition.

Take a day trip water taxi to Playa Madera, north of San Juan de Sur for $8. Sign up at the stand in front of Hotel Estrella. It leaves about 10AM and returns at 4PM. The boat ride is about half an hour.

There is a light house that no longer resembles a light house. But the point is not the destination, rather the journey. The view of the coast and the bay of San Jan de Sur is amazing. To get there, pass through the small port entrance, find the overseer of the property where the light house is and convince him you wont take pictures of anything. If he lets you pass, keep your promise.

* www.nicatour.net/en/nicaragua
* www.wikitravel.org

Tamarindo Beach is part of a bay formed by a cape, Cabo Velas (velas is Spanish for sails, or sailfish). Playa Grande lies to the north of Tamarindo Beach inside the bay. The two beaches are separated by a natural salt water estuary, Estero Tamarindo. South of Tamarindo Bay there is another beautiful estuary and beach, Playa Langosta.

Both Playa Grande and Playa Langosta are protected nesting areas for the giant leatherback turtle, and are part of the Costa Rican national park system. These beaches are the major nesting areas worldwide for the turtles, which arrive from October to March to lay their eggs. Tours led by official guides are available to take visitors to see this incredible spectacle. Another very special tour is the jungle boat ride. Small groups are ferried on locally built skiffs deep into the mysterious mangrove forest, where a breathtaking diversity of birds, mammals, and reptiles can be seen.

Tamarindo Bay has become a mecca for surfers and blue water sport fishermen. Our sport fishing fleet of talented and conservation oriented captains are the pioneers of the Pacific coast. Their record catches of marlin, sailfish, giant tuna and other species have become legendary. Whether you want deep bluewater fishing, or reef or shoreline fishing, our fleet can accommodate you. Surf casting and handlining in front of your hotel for snook and jack are also popular. Any way you do it you can be sure to have your fresh catch cooked up for you at one of the friendly beachfront restaurants.

Warm water surfing is enjoyed year 'round and families find this area offers opportunities for surfers of all skill levels to enjoy the great waves that bless this part of the coast. Tamarindo was the first stop on an epic worldwide surf journey in the popular movie Endless Summer II.

Visitors also have access to SCUBA diving, snorkeling trips, beach cruises, water skiing, jet skiing, catamarans, ocean and river kayaking, wind surfing, sailing cruises and horseback riding. Bicycles, beach gear, surfboards, boogie boards and equipment of all types are available for rental from specialty stores.

Golfers can enjoy two championship courses locally, one at Paradisus Conchal and another at Hacienda Pinilla.

* www.tamarindo.com

One of the most visited tourist destinations of all Costa Rica National Park and Reserve System.

The Manuel Antonio National Park is a small biological peninsula found within an area devoted to different productive activities, such as agriculture, cattle and high tourism development. It is one of the country’s most scenic and beautiful national parks. The mean annual temperature is 27°C, with a minimum temperature of 20°C.

Our park habitat consist of primary and secondary forest, the most characteristic species of flora in the primary forest are guácimo colorado (luehea seemannii), pilón (hieromyna alchomeoides), cedro maría (calophyllum longifolium), guapinol blanco (hymeneae courbaril), surá (terminalia oblonga), guapinol negro or stinkingtoe (cynometra hemitomophyla), lechoso (cow tree/brosimum utile), cenízaro (pithecelobium saman)and ceiba (silk cotton tree).

Of its most important fauna we find the raccoon, coatamundi, agouti, two-toed sloth, the white-faced and squirrel monkey.

You can also enjoy the beauty of beaches like Espadilla Sur, Puerto Escondido and Manuel Antonio.

Manuel Antonio offer the uniquely breathtaking fusion of scenic mountain beauty and an active lifestyle. From championship surf tournaments, hiking, rafting/kayaking, canopying, bird watching or sport fishing, Quepos and Manuel Antonio offers something for everyone.

With the establishment of ManuelAntonio National Park in 1972, the people of Costa Rica decided to preserve, for future generations, one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse areas in the world. Although it is the country's smallest national park, the stunning beauty and diversity of wildlife in its 683 hectares is unequaled.

Manuel Antonio contains a charming combination of rain forest, beaches and coral reefs. This beaches are the most beautiful in the country, lined with lush forest, and the snorkeling is excellent too. The forest is home for sloths, iguanas, the rare and adorable squirrel monkeys and millions of colorful little crabs. And the trail that winds around Punta Catedral affords some spectacular views. The park is easy to reach, south of the town of Quepos, and is near a good selection of hotels and restaurants.

Visiting the park, one is treated to an abundant diversity of wildlife. Cathedral Point, with its forest topped cliffs was once an island, but is now connected to the coast by a thin strip of island. This land bridge now forms the spine separating the parks two most popular beaches, Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio.
The southern facing beach, Playa Manuel Antonio, is a picturesque half mile long, white sand crescent bisecting deep green foliage to one side and a private, secluded cove to the other.

Standing with your feet dug into the sand and watching the wave crash against the rocks on either side of the lagoon, it is easy to believe that you are a thousand miles from anywhere.

Because this national park has a series of small beaches and bays surrounded by luscious rainforest: North Espadilla Beach, South Espadilla Beach, Manuel Antonio Beach, Puerto Escondido Beach & Playitas Beach, all of them safe for swimming and great for diving and exploring coral reefs or surfing.

Adventures here include: Adventure Sportfishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, sea kayaking, river rafting, mountain biking, horseback riding to pristine waterfalls, relaxing on white-sand beaches...

If that's not enough to keep you a busy in the Quepos and Manuel Antonio area, then how about hiking through the jungle, bird watching, photographing monkeys, sloths and other wildlife, swimming and exploring mangrove forests and rocky islands?

Boredom is simply not a word in the Quepos dictionary. The question here may not be what to do, but what to leave out. After all, there's only 24 hours in a day...

Not to be missed is Manuel Antonio National Park, arguably the country's most beautiful and popular protected coastal area. The national park contains pristine white-sand beaches, hidden coves ideal for snorkeling, trails through tropical forest filled with wildlife and the landmark Punta Catedral, towering high above the deep blue Pacific Ocean.

* www.manuelantoniocostarica.com

Monteverde’s most significant tourist activities rest on nature and adventure; however, a cultural component is being revived thanks to the influence of the Quaker community that still dwells in Monteverde and that through much effort has achieved considerable development of the area.

In Monteverde you will find several attractions:

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a private non-profit reserve administered by the Tropical Science Center, and contains 6 distinct ecological zones. Called a cloud forest rather than a rain forest: because of it's altitude, the clouds go through the forest. The canopy is extremely rich with birds, insects, butterflies, and thousands of plants. Great bird watching, Resplendend Quetzal is usually seen in the March-April nesting season.

The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is a state owned non-profit reserve straddling the Continental Divide at an elevation of 1,700 m (5,600 ft.). Cloudier and wetter than the other reserve because of higher elevation. Contains 12 kms of trails (7 m.) and a canopy observation tower. The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve features great views of the Arenal Volcano and the Lake Arenal and similar habitat and wildlife to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, but a lot less visitors.

Fly above the cloud forest on the Sky Trek Canopy Tour or Selvatura, the most thrilling zip lines in CostaRica.

Enoy the quiet Sky Walk suspended bridges or Selvatura suspended bridges and tree top walkways.

Take the authentic Monteverde Costa Rica coffee tour to support the local coffee growers Cooperative. 

Costa Rica Horseback Riding Tour in the area or go to using a combination of 4x4, horseback and boat!

* www.monteverdeinfo.com

With modern amenities, local charm and a close proximity to the international airport, Alajuela is a convenient base for sightseeing in the Central Valley. Although Costa Rica’s second largest city, Alajuela maintains a provincial atmosphere where locals relax on front porches greeting passersby, and mango season incites a lively festival city wide. Boasting a movie theater, mall, internet cafes and plenty of shopping, Alajuela has all the frills of a modern city, but moves at a gentler pace and is easier to navigate than nearby San José.

Most visitors to Costa Rica are unaware that the Juan Santamaría International Airport is in Alajuela, not San José. Just a five-minute drive into town and visitors will find a variety of hostels and hotels, accommodating most budgets and tastes. Alajuela’s central location and accessibility are ideal for travelers who prefer taking day trips or group tours with the convenience of returning to a familiar hotel. Popular excursions include a nearby butterfly farm, Poás Volcano National Park and coffee tours to Doka Estate, all accessible by public bus.

Surrounded by farms and coffee plantations, Alajuela serves as capital of Alajuela Province and remains a principal trade center for cattle, sugar and coffee. Locals (known as Alajuelénses) are known for their friendly demeanor and penchant for bestowing amusing nicknames on friends, neighbors and even strangers. People watching is best in the picturesque Parque Central, where children play in the fountain and vendors sell Granizados, shaved ice topped with sweet syrup, fruit and condensed milk.

During the last decades, Alajuela has become an obliged journey for those who love Costa Rica’s natural richness. Juan Santamaría International Airport (main airport serving San José) is located about 3 km outside the city.

Friendly hotels, restaurants a sunnier climate and a lot of nearby attractions will make your stay comfortable. Alajuela have good bus connections to the Pacific cost, Monteverde, Fortuna, Tilaran, Peninsula Nicoya and much more.

Volcán Poás National Park
The ease of access and the spectacular views of the Poas Volcano and its craters make this one of the most visited national parks in Costa Rica.

The park contains four major habitats: arrayans, stunted forest, cloud forest and, finally, areas with little or no vegetation.

In the cloud forest, look for oak trees and cypress 20 meters (66 feet) tall, draped with epiphytes and moss. In other areas, acid rain from the volcano prevents anything but ferns, and other small plants from growing.

Tenderfoot hikers will be pleased to learn that this is the most easily accessible active volcano in the world, though some visitors may not consider "accessibility" to a live volcano an attribute particularly worth lauding.

Another sight worth seeing in this area is La Paz, the most photographed waterfall in Costa Rica. It's located outside the park, about 4.5 kilometers (3 mi.) northwest of the hamlet of Poasito. From Poas take the road east from Poasito for 3 kilometers (1.9 mi.), turn left at the crossroads and drive about 10 kilometers (6.2 mi.) north. You'll see the waterfall between Poas and Barva Volcano. Parking is available for picture taking.

Don't expect to find a lot of wildlife around the volcano. Animals have more sense than to set up housekeeping on the lip of a crater that's likely to blow up in the middle of dinner. However, you might catch sight of the little greenish-yellow poas squirrel.

The beauty of the area and the spectacular views of the Poas Volcano make this the most visited national park in Costa Rica.

Doka Estate "The Real Coffee Tour"
DOKA COFFEE TOUR is located in the Costa Rica capital of coffee, Sabanilla de Alajuela. Doka Estate belongs to the Vargas Ruiz family, locals and pioneers in coffee growing for over 70 years.

For the second year in a row Doka Estate has been awarded the 'Best Coffee Farm in the World' by Sintercafe (in 2000 and 2001). Sintercafe is a Costa Rican coffee trade fair with Costa Rican coffee producers and international coffee trade participants. An international jury of coffee tasters then judge the Costa Rican coffees and hand out awards. This prestigious event takes place every November in Costa Rica.

The main objective of the Coffee Tour is to educate and inform tourists about the process that growing coffee involves. The tour takes you throughout our Doka estate and watermill.

Your tour guides are very knowledgeable and full of information that will make the tour a special learning experience. You will hear about the history of the coffee farm, it's owners, it's geographic location, the traditional coffee growing methods, and also the coffee brewing tradition of 'chorrear'. The tour takes you to Almacigo, your first stop, where the process of growing and producing fine coffee is covered from planting the seed to picking the ripened coffee berries.

La Paz Waterfall Garden
When you think about Costa Rica, you probably imagine lush tropical Rain Forests, flowing white rivers, spectacular waterfalls, birds, butterflies and flowers. At La Paz Waterfall Gardens, you will see all that and more.

Waterfall Gardens is open year round from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with our last shuttle pick up at 5:00 p.m.

* www.costarica.com
* www.alajuela.info

The park is also an important watershed for the Arenal Lake Reservoir, supplying over 70% of its water which is used for hydroelectric power, irrigation and fish farming throughout the country.

Since 1968, Arenal Volcano has been consistently active with small, daily eruptions known as strombolian activity. Explosions produce impressive ash columns and send boulders the size of houses down the slopes.  On clear nights, visitors can enjoy  fiery displays of lava and glowing boulders from the safety of several nearby hotels and hot springs.

* www.costarica.com

The park is the most important nesting area for Green Sea Turtles on the Caribbean coast but although turtles is the main attraction for visitors, other types of wildlife can also be spotted in Tortuguero. The area is for example home to half of the bird and reptile species that are found in Costa Rica. Within the park you are likely to see monkeys, sloths, anteaters, lizards, caimans, crocodiles, fresh water turtles, snakes and frogs. More than 400 species of birds have been recorded and manatees, peccaries, tapirs and various members of the cat family are supposed to inhabit the area. There are two ranger stations within the park, Jalova is on the southern part of the canal with access to a nature trail, drinking water and bathrooms. Cuatro Esquinas is the head quarter, located only a few minutes walking from the village and on the north end of the canal. Here you find a 2-kilometer jungle trail leading back to the station via the beach. Night walks on the beach are only allowed during the turtle season and have to be accompanied by a certified guide. Those walks can be organized by the hotels or in the village at a cost of $10- 30. Although the area is protected by law, loggers, plantations, ranches and tourist developments are constant threats for the park. The western parts are eroded and the towns of Cariari and Guapiles are illegally trying to build a road leading to the village. This would harm the fragile eco system and disturb the wildlife of the region. Today the incomes from tourism are therefore needed to protect the area from exploitation and non-sustainable developments.

Opening hours: Daily 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Entrance fee: $7 per person

Tortuguero Village. The village of Tortuguero is situated north of the National Park, on a strip of land between the canal and the Caribbean Sea and houses approximately 800 residents.

Since Tortuguero only is accessible by boat or plane, there are no cars in the village and the atmosphere is tranquil and relaxed. The population is a mixed group of native Ticos, Nicaraguans, Afro-Caribbeans and foreigners from all over the world. Columbians founded the village in 1930 and started to make a living of exporting sea turtles and coconuts. In the 40s the exploitation of forest resources begun and immigrants arrived because of increased working opportunities. To improve the ways of transportation, new canals were constructed and connected to the existing river system in the 60s and 70s. Today the village and its inhabitants is more ore less dependent on tourism. A couple of souvenir shops and other stores are found in the village.

Beaches in Tortuguero and the surroundings are not suitable for swimming- there is a dangerous current and sometimes sharks are also present!

*  www.tortuguerocostarica.com

The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica , represented by Puerto Limon province, has only 200 kilometers of shore line and we divide it in two big regions: North and South Caribbean :

North Caribbean comprises the Caribbean coast and goes from the San Juan River to Limon City. Limon city is the touristy center of this Corridor, simultaneously working as an accommodation, stop over, distribution and touring center.

Green turtle's nesting on Tortuguero National Park and bass 's, shad's and other species's sport fishing at Barra del Colorado National Wild Life Refugee represent the main attraction of the region. It is complimented with the river channel's system; which connects Moin Port with Barra del Colorado, and has become a singular attraction and the only way of transportation.

Nature-based products get rewarded, specially fauna observation, therefore is a world-known site for bird and turtle's watching.

North Caribbean comprises the Caribbean coast and goes from the San Juan River to Limon city. Limon city is the touristy center of this Corridor, simultaneously working as an accommodation, stop over, distribution and touring center.

Green turtle's nesting on Tortuguero National Park and bass 's, shad's and other species' sport fishing at Barra del Colorado National Wild Life Refugee represent the main attraction of the region. It is complimented with the river channel's system, which connects Moin Port with Barra del Colorado, and has become a singular attraction and the only way of transportation.

Nature-based products get rewarded, especially fauna observation, therefore is a world-known site for bird and turtle's watching.

South Caribbean goes from Limon to the Panama border, Limon is the primary tourist center as well as an scaling and distribution center. The region shows a country-unique combination of beaches, natural resources and afro American culture in Cahuíta, Puerto Viejo and Gandoca Manzanillo.

Limon's development is quite different from the rest of the Caribbean Island , which gives it an special potential to distinguish Costa Rican products. High quality beaches allow adventure and natural history activities which definitely compliment with culture, gastronomy and music. Stand out the reefs, multicolor-sanded beaches (from black to yellow and gray), coastal vegetation and medium-high forest.

Cahuíta National Park and Gandoca Manzanillo Reserve are worldwide recognized, not only because of their natural beauty but because they are becoming unique conservation places in almost the whole Caribbean .

Activities
Tourist activities allow a more specific knowledge of the natural and cultural tourist attractions, as well as a deep relationship between nature, adventure and sport and recreative issues: Horseback riding, hiking, recreational cycling, architectural and hystoric sites, cuisine, photography, shopping, Tortuguero-Colorado canals, playa bonita and Limon city.

* www.costa-rica-limon.com

Boquete is a city located in the highlands of Western Panama, in the Chiriquí Province, near the border with Costa Rica. Because of its altitude (about 1,000 m above sea level) its climate is cooler than the lowlands in Panama, and has become a pleasant escape from the heat. Its natural environment has made it extremely popular with tourists from all over the world, especially for eco tourism.

BOQUETE is a small and beautiful town located in the Chiriqui province, Panama, in a valley surrounded by the impressive mountains of the Central Mountain Range.

This site is one of the newer and more vigorous tourist destination of the country, whith aboundant natural resources like mountains covered by primary and secondary forests, a huge fauna diversity, singing creeks of cristal clear waters, impetuous rivers, a majestic volcano, national parks and forest reserves.

At short distance of this attractions we find many tourism services, from the tours and adventures operators to the finest hotels including an important number of places where to eat or to take a drink.

The tour options are numerous and we can menttion the more important: trek in the forests, canopy, kayaking, river rafting, ascent to the top of the Baru Volcano, visits to the La Amistad International Park, birds and fauna watching, or simply walking in the Boquete main street, visiting the local attractions.

BOQUETE is a place that it will surprise you pleasently. To the menttioned attractions we can add a fresh (sometimes cold) temperature, no big storms, and excelent aereal and terrestrial connections. Aereal, through David city (38 kilometers away from Boquete) with daily flights to/from Panama City and Bocas del Toro. Terrestrial, using the road from Boquete to the Interamerican Highway, in very good shape.

Every year in January, the district of Boquete receives about 100,000 visitors who come to this region to stroll though the many pavilions of the famous Flower and Coffee Fair. This fair of international recognition gathers flower and coffee producers from all across the country and from places like Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Peru. Visitors may enjoy Boquete’s fresh climate while they promenade among this showcase of plants and flowers as lilies, roses, carnations, and orchids that make this place so well-known.

* www.wikipedia.org
* www.visitpanama.com
* www.boquete.chiriqui.org

The city of David is on the coastal plain. It is a market town and center for the thriving farming industry that is the main economic activity of the Chiriqui province. David is not quite a frontier town, but the feeling is there. It is a regional commercial and processing center. Raising cattle is the principal occupation in the region, but tropical fruits, coffee, cacao, and sugar are also produced. The city is surrounded by the beautiful and picturesque highlands of Chiriqui.

As some Chiriqui provinces,  David is a newest tourism destination with aboundance of natural resources like mountains, sea, islands, rainforest, coral reefs, trails, volcanos, beaches, most of them enclosed in national parks and natural reserves, with rich indian cultural roots, like the ngobe indians, in an environment natural designed to make a lot of activities like travel, scuba diving, trekking, snorkelling, rafting, kanoing, fishing, bird watching and many more.

In the center of town you will find the central park. Here locals come to visit or just to relax under the shade of the trees. Street vendors will shine your shoes or sell you a cold drink, a freshly cracked coconut or the juice from sugar cane grounded on the spot. In March David hosts the Feria Internacional de David, where International companies exhibit their products and services to Panama. The Childrens Day Festival is held on or around July 17th every year.

It is possible to find tourism services (hotels, inns, cabins, lodges, restaurants, bars, discotheques, tour operators) and, if you want to stay for a long time, beatiful properties.

* www.enjoypanama.com
* www.david.chiriqui.org

Colon is one of the most important ports of the Caribbean. Founded in 1850 by Americans who were working in the construction of the Panama Railroad, its name was originally “Aspinwall”, after one of these builders. The name “Colon” was given by the Hispanic community in honor of “Cristobal Colon”, which means Christopher Columbus in Spanish. In 1953 it was made a free trade zone and nowadays it is the world’s second largest duty-free port, connected to Panama City by air, road, rail and the Panama Canal. Colon is also the main city of the homonymous province, which includes many destinations like Portobelo and its national park, Isla Grande and part of the Chagres National Park, shared with the close Panama province.

The Chagres National Park, which includes a territory of over 129.000 hectares, is located on the eastern side of the Panama Canal. This conservation area hosts a bird sanctuary for more than 560 species, including the harpy eagle, and provides home to threatened mammals species such as jaguars, anteaters and mantled howler monkeys. The importance of this park is due to the fact that it covers the main hydrographic region of the country, producing more than 40% of the water needed to fill the canal, and it supplies all the drinking water for Panama City and Colon. Deforestation and the urban and industrial development of the near cities represents a threat to this area, and could also have an impact on the Panama Canal’s operations. That is why several conservation groups are fighting to protect the park and to extend it to the Santa Rita Ridge, an important shelter of biodiversity which is still unprotected. Popular activities in the Chagres National Park are camping, bird watching, sport fishing and rafting.

* www.enjoypanama.com

Panama is a very multicultural place, with large populations from many different parts of the world. Spanish is spoken by most, and many speak some form of English. Customer service is slowly improving, and surprisingly dismal in hotels. However, on the streets Panamanians are for the most part extremely friendly and helpful and would love to give you some advice. There's great shopping, from high-end stores in the malls around Paitilla and in the banking district around Via Espana, to veritable bargains around La Central (Central Avenue, now turned into a pedestrian walkway) and the Los Pueblos outdoor mall. You can find many ethnic stores (mostly Chinese and Indian), in certain parts of the City.

The city has numerous tourist attractions including world-class hotels and restaurants. Particularly interesting for tourists are various sites located in the old quarter (also commonly referred to as "Casco Viejo", "Casco Antiguo" or "San Felipe").

The area immediately east of the Pacific entrance of the canal--known as the Amador Causeway-- is currently being developed as a major tourist center. Currently the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute operates a station and a small museum open to the public on Culebra Island, just off the island of Naos (See inset). A new museum, The Bridge of Life Museum, is currently under construction on the causeway. The Bridge of Life Museum was designed by the American architect Frank Gehry famous for the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Disney Concert Center in Los Angeles and it is scheduled to be completed in 2009.

What is known today as Panama Viejo, the old city of Panama, was the first city established by the shores of the Pacific Ocean, by Governor Pedro Arias Davila in 1519. This city was constantly visited by galleons coming from Peru, loaded with gold and silver, and other treasures en route to Spain. As a result of the attack by the English corsair, Sir Henry Morgan, occurred in 1671, the city was looted and set on fire, leaving instead of the Pearl of the Pacific, the ruins visible today. Among the ruins still visible that stand out are the convent of Saint Francis, the Company of Jesus, church of La Merced, Saint Joseph’s church, Saint John’s hospital, the royal houses, the slaughterhouse bridge, and the King’s bridge. Near the site, museums display objects from pre-Hispanic and colonial times, and scale models of the city back in the 18th century.

* www.wikipedia.org
* www.wikitravel.org
* www.visitpanama.com

Boulevards
San Salvador has wide avenues and boulevards, including the two widest boulevards in Central America: Boulevard de los Proceres and Boulevard de los Heroes. Other important boulevards include Alameda Roosevelt, Paseo General Escalon, Av. Jerusalem, Boulevard Constitucion and Av. Juan Pablo Segundo.

Business
Feria Internacional de El Salvador is the largest convention center in Central America. El Salvador is rated third best place for investment in Latin America by Moody's. Some of the very wealthy business families in San Salvador & through out El Salvador are, Siman (owners of the largest department store chain in Central America),The Rivas (Mineros) Family which own and operate some of the largest fleets of public transportation, including water taxis and restaurants in the country, Poma (owners of Grupo Roble and Grupo Poma), Quiros (owners of Grupo Q in Central America), Kriete (owners of TACA Airlines), Dueñas (owners of La Gran Via), the family that owns Biggest, Pops, Nash and Mister Donut, and a lot of other important families. In addition, San Salvador is the only city in Central America with a World Trade Center.

Parks
San Salvador has the large urban park, the "Parque de los Pericos". There is another park called Parque Cuscatlan (close to downtown), which is very elegant, with lights, trees and paths. Popular with locals, the beautiful botanical gardens of La Laguna (close to the the U.S. embassy) showcase much native fauna. Zoologico Nacional (The National Zoo), and Parque Saburo Hirao (with a collection of native plants) are in the SE part of the city by the old Presidential House.

If you don't get a chance to visit smaller towns & villages outside the capital, a must see destination is Los Planes De Renderos. 1000 Metres above sea level, the mountain offers a spectacular view of San Salvador, and is a popular oasis for locals from the hectic city. Check out the restaurants, walking tracks & parks ideal for picnics. Visit the nearby colonial town of Panchimalco.

Museums
San Salvador has many museums, the two most important are "Museo David J Guzman" and "Museo de Arte MARTE". David J Guzman National Museum of Anthropology contains a variety of Mayan and Pipil artifacts, while Museo de Arte MARTE displays an extensive collection of international art. Both are located in the Zona Rosa district. There is also a children's museum, the Tin-Marin museum, where kids can experience the world in a fun way. The old national palace is being restored to house the "National Archives," and the "National Museum." Also a new display of early mammal fossils, including a giant sloth, mastodon and more than twenty other species is being set up in the "Museo de Historia Natural," or "Natural History Museum" situated in the SE section of Saburo Hirao park by the National Zoo. Close to the zoo is the "Museo Militar," or Military Museum which is housed in the old castle-like "El Zapote" barracks built in 1895. In the military museum you can find weapons and army uniforms from the 17th, 18th, and early 20th centuries, which were historically used by the Salvadoran army.

Theatres
San Salvador has numerous theatres, including the beautiful Teatro Presidente (located near Zona Rosa), where the symphony regularly performs expensive and inexpensive concerts, and the Teatro Nacional (downtown), which was recently restored to its full splendor. Here you can step back and experience the grandeur once reserved for the city's elite in the early 1900s.

Aquarium
There are plans for an aquarium to be built in El Salvador. This Aquarium will be built in El Parque de los Pericos, next to the Multiplaza mall.

Entertainment
San Salvador has several entertainment venues. You can go to restaurants, bars, clubs, casinos, or if you are traveling with kids you can go to the cinemas, bowling, bingo, arcades etc. Cinemas in San Salvador include

• Cinemark Various locations throughout El Salvador Ph:503 22294315,Merliot.
• Multicinema Various locations throughout El Salvador Ph:503 22439269, Multiplaza
• Cinepolis Galerías Escalón

You can also play video games at World Games and El Mundo Feliz. Families may also want to visit Central America's largest toy store,

• Jugueton San Salvador. boulevard de los proceres #2000. Ph:503 22481253
• Also, you can go via cable car to an amusement park on top of Cerro San Jacinto mountain.

The trendiest night spot to visit is called Zona Rosa. Some of the best hotels are located there, including the Sheraton Presidente as well as one of the most luxurious hotels in Central America, the Hilton Princess. Although Zona Rosa doesn't cover a large area (around 1sq mile), it's home to many exclusive, upscale bars and nightclubs (Los Alambiques, Code), and the best restaurants in town (Paradise, 503, A lo Nuestro). If you want to visit a nightclub without the probable inconvenience of not being let in, you should visit Las Terrazas (Stanza, Envy) at Multiplaza Mall or La Gran Vía (Llenya, El Alebrije), a life style center.

Isla Mujeres (Spanish for "Island of Women") is an island in the Caribbean Sea located eight miles off of the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, near Cancun, Mexico.

Isla Mujeres has several fine stretches of beach. The northern end of the island is Playa Norte which has a wide swatch of sand that is lined with palm trees and also a few beachfront restaurants and bars. The soft white sand and level beach area make for an ideal beach volleyball court. The main volleyball-playing area on Playa Norte in front of Buho's swing bar is now gone, a victim of changing tides and a diminishing beach which locals attribute to the moving of sand from the surrounding ocean floor to build back Wilma-damaged Cancun's beaches. Alas, the big, beautiful pre-Wilma Playa Norte is no longer, though there is hope that it will eventually come back.

Garafon Park on the southern side of the island lacks a sandy beach but offers snorkeling where fish abound and the crystal clear water makes for an enjoyable swim. The reef that lies within the protective buoys has been severely damaged by storms and years of careless treatment by snorkelers, but a revamp of the park several years ago has created a healtheir environment for the coral, and it thrives more with each passing year. Entrance to the park is expensive. Tour boats from Cancun bring hordes of day-trippers who mostly stay within the park, so it can become quite crowded during the peak of the day.

Dolphin Discovery in the northwest side of the island on the Penninsula of Sac Bajo is Dolphin Discovery. It is a small amusement park with cahins in other pasts of the Caribbean (including Cozumel) well known for allowing visitors to interact and swim with dolphins in an enclosed area. The park has a list of activities ranging from dolphins to other marine mammals. If traveling from Cancun, visitors can take a bus or taxi to Playa Langosta which is located at Boulevard Kukulcan Km. 5. It is between the Casa Maya Hotel and Vacation Club International. There, Dolphin Discovery representatives can check visitors in and direct them to a ferry which takes 40 minutes to get to the docking area of Dolphin Discovery.

The scuba diving and snorkeling around Isla Mujeres is unforgettable. The Manchones Reef begins just off of Isla's shore and the Cuevones and Banderas Reefs are close by. The waters are calm and clear - perfect for the beginner as well as the advanced diver.

San Pedro, unlike Panajachel, is not crowded with people, bars, restaurants and shops. It’s a quiet farmer’s town with few streets and many paths designed for pedestrians and bicycles. This is definitely a place to relax and enjoy the view of lake Atitlán. Here, you’ll easily find tourists that came to San Pedro planning on staying a couple of nights and found themselves staying for months, charmed by the magic of this part of Atitlán.

San Pedro is a place where you have to stay a couple of days to get into the slow pace of the town and get used to sit back in front of the lake and just relax. The water is very clean, so you can take a dive and enjoy the view of the mountains surrounding San Pedro while you swim, filled with organic coffee and avocado trees. You can also get a speedboat tour around the lake and visit the nearby towns. At night, you can get into one of the few bars or restaurants, usually visited by travelers and some locals. The atmosphere is always very friendly and relaxed.

Nice hotels, wonderful meals and excellent drinks are very cheap. In San Pedro you’ll also find cheap and good Spanish schools to start developing new skills in this language. To get to this wonderful place, take a boat from Panajachel or a chicken bus from Los Encuentros. Either way you decide to get here, you’ll definitely get an exhilarating view.

*www.aboutguatemala.com

The clear and pristine water of the pools makes a strong contrast with the powerful river that passes below them and appears 300 m later. In Mayan language, Semuc Champey means “hidden in the depth of stone”; Champey is not hidden, but it might be a little far away. It’s located on the Alta Verapaz department, on the northern region of Guatemala, about a three hour drive (70km) away from the city of Coban.

The water in the pools is fresh and cool, the weather is temperate and the view astonishing. The caves of K‘an ba are close to Champey. You can reach them walking to do some caving or have some fun in the natural formed limestone slides. The entrance fee is only Q.10, a very low price indeed for such a marvelous place.

If you want to get to Semuc Champey, you can take a minibus in Coban’s park, or get a shuttle in a Tour Operator of Cobán. You’ll find in Champey some basic services, such as bathrooms and lunchrooms, so feel free to bring some food and drinks. Of course, a bathing suit is very suggested.

*www.aboutguatemala.com

Islas de la Bahía ("Bay Islands") is one of the 18 departments into which the Central America nation of Honduras is divided.

The islands boast splendid beaches and unspoilt coral reefs, making them a haven for scuba divers  and vacationers.

The department covers a total surface area of 261 km² and, in 2005, had an estimated population of 43,018 people. It comprises three geographically separate groups:

1. Islas de la Bahía (with the main islands Roatan, Guanaja, Utila and numerous satellite islands)
2. Cayo Cochinos, further south
3. Swan Islands, 120 km to the north north

 The Bay Islands offer a unique experience, and the most interesting facet is that each of the three islands is so very different from the others. Don't even think that if you've been to one you've seen it all, nothing could be further from the truth. Take your time to visit and discover each of these jewels that are reputed to by one of the last true paradise islands in the western Caribbean.

The Bay Islands are a part of the world's second largest barrier reef system. They offer greatly diversified wall diving at each of the islands where the walls can start at fifteen, forty or even sixty feet. The reefs along these walls are abundant in stony corals and colorful sponges.  It is a fitting finale to this journey along the Great Maya Reef.

With just one glance of our crystal blue waters and teeming marine life you'll see why why Roatan is one of the premier dive spots in the world.  Endless diving opportunities are to be found including dolphin dives, walls, volcanic tunnels, shallows, whale shark encounters and a dazzeling soft corals and sponges.  The adventurous can explore canyons, ridges and stunning walls rich in marine life. Now a protected marine park, the waters around West End are home to dozens of exciting deep water dive sites.

Roatan provides visitors with an unspoilt vacation alternative and is said to be much like the eastern Caribbean was before commercialization.

Explore the sheer walls of Roatan including Eel's Garden, Port Royal, and the Enchanted Forest, all complete with enormous stands of black coral, brilliantly colored elephant ear sponges and delicate blue bell tunicates.

Guanaja and Utila are similar and because of there remote location and fewer accomodations and divers in the water it can be better diving.  One thing is for sure, the pace of life is tuned way down and your vacation here will be laid back and restful.

Off the Island of Guanaja there is the Jado Trader, a cargo boat deliberately sunk several years ago for divers, a 160 foot ship that rests in about 100 feet of water.  Home to numerous sea creatures.

The two main islands of Cayo Cochinos hold such rare jewels as fingerprint tongues, wrasse blennies, sailfin blennies, painted tunicates, and richly colored encrusting sponges.    While diving the area you could be joined by black tip sharks, eagle rays or turtles.

* www.wikipedia.org
* www.bayislandstourism.com

The city itself is built according to the Old Spanish tradition, a square central park and streets laid out in a square fashion. Old homes and buildings are silent testimony of the cities old heritage. Amongst the most impressive buildings are the Comayagua Cathedral, the churches of La Merced, La Caridad, San Francisco and San Sebatian, as well as the bishops residence and the Museum of Anthropology building, which in its time, was actually the presidential home, as well as the site of the National Congress of Honduras.
Homes where independence heroes such as Jose Trinidad Cabañas and Francisco Morazan lived are still standing and have been declared national monuments.

Despite the fact that Comayagua's biggest attraction is its colonial architectural heritage, there are several outstanding options for tours around the city. Following are our suggestions:

Lake Yojoa
Located approximately 60 miles north of Comayagua, this lake is the largest natural lake in Honduras, surrounded by two different national parks and offering some of the best bird watching opportunities in Central America. Water sports are also available here. For full information regarding the lake, check our Lake Yojoa section.

Montaña de Comaguaya National Park
Located a short distance from the city itself, the park offers cloud forest environment in its higher elevations. The park is administered by Ecosimco, a private, non-profit organization whose offices are located on the highway towards La Libertad. Their phone number is 772 4681, and their schedule is from 8:00 am till 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 8:00 to noon on Saturdays. There is a good trail departing from the community of Rio Negro, located on the road toward La Libertad. The detour is clearly marked by a sign welcoming you to the Montaña de Comayagua National Park. At Rio Negro you can arrange for lodging at the public school if you wish. Food is also available. Ask the school director, Mrs. Velasquez, she will help you arrange lodging. The park ranger, Mr. Hector Gonzalez can also assist you as a guide. The trail leads to a small, but beautiful waterfall called "El Gavilan"

Balneario Santa Cruz
Located on private property, this popular swimming spot is located just outside the community of Jamalteca, which is about half way between Comayagua and La Libertad, and has become very popular as a refreshing spot during the hot summer months. The entrance fee is Lps. 20.00 per person and allows you to enjoy the swimming pool at your ease. Although there was no restaurant there when we visited, there was a small construction going up that should be in operation by Semana Santa 2000. Here, soft drinks, beers and food will be available. The specialty: fresh fish from the fishponds in the property! Camping is available on the premises. To get there, take the road towards La Libertad. When you arrive at the town of Jamalteca enter the road and ask, locals will direct you. If taking the bus, preferably take the direct bus from Comayagua to Jamalteca which departs at 10:30. Once in town ask and follow the instructions. The balneario is located about 3 km from town.

Comaguaya Golf Club
The newest addition to the list of activities around Comayagua is the brand new Comayagua Golf Club. It is a pleasant, 9 hole course located about 3 miles from downtown, in a nice rural area. Although not yet officially open at the time of printing, it is already possible to play golf here. For more information, call 772 5231.

* www.hondurastips.honduras.com

The city of Leon is, together to Granada, the most important city of Nicaragua after the main city Managua. On its territory there are many churches of colonial age like the cathedral, the largest of all Central America.

Leon had established in its actual place since the old city had been destroyed by an earthquakein 1609, and it has been the capital of Nicaragua for more than 200 years, till 1851 when Managua became the capital.

All around the city you can see the old architecture, you can see one roof houses with tiles on the roof, and around a patio with plants that gives freshness even if it is too hot.

After Granada, which is better preserved, León has the best colonial architecture in Nicaragua. León has more colonial churches and cathedrals per capita than any other place in Nicaragua.

León used to be the hub of cotton growing but that has declined. The economy is relatively depressed. Tourists are not a large, visible presence in León, though it is popular amongst more seasoned travellers. León still is a university town, filled with students. Backpackers, Volunteers and other extranjeros usually melt with local students.

What to do?
Quetzaltrekkers Nicaragua offers non-profit volcano Treks. They are located just around the corner from ViaVia and Big Foot. Big Foot Hostel offer excellent value Volcano Boarding trips with an English speaking guide. Rumor has it that they will be commencing climbing Nicaraguas Tallest volcano, San Christobal.

Take advantage of the beaches of Poneloya and Penitas nearby. Be careful once there though, not of the people who are just as friendly as in León, but of the surf. The waves are large and quite fun, but watch out for the currents. The surf claims a victim or two every year, including the young and fit. There are accommodations from hotel Lacayo, old and historic, all wood structure, to Hotel Poneloya, recently refurbished rooms w/ a/c across the street. They have upgraded the beds, famous for uncomfortable before. Still, the rooms have no real windows. Rooms were $25 dollars a night (they built some new rooms which I did not look at. There are better hotels in Penitas. Try the Hotel Suyapa Beach (885-8345). Rooms are a bit more expensive but well worth it if you have the money (still less than $60). They have a pool and a popular beachside restaurant.

Besides hanging out at the beach, there's a billiard hall popular with locals at the end of the paved road in Poneloya (though at night it gets a little rowdy as locals get drunk on Lijon - cheap sugar cane liquor), rustic restaurants past the billiard hall, and lots of Flor de Caña rum. There is also a Catholic Church in Poneloya in case you need to make atonement for what Flor made you do. Buses depart from the road to Poneloya on the outskirts of town (by Subtiava), they are quite affordable. Splurging on a taxi is also an option (C$150 to $250 depending). The beaches are less than 20 kilometers away.

Catch a baseball game if you are there during the season. The Leónes won the championship in 2004 and are perpetual contenders. For fifty cordobas you can sit right behind home plate, or pay less for 3rd base side where the lively crowd sits with the unofficial band. Order some vigoron, get a Victoria and enjoy. If Chinandega is visiting, it can get quite rowdy and tickets sell out. The stadium is in the northern part of the city.

Visit the Museo Ruben Dario. Pick up some of his poetry (Azul is a good beginning). There is an art museum that has a good collection, including contemporary art. It occupies two houses. The main part on a southeast corner of the street that runs from Parque Ruben Dario to the Cathedral (Avenida Central).

For the best view over the city and the volcanoes, go to "el fortin", an old Somoza stronghold southwest of León, best reached from Subtiava. It's a 20 minute walk, ask locals for directions.

*www.nicatour.net/en/nicaragua
*www.wikitravel.org

Ometepe Island is an island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. Ometepe is a must-see if you find yourself in Nicaragua. These twin volcanic islands are a remote escape located in the middle of Lago de Nicaragua. There are only a few small settlements on the island, along with a number of small coffee plantations. Finca Magdalena, located on the south-east end of the island, is a humble coffee plantation that allows backpackers to stay and take part in the coffee harvest. Be warned: the conditions are rough and the food is basic (but both are extremely inexpensive). A hike into the jungle nearby will allow you to witness Howler Monkeys and numerous wild birds. The cone of Volcano Maderas is an arduous day-trip that will bring you to a small lake in the heart of the Volcano's cone.

Its name derives from the Aztec language and it means Ome= two and Tepelth=hills, due to the mountains formed by the two volcanos. The volcanic activity, through the deposition of volcanic ash, has made the soil of the plains extremely fertile, permitting constant planting without fallowing. The island has probably been inhabited since 2000-2500 B.C.

To reach Ometepe island you can catch a boat from Granada and after 4 hours you'll arrive to Altagracia port or you can leave from San Jorge (Rivas port) to reach, after 1 hour you reach Moyogalpa's port. There are small wood boat thar can take only people and ferry boat that can carry cars and lorries.

It's possible to make tracking in mountain bike, trips riding horses, on the slopes of both the volcanoes reaching deveral lagoons inside some dead creaters.

The are also a many kinds of animals of which some are native plants are also archeological sites dated over 2000 years. You can find beautiful beaches of white sand where make the bathing.

*www.nicatour.net/en/nicaragua
*www.wikitravel.org

The area is rich in wildlife. The first marine reserve in Panama was created in 1988 - the Bastimentos Island National Marine Park. A 33,000 acre park with stunning underwater scenery to be viewed either by snorkeling or scuba diving along the coral reefs. And to the north of Isla Colon is Swan Cay, a bird sanctuary with a variety of local and migratory species. Four species of endangered sea turtles still visit the waters of Bocas and the turtles come ashore in great numbers to lay their eggs on the north side of the islands and some stretches of the mainland coast in season. .

Bocas’s biggest inconvenience is the rain. Well, this is part of a rain forest after all. It is one of the wettest regions in Panama. There is slightly less rain in September/October and February/March. But even in the rainy season ( the months of December and July have the most rain) rain storms pass fairly quickly.

* www.enjoypanama.com
* www.www.bocas-del-toro.org

El Valle is one of the most special destinations in Panama. Only two hours away from Panama City, it is also a perfect weekend escape from Panama's lowland heat! El Valle is a fertile volcanic valley filled with bright flowers, square trees and golden frogs. Looking into El Valle it looks like a huge broccoli field – most of the houses are surrounded by trees that make for a green and unspoiled impression. The temperatures are moderate throughout the year and it cools down at night.

There are many places of interest for tourists in El Valle: the famous square trees and the golden frogs that can be found in many locations. El Nispero is a pleasant zoo with a wide selection of native animals and birds. Several waterfalls are situated around the valley – they are beautiful and even more exciting during the rainy season from April – October. At El Macho you can try the Canopy Adventure that is also an elegant way to get a bird’s eye view over the rainforest. Tourists that enjoy walking and birdwatchers will find plenty of attractions too!

Another attraction is the market held every Sunday morning in the market place in the center of town. Next to vegetables, fruit, plants and flowers, you can find handicrafts such as wooden bowls, paintings on wood, hammocks, molas, baskets and ceramics. Prices are usually negotiable. The popularity of the market has encouraged a string of handicrafts shops to open nearby.

* www.enjoypanama.com