Belize  is one of the more surprising destinations you’ll visit, sometimes more reminiscent of a Caribbean island than a Latin American country. The British colonial influence is quite evident in places like Belize City, a colorful and vibrant city where you can get an authentic taste of Belize’s unique culture. With English as the official language of Belize, you’ll never be at a loss for words.

Unofficially, the national pastime of Belize is enjoying its incredible, and often secluded, natural environment. This island of Ambergris Caye is home to the second-largest barrier reef in the world, an incredible world under the sea, and endless watersports. Visitors can towel off in San Pedro, a casual town of brightly painted houses with only 10 streets and no pavement, where people get around on golf carts and bicycles. Low-key sun worshippers also love Placencia in southern Belize, a sandy peninsula where hiking and the local Garifuna culture give beach life a special flavor.

The Mayan culture is still alive and well throughout Belize. Mayan descendants tend to their rolling sugarcane fields in the Orange Walk District of northern Belize, a wonderful area for watching exotic birds. The country’s Cayo region is home to some of the most impressive Mayan ruins anywhere, including the 35-square-mile ancient city of Carocol. Cayo is also home to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, where natural pools and waterfalls flow beneath the feet of jungle cats and lush vegetation. 
Belize is a developing country.  Tourism facilities vary in quality, from a limited number of business class hotels in Belize City and resorts on the cayes to a range of ecotourism lodges and very basic accommodations in the countryside.

Fun Fact: When you visit Belize, you can leave frustrating traffic jams at home. There are only five traffic lights in the entire country!  Belize Quote

Costa Rica is an exhilarating land of luxuriant rainforests and mighty volcanoes, of natural hot springs and shimmering oceans, of colonial charm and captivating nightlife. In short, it’s a country where people can easily find their own true bliss.

Nature thrives in its pristine state, with more than 20 natural parks and eight biological reserves. Exploring these ecological wonders is an exhilarating delight for the senses. Watch as exotic birds take wing in all their multi-colored glory. Smell the scent of orchids growing wild in the lush and magnificent cloud forests. Hear the call of the howler monkey as it lazily swings across the verdant canopy.

For the adventuresome, there’s hiking around majestic Arenal volcano as it explodes in a regular fiery splendor. For the wildlife lover, there’s Tortuguero National Park, where the beguiling sea turtle slowly makes its way to the sea. And for the sporty, there are the shimmering blue waters of the Pacific and the Caribbean, where surfing, fishing and snorkeling will fill endless sun-drenched days.

The ultimate delight of Costa Rica is its people. Warm and gracious, they unveil a captivating culture of music, art, crafts and cuisine that will enchant, entertain and enliven you.

Costa Rica is a middle-income, developing country with a strong democratic tradition.  Tourist facilities are extensive and generally adequate.  The capital is San Jose.  English is a second language for many Costa Ricans  Costa Rica Quote

Look no further for undiscovered beauty than El Salvador. This captivating country is small, secure and resplendent in eye-catching natural attractions and thrilling water activities. An exotic and tropical paradise, El Salvador has 3 of the most essential features for a perfect vacation: it’s unspoiled, uncrowded and uncomplicated.

The capital of San Salvador is a picturesque and colonial gem at the foot of a magnificent and extinct volcano. Visit the opulent National Theater, wander through open-air markets bargaining for unique handicrafts such as textiles and pottery, and dine on mouth-watering international cuisine at a host of exquisite eateries. In the Cloud Forest of Montecristo, stroll under a 100-foot high canopy of lush greenery. Witness wild orchids, colorful toucans and delightful spider monkeys. High in the scenic mountains lies Alegria, the heart of coffee country and El Salvador’s flower-growing capital. Brilliant blooms are everywhere you turn, creating a vivid tableau of color that’s a feast for the eyes. Journey to the Mayan Ruins of Tazulem and open a fascinating window to a mighty and long-gone civilization.

El Salvador is a democratic country with a developing economy. Tourism facilities are not fully developed. The capital is San Salvador, accessible by El Salvador's International Airport at Comalapa. Both the U.S. Dollar and the Salvadoran Colon are legal tender in El Salvador. While Colones are still accepted, the primary currency of El Salvador is the U.S. Dollar. Americans traveling with U.S. Dollars should not exchange them for Colones.

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The mysterious and captivating world of the Maya are alive today in Guatemala. This mighty civilization lives on in the amazing temples and enchanting ruins that dot the landscape of this lush tropical country.

The magnificent Tikal was once the center of the Mayan world, and is now one of the most important and spellbinding ruins in the region. Spectacular palaces, plazas and monuments stand today, dramatically set against the luxuriant backdrop of the thick and verdant jungle.

Much of the allure of Guatemala lies in its stunning natural beauty. Explore gleaming beaches on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, virgin jungles, active volcanoes, lush rainforests, and Lake Atitlan, one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, with three spectacular volcanoes as a natural backdrop.

Guatemala has a developing economy, characterized by wide income disparities.  Hotels and other tourist facilities in the principal tourist sites most frequented by visitors from the United States are generally good to excellent.  A peace accord, signed in 1996, ended a 36-year armed conflict.  Violent crime, however, is a serious concern due to endemic poverty, an abundance of weapons, a legacy of societal violence, and dysfunctional law enforcement and judicial systems.

Panama is so much more than the wondrous manmade canal. It is a place alive with a heartbeat all its own. A place of oceans, beaches, mountains with volcanic valleys, rain forests, and historic visits of explorers like Sir Francis Drake, Sir Henry Morgan and Sir Edward Vernon. Here the melting pot of Spanish settlers and West Indians contribute to a diverse population as varied as the very land itself. Enjoy Adventure Tourism or all this rich culture has to offer, from pre-colonial to modern. This country is a true multi-destination.

Panama has a developing economy. Outside the Panama City area, which has many first-class hotels and restaurants, tourist facilities vary in quality. The U.S. dollar is the paper currency of Panama, and is also referred to as the Panama balboa. Panama mints its own coinage.

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