CENTRAL AMERICA

It’s a relatively narrow land mass between Mexico (which is part of North America) and Colombia (South America), flanked by the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific to the west.

The region consists of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Each country has its own unique charm, whether it’s diving the Great Blue Hole in the former British colony of Belize, snapping stunning photos of the mountains and sea of Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio National Park, or savoring the culture and dining of Panama City.

Historic sites range from Mayan ruins (Las Mercedes, Costa Rica, dates to 1500 BCE) to colonial cities (St. John’s Cathedral in Belize broke ground in 1812) to the 20th century engineering marvel of the Panama Canal (completed 1914).

Each country has its own policies, so check with visitor bureaus for the latest updates. Our villa specialists can help you find the most recent advisories.

Most countries speak Spanish primarily, although Belize has English as the national language. In Panama, the official language is Spanish, but the country has a unique U.S.-influenced slang as well as several distinct creoles combining African, indigenous, Spanish, and English elements.