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Cenotes of the Yucatán

Cenotes of the Yucatán is a route through the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. It follows a network of secondary roads through the interior of the peninsula which the Mexican government has dubbed La Ruta de los Cenotes (The Route of the Cenotes).

Understand
The underground river systems of the Yucatan flow beneath the entire peninsula. During the ice ages when the ocean levels were much lower than they are today, what was once a giant coral reef became exposed to the atmosphere and eventually became the Yucatan Peninsula. Massive cave systems were formed by gradual dissolving of the highly porous coral limestone. These caves are called "solution caves" because they were formed by the slightly acidic rainfall dissolving the alkaline limestone. Inside the caves the geological formations such as stalactites and stalagmites are a spectacular sight to see. Many of the caverns eventually collapsed and the sea levels rose partially or completely flooding the cave systems. The water table of the entire peninsula is filled with consists of seawater at sea level and freshwater 'floating' on top at varying depth depending on the distance from the sea. For instance, Cenote Zaci in Valladolid in the central Yucatan area is about 35 metres from ground level to the surface of the freshwater and probably another 30 metres below that would be the top of the saltwater layer.

It has been estimated that there are approximately 30,000 cenotes or exposed access points to these cavern and cave systems and thousands of miles of underwater cave passageways have already been explored and exploration continues in too many systems to count. Two of these cave systems have over 140 km of explored passages.

Cenotes are complexes of sinkholes and caves in the Karst geological landscape of the Yucatán. Some cenotes contain spectacular cave formations, while others are important archaeological sites, and several were considered sacred by the Mayans. A few are open to the public for swimming and diving. Of the estimated 30,000 cenotes, many of them unexplored, many are considered to be Mayan cultural and archaeological sites. Ancient fossilized remains of Camels, giant jaguars and mammoths are among the interesting archaeological finds. Most of these have been found by cave divers exploring underwater cave systems and some sites are now protected by INAH, the Mexican government archaeological and historical protection organisation.

Tour operators emphasize the sensitive nature of cenotes, and La Ruta de los Cenotes was first promoted as an ecotourism attraction that would offer sustainable development for the region. To promoters in Quintana Roo, it was a way to bring tourist revenue to a relatively forgotten and marginalized part of the Mayan Riviera. However, some Mexican environmentalists have criticized the construction of the eastern segment of the highway, both for the destruction of pristine forest lands and for the use of heavy equipment in sensitive areas.

Experienced divers have discovered Maya artifacts upsteam of some of the sinkholes they explored dating back over 1,000 years. This has led them to conclude that the water table in this area was significantly lower at one time and the Maya inhabited the caverns which are now full of water. They also concluded that some of the sacrifices made, were to ask the spirits to lower the water table so that they could resume life in the caverns. They also believed that the Maya remained in the area for some time living above ground, while waiting on the waters to recede, before moving on.

History
Formed during the Ice Ages, the cenotes were held sacred by the Mayan Civilization and many contain remains of offerings to their gods.

Landscape
Holes in the rock from the size of small crevices to giant openings over 100 metres across. In most areas of the peninsula, the cenotes are the only open fresh water to be found.

Flora and fauna
Many animals rely on the cenotes for their fresh drinking water. Many others make their homes in and around them including many endemic species including blind cave fish and blind crayfish which live in areas where light never penetrates.

Climate
Tropical semi-dry jungle and forest.

Prepare
Some cenotes are privately owned while others are run by local Mayan communities such is the case of Yokdzonot Cenote nearby Chichen Itza; if you go, they will provide you with a safe vest for a small fee. Yokdzonot Cenote and Ecological Garden should not be missed, the water is pristine blue, the place clean and well kept by a group of Mayan local females that built their own open restaurant and palapas on site, with clean public bathrooms and an eco-friendly water waste system that contribute to the care of the environment and the pride of the town.

Get in
;   and   in Merida are the most popular entry points to the Yucatan peninsula from all over Mexico. There are direct international flights from Canada, Cuba (handy for unofficial visits to Cuba), Europe, Central America, the United States and South America into Cancun and only from the United States and Canada to Merida and Cozumel. offers a limited selection of flights to cities in Mexico and the US, mostly to the two Mexico City airports. is a major new airport just outside Tulum. The airport's first flights included twice daily service by Aeromexico to/from Mexico City, and several daily flights on VivaAerobus, with direct flights to Mexico City (both and ), Monterrey , Guadalajara , and Tijuana. Mexicana flies to TQO from Mexico City (AIFA). Aeromexico will begin international service in April 2024 with flights to/from Toronto, San Francisco, and Chicago. Air Canada will begin service in April 2024 between Tulum and Toronto and Montreal. Tulum will be a hub for the revived Mexican state airline, Mexicana.

By car
By land you can get into the Yucatan from Belize, Guatemala and all points. The busiest land crossing is from Belize to Chetumal.

The western terminus of la ruta is in Mérida, while the eastern terminus is at Puerto Morelos on the Caribbean coast in the state of Quintana Roo.

From anywhere on the Quintana Roo coast, take highway MEX-307 to Puerto Morelos where you will turn west onto the Ruta los Cenotes (it's marked that way on official signs). The first cenote is just 6 KM from the main highway.

By train
Tren Maya is a 1,500 km intercity railway through the 5 states of the Yucatan Peninsula. It has numerous stations near well-known cenotes and could be used to visit quite a few, particularly in conjunction with visits to Mayan archaeological sites. The closest station to the eastern end of the Ruta de los Cenotes is Puerto Morelos. The closest station to the western end of Ruta de los Cenotes is Merida-Teya. From either end of the route, you can rent a car or motorbike and then take as much time as you like and visit the cenotes that most interest you, or your can take an organized tour and let someone else do the planning.

Fees and permits
Many are on private land and accessible only with permission. Most are basically inaccessible by normal means but dozens are open to the public. Entrance fees vary from M$10 to M$100 for cenotes managed by locals. Commercial operations will charge more, US$10-25, usually with more to do or see.

Do

 * Snorkel independently in one or more.
 * Guided snorkel and diving tours offered by many local dive shops such as Maya Diving
 * Swim in them.
 * Hiking and walking in the areas around the cenotes can be very interesting with a lot of animals birds and plant life to be seen.

Drive
Parts of the route are unpaved. It is listed in Spanish touring guides as a corredor turístico, and is marked in a number of places. At the eastern terminus on Highway 307, there is an archway constructed of concrete. Most of the route was laid out over existing secondary roads. The name is used locally in Quintana Roo for a road segment that connects Puerto Morelos with the interior.

 * . 15 km north of Mérida in a Mayan archeological site, it has ancient petroglyphs.
 * Xlacah. In 1958, an expedition sponsored by the National Geographic Society recovered more than 30,000 objects, many of them ritual objects associated with Mayan civilization.
 * . Three spectacular cenotes are near the village of Cuzamá. They can be reached by hiring a guide from the village. The guide carries equipment to the site via a horse-drawn cart running over an abandoned narrow gauge railroad. The entrance to Bolonchoojol is a hole in the ground with a ladder constructed by welding old railroad ties. Inside is well-lit cavern with crystal clear water and huge stalactites and stalagmites. Chansinic'che is another cenote at Cuzamá, also accessible with a railroad tie ladder, but a faster way to enter is to dive from a precipice near the surface (about 10 m). Chelentun is much more open, and can be reached by a concrete staircase built into the rock, with a handrail. The entire cave is swimable.
 * Ring of Cenotes (formally, Reserva Estatal Geohidrológica Anillo de Cenotes) is a Yucatan state park that actually includes Cuzama, but several other cenotes as well, following the edge of the Chicxulub crater (from the meteorite strike that is thought to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs). Other cenotes that are part of the park include San Antonio, Noh-Mozon, and Chunkuy. Cenotes are everywhere in the Yucatan and the state park includes dozens that are known to locals but not listed in travel guides. If you get the chance to hire a local guide to the cenotes, he may show you one or more of the "secret" cenotes.
 * Tunkas. Although 97 cenotes have been discovered near this town, none are accessible to tourists and no facilities for tourists are available. They are open only to spelunkers and speliologists.
 * . The town of Cenotillo, west of Chichén Itzá, derives its name from the many cenotes that are nearby, perhaps 150 in all. The major ones are Kaipech, Xayín, and Ucil. Local guides are available.
 * . Located within the precinct of the famous archeological ruins of Chichén Itzá, it was the site of human sacrifice. Human bones and jewelry of gold and fine jade have been recovered from its waters. It can be viewed from above, but visitors are not allowed to swim there or approach the waters.
 * . Accessible from the free highway (not the toll road) between Chichén Itzá and Valladolid, it is in an ecological and archeological park. This park also contains the Sagrado Cenote Azul, in a sinkhole that is 26 m deep and surrounded by vegetation. Its crystal blue waters are ideal for swimming. The entrance fee for the park is M$40. It is open daily from 08:00-18:00.
 * . Located a few hundred meters from the central plaza in Valladolid, this sinkhole is traversed by a walking path that passes under a curtain of stalactites.
 * Dzitnup. Seven kilometers southeast of Valladolid, the turquoise waters of this pristine cenote are illuminated by a shaft of sunlight from above.
 * . Located in an "eco-park" that is 16 km west of Puerto Morelos on the road to Central Vallarta.
 * Siete Bocas. Seven openings into a connected underground waterway. Near Puerto Morelos.
 * 2-3 others. Between the 12 km and 16 km markings from Puerto Morelos.

There are numerous cenotes along Hwy 307 south of Playa del Carmen, and those on the road out of Tulum towards Cobá.

Stay safe
Lock your doors and be careful of cenotes where there is no supervision or where the parking areas are remote. People have had their cars broken into and all their clothes and money taken.

Go next
Thousands of cenotes are found in every corner of the Yucatan Peninsula. Many are largely unknown to foreign travelers but are open to the public. Some destinations with nearby publicly open cenotes include:

 * Tulum - at least a dozen cenotes are within a few kilometers of town
 * Coba - three cenotes are within 5 kilometers of the archaeological site
 * Merida - a state park called the "Ring of Cenotes" (Anillo de Cenotes) is just southeast of the city

Some scuba dive shops offer advanced cave diving trips to cenotes

title: Cenotes of the Yucatán


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Centennial

Centennial is a suburban city of about 106,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the western U.S. state of Colorado. The city lies in Arapahoe County southeast of Denver.

Understand
When Centennial was incorporated as a city on February 7, 2001, it was the largest city incorporation in U.S. history, with over 100,000 citizens at the 2000 census.

By car
Centennial is served by several highways:

The E-470 Toll Road provides direct access to Denver International Airport.

By rail
The Amtrak California Zephyr and Winter Park Express serve Denver Union Station. The RTD light rail E line provides access from Denver Union Station to Centennial.

By bus
Greyhound Lines serve Denver.

By car

 * A numbered system is proven inapplicable here, as opposed to Denver's northern suburbs.
 * If you are looking for "___ Street", you should be driving across town from west to east, looking at the signs that signal "North __ Street" or "South ___ Street"

Eat
Unique restaurants in the area:

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Centennial


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Center (North Dakota)

Center is a town in Western North Dakota, about 40 miles northwest of Bismarck and Mandan. It has a population of about 678 people. Located just north of Nelson Lake, on Butte Creek.

Understand
Center celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2005 with the Old Settlers Days.

By car
From I-94, exit 127 north onto state highway 31 for about 17 miles, then east 5 miles on SH 25.

Do

 * Boating: boat ramp to allow exploration of this scenic stretch of the river
 * Fishing: fishing for walleye, pike and bass.
 * Hiking: during the summer, hike through the park's trail system or nature preserve. There is a 5,000-acre dedicated nature preserve composed of mixed grass prairie, river bottom forests and woody draws.
 * Cross-country skiing during the winter months.
 * Primitive camping in the back-country area, hike to your camping spot. Cabin rental also available.
 * Primitive camping in the back-country area, hike to your camping spot. Cabin rental also available.

Sleep
In Beulah, Washburn or Mandan.

title: Center (North Dakota)


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Center Harbor

Center Harbor is in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. It had a population of 1,040 in the 2020 U.S. census.

title: Center Harbor


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Centerville

There is more than one place called Centerville:

United States of America

 * Centerville (Georgia) - a town in the state of Georgia.
 * Centerville (Indiana) - a town in the state of Indiana.
 * Centerville (Iowa) - a town in the state of Iowa.
 * Centerville (Maine) - a town in the state of Maine.
 * Centerville (Massachusetts) - a village in Barnstable in the state of Massachusetts.
 * Centerville (Minnesota) - a town in the state of Minnesota.
 * Centerville (Missouri) - a town in the state of Missouri.
 * Centerville (New York) - a town in the state of New York.
 * Centerville (North Carolina) - a town in the state of North Carolina.
 * Centerville (Southeast Ohio) - a town in the state of Ohio.
 * Centerville (Southwest Ohio) - a town in the state of Ohio.
 * Centerville (Pennsylvania) - a town in the state of Pennsylvania.
 * Centerville (South Carolina) - a town in the state of South Carolina.
 * Centerville (South Dakota) - a town in the state of South Dakota.
 * Centerville (Tennessee) - a town in the state of Tennessee.
 * Centerville (Texas) - a town in the state of Texas.
 * Centerville (Utah) - a town in the state of Utah.
 * Centreville (Virginia) - a city in the state of Virginia.
 * Centerville (Washington) - a town in the state of Washington.
 * Centerville (Wisconsin) - a town in the state of Wisconsin.

Canada

 * Centerville (Quebec) - a town in the province of Quebec.
 * Centerville (New Brunswick) - a town in the province of New Brunswick.

title: Centerville


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Centerville (Iowa)

Centerville is in South Central Iowa.

title: Centerville (Iowa)


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Centerville (Massachusetts)

Centerville is a village of Barnstable on Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

title: Centerville (Massachusetts)


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Central (Louisiana)

Central is a region in Louisiana. This area is also known as Cenla or the Crossroads.

Regions

 * Natchitoches Parish

Cities

 * - the principal city of Central Louisiana

Understand
The Red River flows through the center of this region. Agriculture dominates in the alluvial plain along the Red River where crops such as cotton, soybeans, and corn are grown. The eastern part of Central Louisiana is part of the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain. A large portion of Central Louisiana is covered by Kisatchie National Forest, which contains an abundance of pine trees and rolling hills. Some parts of Central Louisiana are swampy and bayous flow through the area as well.

Typical Deep South culture is predominate in this area. However, there is a significant Cajun presence in some areas, including the Alexandria area, and there is a unique Creole culture around Natchitoches.

Get in
Alexandria International Airport

title: Central (Louisiana)


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Central Piney Woods

The Central Piney Woods are a region of the Piney Woods of eastern Texas. Unlike the other two regions of the Piney Woods, the Central Piney Woods has a considerably larger population and a more developed infrastructure. This is also where many of Texas' state parks lie in the eastern part of the state, with Caddo Lake State Park being the most popular of all of them. The largest cities in this region are Tyler, Longview, and Marshall.

title: Central Piney Woods


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Central (Venezuela)

The Central region is in north central Venezuela. It encompasses the states of Distrito Capital, Aragua, Carabobo, Miranda and Vargas.

Regions
The Central region encompasses Venezuela Capital District and four states:

Cities

 * — the capital city is a busy metropolis famous for its food, cultural diversity, and perfect climate

Aragua

 * — it is called the "Garden City", for its vegetation; visitors also come for its monuments, museums, and parks like the Henri Pittier National Park
 * — a fascinating town hidden in the mountains outside Caracas, still populated by descendents of a colony of German settlers who built the town from scratch in the 19th century. Today, the town is a popular weekend escape for Caraqueños who enjoy its cool climate, restaurants serving traditional German food and locally brewed beer. Locally grown produce such as strawberries and raspberries are also sold.
 * — probably Venezuela's most popular beach destination for foreign travellers with a great after dark atmosphere, plenty of restaurants and posadas.
 * — together with neighbouring Catica, this is another good Aragua beach resort in a beautiful bay, albeit somewhat spoiled by the construction of two tall apartment buildings just behind the beach.

Carabobo

 * — the economic center of the region, and one of the main cultural, sports and commercial centers of the country, with a lot of museums, theaters, parks and sports centers of national importance

Miranda

 * — one of the premier bedroom communities of Caracas

La Guaira
These beach cities are not well known with visitors but are popular with Caraqueños on weekends.
 * — historic port district
 * — long history as the favored among the urbanite Caraqueños and most crowded on weekends
 * — upscale district with yacht marina
 * — surf and cultural festival zone
 * — west of the airport with cheaper hotels that do airport pickup. Marginal neighborhood and beaches

Other destinations

 * — the beach in Aragua state.
 * — a beautiful and unique Alpine-style village retreat tucked into the mountains.
 * — Venezuela's first national park, covering the mountains that separate Maracay from the coast. Cloudforest and plenty of wildlife.

Understand
Venezuela's Central region is centered around the capital, Caracas, and makes up the economic heart of the country. It is also the most populated part of the country and has the best transport links.

Get around
Buses from the Caracas La Bandera bus terminal go to Maracay (1.5 hours) and La Victoria (1 hour). Change at Maracay for buses to Choroni (2 hours).

See

 * The Coastal Cordillera — the chain of mountains that is an extension of the Andes and runs across the top of Venezuela parallel to the sea.
 * Lush tropical beaches
 * Thriving industrial cities of Maracay and Valencia
 * The chaotic capital, Caracas

Do

 * Beaches of Higuerote — some of the nicer beaches in Venezuela can be found in this state. For example, Playa Caracolito and Playa Caiman.
 * Hang gliding is offered close to La Colonia Tovar, on the road down towards La Victoria.

title: Central (Venezuela)


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Central Aegean

Central Aegean is the central section of the Aegean coast of Turkey, including Izmir, the third biggest Turkish city, and its vicinity.

Cities

 * — Turkey's 3rd largest city, undeniably capital of Aegean Region, with beautiful neighbourhoods and promenades on its waterfront
 * — a bleak agricultural town, although the ruins of the St John's Church attest that this was a major centre of early Christianity when it was known as Philadelphia
 * — a lovely atmospheric city that contains the ruins of Thyatira.
 * — medieval Turkey at its best, overlooking the Küçükmenderes Valley
 * , itself agricultural, is the hub for small resorts on the peninsula west of Izmir.
 * on the peninsula is a village with well preserved stone architecture, ancient windmills, and a cove for windsurfing.
 * at the tip of that peninsula is a resort with an impressive citadel.
 * — town north of Izmir noted for its preserved architecture and the nearby islands that are one of the last refugees of endangered monk seals
 * — an inland town with much traditional architecture and a volcanic area, the only UNESCO Global Geopark in the country
 * — resort town south of Izmir, with a harbour that almost any cruise ship on a Mediterranean tour calls
 * — inland city east of Izmir, a possible for visiting Sardis, the Lydian capital, as well as the beautiful Mt. Sipylus nearby
 * — town serving as a gateway to Ephesus, which is also a historic center in its own right.
 * — inland town with a well-known street market
 * — a city with a museum exhibiting what is purpoted to be the treasure of Croesus and several ancient sites in the surrounding countryside

Other destinations

 * is a rare stretch of undeveloped coastline.
 * Ephesus just west of Selçuk is a must-see, the extensive and well-preserved ruins of a Roman city.
 * is a charming village in the hills above Selçuk, a Turkish Tuscany.
 * is a ruined city, the capital of Roman Lydia.

Understand
Central Aegean encompasses what were historically called Ionia on the coast, and Lydia inland.

Get in

 * Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport is located south of Izmir and serves flights from around Turkey and western Europe.
 * Buses are available to Izmir from most, if not all, cities in Turkey.
 * Ferries connect Çeşme and Kusadasi with the Greek islands of Chios and Samos, respectively. Also, Izmir has a weekly ferry service from Istanbul during summer.
 * Trains leave Bandırma (on the coast of Marmara), Denizli (in the Southern Aegean), and Ankara (in Central Anatolia) for Izmir.
 * See Istanbul to Izmir for various approaches into the region from the north.

By train
Central Aegean is home to the densest and the oldest rail network in the country: the earliest construction dates back to 1857. In addition to the relatively frequent regional trains that run on main trunk lines between Izmir and Manisa, and Izmir and Aydın, many railbus (raybüs) services connect agricultural towns lying at the end of branch lines and larger settlements, especially Izmir.

By bicycle
A section of EuroVelo 8, one of the European cycling routes across the continent, was developed from Dikili and Bergama in the north, through Foça and Izmir, to Çeşme in the west and Ephesus in the south.

Do

 * Efeler Yolu is a 500-km hiking trail developed from Izmir to Selçuk, leading over the inland mountain ridges and commemorating the efes, the local noble outlaws of the centuries past.
 * Skydive at Efes airfield next to Ephesus. The usual jump for a beginner is a tandem freefall coupled to an instructor, so minimum training, fitness and skill are needed.

Go next

 * Northern Aegean to the north
 * Southern Aegean to the south
 * East Aegean Islands to the west
 * Central Anatolia to the east

title: Central Aegean


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Central Africa

Central Africa is a region of Africa bounded by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, the African Rift Valley in the east, the Sahel plains in the north, and the Zambezi basin in the south.

Cities

 * — capital of the Central African Republic
 * — Angolan exclave with large oil wealth and an active independence movement
 * — capital of the Republic of the Congo; contiguous with its much larger neighbour across the Congo river, Kinshasa
 * — gateway town to wonderful volcano trekking and gorilla park in the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
 * — capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the most populous city in Africa
 * capital of Gabon and a major oil commerce centre
 * — the capital of Angola which has been through a huge renaissance in past decade
 * — capital of Equatorial Guinea, offshore on the island of Bioko
 * — the capital of Cameroon

Other destinations

 * — large rainforest park on the Sangha River in the Central African Republic.
 * — a vast, isolated national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has become relatively safe to visit, if you have enough time to actually get there!
 * — is dedicated to the protection of gorillas in the Republic of the Congo.
 * — a 100-km stretch of virgin beaches and adjacent rainforest in Gabon, both scenic and a place to view leopards, elephants, gorillas, & monkeys on the beach.
 * — vast park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which is off-limits for most tourists due to constant conflict in the area.
 * — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and important national park in the Central African Republic.
 * — a beautiful grasslands region in Cameroon inhabited by semi-Bantu and Fulani people.
 * — Africa's first national park, very important for the future conservation of the mountain gorilla, and threatened by the Democratic Republic of the Congo's conflicts.

Understand
While the climate is significantly tropical, warm around the year, the Congo basin has the most rainfall on the continent, with more arid savanna climate in the north and south.

Much of central Africa has an unfortunate history of serious armed conflict, involving various rebel militias and other violent groups. South Sudan and the Central African Republic suffer from civil wars, and the Democratic Republic of Congo has long faced a complex and changing array of rebel groups.

Large parts of the region are seriously underdeveloped; do your research and make careful preparations.

In many of these countries, photography is heavily regulated or at least viewed with suspicion. If in doubt, obtain permission from an authority before taking photos.

Get in
African highways connect many cities in West Africa, with Nigeria being the main hub.

Flying from other African cities can be dangerous, as many airlines have a very poor safety record. Check this before choosing to travel with an airline.

In order of size, here are the main air hubs.

Lagos Airport – Several flights per day to London. Less frequent flights also to other major cities in Europe

Dakar Airport - Many flights to Milan, Madrid, Brussels and Paris

Accra Airport - Many flights to the UK (Manchester, London, Glasgow) as well as Frankfurt.

Abidjan Airport - Flights to Paris, Brussels and Dubai

Get around
Outside major cities, most of Central Africa has poor infrastructure. Offroad driving and general aviation are usually needed.

By train
Rail networks across Central Africa are fragmented and often oriented towards carrying freight from the interior to ports, meaning that they usually do not connect larger cities well. The last decade have seen a renewed interest in railways but decades of neglect means that there is still a very long way to go before passenger train can be useful for the average tourist. With that said, there are a few routes that might be useful when travelling.

 * Cameroon has perhaps the most well developed railway network in the region, with daily departures between Douala and the capital Yaoundé as well as overnight service to Ngaoundéré

 * The Transgabonais railway line in Gabon connects Owendo, a suburb of the capital Libreville with Franceville in the interior. There are several trains per week.

 * Within Democratic Republic of Congo the only reliable route is between the capital Kinshasa and Matadi. There are several departures per week.

 * The Republic of Congo has passenger services between Pointe-Noire and the capital Brazzaville.

Talk
The predominant languages in this region are mostly Niger-Congo and Nilo-Saharan languages. French and Portuguese are the most common official languages, and are often widely spoken as they are used as lingua francas within linguistically diverse countries. Except for South Sudan and parts of Cameroon where English is an official language, English is spoken by almost nobody, even in major cities.

Wildlife
Animals such as mandrills, bonobos, Western Lowland gorillas and African forest elephants.

Stay safe
Much of Central Africa has an unfortunate history of severe armed conflict, including a variety of rebel militias and other violent groups. South Sudan and the Central African Republic are suffering from civil wars, and the DR Congo has long been dealing with a complicated and shifting set of rebel groups.

Large parts of the region are seriously underdeveloped; do your research and make thorough preparations.

In several of these countries, photography is heavily restricted or at least viewed with suspicion. If in doubt, get permission from an authority before taking pictures.

title: Central Africa


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Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (French: République centrafricaine or Centrafrique, Sangho: Ködörösêse tî Bêafrîka), also known by the acronym CAR, is located in the heart of Africa. The former French colony has borders with six countries and has had a very troubled history since the 1960s.

Political instability, corruption, and recurrent rebellions and conflicts have beset the resource-rich nation and the country is one of the world's poorest and least developed countries.

Under less extreme circumstances, however, the Central African Republic is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by the brave and the bold, with verdant rainforests and incredible wildlife.

Cities

 * — the capital and the starting point for most travel in the country
 * — a market city and mining centre that is the third largest city in the country
 * — home of the Kembe Falls and right on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo
 * — sparsely populated, the city was completely burned down during the Central African Republic Bush war
 * — home to many megaliths and natural attractions
 * — a small city close to Bangui and known for its large Pygmy community
 * — a small city close to Bangui and known for its large Pygmy community
 * — a small city close to Bangui and known for its large Pygmy community

Other destinations

 * — a large national park that attracts adventurous tourists and researchers from all over the world. Has a sizeable Pygmy community. This might be the safest area to visit in the whole of CAR
 * — a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

History
Until the early 1800s, the peoples of Central Africa lived beyond the expanding Islamic frontier in the Sudanic zone of Africa and thus had relatively little contact with outsiders. During the first decades of the 19th century, however, Muslim traders increasingly began to penetrate this region and to cultivate special relations with local leaders to facilitate their trade and settlement in the region. The initial arrival of Muslim traders in the early 1800s was relatively peaceful and depended upon the support of local peoples, but after about 1850, slave traders with well-armed soldiers began to penetrate the region.

European penetration of Central African territory began in the late 19th century during the so-called Scramble for Africa. The French, Belgians and Great British competed to establish their claims to territory in the Central African region.

In 1889 the French established a post on the Ubangi River at Bangui, the future capital of and the CAR and in 1894, the "French Congo's" borders with (Belgian) Congo Free State, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo and (German) Cameroon were fixed by diplomatic agreements. The French named their colony Ubang Shari.

On 1 December 1958 the colony of Ubangi-Shari became an autonomous territory and took the name Central African Republic. The founding father, Barthélémy Boganda, died in a mysterious plane accident in 1959, just eight days before the last elections of the colonial era. On 13 August 1960 the Central African Republic gained its independence and two of Boganda's closest aides became involved in a power struggle. David Dacko won and by 1962 had established a one-party state.

Since then a series of coups, including a tyranny under a self-declared emperor, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, and periodic violence from rebel groups, have dealt a very bad lot to the citizens of the Central African Republic. Today, it remains one of the most lawless, dangerous and unstable nations on earth, and is the world's poorest country as of 2019. The northeast of the country is the heart of the rebel movement and the CAR's most dangerous region.

Climate
The climate is generally tropical. The northern areas are subject to harmattan winds, which are hot, dry, and carry dust. The northern regions have been subject to desertification, and the northeast is a Sahel desert akin to neighboring Darfur. The remainder of the country is prone to flooding from nearby rivers.

In the November 2008 issue of National Geographic magazine, the Central African Republic was named the country least affected by light pollution.

People
Central African Republic is a melting pot of various cultures. There are more than 80 ethnic groups in the country, each having their own language.

Christianity is the largest religion in Central African Republic and is practiced by the majority of the population. Most Christians in the country are Protestants.

Islam is the second largest religion in the country. Most Muslims in the country are Sunni Muslims.

The Central African Republic has experienced longstanding tensions between its Christian and Muslim communities. The country's civil war, which began in 2012, was largely driven by these tensions.

Holidays
The national holiday December 1st is Republic Day, whose main highlight of the celebration involves traditional dugout canoe racing.

Entry requirements

Central African visas are very expensive to obtain and it can be difficult to apply for one since there are very few Central African embassies around the world.

Citizens of the following countries can visit the country without a visa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Israel, Liberia, Niger, Rwanda, and Senegal.

The Central African Embassy in the United States charges US$150 for a short stay (0-1 month) visa and the Central African Embassy in France charges €80 for a short stay visa. The longer you intend to stay, the more expensive the visa will be. Long-term visas (6 months to a year) are rarely issued unless you have a good reason.

You can obtain a visa on arrival if your country doesn't have a CAR embassy, but you must get permission from the authorities to take advantage of that opportunity. Entering the country without a visa will result in a heavy fine.

Visa application requirements
Although visa requirements vary from embassy to embassy, you're typically asked to submit the following:

 * A copy of your passport.
 * Two passport-sized photographs with a white background.
 * Two visa application forms.
 * A copy of your travel itinerary.
 * A letter from your employer stating that you will return after your visit. (Note: Only required if you're applying for a CAR visa in the US)
 * A copy of an invitation letter (a hotel reservation will suffice).
 * Proof you've been vaccinated against yellow fever.

By plane
The country's only international airport (and only airport with scheduled flights) is Bangui M'Poko International Airport. There is no Central African airline to provide regional connections or transfers to domestic flights. Air France provides the only service to Europe, flying to Paris. Ethiopian Airlines flies to Addis Ababa. Kenya Airways serves Bangui on its three-city route Nairobi-Bangui-Douala. Royal Air Maroc flies the three-city route Casablanca-Douala-Bangui. TAAG Angola Airlines flies two three-city routes connecting Luanda-Brazzaville-Bangui and Luanda-Douala-Bangui.

Other airlines serving Bangui include: Camairco (to Douala) and Toumai Air Chad (to Brazzaville, Cotonou, Douala, Libreville, Lomé, & N'Djamena).

By bus
Bus service is available from Cameroon and Chad, although the length and the dangerous countryside makes such bus trips infrequent. In terms of safety and ease of passing through checkpoints, however, traveling by bus is preferable to traveling by 4x4.

By boat
Other African cities and countries are accessible via boats and barges that travel infrequently along the Ubangui river. The Ubangui River flows into the Congo River, which is navigable all the way to Stanley Falls near Kinshasa/Brazzaville. Although slow, there are regular (although adhering to no set schedule) barges which travel from Bangui to Kinshasa/Brazzaville.

Boats also traverse the Bangui river from Bangui to Zongo, DRC, which is connected to the DRC's limited & rough road network, continuing onward to Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi.

By 4x4
The Central African Republic is one of the least developed countries in Africa and its road network is in poor condition and services are almost non-existent away from the largest cities and towns. The police/military are extremely corrupt and checkpoints (set up for bribes more than any other reason) are frequent. There are no roads through the dense jungle between the CAR & Congo-Brazzaville. Travel from Cameroon to Bangui and onwards to Dzanga-Sangha Reserve is relatively easy, but bribe checkpoints are common.

In the northern & eastern parts of the country, local rebels and nominally government-controlled soldiers pose a great threat. Kidnapping and banditry are grave dangers in these regions and travel in the northern or eastern regions of the CAR (especially if you plan on driving your own vehicle) should only be done in consultation with local experts. This includes all routes to/from Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, & crossings into the DRC east of Bangui.

Borders with Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (at least east of Bangui) are very insecure and any attempt to travel across them by land is not recommended. There are no land routes between the CAR and Congo-Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo).

Get around
Getting around in the capital is easy with taxis, which make large parts of the city accessible. The fare must be negotiated before departure, there are no taximeters. To get to the provinces, you have to stick to buses that offer appropriate tours. You will need to plan a lot of time and some difficulties, especially during the rainy season. It is advisable to have an off-road vehicle and an experienced tour guide.

You have to organize rides in minibuses yourself and negotiate prices.

By bus
There are a few companies that offer intercity bus service in the country, primarily between the capital city of Bangui and other major cities.

Due to the challenging security situation in some parts of the Central African Republic, travel by bus can be risky, especially for foreigners. Banditry, theft, and other criminal activity can occur along the roads, and roadblocks set up by armed groups can disrupt transportation.

By boat
Traditional trade is carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts. Oubangui is the most important river, navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m or less. There are of waterways are navigable to craft drawing as much as 1.8 m.

Talk
The main language is French with a dialect called Central African French, which is easily understood by speakers of French. There are a lot of indigenous languages also. While French is the official language of the Central African Republic, only a few people in the country know more than a few words of it.

Sängö (also referred to as Sangro or Sangho) is the lingua franca and is spoken by most of the people in the Central African Republic (some 2000 have it as a mother tongue whilst 80% of the country have it as a second language). To find out if someone speaks Sängö, simply say Balâo (which means Hello), if they respond back with Balâo mïngï then you have found a Sango speaker.

English is spoken by almost no one, even in the capital.

See
The Musée Ethnograhique Barthélémy Boganda in Bangui is the country's national museum and has a decent collection of local instruments, weapons, tools, and displays about local traditions, religion, and architecture.

Prehistoric rock paintings can be found in several locations, but some of the best can be found in Bambari.

The "Chutes de Boali", a possible daytrip from the capital, are a rather picturesque series of waterfalls, which are even more impressive in the rainy season.

Megaliths near the town of Bouar are positioned in concentric circles and are remnants of the CAR's ancient peoples.

As with most of Africa, local markets can be a feast for the eyes, offering a wide arrangement of crafts. Just be vigilant, as markets in the CAR are rife with petty and violent theft.

The country is made up of vast swathes of tropical rainforest that make it popular for exploring.

Do
Visits and stays with the Pygmy communities are probably the biggest attraction for the country's few tourists. Possible activities include: hunting with traditional weapons/devices, gathering medicinal plants with the women of the village, participating in a night of music & dance.

Visit the Dzanga Sangha Special Reserve to trek through the jungle in search of gorillas, elusive forest elephants, chimpanzees, & more. A visit to the reserve is often combined with a stay in a Pygmy village. The reserve is part of larger protected area, with Dzanga-Ndoki National Park (which consists of two noncontinuous parts: "Dzanga Park" & "Ndoki Park") flanking Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve on two sides and which in turn is part of a larger, tri-national protected area including Lobéké National Park in Cameroon & Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in Congo-Brazzaville.

Should the CAR ever emerge from the grip of conflict & dysfunctional government, the country would be an appealing ecotourism destination similar to Gabon. Bamingui-Bangoran National Park and Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park are promising wildlife reserves that are in insecure regions and without facilities.

Money
The currency of the country is the Central African CFA franc, denoted FCFA (ISO currency code: XAF). It's also used by five other Central African countries. It is interchangeable at par with the West African CFA franc (XOF), which is used by six countries. Both currencies are fixed at a rate of 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs.

Coins of the Central African CFA franc come in denominations of 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100 and 500 francs CFA. Banknotes of the Central African CFA franc come in denominations of 500-, 1,000-, 2,000-, 5,000 and 10,000 francs CFA. Central African franc CFA coins bear a common design on both the obverse and reverse sides and are valid across the six states that make up the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC; Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale). Central African franc CFA banknotes share a common design on both the front and back sides and are valid for use across the six states that make up CEMAC.

ATMs
There are Ecobank ATMs in Chad where you can get a cash withdrawal with a Mastercard or Visa card.

Costs
Costs in the Central African Republic are exorbitant for foreigners who plan to maintain a lifestyle similar to those in their origin country. Much of the commerce and goods must be flown or shipped into the nation, explaining the high costs for many goods. "Local" goods that are imported into CAR from regional nations such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cameroon are slightly less expensive (rice, beans, water, etc.) Finally, many of the supermarkets in Bangui and other cities are owned by Lebanese people and families, so there is abundant Middle Eastern food imported into the country, although these products are also very expensive.

Eat

There is a wide diversity of food in Bangui, including Chinese, Lebanese, French, local food and so forth. Food in restaurants owned by foreigners are very expensive and can be US$10–20 per dish (or more). Local food, however, may also be expensive depending upon the restaurant and its location. There are abundant French bakeries in the downtown area in the centre of Bangui with moderate prices for baked goods as well as meals. Food in supermarkets is very expensive, although cheaper food can be purchased at local markets and from sellers in the street.

Drink
Local beer ("33", Mocaf, Crystal) and soft drink (Mocaf is a major producer) is similarly priced to products in Europe and the United States. Wine is available in some French wine shops but can be very expensive. Palm wine is common. Water is produced in Cameroon and Central African Republic and can be purchased in all of the local supermarkets. Imported products such as Coca-Cola and Fanta are also available.

Sleep
Outside the capital and the Dzanga-Sangha nature reserve, there is almost no tourist infrastructure.

Learn
Although public education in the Central African Republic is free, years of conflict and instability have damaged the country's educational system.

Most Central Africans are unable to get an education and literacy rates in the country are incredibly low.

The educational scene of the country is unlikely to be attractive to most people reading Wikivoyage.

Work
There are myriad opportunities for working by teaching English or for any of a number of humanitarian or religious organisations in the Central African Republic. Many of the streets of Bangui are lined with organisations including MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières), UNICEF, International Red Cross, European Union, WHO, Institut Pasteur, Catholic Relief Serices, COOPI and many others. Most organisations are involved in health and development programmes, although others deal with education, religion, etc. Speaking French is essential for somebody who wants to be effectively involved in working with these organisations, as English is rarely spoken, even in Bangui.

Stay safe
The Central African Republic is a volatile country. Since the early 2000s, recurrent civil conflicts and political unrest have adversely affected the country's overall state of security.

Hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas. Floods are common.

Police manning checkpoints will demand bribes; expect no less than US$5. There are many reports that a trip from the Cameroon border to Bangui will cost hundreds of US dollars or euros in bribes. Police will often confiscate an item (passport, camera, watch) and demand money for it. Armed robberies on roads in the country are common. Violent crime in the capital is common even in daylight, particularly around the "kilometre 5" bus station. Alcoholism is a major problem with city-dwellers, so be wary of drunks and do not even think about drinking with locals (you will be out-drunk).

Political unrest
The Central African Republic has the distinction of being one of the most lawless countries in the world. Most Central Africans write their government off as hapless, corrupt, and ineffective at maintaining peace, order, and stability.

Demonstrations and protests occur from time to time and they can be violent. Regular monitoring of local media is advisable.

Authorities
As one of the most lawless nations in the world, the authorities of the Central African Republic are incredibly corrupt and are only there to do two things: deprive you of your personal property and harass you. Do not trust them at all and do not expect them to solve your problems; they will not help you.

Members of the police and army often set up makeshift checkpoints to extort unassuming travellers. They are poorly marked and you may be forced to hand over whatever possessions you have on you at such checkpoints.

Be aware of your surroundings at all times, and be smart about what you say or do openly; getting into a tiff with corrupt officials or the wrong person in a country far away from home is not something you (or anyone) would want to do.

In accordance with Central African law, you are required to have ID on you at all times. What this means: carrying a certified copy of your passport or your national identification card.

Photography
In theory, visitors can obtain a permis de filmer from the Ministry of Tourism in Bangui with a turnaround of a couple days.

Photography is generally regarded with suspicion and aversion, not only by law enforcement or military personnel around sensitive locations like government buildings, infrastructure, and checkpoints, but also by ordinary people almost everywhere. Taking photos conspicuously warrants permission from anyone you intend to photograph, even in public places.

Stay healthy
Some areas of Bangui have clean and filtered drinking water, so it is safe to drink water served at some restaurants and bars. However, the purity of the water is not reliable and thus it is safer to buy bottled water, or boil or filter water. Outside the capital there is no guarantee of water purity. All food should be cooked or peeled prior to being served, particularly food purchased at local markets, where hygiene is a concern. If illness should arise, it is better to seek counsel with one of the doctors at an embassy (the French embassy and US embassy both have fine doctors) or at a clinic at an organisation like Institut Pasteur. The local clinics and hospitals sometimes have a limited supply of necessary resources such as syringes, medicine, etc.

Respect
The locals often eat with their hands. If you are eating with them, and using your hands as well, eat with your right hand. The left is generally used for lavatory purposes, and therefore it is rude or unappealing to them if you eat with your left hand.

title: Central African Republic


text:
Central Alberta

Central Alberta is part of Alberta, located between the cities of Calgary and Edmonton. The eastern portion is largely agricultural, while the western portion is part of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Regions
Central Alberta stretches across the middle of Alberta from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to the prairies in the east.

Cities

 * — largest city in Central Alberta with over 100,000 inhabitants, midway between Calgary and Edmonton
 * — a college town with Norwegian heritage and about 18,000 people
 * — main town on the Yellowhead Highway between Edmonton and Jasper with around 8,400 people.
 * — agricultural city of 31,000 that straddles the border with Saskatchewan
 * — this is the eastern gateway to David Thompson Country and also the site of a reconstructed fur trading post
 * — small, emerging resort town of 2,700 located in the Rocky Mountain foothills
 * — a lakeside resort town with a provincial park, a marina, a boardwalk lined with shops, and around 15,000 inhabitants
 * — agricultural town of 5,700, home to the world's largest pysanka (Ukrainian Easter egg) and jumping off point to Kalyna Country
 * — population of 13,000 inhabitants is home to a major museum of transportation and industry, the Reynolds-Alberta Museum.

Other destinations

 * – Alberta's Ukrainian ethnic enclave which includes many small farming villages
 * − popular recreational lake south of Edmonton

Understand
Central Alberta is made up of small towns and rural landscapes stretching from prairie plateaus in the east to foothills in the west. It is primarily agricultural in the east and forested in the west as it transitions to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Central Alberta includes:

 * Foothills: Traditional ranching country and with forested area increasing to the north. Many of the roads through this area were placed on older established foot or horse paths, such as the historic Cowboy Trail (Hwy 22), one of Alberta's most scenic roads.
 * Parkland: Alberta's boreal and aspen parkland run in north-south strips across the province. Parkland is mainly rolling green hills, pastures, and large sections of mixed forest. A fertile area consists of agricultural areas with small groves of trees. The low coulees and high plateaus have been reforested by area ranchers and farmers.
 * Prairies: Rural farms, small and medium towns lay along or near Alberta's busiest highway corridor between the cities of Calgary (south) and Edmonton (north) The prairie towns grew up in the late 1800s around stations of the Calgary-Edmonton Railway. The first residents came as homesteaders and opened businesses around the stations to cash in on travellers passing through. The railway still runs through the centre of each town and is surrounded entirely by ranches and farms, raising flowers, grains, buffalo, elk, sheep, horses, cattle, and chickens.

By plane
International flights are available to the Calgary and Edmonton airports, which are on the north and south ends of their respective cities. Red Deer has a regional airport with connections to Calgary.

By train

 * The Canadian (between Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia) two to three times per week.

By car
The spine of Central Alberta is Highway 2, which connects Calgary and Edmonton. Highway 22 (Cowboy Trail) runs along the eastern edge of the foothills and continues into the ranch lands of Southern Alberta.

Highway 11 (David Thompson Highway) connects Central Alberta to Banff National Park and the Icefields Parkway.

Highways 12 and 13 connect to Saskatchewan.

Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) travels eastbound from Prince George, British Columbia via Jasper, Alberta, and westbound from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan via Lloydminster.

By bus

 * Routes operating in Central Alberta:
 * Between Calgary and Edmonton including stops in Airdrie and Red Deer. Travel time to Edmonton from Calgary is 4 hours and from Red Deer is 1.75 hours. Operates several days per week.
 * Between Jasper and Edmonton including stops in Hinton and Edson. Travel time to Edmonton from Jasper is 4 hours. Route temporarily suspended.
 * Between Lloydminster and Edmonton including stops in Vermilion and Vegreville. Travel time to Edmonton from Lloydminster is 2.75 hours. Route temporarily suspended
 * Route operating in Central Alberta:
 * Between Calgary and Edmonton including a stop in Red Deer. Travel time to Edmonton from Calgary is 4.75 hours and from Red Deer 2.25 is hours. Operates twice daily.
 * Route operating in Central Alberta:
 * Between Calgary and Edmonton including a stop in Red Deer. Travel time to Edmonton from Calgary is 3.25-4 hours and from Red Deer is 1.75 hours. Operates multiple times daily.
 * Routes operating in Central Alberta:
 * Between Calgary and Edmonton with a stop in Red Deer.
 * Between Regina and Edmonton with stops including in Vegreville, Vermilion, Lloydminster, North Battleford, Saskatoon, and Davidson.

Get around
Aside from the corridors from Edmonton through Red Deer to Calgary, and Edmonton through Vegreville to Lloydminster, you'll find little by way of public transportation. You'll need a car or a bike to get around.

See
The scenery is really the thing to see: the views of the Rocky Mountains are the highlight.

The Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site contains the remains of several early 19th-century fur trade forts.

Herds of wild horses inhabit the fields and slopes of the lower Rocky Mountains. You can also see them at a rescue facility west of Sundre. Kalyna Country is a living museum of Austrian, Polish, Romanian, and especially Ukrainian settlement and immigration. The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village 50 km east of Edmonton on Highway 16 has over 30 historic buildings. The Vegreville Pysanka, constructed of thousands of aluminium pieces, is a 9-m-tall Ukrainian Easter egg.

Do
Go camping in one of the many provincial parks. Take a guided horse-back tour of Rocky Mountain Foothills near Nordegg. Visit one of many small-town museums for some local history. Float or paddle one of several main rivers (Pembina River Provincial Park and Red Lodge Provincial Park are especially popular for this). Go mountain biking at Baseline Mountain near Rocky Mountain House or Willmore Park near Edson. Or in winter try cross-country skiing at Hornbeck Forest Recreation Area near Edson. Watch a hockey game in Red Deer at the Westerner Park Centrium.

Eat
This is beef ranching country, try the steak!

Drink
Craft beer.

Stay safe
Wear bright orange whenever out in the wilderness in the autumn, as this is hunting season. This way you won't be mistaken for a deer.

title: Central Alberta


text:
Central Algeria

Central Algeria is the metropolitan area surrounding Algiers, the capital of Algeria, on the Mediterranean coast.

Cities
The most notable cities in Central Algeria:

 * (Arabic: الجزائر) – the capital city and the main starting point for all travel in Algeria.
 * (Arabic: بجاية) – a Meditteranean port city with a large ethnic Berber population
 * (Arabic: البليدة) – a picturesque, lush, vibrant city
 * (Arabic: البويرة) – a charming city that beckons travelers seeking a tranquil escape to nature

Other destinations

 * - UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its Byzantine, Roman and Phoenician ruins.

Understand
Central Algeria, "الجزائر العاصمة" in Arabic, is one of the most visited regions in Algeria, and it's densely populated.

See

 * The public garden "حديقة التجارب" is worth visiting, it's located in Mohamed Belouizdad street in Hamma.

Eat

 * Try the local pancakes, "زلابية" it's pronounced "zalabia".
 * Also try the traditional food "chakh-choukha".
 * Don't forget to try "Garantita", "Karantika" in some places.

title: Central Algeria


text:
Central America

Central America is the thin section of land that links the North American continent with the South American continent. Geographically part of North America, it is made up of seven small, mostly tropical countries that have much more in common with South America and Mexico than the more affluent north. Mexico is sometimes incorrectly considered part of Central America due to the language and indigenous/Hispanic cultural heritage it shares with several of the countries in the region. The northern geographic border of Central America is often considered to be the isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico whereas the southern border is considered to be the Darien Gap between Colombia or Panama. Culturally, Central America is sometimes considered to consist only of the 5 countries that simultaneously gained independence on September 15, 1821, thus excluding Panama (then part of Colombia) and Belize (former British colony).

Cities

 * — the former capital and still the most important city in Belize
 * — Guatemala's capital with antique churches providing it with a very special historic and architectural touch
 * — the capital of Nicaragua can seem at times bland and unappealing, after a 1972 earthquake destroyed most of the historic center, but a vibrant nightlife and cosmopolitan culture might just convince you to stay
 * — a very cosmopolitan city that boasts the only metro on the isthmus as well as visible wealth related to the canal
 * — offers visitors history museums, parks, restaurants and just a few historical and colonial sights. However, the city has a vibrant cultural scene with farmers markets, cafés, restaurants and live music bars, also, most cultural festivals happen around the city and it is the transportation hub for the rest of the country
 * — one of the most popular entry points to the region yet few visitors spend more time than necessary here
 * — next to the eponymous volcano, the capital of El Salvador has comparatively little to offer tourists, but is a traffic hub and a business destination
 * — the sprawling Honduran capital with well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture

Other destinations

 * — a shared between Costa Rica and Panama
 * — Costa Rica
 * — the site of the Jurassic Park movies
 * — a marine paradise in Panama
 * — Mayan ruins in Honduras
 * — a national park in Costa Rica
 * — an island in Lake Cocibolca (aka Lake Nicaragua) made up of two volcanoes, one dormant the other not so much; offers breathtaking views and nature.
 * — a famous Mayan city-state in northern Guatemala, a
 * — a famous Mayan city-state in northern Guatemala, a

Itineraries

 * this inter-oceanic voyage through southern Nicaragua once was part of the fastest way from the East Coast of the U.S. to California

Understand
Five countries (Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala) formed the United Provinces of Central-America in the first half of the 19th century, a first short-lived attempt at the elusive dream of a unified Central America. They still have a lot in common, and consider each other pueblos hermanos (brother peoples). The CA4-agreement in theory allows free movement for everyone, including tourists, between El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala in a similar vein to the European Schengen agreement.

Since about the 1850s Central America has been seen as the "backyard" of the United States. American influence in the region has ranged from corporate interests (United Fruit), private "filibuster" expeditions seizing government control, and interventions such as the toppling of the Guatemalan government in the 1950s, the Iran Contra Affair in the 1980s, and several interventions in Nicaragua in the 1930s. The most famous filibuster was William Walker, who, at the head of a 250-man private army, declared himself president of Nicaragua and launched an invasion of Costa Rica in the 1850s. He was shot by firing squad in Honduras on his third attempt to unite Central America under his rule. Panama's very existence is often ascribed to U.S. influence. Panama was part of Colombia, the government of which refused to grant the U.S. the rights to build a canal. The U.S. signed a treaty with the fledgling state of Panama, effectively supporting its independence. During the Cold War, overt and covert U.S. influence reached an infamous peak as a guerrilla war was fought in Nicaragua (left-wing government vs. CIA-backed rebels) and El Salvador (right-wing military government vs. Cuban/Soviet/Nicaraguan-backed rebels), and various administrations backed the less-than-democratic right-wing regimes in Guatemala. In Panama, the unelected strongman Manuel Noriega established a U.S.-backed regime that was heavily involved in the drug trade. He was removed from power in the late 1980s after falling out of U.S. favor in Operation "Just Cause" (the "just cause" being the removal of a regime involved in the drug trade). Notably different was the development in Costa Rica where, after a short civil war, its president abolished the army in 1948, and the country has enjoyed a relatively stable, peaceful democracy with free and fair elections ever since. Panama followed Costa Rica's example, and abolished its military after the ousting of Noriega. The country has enjoyed several peaceful transfers of power since. Belize, on the other hand, managed to stay out of trouble by continuing to be a British colony until 1980 (as British Honduras). After a peaceful transition, independent Belize was never important enough for Cold War proxy fighting.

This dark political and social situation changed with the end of the Cold War and after the signing of peace agreements at the beginning of the 1990s. However a constitutional crisis in Honduras in 2009 raised fears of unstable or delegitimized governments returning to the region when the president was unseated by the constitutional court and the military, and forced to leave the country. As of 2017 these fears have proven groundless, although in 2015 the Guatemalan government stepped down in the course of a corruption scandal, and the 2016 Nicaraguan general elections were partially boycotted by the opposition amidst allegations of fraud. While the political situation is well shy of perfect uncorrupted democracies, political developments are unlikely to in any way negatively affect travellers.

Now the region is living a process of change and reforms that will hopefully allow travelers to discover an interesting and relatively cheap travel destination. Generally, the people of Central America are kind and warm, and welcoming to foreigners. There is a diversity of culture from one end of Central America to the other, and indigenous culture plays an important role in the region, especially in Guatemala, Caribbean Nicaragua and Honduras.

The Caribbean side experienced more British than Spanish influence: parts of the east coast of Nicaragua and Honduras formed a de facto British protectorate and Belize was a colony. This is still notable in the culture, language and (sadly) lacking infrastructure in parts of the region.

The region has a number of indigenous groups. Countries in the northern part of Central America (especially Guatemala and Belize) have a large number of Maya communities with several of the largest, most important archaeological sites of the Mayan world. Countries in the southern part of Central America have indigenous groups who are part of Indigenous cultures of South America.

The region is also a very popular destination for retiring abroad, and several governments in the region offer special long-term visas specifically for retirees.

Talk
Due to the extensive Spanish colonial presence in the region, American dialects of Spanish are the primary language, especially of the government and in the cities. (English is the official language of Belize, a former UK colony, but you will still find yourself speaking a lot of Spanish in the country.) Native languages are still spoken in many rural areas. English is co-official in Nicaragua's Caribbean coast, along with indigenous languages. English-speaking people can be found on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama. The English spoken at the Caribbean coast of these countries is heavily Creole (if you are unfamiliar think Jamaican Patois for a rough approximation of what to expect) and sometimes hard or even impossible to understand for those unaccustomed to it. The most widely spoken indigenous language is Miskito, a language spoken mostly on the Caribbean coasts of Honduras and Nicaragua. Several Maya languages are spoken in the North of Central America and the South of Mexico, sometimes even by people who work in the tourism sector (though they invariably speak Spanish and often other languages as well).

Get in
People from industrialized countries should have no problem in crossing borders and might expect a border fee from around US$2–20 depending on country. When crossing the border, no one will flag you down to get your stamp. You will need to find the immigration office on your own and get your stamp.

A visa ahead of time is usually not required.

Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala are parties to the CA4 (Central America 4) border agreement, that similarly to the European Schengen agreement allows visa-free travel between the countries. Once you have entered any of those four countries, visa- and fee-free travel to any of the other three should not be a problem (but there are reports of border officials collecting mysterious "fees", regardless).

By plane
By far the most popular entry points to the region are  and   (which is in Alajuela). Both of these airports have a great number of flights from Europe, North America, South America and connections to other airports in the region. Even if there is a direct flight to another Central American airport available, connecting through SJO or PTY can often work out cheaper. To leave the airport in Panama you must have proof of yellow fever vaccination.

There are other airports with domestic connections and international connections only from other parts of Central America, USA or Mexico in:
 * in Ladyville 16 km north/northwest of Belize City.
 * serves as a hub for Avianca El Salvador and Volaris El Salvador, 42 km south of San Salvador in San Luis Talpa. There are onward connections to North America, South America and Central America from San Salvador with Avianca, Volaris and their affiliates.
 * in Guatemala City
 * in Liberia CR
 * in Managua
 * in San Pedro Sula
 * in Tegucigalpa

The majority of international flights to Central America are from the United States and Mexico, but comparatively fewer from Europe and other continents. Therefore, travelers may find better airfare deals traveling through the United States than through Panama. The following are airports that serve as de facto hubs in the USA and Mexico for travel to Central America:
 * is the closest airport to the Central America with flight connections from Canada, Cuba, Europe and the USA. From here travelers can continue to the Belizean border by surface transport via Chetumal or transfer to a flight going to Central America with Volaris, Avianca, Tropic Air (Belize City) or Copa Airlines.
 * and  are the gateway cities to South & Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean from the USA, Canada, Israel, Qatar, Morocco and Europe. Just about every South & Central American airline flies to Miami and/or Ft Lauderdale airports from their respective countries. Miami serves as hub for American Airlines while Fort Lauderdale is a hub for Jetblue and Spirit Airlines with connections to Central America.
 * is the next closest airport to Central America and Mexico with additional connections from East Asia, Australia and Oceania with multiple airlines.
 * is the major airport in Mexico and the second busiest after São Paulo in Latin America with international connections from East Asia (Japan & China); Europe, US, Canada and South America. Aeromexico Connect, Avianca, Copa Airlines, and Volaris offer onward connections to Central America from Mexico City

The caveat for transiting through the U.S. is that all travelers must be able to enter the U.S. on the visa waiver program or hold at least a C-1 transit or B-2 tourist visa to enter the U.S. even to transfer between international flights. See the Avoiding travel through the United States article.

By bus
The following bus company serves the eastern and southeastern regions of Mexico near Belize and Guatemala:

The following are international first class (pullman) buses from Tapachula, Mexico to Central America via Guatemala. Passengers transfer in Guatemala City to continue to other parts of Guatemala and to Honduras and El Salvador. Addresses and phone numbers given are from Guatemala City: There are additional shuttles connecting San Cristobal de las Casas to Antigua Guatemala, Quetzalatenango (Xela) and/or Panajachel through Comitan and Ciudad Cuauhtémoc/La Mesilla along the Panamerican Highway. Tickets for these shuttles can be purchased through local travel agents at either end of the route. There are also Belizean buses leaving from Chetumal to Belize City via Corozal and Orange Walk.

By boat
Many major cruise lines go to Panama, typically transiting through the Panama Canal.

There are no roads leading to Panama from Colombia. See By boat under Get in in the Panama article on ways to cross from Colombia into Panama by sea (surface travel).

There are a few boat services from Mexico to Belize. See the Chetumal article.

By plane
If you have money to burn or you're in a real hurry, both Avianca and Copa Airlines offer point to point connections throughout Central America but are relatively expensive due to the lack of competition.

Mexican airline Volaris offers direct flights between the major airports in the region with additional hubs in San Jose and San Salvador.

There are a number of airlines almost exclusively focused on domestic flights within their prospective countries with one or two international routes to adjacent countries, namely:
 * 🇨🇷 Costa Rica Nature Air (Costa Rica, Bocas del Toro and Managua)
 * 🇵🇦 Panama Air Panama (Panama and San José)
 * 🇨🇷 Costa Rica Skyway Airlines (Bocas del Toro, Panama, and domestic destination is Costa Rica)
 * 🇳🇮 Nicaragua La Costeña (Flies from Managua to Bluefields, Bonanza, Corn Islands, Pto Cabeza, Siuna and Waspan in Nicaragua and to Tegucigalpa in Honduras. There are some point to point routing without going through Managua)
 * 🇭🇳 Honduras CM Airlines (Flies between Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Roatan, and La Ceiba. International flights from San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa to Belize City, Guatemala City & San Salvador)
 * 🇨🇷 Costa Rica SANSA (SANSA flies to 14 destinations in Costa Rica. Its fleet is composed of Cessna Grand Caravan monoengines.)
 * 🇬🇹 Guatemala TAG (Guatemala and adjacent countries of El Salvador, Mexico and Honduras)
 * 🇧🇿 Belize Maya Island Air (Belize, primarily along the coast and islands off the coast)
 * 🇧🇿 Belize Tropic Air (Belize, Cancun, Merida (Mexico), Guatemala City, San Pedro Sula).

These airlines do not necessarily show up in aggregator search engines and they fly to places that are otherwise hard to reach because they're off the coast or in the middle of the jungle with only a dirt road going there. They mostly fly small piston, turboprop or regional jet aircraft.

By boat
A regular boat service exists between Corinto (Nicaragua) and La Union (El Salvador). You can also cross the Nicaraguan/Costa Rican border by boat from San Carlos (Nicaragua) to Los Chiles (Costa Rica). The boat goes through a scenic jungle, but both sides of the crossing are a bit off the beaten path and departures have been reduced due to the opening of the bridge. A boat also connects Eastern Honduras and Belize.

By car
International travel routes are mostly on the Pacific (west) side of Central America. The Panamerican highway (which is the main road in much of the region) basically starts on its journey north in Panama City, crosses on the Pacific side into Costa Rica, passes by San José, crosses again at the Pacific coast into Nicaragua. It's possible to cross the Costa Rican-Panaman border at the Caribbean coast but it takes longer and the border is just open during the day.

Between Costa Rica and Nicaragua there are two official border crossings. The more frequented one is "Peñas Blancas" at the Pacific side and the other one is between Los Chiles and San Carlos as the bridge is now open to regular traffic.

Between Nicaragua and Honduras three border-crossings exist. Honduras and El Salvador share various border-crossings as do Honduras and Guatemala and El Salvador.

Driving rental vehicles across borders is not allowed by most central American car-rental companies and even driving your own car across the border requires some advance planning. The used car markets are tightly controlled in most countries of the area, and you have to prove that you haven't sold your car when you leave and that you don't intend to when you enter. However every year many people do just that, so it is anything but impossible.

By bus
Bus travel is the most common way to travel across Central America without a car. The following are international (first class/pullman) buses serving Central America with reserved comfortable seating and with A/C at full blast which makes them uncomfortably cold inside. They typically serve only the major capital cities of Central America and a few scheduled stops en route. They do not stop at random places to pick up and drop off people. Except for Platinum Centroamerica and Tica Bus, most bus companies do not travel the entire Central American isthmus but only to adjacent countries from home-base and most do not connect Belize with the other countries. They operate on limited schedules (early mornings) from their own terminals or designated stop in the cities they serve. The addresses in below are listed for their home office. Please see a particular city article for their local address and phone number: Other options not listed in the above are shuttles or mini-buses for travelers/tourists. They operate in the Toyota 'HiAce', Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter, or other kinds of vans or in the larger Toyota Coaster mini-bus. The tickets for these are sold through local travel agencies in tourists towns (Antigua, Panajachel, Flores, etc.), or major cities where they pick up and drop off in. Some may have a central pick-up and drop-off location, while others offer door to door pick-up and drop-off at the airport, hotel, hostel or another address on request. Some offer transport across borders, while others terminate at the border where their partner company picks up for the onward journey from the other side.

The most common and popular options are the second-class chicken buses (chicken bus, camionetas, autobuses de parrillas, polleros, mini-bus, microbus) in decommissioned U.S. school buses painted in all sorts of funky colors and patterns. Other second-class buses operate in the Toyota Coaster mini-bus, a smaller Toyota "HiAce" van (referred to as "microbus", "minibus"), a pick-up truck with only standing room on the bed (picop), or some similar type of vehicle that functions the same way as the "chicken bus". Second-class bus routes are more frequent and reach more places for a cheaper fare than first class pullman but they also take considerably longer to travel over longer distances with multiple stops to pick up and drop off people. Chicken buses don't cross international borders but they go to the border crossing station or border town on their side of the border. Travelers would then walk across the border and then continue on another bus from the other side.

By train
The region has long neglected its train lines and no trains cross any international borders. For the most part trains are at best entertainment, but not really faster or cheaper than the bus. The main exceptions to this are found in Panama, where the Panama Canal Railway links Atlantic and Pacific and in Costa Rica where a commitment to expanded train service exists and several lines radiate out of San José with more to come in the future, including a link to the airport just outside Alajuela. Panama City also boasts a metro, which is also undergoing expansion.

See

 * The Cloud Forest of Cusuco National Park in Honduras. A biodiversity hot spot visited by Operation Wallacea scientific expeditions.
 * The Cloud Forests of Panama in Boquete. Many hotels are actually within the cloud forest; or you can take a tour high into the mountains, through the clouds.
 * Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. One of the most beautiful spots on the planet. A volcanic lake with three volcanoes around it.
 * Colonial towns, such as Antigua Guatemala, Quetzaltenango, (Guatemala); Juayua, Suchitoto in El Salvador, Gracias and Comayagua (Honduras), León and Granada in Nicaragua (the oldest colonial city in the Western Hemisphere) or Panama City, San Blas Islands -Casco Viejo- (Panama, where the Panama Canal can be visited as well).
 * Ancient Mayan temples in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The locals will be offended if you call them Mayan ruins.
 * Amazing beaches in Tela, Trujillo, la Ceiba and the Bay Islands (Honduras) the Guanacaste, Puntarenas, and Limón (Costa Rica); Montelimar, San Juan del Sur, Bahia Majagual, La Flor and Pochomil (Nicaragua); Bocas del Toro and El Farallón (Panama).
 * Surfing, especially in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and El Salvador.
 * National Natural Parks, especially in El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua which has the 2nd largest rainforest in the Western Hemisphere, after Brazil.
 * Volcanoes in Guatemala such as those framing the southern shores of Lake Atitlán are considered by some to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Spectacular volcanoes are found along the entire Pacific side of Central America and some are popular tourist attractions in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
 * Semuc Champey and the Lanquin caves in the Alta Verapaz District of Guatemala are unmissable.

All these make this region a great yet undiscovered and affordable treasure which is worth visiting.

Do
Someone once quipped you can do anything but skiing in this part of the world, but thanks to volcano boarding this is not entirely true any more!

Buy
Just about every country in Central America accepts the U.S. dollar. Other currencies are difficult to exchange. You can exchange Mexican pesos at the Belizean or Guatemalan border but that is about it. The U.S. dollar is the official currency of El Salvador and Panama. You can buy pretty much anything or any service in U.S. dollars, but it is often cheaper to use local currency. Currencies like the Nicaraguan córdoba or the Honduran lempira are usually subject to high inflation, so only get what you need (the Cordoba for example loses about 5% of its value every year compared to the U.S. dollar). Nearly all banks change money from U.S. dollar to the local currency and a passport is usually required to do this. Beyond border towns, currencies from other countries are always useless, so change money with official money changers at borders or change local currency to U.S. dollars.

If bringing U.S. cash to Central America, make sure that the bills are new, clean and not torn or it may not be exchanged. Many stores that generally accept U.S. dollars do not accept $100 bills for fear of counterfeiting, banks however will accept them. $2 bills are considered lucky so bring some for tips. Banks in Belize do not exchange the Guatemalan quetzal; they must be changed at the border or at some travel agents and tour operators.

Euros are becoming more and more accepted, but the exchange rate you get for them is always worse than for U.S. dollars. The same goes for other currencies if they are accepted at all. It is better to buy U.S. dollars in your home country and then exchange them for Central American currency on arrival to Central America. Central American currencies are not exchangeable outside of the region.

ATMs can be found in banks and in major towns but in the countryside it is often hard to find working ATMs. Most ATMs dispense the local currency and U.S. dollars.

In Central America, you can often find cheap buys from gifts to personal necessities. Almost everything can be bargained for except for upscale department stores. Tourists will usually pay a higher price so this is where your haggling skills will be useful. More often than not speaking the local language (usually Spanish) may get you a small reduction in price or at least more sympathy when haggling.

Eat
Central American cuisine has influences from local indigenous cultures, as well as the Mexican cuisine, South America, and the Caribbean.

Guatemala is the country of tamales, there are regular tamales made out of corn "masa" with either meat, chicken, turkey or pork filling and tomato, and sometimes "chile". "Black tamales" are similar to the former ones but are sweet, "paches" are tamales made out of potatoes, "tamales de cambray" are small sweet "masa" balls", tamales de "chipilin", and many others; rellenitos (sweet fried bean-stuffed banana bonbons) are a tasty dessert sold on street-corners. Black beans are the main staple after corn of course. There is a variety of soups ("caldos"). Guatemalan cuisine is a mixture of Mayan and Spanish dishes.

Gallo pinto is a mixture of rice and beans with a little cilantro or onion thrown in, it is the national dish of Nicaragua and Costa Rica? This mixture is called Casamiento ("marriage") in El Salvador and Guatemala. And on the Caribbean side of Nicaragua and Honduras it is made with coconut milk. While one might presume that rice and beans are the same anywhere there are subtle differences that locals will tell you about and a traveler spending some time in the region will notice Costa Rica uses another type of beans than Nicaragua, for example.

On the Caribbean side of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras coconut milk is the not-so-secret ingredient in almost everything. Try coconut bread, Gallo Pinto with coconut or fish in coconut sauce. Seafood is also worth a try and often remarkably cheap for international standards (US$8 lobster, anybody?).

Pupusas and "chicharron con yuca" (pork skin & yucca) are very popular dishes originated in El Salvador.

Nacatamales, which are big tamales containing pork, potato, rice, chile, tomato, and masa is steamed in platano leaves, they originate from Nicaragua and can be bought in the colonial city of Granada.

Oven tamales, wrapped with platano leaves, are very good in Costa Rica.

Grilled octopus is a very tasty dish in Panama.

The fresh fruit is delicious but avoid fruit that you don't peel before you eat because if you are not used to Central America's food standards you may become ill. Generally follow the peel it, wash it, cook it or reject it rule when it comes to food to greatly reduce the risk of travellers' diarrhea.

Drink
Horchata is a drink made out of rice and it is of Spanish origin. It is drunk in most Latin American countries. A popular drink in most Central American countries is "Rosa/Flor de Jamaica" (Hibiscus sabdariffa). "Tamarindo" also makes a very popular drink

Piña Colada, a drink made from pineapple juice, coconut cream, crushed ice and rum, is drunk all around the Atlantic islands.

There are two major rum producers in Guatemala, distilling some of the best rums of the region, Ron Zacapa Centenario (aged to 12 and 23 years) and Ron Botran añejo (25 years). In Nicaragua there is Flor de Caña, rated one of the best rums in Latin America and also commonly exported to countries such as Costa Rica. It is made in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua. Trips can also be made to visit the Flor de Caña factory.

Costa Rica's domestic guaro the widely available Cacique is not bad, but notably not as good as the rum offered by its northern neighbors. This is however offset somewhat by various international liquors (including Flor de Caña) being widely available in supermarkets and bars, though at a notably higher price than domestic fare.

None of these countries is a traditional beer nation as the low temperatures needed for proper beer-production were unobtainable in the region prior to the invention of artificial refrigeration in the late 19th century. Notable brands include Imperial (Costa Rica) Brahva, Victoria and Toña (both Nicaragua; produced by the company behind Flor de Caña rum).

Stay safe
This area is home to some scarily high murder rates, particularly in the northern part. In 2017, Honduras had 41.7 intentional homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, El Salvador had 61.8 and Belize had 37.9. Things are better in the southern part of the region with Costa Rica at 12.3, Nicaragua at 7.4 (2016) and Panama at 9.7 (2017). This is higher than the U.S. murder rate of 5.3 per 100,000 (2017) and dramatically higher than the UK (1.2) and Europe, where murder rates below 1 per 100,000 are common.

However, those scary figures do not tell the whole story. Yes, the region has an endemic problem with gang violence and domestic violence, but the vast majority of all violent crime happens in areas few tourists would ever wander and both victim and perpetrator are usually locals and either personally known to one another or involved in drug enterprises. It is never smart to offer any resistance when being mugged and you should exercise caution in the big cities, especially at night. Taxi crimes are a problem, so only take licensed taxis and if possible text the license plate number to a trusted friend when getting in. As the murder rate is seen as a national embarrassment and a deterrent to tourism (Nicaragua even has a placard at Managua airport informing how safe it is compared to other countries in the region), a "super hard hand" policy is sometimes enforced. This mostly shows in heavily armed police/military even at tourism sites. Don't worry, police are there to help, not harm tourists and any area patrolled by tourism police is safe enough.

Various underdeveloped rural areas (e.g. the Nicaraguan east) are a major area of operation for various drug-related enterprises (mostly cocaine-trafficking) influencing the security situation, especially if you choose to consume or buy/sell (not advisable at all, not least because of the harsh prison sentences that face even first time offenders). It's best to avoid the issue and the topic altogether while in the region.

Crossing into South America overland might seem like a good idea when you look at a world map, however, it's not. The border to Colombia in Panama's Darien province is surrounded by a dangerous wilderness and the only break in the Pan-American Highway. Known as the Darien Gap, this is the playground of ruthless drug smugglers and militias who will be happy to kidnap or kill you. Unless you're a movie Predator, stay away.

Driving can be another scary experience, especially if you watch TV news that have a weird fascination with the latest accidents in the capital and you're advised to avoid driving at night, in big cities or on dirt roads. Some roads are cut into dramatic scenery with very little to protect you from the abyss to one or either side. Renting a car with a driver is usually not that much more expensive than renting a car by itself and it helps navigate the confusing layout of cities like Managua that have undergone wild and unregulated growth leaving them with neither a logical street grid nor even street names and navigation by landmarks (some of which don't exist anymore), gut feeling and what appears to be earth's magnetic field.

Stay healthy

 * Toilets are not always as readily available as what you may be used to in your own country, so take advantage of places where they are such as museums and restaurants. In many cases toilet paper will not be provided so it is best not to be caught short and carry your own. Water to wash hands is not always available so carrying antiseptic hand gel is a good idea. Trash cans are provided in all toilets for the disposal of toilet paper because the sewage systems in Central America cannot cope with it.
 * Mosquitoes are quite common even in the dry season and bug spray is often hard to come by. Bring a spray high in DEET. To be extra safe, bring a bug net to sleep under.
 * Malaria pills are a good idea but often expensive. That being said, the Malaria strains in this part of the world are notably less dangerous than those in Africa or many parts of Asia, as they have less resistances. For 90% of travellers taking standby medication is not advisable, but if you are insecure ask a tropical-medicine specialist before you head out. Remember to mention your travel to the region to your doctor if you have fever or other symptoms, as Malaria parasites can remain dormant for up to a year and cause people to fall ill months after infection.
 * Dengue is another concern. It is transmitted by mostly day-active mosquitoes and causes a high fever for about ten days the first time you get it. There is no known treatment or vaccination besides anti-fever medication, but a first time infection is usually not problematic as long as you stay hydrated and the fever is kept under control. However if you have already been infected by one strain, being reinfected by another strain of Dengue-fever may cause it to become a hemorrhagic fever with significantly worse prognosis that is known to be occasionally fatal.
 * Dogs are plentiful and not entirely rabies-free, so it is a good idea to get vaccinated, as rabies is one of the deadliest diseases and an anti-rabies shot after being bitten is usually effective when administered in time, but that is not always possible. Don't take chances when bitten by a dog go to the next hospital and get an emergency rabies vaccination and antibodies.
 * Water is another concern as tap water is often full of microbes your body is not accustomed to. If you want to avoid "Montezuma's revenge" stay away from tap water and ice cubes (almost certainly made from tap water). "Agua purificada" means purified water and it's usually advertised when the drinks and/or ice cubes are made with it, but it never hurts to ask. "Sin hielo" means "without ice" and it pays to say it more than once, as many vendors of open beverages seem to put ice in by default.

title: Central America