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Central America

✨ The jungle bridge between two worlds

Central America is the narrow land bridge that links North America and South America. In the usual geographic definition, it includes seven countries: Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. The Pacific Ocean lies to the west and south, while the Caribbean Sea borders much of the east.

Mexico provides the northern connection with North America, and Panama extends toward South America, with Colombia beyond the Darién region. Although relatively small in area, Central America has very varied landscapes. Mountain ranges and volcanic chains cross much of the region, alongside coastal plains, plateaus, forests, lakes, and other lowlands.

Several active volcanoes occur here because the region lies in a complex zone where tectonic plates interact. The region also contains tropical forests, coral reefs, and habitats for many plant and animal species. Its climate is generally warm, but altitude and seasonal rainfall create strong local differences. Central America has a rich human history as well.

Indigenous peoples have lived there for thousands of years, and Spanish is the main language in most countries, while English is official in Belize. The region has long been a crossroads for trade and migration. The Panama Canal, opened in 1914, is a major transport route linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

💡 Did you know?

Did you know that Central America has a 'staircase for giants'? These are the locks of the Panama Canal. As the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean are not at the same level and you have to cross mountains, the canal uses immense chambers that fill with water to raise or lower the largest ships in the world like in an elevator. It is one of the greatest construction challenges in history!

In Central America, the ancient Mayas built incredible cities at the very top of mountains or in the middle of the jungle. At Tikal, in Guatemala, there are temple-pyramids that rise above the tops of giant trees. The Mayas knew the stars so well that they built their buildings to align perfectly with the Sun on the days the seasons changed!

Do you know what the favorite bird of the Mayas and Aztecs was? It's the quetzal! This small bird from the cloud forest has magnificent blue and green feathers and a tail that can measure a meter long. In its time, its feathers were worth more than gold! The bird was never killed: the quetzal was caught, a few feathers were taken, then it was released so that it could continue to fly.