Caribbean and Central America Travel

Formerly known as British Honduras, Belize lies in the American mainland, its eastern shores welcoming the waves of the Caribbean sea. Though part of Central America, Belize’s laid back lifestyle reflects more on its Caribbean neighbors.

It was the Amerindians who first inhabited Belize, but it was the Mayans who propelled its civilization. The Mayan skills was put to good use in farming Belize’s land for crops such as corn, chillies, and cocoa. As time pass, so did the Mayan expertise in architecture and stonework. Remains of the Mayan cities are still intact in Belize: ancient cities of Caracol, Lamanai, Lubaantun, Xunantunich, etc.

Similar to the Caribbean islands, it was Christopher Columbus who was the first European to set his sights on Belize, though he never set foot on land. Spanish shipwreck survivors were the first Non-Mayan to arrive in Belize. Of the twenty people who washed up on the shore, most were sacrificed to the Gods by the Mayans or taken as slaves. It was Gonzalo Guerrero, who became the first to defect to the Mayans and married into a noble family. His three children were the first mestizos in Belize.

Europeans were drawn to Belize because of the country’s abundance supply of logwood (a tree whose sap was used to dye clothing), as well as mahogany and other trees. The Spanish Empire, who had control over Belize, gave the British permission to set up logging camps. In time, the British area slowly grew. Spain and Britain eventually went to war over control of the country, with Britain emerging victorious over the Spaniards. Commonly known as the Battle of St. George’s Cayes, this event in history is celebrated in Belize September 10th of every year.

It was in 1840 that Belize was officially named as the Colony of British Honduras. In 1871, they became an official part of the Crown Colony. It wasn’t until 1973 that the name British Honduras was dropped, and the territory officially became known as Belize.

Central America is the name of the region that connect North and South America. It is also sometimes referred to as the “southern end of North America.”

This narrow strip of land separates the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. On its narrowest point, Darien in Panama, the land is only about 30 miles (50 kilometers) wide. It is said that there is no area in Central America that is more than 125 miles from a body of water. Like the Caribbean, Central America also lies on the Caribbean Plate. This region gets its fair share of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The region is mountainous (with majority of its people living in the mountains than in the lowlands), though there are also a stretch of lowland along both coasts. The seven countries in Central America occupies a total land area of 202,265 square miles (523,865 square kilometers).
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Costa Rica, a small country filled with sun, beaches, volcanos, buses, good food and party!

No one will leave Costa Rica feeling they did not have a good time.

Family Vacation in Costa Rica

You will not have any problem visiting Costa Rica even with small children. Costa Rica is a country where most families have more then 1 child. The food is good and the number of tropical diseases found in Costa Rica is no problem.

There are so many beaches where the waves are smaller in size and the hotels and cabins have pools, that choosing a place to have fun is no problem.

Vacations for Couples

A tropical paradise. A couple can go anywhere in the country and enjoy tranquility, serenety as well as the party side of life.

Many hotels and hostels have special romantic deals, tours and packages to make your stay something even more special. If you choose a smaller, more secluded and private place to stay, talk to the owner and explain that you’re a couple looking for some quality time, hand in hand, and they will most often do their best to help you out in any way they can.

Honeymoon in Costa Rica

The same goes for a wedding and/or honeymoon. Religion is important in Costa Rica and you can most likely find a church and priest for a wedding in almost any bigger religion.

And the honeymoon?

You can find special honeymoon packages in most hotels, and resorts. One of the best is a very romantic stay in playa Hermosa where you can go on sunset sailings at night. Or go full out with a moviestar expensive vacation in Four Season Hotel in Guanacaste.

Singles

As in all parts of the world can singles have a good time. Party all night long and let your feet do the talking to the rythm of salsa.

Many bars, nightclubs and places where there are fiestas almost everyday can be found under every rock!

So take a look at Costa Rica for your next vacation, as it will never let you down!

About The Author
Kenth Nasstrom, Learn more about Costa Rica at Http://www.Costa-Rican-Information.com.

The country of Panama holds a unique strategic geographic location, and it has tried its best throughout the ages to exploit this to the full. From the time of the Portobello fairs to the first transisthmian railroad to the present waterway, often considered to be the eighth wonder of the world.

A canal linking the Atlantic with the Pacific oceans had been a dream since the first Spanish colonizations. In fact it was Charles V of Spain who first envisaged a shortcut through the Panamanian jungle to ease the difficult crossing. So in 1524 he ordered a survey of the land. However what inspired the king initially was not so much the possibilities for trade, so much as how to bring back to Spain with least difficulty the hoards of treasure recently discovered in Peru. Unfortunately for him, earth-moving techniques were to need major improvement before his idea could be undertaken.
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Costa Rica remains one of the most popular and visited countries in Central America. Due to its diverse topography, Costa Rica is the perfect destination for groups with varied interests. Wildlife enthusiasts will certainly enjoy Costa Rica’s biodiversity: over four hundred types of birds have been identified to be living in Costa Rica, as well as over a hundred mammals. Adventure travelers can look forward to white water rafting on Costa Rica’s rapids, or hiking in the dense forests and mountains, or marvel at the majestic Mt. Arenal, Costa Rica’s active volcano. Surfers and sun-lovers are given two choices: the Pacific or the Caribbean sea? Whether they head east or west, the coast is lined with powder white sand beaches, with waves suitable for both beginner and professional surfers.

The name Costa Rica comes from Christopher Columbus, who landed in the country in 1502. He was amazed at the gold ornaments worn by the natives, prompting him to call the land costa rica, which is Spanish for “rich coast.” The Spaniards weren’t able to colonize Costa Rica quite so quickly and easily. Due to the country’s thick and lush forest, the invading Europeans were held back for over six decades. When they finally did come into the country, the population of the indigenous Costa Ricans dwindled, due to the diseases carried by the Europeans to which the natives aren’t immune to.

The Spaniards were dismayed: the much anticipated gold repository never materialized. After this disappointment, Costa Rica was left alone, forgotten by the invaders. Things started picking up again in the 18th century, when settlement in various areas flourished. Costa Rica’s economy boomed with the introduction of the coffee. This commodity was as good as gold for the Europeans and other opportunists who seized this moment to build their businesses and empire.

Coffee brought wealth, status, recognition and eventually, independence to the Costa Ricans. When the US troops came in to invade Costa Rica, then President Juan Rafael Mora, a former coffee-grower, was able to unite the Costa Ricans to repel the invading forces. Costa Rica had its fair share of civil wars throughout its history, but in recent years, the country became the model for peace with the abolition of its army. This brings Costa Rica in such contrast with the ongoing unrest in the neighboring Central American countries.