Luxury Hotels in León, Nicaragua
When I visited León, Nicaragua recently, I was fortunate to be hosted at two of León's high-end hotels, Hotel La Perla and Hotel El Convento (pictured at right).
Both León hotels are centrally located in the up-and-coming colonial city, in walking distance of León's most famous attractions. Both feature historic colonial architecture, pleasant courtyards, and friendly service.
Sister Cities in Central America
I love the Sister Cities program. Maintained by Sister Cities International (for the most part), Sister Cities are pairs of international cities with commercial and cultural partnerships. Every country in Central America has Sister Cities; most are linked with cities in the United States, but there are also some pairings in Europe, Asia and South America.
Central America Animal for May: Iguanas
Our Central America animal for May is tripled: three iguanas sunning themselves on a wall in Ambergris Caye, Belize. Iguanas are common all over Central America. The mellow lizards are totally harmless, but can be quite huge!
Central America Border Crossings
Crossing the border between Central America counties can range from a breeze, to a hassle, to a major headache. But, borders are often an inescapable part of Central America travel.
We've compiled a list of all the Central America border crossings, from Belize to Panama and in between. Before crossing any border, make sure your passport is up-to-date, and you have cash in the correct currency to pay any entrance or exit fees.
So 2012 Isn't the End of the World After All?
The oldest known Mayan calendar was recently found in Guatemala, according to Discovery News. And contrary to popular belief, the Mayan calender isn't a countdown ending this December:
"'The Mayan calendar is going to keep going for billions, trillions, octillions of years into the future,' said archaeologist David Stuart of the University of Texas, who worked to decipher the glyphs. "Numbers we can't even wrap our heads around.'"
The calendar was discovered by Boston University researchers in the ancient Maya city of Xultun in northeast Guatemala. While Xultun was first discovered in 1915, researchers claim less than 0.1 percent has been explored.
Photos of Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica is the top destination for travelers on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. However, the beach is still off the radar for many Costa Rican travelers, who still head to Pacific coast beaches in much higher numbers.
Me, though, I prefer the Caribbean. The laid-back, funky vibe and cultural melting pot aspect is reminiscent of Belize and Honduras's Bay islands, while remaining distinctly Costa Rican. Oh, and the sheer beauty also helps...
Central America Photo for May: Strawberry Season!
Boquete, Panama is most famous for its coffee. However, strawberries are another tasty crop the lush valley produces. There are several strawberry cafes, or "fresas cafes", in Boquete that serve everything from strawberry smoothies to chocolate-covered strawberry kabobs to simple strawberries and cream, as pictured in our Central America Photo for May. Yum!
Central America Animal for April: Leafhopper
Even if you're not crazy about insects, you have to appreciate the beauty of this Panamanian leafhopper. His psychedelic colors are all-natural! Photo by Arthur Anker, part of our Panama insects photo galley.
The El Mirador Ruins in Guatemala
Tikal is Guatemala's most famous Mayan archaeological site by far, attracting approximately 200,000 visitors every year. However, did you know El Mirador ruins are three times as large? The ancient city is just as awe-striking as its neighbor, but is much more difficult to access; travelers must either trek 5 days through Guatemala's forests, or visit via helicopter.
Lucky for us, travel writer Andrea Ellickson had the chance to make the trek and share her experiences. Here's her piece on the El Mirador ruins in Guatemala, with photos by Ian Stevenson (including the photo in this post).
Photos of Leon, Nicaragua
Most travelers interested in Nicaragua's colonial history head to Granada. However, León -- Nicaragua's second-largest city, after Managua -- is another option (or better yet, an addition). León is still building its tourist infrastructure, but there are already numerous attractions to interest travelers.
I had a great time in León, the nearby beaches of Las Penitas, and most of all, sandboarding down the Cerro Negro volcano. More about that soon! For now: