Central America
& Panama Canal

Although it is technically not on the Caribbean Sea, no other American city exudes more of the diverse tropical appeal of the Caribbean than Miami. From the hot-blooded Art Deco haunts of South Beach to the natural wonders of the UNESCO-inscribed Everglades and the laid-back charms of the Keys, South Florida offers a bounty of appealing attractions that make an extended stay in the region nearly mandatory for those either embarking or disembarking here.

The island of Cozumel lies just a short distance off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Home to impressive Mayan settlements and a haven for pirates it is now one of the more popular destinations in the Caribbean. Today the most popular activities are sky-diving and snorkeling among the colorful reefs surrounding the island. Other activities include the exploration of some recently excavated Mayan ruins, browsing in the many local handicrafts and souvenir shops, or just relaxing at one of the numerous beaches.

As the center and one-time capital of the country, Belize City boasts an array of historic attractions - St. John's Cathedral, the Swing Bridge, Government House Museum and the colorful fruit market, all of which can be seen on a city tour.

Although first mapped by the Spanish in 1527, the history of San Andres includes serial colonization by English, Dutch and Welsh parties during the ensuing centuries. In the 17th Century, the Welsh pirate Henry Morgan used the island as his base of operations, and fortune hunters still seek his legendary treasure. Today travellers enjoy swimming, diving and snorkeling in its warm, clear waters. The island’s flora and fauna are protected by a number of national and regional parks and preserves, and coral reefs and shallow coastal lagoons such as the one dubbed “El Acuario” provide excellent snorkeling and other water sports. At Hoyo Soplador, a system of submarine channels under the coral reef traps Caribbean swells and spews a geyser upward as much as 60 feet through a blowhole vent.

Costa Rica’s Caribbean coastal port gives access to a number of natural attractions. The canopy of the coastal rain forest can be visited by gondolas on aerial cable systems at the Veragua Rain Forest Park, which also offers zip-line adventures, as does the nearby Jungle Breeze park. The mangrove forests of the Tortuguero Canal are an easy way to get close to sloths, monkeys and numerous varieties of birds and reptiles on canal boats. Nearby one can visit one of the area’s banana plantations. Alternatively, it’s possible to head inland to Costa Rica’s cosmopolitan capital, San Jose, just over two hours away by highway through lush highland coffee plantations.

Bocas Town was established on Colon Island in this archipelago by the United Fruit Company in the 1920s as a base for its banana plantations. The picturesque period charm of the town is today exploited by the locals to attract tourists. All of the islands have lovely beaches, mangrove waterways to explore and even several different indigenous populations who make and sell colorful handicrafts. A plentiful variety of wildlife including many species of birds, animals and sea turtles adds to the area’s appeal. Panama shares the nearby Parque Internacional La Amistad (Friendship), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Costa Rica.

The vast reservoir of Gatun Lake holds the water supply that operates the locks systems of the Panama Canal. The dam was the largest ever built at the time, and the 164-square mile lake was also the largest man-made lake on earth. The lake allows for two way traffic through the canal as well as the 53.4 million gallons of water required for each ship’s passage. The source of the freshwater is the Darien rain forest watershed of the isthmus draining into the Chagres River. The lake holds approximately one year’s average rainfall amount.

The town was built as the Caribbean terminus of the Panama Railway and is adjacent to the Caribbean end of the Canal. A trip through the coastal rain forest to the old Spanish fortress of San Lorenzo gives great views of wildlife along the way and the seacoast at the end. Visitors often tour to the Miraflores or Gatun Locks of the canal from here. The Chagres National Park offers visits to the indigenous Embera people, and nearby Portobelo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose church holds an unusual statue of Christ depicted as a black man.

Guatemala’s new Caribbean port on the Gulf of Honduras was developed in 1976 following an earthquake. The interior is rich in cultural interest. Lake Izabal was a Spanish staging area for goods to be shipped from the coast. It was protected from pirate attacks by the fortified, 16th century Castillo de San Felipe. Guatemala is the heartland of the Mayan empire, and nearby Quirigua is an excellent example and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with numerous monuments and, most unusually, a river running right through it. The community of Livingston is a treasury of the unique Garifuna culture that grew out of a blend of African and indigenous Guatemalan people.