Honduras is Mayan country, El Salvador scores with picturesque volcanic landscapes and in Nicaragua you can find wonderful colonial art, e.g. in the magnificent Granada.

Three small countries that together form a kaleidoscope of Central America, rich flora and fauna, archaeological treasures, such as the Mayan site of Copán in Honduras, and the special flair of the Caribbean coast, home of the Garífunas, descendants of indigenous ethnic groups and slaves imported from Africa, and the Bay Islands - a paradise for divers. In the jungle you can find tapir, jaguar, capuchin monkey and macaw.

In Nicaragua a trip to the volcano Masaya and the place of the same name - centre for culture and handicraft -, or to the island Ometepe in the Nicaragua lake, third largest lake of Latin America and in the center of the current channel construction project is worthwhile.

El Salvador has many archaeological sites worth visiting, including the sunken Joya de Cerén, Tazumal and San Andrés.

 

TRAVEL TIPS

Culture:

In Nicaragua: Cathedral and ruins of León (UNESCO World Heritage), Granada; in Honduras Copán (UNESCO World Heritage) and in El Salvador the Mayan village of Joya de Cerén (UNESCO World Heritage).

Nature:

Lago Nicaragua, Bosawas Biosphere Reserve in Nicaragua; Rio Plátano Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO World Heritage) in Honduras and the Rio Lempa, the longest river in Central America that flows into the sea in El Salvador.

Sports:

Trekking, Rafting, Diving, Horse Riding

Festivals:

Palo de Mayo in Bluefields (May) in Nicaragua, Festival of the Virgin of Supaya near Tegucigalpa (Honduras), Festival El Salvador del Mundo in San Salvador (1. - 05.8.) El Salvador

Reading:

"Inhabited Woman" by Gioconda Belli, "Central American Cooking" by Margrit Liepe and Héctor Ernesto Mairena

Culinary:

The meals in all three countries are based on corn, beans and rice. Specialities in Honduras are "Baleadas" tortillas stuffed with meat, cheese and beans, in El Salvador they are the "Pupusas", small corn flour flat cakes stuffed with cheese. Fish and seafood are popular in all three countries.

Tip:

Nicaragua's most beautiful colonial city Granada with the bright blue church San Francisco or the mysterious sculptures in the "Museo Antiguo Convento de San Francisco". Granada is also the starting point for excursions into the untouched cloud forest around the volcano Mombacho and to the Gran Lago.

DATES AND FACTS

Country and people:

Nicaragua has a population of 6.3 million on 130 700 square kilometres (14% of whom are of indigenous and Afro-Caribbean origin). The capital Managua has 1.7 million inhabitants. Honduras has a population of 9.1 million. Mainly Mestizen/Ladinos on 112.5 thousand qkm, capital is Tegucigalpa with more than 1.25 million inhabitants. El Salvador has on 21 thousand sqkm 6.2 million inhabitants, (predominantly Mestizos), the capital San Salvador has approx. 1.1 million inhabitants.

Currency:

Cordoba Oro (NIO) in Nicaragua; Lempira (HNL) in Honduras; US Dollar (USD) in El Salvador

Language:

Spanish

Entry:

Passport valid for at least 6 months for stays of up to 90 days

Climate and travel time:

Tropical to subtropical climate, cooler in the mountains. Good to travel all year round, best travel time in the dry season from Dec. to March (Nicaragua), Nov. to April (Honduras, El Salvador).td.