• The colonial cities of Central America have been an attraction to Spanish royalty and a many celebrities
  • Central American countries celebrate culture and diversity that mark the Central American rhythm.

The aromas, colors and different landscapes of Central America play with the magical culture of the region, influenced in a large part by the Mayans. Many of their traditions and archeological sites are preserved today which offer tourists multicultural corners filled with history and diversity.

Different tourists constantly visit these colonial cities to get to know these customs and traditions deeply. A clear example is during Holy Week, the cities of Granada, Nicaragua and La Antigua Guatemala had record visits. The departmental authorities of the Pacific detailed that Granada received around 250,000 visitors. La Antigua approximately 696,300 local and foreign tourists visited Guatemala.

Historical scenarios that converge with local art

In Honduras, one of the well-known colonial cities is Comayagua, located in the central region. The museum of Comayagua is known as an icon where the Lenca culture still lives, in it are unique pieces of archeological sites of different periods; besides diverse cultural pieces such as the equipment for the first press in Central America, dating form the year 1928.

The Casa de la Cultura of Comayagua (House of Culture) is also a cultural model to learn about local art, since it acts as an art gallery although its architectural proposal has a model of a traditional house with a courtyard with the objective of being lived in “just like home” by its visitors.

Suchitoto is a Salvadoran colonial city known for its particular cobblestone streets. It was inhabited since the Pre Columbine period. In this place of historical birth there is remarkable nightlife such as the enigmatic Café Bar El Necio, which hosts poetry readings and unique ballad nights, as well as serigraph expos and stages to get a tattoo from well known local artists.

Delight of aromas and nature

Costa Rica has Cartago, a city founded in 1563 by the Spanish conqueror Juan Vázquez de Coronado. This is a preferred destination for coffee lovers, there are tours to learn how coffee is ground and served, accompanied by delicious platters and the opportunity to buy local handicrafts.

The National Park is in this charming city, as well as the Irazú volcano and the Lankester botanical garden, where there are many photo opportunities. The yellow mountain destination is also a preferred spot for nature lovers because each year the mountains turn yellow when a seasonal flower grows.

Spanish royalty and Hollywood stars are captivated by the Central American colors

In Guatemala, the emblematic city of La Antigua Guatemala, has been visited by Queen Sophia six times, during which she has expressed that it is one of the most beautiful cities in Latin America. La Antigua Guatemala has also received many Hollywood stars such as Morgan Freeman, Brenda Strong, Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson and Eva Longoria, attracted because it is a cultural jewel, its architecture influenced by Spanish baroque and its marvelous ruins of colonial churches that offer the perfect backdrop full of syncretism and nature.  

The Festival of Antigua is held in September with an activity-filled program that ranges from conferences by talented people to different sessions to inspire.

Nicaragua has Granada, one of the main cities in the country, also known as The Great Sultan. In this exotic city founded in 1524, visits can be made to places like the Choco Museum, which offers workshops to make chocolate, the Granada Cathedral or the Mombacho volcano. Many world-class poets have visited this city recurrently during the Granada international poetry festival.

Syncretism y must-see legacies

In Costa Rica, the indigenous cultures date to the pre-Columbine or pre- Hispanic period. Among these groups the Térrabas group stand out, who were situated in the Puntarenas province and the Quitirrisí, who were found in the San José province. There are six indigenous languages in the region, which enhances the linguistic panorama of the region.

Guatemala was the main place the old Mayans lived and their social and cultural traditions still prevail in almost the entire region.

The Wounaan, the Emberá and the Guna live in Panama, mostly in the Kuna Yala region where there are different handicrafts and an authentic tropical environment. The Emberá practice special activities in their community and use face make up as a form of celebration and differentiation.

The people of Nicaragua are a result of blend among Europeans, Africans and American indigenous peoples from the pre-Columbine period. Their contribution to the current culture is characterized by native music and traditional dances that enrich the region.

In Central American lands the colonial environments converge in harmony with the contrasts of the ethnic groups in the region, which enriches multi-culture spaces, recreating scenarios filled with syncretism and unique opportunities to travel through historic legacies.