Central America is home to many secret treasures for tourists who like to avoid the crowds,2 including numerous ancient Maya settlements.
The seven countries of Central America--Guatemala, Panama, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica--are full of natural beauty and cultural treasures. Many of the region's nature reserves, ancient Maya settlements and colonial cities have been declared world cultural heritage sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Grganizatian.3
There are lots of volcanoes and an exotic animal kingdom to explore, yet few people outside the region know of them. The view into the crater of the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua is a breathtaking experience, enlivened by the accompanying strong smell of sulphur and the loud screaming of parrots. 4 Yet the car park on the edge of the crater is nearly empty. This is a boon for daring travelers who can enjoy all the beauty without having to share it with hordes of others visitors.5
El Salvador has a “road of flowers,” and Nicaragua has a “road of white villages” connecting villages from the colonial period.6 Honduras is developing a means of connecting the native American communities in the Atlantic coast.
Geological enthusiasts could also follow a volcanic trail through Central America.7 There are many volcanoes in just a small area, some with perfectly cane-shaped peaks constantly emitting smoke from their craters. Some of them are partially accessible.8
A bus travels to the edge of the Masaya craters in Nicaragua, an active volcano just 500 meters high. For safety reasons, every traveler should get local information from the local tourism authority before climbing a volcano.
The Arenal Volcano in northern Costal Rica terrified local inhabitants and tourists in August 2000 when it spouted hot gas and ash.
Individual travelers can easily find travel information. The long distance buses that connect all the countries in the region are very comfortable with air conditioning and TV.
And if you travel through the villages in small, local rundown buses, you will swiftly come into close Contact with local inhabitants and their animals. You are just as likely to have a hen thrust into your lap as a small child. 9
远离人群——去玛雅
中美洲蕴藏着大量的秘密宝藏，包括众多的古代玛雅遗址，等待着那些喜欢远离人群的旅行者去发现。
中美洲的七个国家—危地马拉、巴拿马、伯利兹、洪都拉斯、萨尔瓦多、尼加拉瓜和哥斯达黎加—遍布自然美景和文化宝藏。本地区有许多自然保护区、古玛雅人遗址和殖民时期的城市已经被联合国教科文组织列入世界文化遗产。
那里有太多的火山和珍禽异兽有待探寻，可是它们却鲜为外人所知。例如，尼加拉瓜的玛莎雅火山口的奇观令人屏息，喷发出来的强烈硫磺气味和引起的鹦鹉的尖叫声又叫人惊叹不已。然而此时火山口附近的停车场却几乎空无一人。这是给勇敢者的一种奖赏，他们可以尽情独享这一切，而不必同比肩接踵的其它游客分享美景。
萨尔瓦多有一条“鲜花之路”，尼加拉瓜则有一条“白色村庄之路”，连接殖民时期留下来的各个村庄。洪都拉斯也正在开发一条通道，把大西洋沿岸的美洲土著人社区连接起来。
地质爱好者也可以沿着连接各座火山的小道穿越中美洲。中美洲地域不大，但是火山众多。有些火山呈完美的圆锥形，山口终年喷着烟雾。有些火山因烟灰浓烈而难窥全貌。
旅游汽车可以到达高度仅500米的尼加拉瓜玛莎雅活火山口的边缘。出于安全原因，每个旅游者登山前必须先到当地旅游局了解有关信息。
200年8月，哥斯达黎加北部的阿雷纳尔火山突然喷出滚烫的气体和火山灰，令当地居民和游客碎不及防，魂飞魄散。
旅游散客也很容易获取有关旅游资料。配有空调和电视的长途客车连接着本地区的所有国家，是非常舒适的交通工具。
要是你搭乘的是当地破旧的小客车，你很快就可以与当地居民和动物亲密接触。随时会有一只母鸡像小孩一样撞到你的怀里。
The seven countries of Central America--Guatemala, Panama, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica--are full of natural beauty and cultural treasures. Many of the region's nature reserves, ancient Maya settlements and colonial cities have been declared world cultural heritage sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Grganizatian.3
There are lots of volcanoes and an exotic animal kingdom to explore, yet few people outside the region know of them. The view into the crater of the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua is a breathtaking experience, enlivened by the accompanying strong smell of sulphur and the loud screaming of parrots. 4 Yet the car park on the edge of the crater is nearly empty. This is a boon for daring travelers who can enjoy all the beauty without having to share it with hordes of others visitors.5
El Salvador has a “road of flowers,” and Nicaragua has a “road of white villages” connecting villages from the colonial period.6 Honduras is developing a means of connecting the native American communities in the Atlantic coast.
Geological enthusiasts could also follow a volcanic trail through Central America.7 There are many volcanoes in just a small area, some with perfectly cane-shaped peaks constantly emitting smoke from their craters. Some of them are partially accessible.8
A bus travels to the edge of the Masaya craters in Nicaragua, an active volcano just 500 meters high. For safety reasons, every traveler should get local information from the local tourism authority before climbing a volcano.
The Arenal Volcano in northern Costal Rica terrified local inhabitants and tourists in August 2000 when it spouted hot gas and ash.
Individual travelers can easily find travel information. The long distance buses that connect all the countries in the region are very comfortable with air conditioning and TV.
And if you travel through the villages in small, local rundown buses, you will swiftly come into close Contact with local inhabitants and their animals. You are just as likely to have a hen thrust into your lap as a small child. 9
远离人群——去玛雅
中美洲蕴藏着大量的秘密宝藏，包括众多的古代玛雅遗址，等待着那些喜欢远离人群的旅行者去发现。
中美洲的七个国家—危地马拉、巴拿马、伯利兹、洪都拉斯、萨尔瓦多、尼加拉瓜和哥斯达黎加—遍布自然美景和文化宝藏。本地区有许多自然保护区、古玛雅人遗址和殖民时期的城市已经被联合国教科文组织列入世界文化遗产。
那里有太多的火山和珍禽异兽有待探寻，可是它们却鲜为外人所知。例如，尼加拉瓜的玛莎雅火山口的奇观令人屏息，喷发出来的强烈硫磺气味和引起的鹦鹉的尖叫声又叫人惊叹不已。然而此时火山口附近的停车场却几乎空无一人。这是给勇敢者的一种奖赏，他们可以尽情独享这一切，而不必同比肩接踵的其它游客分享美景。
萨尔瓦多有一条“鲜花之路”，尼加拉瓜则有一条“白色村庄之路”，连接殖民时期留下来的各个村庄。洪都拉斯也正在开发一条通道，把大西洋沿岸的美洲土著人社区连接起来。
地质爱好者也可以沿着连接各座火山的小道穿越中美洲。中美洲地域不大，但是火山众多。有些火山呈完美的圆锥形，山口终年喷着烟雾。有些火山因烟灰浓烈而难窥全貌。
旅游汽车可以到达高度仅500米的尼加拉瓜玛莎雅活火山口的边缘。出于安全原因，每个旅游者登山前必须先到当地旅游局了解有关信息。
200年8月，哥斯达黎加北部的阿雷纳尔火山突然喷出滚烫的气体和火山灰，令当地居民和游客碎不及防，魂飞魄散。
旅游散客也很容易获取有关旅游资料。配有空调和电视的长途客车连接着本地区的所有国家，是非常舒适的交通工具。
要是你搭乘的是当地破旧的小客车，你很快就可以与当地居民和动物亲密接触。随时会有一只母鸡像小孩一样撞到你的怀里。
