Portal:Central America

The Central America Portal

Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually defined as consisting of seven countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, and also, in specialized contexts, including Mexico. Within Central America is the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot, which extends from southern Mexico to southeastern Panama. Due to the presence of several active geologic faults and the Central America Volcanic Arc, seismic activity in the region, such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, is high, which has caused death, injury, and property damage.

Central America includes portions of two recognized cultural areas: the Isthmo-Colombian cultural area, which encompasses modern Panama, Costa Rica, and the eastern portions of Nicaragua and Honduras, along with regions to the east; and the Mesoamerican cultural area, encompassing Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and the western portions of Honduras and Nicaragua, along with the southern part of Mexico. Before Christopher Columbus's voyages to the Americas, hundreds of indigenous groups lived in these areas. From 1502 onward, Spain began its colonization. From 1609 to 1821, most Central American territories (except for what became Belize and Panama and including the modern Mexican state of Chiapas) were governed by the viceroyalty of New Spain from Mexico City as the Captaincy General of Guatemala. On 24 August 1821, Spanish Viceroy Juan de O'Donojú signed the Treaty of Córdoba, which established New Spain's independence and autonomy from mainland Spain. On 15 September, the Act of Independence of Central America was enacted to announce Central America's separation from the Spanish Empire. Some of New Spain's provinces in the Central American region were invaded and annexed to the First Mexican Empire, but in 1823 they seceded from Mexico to form the Federal Republic of Central America. (Full article...)

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Mantled howler calls, recorded in Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica

The mantled howler (Alouatta palliata) is a species of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central and South America. It is one of the monkey species most often seen and heard in the wild in Central America. It takes its "mantled" name from the long guard hairs on its sides.

The mantled howler is one of the largest Central American monkeys, and males can weigh up to 9.8 kg (22 lb). It is the only Central American monkey that eats large quantities of leaves; it has several adaptations to this folivorous diet. Since leaves are difficult to digest and provide less energy than most foods, the mantled howler spends the majority of each day resting and sleeping. The male mantled howler has an enlarged hyoid bone, a hollow bone near the vocal cords, which amplifies the calls made by the male, and is the reason for the name "howler". Howling allows the monkeys to locate each other without expending energy on moving or risking physical confrontation. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

... that both El Salvador and Honduras claim to be the country of origin of the pupusa?
... that composer Gonzalo Brenes was a politician in the National Assembly of Panama and served for seven years as Panama's secretary of culture?
... that Costa Rica's most famous bull killed two men and loved mangos?
... that the Panama women's national flag football team won a gold medal after outscoring its opponents 349–7?
... that Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador in March 2025 due to an "administrative error" by the U.S. government?
... that Belize's Toledo Progressive Party was accused of being funded by the government of Guatemala?
... that Marcos G. McGrath, the Catholic archbishop of Panama, was allowed to enter Manuel Noriega's "witch house" and other residences, and found evidence of torture, devil worship, and voodoo?
... that the Electriquette was an electric wicker vehicle that could be rented at the 1915 Panama–California Exposition?

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General images

The following are images from various Central America-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1One of the earliest examples of the Mesoamerican writing systems, the Epi-Olmec script on the La Mojarra Stela 1 dated to around 150 CE. Mesoamerica is one of the five places in the world where writing has developed independently. (from Mesoamerica)
Image 2Ritual human sacrifice portrayed in Codex Laud (from Mesoamerica)
Image 3Salvadoran School Children from Metapan (from Ethnic groups in Central America)
Image 4A small ceremonial ballcourt at Tikal. (from Mesoamerica)
Image 5Anthropomorphic figure from the Proto-Lencan culture found at Los Naranjos, Honduras. An example of Mesomerican art during the preclassic Period. (from Mesoamerica)
Image 6The Avenue of the Dead in Teotihuacan, an example of a Mesoamerican settlement planned according to concepts of directionality (from Mesoamerica)
Image 7Examples of the diversity of maize (from Mesoamerica)
Image 8Kʼinich Kan Bahlam II, the Classic period ruler of Palenque, as depicted on a stele (from Mesoamerica)
Image 9Heroes of Central American Independence (from History of Central America)
Image 10Nery Brenes Costa Rican Athlete (from Ethnic groups in Central America)
Image 11El Mirador flourished from 600 BCE to 100 CE, and may have had a population of over 100,000. (from Mesoamerica)
Image 12Flag of Central America (from History of Central America)
Image 13José Matías Delgado at the time of signing the Central American act of independence, in a representation of the meeting of September 15, 1821 of the Chilean painter Luis Vergara Ahumada. (from History of Central America)
Image 14The xoloitzcuintle is one of the naguales of the god Quetzalcoatl. In this form, it helps the dead cross the Chicnahuapan, a river that separates the world of the living from the dead. (from Mesoamerica)
Image 15Central America until 1860, showing the Kingdom of Mosquitia. (from History of Central America)
Image 16Harry Shum, Jr Asian-Costa Rican – Glee Actor/Dancer (from Ethnic groups in Central America)
Image 1720th century political map of Central America (from History of Central America)
Image 18Zapotec mask of the Bat God. (from Mesoamerica)
Image 19Historical map of Central America (from History of Central America)
Image 20Olmec Colossal Head No. 3 1200–900 BCE (from Mesoamerica)
Image 21Xochicalco, Temple of the Feathered Serpent, 650–900 CE (from Mesoamerica)
Image 22Pyramid of the Moon viewed from atop of the Pyramid of the Sun. (from Mesoamerica)
Image 23José Matías Delgado y de León listed as the intellectual leader of the independence movement; Delgado was defined as influential, skillful, and intelligent, he started the revolutionary movements against the Spanish crown. (from History of Central America)
Image 24Yojoa Lake in Honduras. (from Mesoamerica)
Image 25Cultural areas of Mesoamerica (from Mesoamerica)
Image 26Nicarao community in Rivas, Nicaragua. (from Ethnic groups in Central America)
Image 27Countries and capitals of Central America (from Ethnic groups in Central America)
Image 28Celebration of the Chinese year in Costa Rica (from Ethnic groups in Central America)
Image 29Landscape of the Mesoamerican highlands. (from Mesoamerica)
Image 30"Head Variant" or "Patron Gods" glyphs for Maya days (from Mesoamerica)
Image 31Tikal is one of the largest archaeological sites, urban centers, and tourist attractions of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala. (from Mesoamerica)
Image 32Detail of the Nunnery Quadrangle at Uxmal, 10th century (from Mesoamerica)
Image 33Indigenous Salvadoran women dancing in the traditional "Procession of Palms" a custom celebrated in the town of Panchimalco in El Salvador. (from Ethnic groups in Central America)
Image 34The emblem glyph of Tikal (Mutal) (from Mesoamerica)
Image 35Young Costa Ricans in San José. (from Ethnic groups in Central America)
Image 36Art with ideological and political meaning: depiction of an Aztec tzompantli (skull-rack) from the Ramirez Codex (from Mesoamerica)
Image 37Rigoberta Menchú, Human rights activist. K'iche'-Guatemalan (from Ethnic groups in Central America)
Image 38Mesoamerica is primarily situated in western and southern Mexico and Guatemala, above it is Aridoamerica and below is the Isthmo-Colombian Area (from Mesoamerica)
Image 39Illustration that recreates the structures of the archaeological site of Yarumela or El Chircal in Honduras, this place reflects the Olmec influence that existed in Central America in the pre-classic period. (from Mesoamerica)
Image 40The Aztec Empire in 1512 (from Mesoamerica)
Image 41Berta Caceres, Lencan environmental activist. -Honduran (from Ethnic groups in Central America)
Image 42Mesoamerica and Central America in the 16th century before Spanish arrival (from Mesoamerica)
Image 43Ballgame marker from the classic Lowland Maya site of Chinkultic, Mexico depicting a ballplayer in full gear (from Mesoamerica)

In the news

25 August 2026 –: El Salvador declares a nationwide red alert for meteorological and agricultural drought, while Panama declares an El Niño emergency as severe dry conditions damage crops and reduce traffic through the Panama Canal. (AFP via Philippine Daily Inquirer)
23 August 2026 –: The Indian Coast Guard and Navy's Eastern Naval Command reports that two crew members from the Panama-flagged MV Ocean Winner have been rescued after it sank off the coast of Bay of Bengal in eastern India. (Times of India) (New Indian Express)
22 August 2026 –: The Indian Coast Guard launches a rescue operation after a Panama–flagged cargo bulk carrier sunk off the coast of eastern India. (Reuters)
21 August 2026 –: The Panama Canal announces it will limit the number of ships allowed to cross the passage over the next month due to El Niño causing droughts in the region. (DW)
11 August 2026 – Middle Eastern crisis: The Wall Street Journal reports that a U.S. military helicopter has fired at the rudder of the Panama-flagged container ship Vela Nova after crews ignored the naval blockade re-imposed in July, contradicting British maritime management that it was hit by a missile in the Gulf of Oman. (Reuters)
3 August 2026 –: Guatemala's disaster agency declares a nationwide orange alert following a major eruption of Fuego volcano and begins evacuating two nearby villages. (AFP via RNZ)

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Central American volcanoes
Guatemala	Acatenango Agua Almolonga Atitlán Chicabal Cuilapa-Barbarena Fuego Jumay Moyuta Pacaya Santa María/Santiaguito San Pedro Santo Tomás Siete Orejas Tacaná Tajumulco Tecuamburro Tolimán
El Salvador	Chinameca Chingo Conchagua Izalco Santa Ana San Miguel San Salvador San Vicente Usulután
Nicaragua	Apoyeque Cerro Negro Concepción Cosigüina Maderas Masaya Mombacho Momotombo San Cristóbal Telica
Costa Rica	Arenal Irazú Miravalles Platanar Poás Rincón de la Vieja Tenorio Turrialba
Panama	Barú La Yeguada El Valle
Note: volcanoes are ordered from north-west to south-east.

Central American and Caribbean Games
Central American and Caribbean Games	1926 Mexico City 1930 Havana 1935 San Salvador 1938 Panama City 1946 Barranquilla 1950 Guatemala City 1954 Mexico City 1959 Caracas 1962 Kingston 1966 San Juan 1970 Panama City 1974 Santo Domingo 1978 Medellín 1982 Havana 1986 Santiago de los Caballeros 1990 Mexico City 1993 Ponce 1998 Maracaibo 2002 San Salvador 2006 Cartagena 2010 Mayagüez 2014 Veracruz 2018 Baranquilla 2023 San Salvador 2026 Santo Domingo 2030 TBD
Central American and Caribbean Beach Games	2022 Santa Marta 2025 Puntarenas
Central American and Caribbean Junior Games	2024