The smallest country in Central America — officially named Republic of El Salvador — is also the most densely populated in the area and the only country in Central America without a Caribbean coastline. El Salvador houses the third largest economy in Central America (behind Costa Rica and Panama) and it is known as the land of the volcanoes, because it has more than 20 within its boundaries and two of them are currently active.

Spanish is the official language of El Salvador, but Nahua is still spoken in some areas. Most of its nearly seven million inhabitants live in urban areas, and the country’s population is composed of Mestizos, whites, and Amerindians.

El Salvador’s national dish is the “pupusa.” One of the staples of Salvadorian cuisine is plantains, and the most popular drink is coffee. El Salvador has cultivated coffee since the nineteenth century, and Salvadoran coffee makes up precisely half of its total exports revenue.

El Salvador is probably the most popular and famous surfing destination on the Pacific coast. Several surfing competitions take place there during the year. One of the hotspots for wave-lovers is the Town San Sebastian, which is famous for having great waves at the beach and is only 22 miles from the capital, San Salvador.

Did you know…? The country’s cell-phone density is one of the highest in the world (125 phones per 100 people). The name pupusa comes from the Pipil-Nahuatl word, pupushahua.

This is the tenth in a series of articles spotlighting different countries in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. To see a complete list of previous entries, click here.

The Republic of Cuba is an archipelago consisting of the main island — Cuba — and the archipelagos of Colorados, Sabana-Camagüey, Jardines de la Reina, and Canarreos, along with a chain of cays, islands, and adjacent islets. It is the largest island in the Caribbean, and the 17th largest in the world. Thanks to its geographical location, Cuba is home to more than 300 beautiful and paradisiacal beaches, with crystal clear turquoise waters and various sand textures — from the spectacular white found in Varadero to the glittery gold hues found at Guardalavaca — attracting tourists from all over the world.

Music is a commonly known expression of Cuban culture, and that is where we find the musical style known as Son (it means “beat” in Spanish), which mixes Spanish and Afro-Cuban styles with percussion elements and has become widely popular around the world. The Son rhythm is the basis for other musical genres, too, such as salsa, rumba, and mambo.

Cuban cuisine is a fusion of Taino (native inhabitants), Spanish, African, and Caribbean foods. Among their most popular dishes are the Ropa Vieja, Moros con Cristianos (black beans and rice), the Cuban sandwich, and many more. Cuba was a pioneer in the production of sugar cane and is ranked among the most-literate populations of the world, boasting a 99.8% literacy rate.

Did you know: Ernest Hemingway wrote “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “The Old Man and the Sea” while he lived in Cuba. There are no animals or plants in Cuba that are poisonous or lethal to humans. Christmas did not become an official holiday in Cuba until 1997. More than 98 percent of Cuba’s coastal boundaries are bordered by reefs.

This is the ninth in a series of articles spotlighting different countries in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. To see a complete list of previous entries, click here.