The Republic of Panama is the southernmost part of a natural land bridge connecting the continents of North and South America. It is considered one of the most global cities in Latin America, thanks to its international business center, the Panama Canal, and important ports registering a high volume of traffic on both the Pacific and Caribbean sides. Panama is among the three largest economies in Central America.  It is a country rich in traditions, with one of the most modern skylines of Latin America, and its canal is a key conduit for international maritime trade.

The core of Panamanian culture rests on three categories: its folklore, which plays a central role in every festivity the country holds; its food, a mix of African, Spanish, and Native American techniques, dishes, and ingredients, reflecting its diverse population; and its love of music, from traditional local cumbia to salsa, merengue, Spanish reggae, and many other Caribbean rhythms. Local folklore can be learned through a multitude of festivals, dances, and traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation. One of the most visible expressions of Panamanian culture is its national garment, called the “Pollera,” which is a dress made of finely woven fabric on which intricate, brightly colored designs in lace are embroidered. The Pollera has been recognized as one of the world’s most elegant national dresses. Each takes about a year to complete and is adorned with fine replicas of pre-Columbian jewelry. Many traditional Panamanian dishes — such as tortillas, bollos, tamales, and empanadas — are made with corn, but its preparation is different from other Latin American recipes, since the kernel is first cooked in water and then ground in order to obtain a dough (as opposed to using corn flour to obtain the dough). Fresh corn is also used in some dishes.

Panama City is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Central America, yet it combines the historic and the ultra-modern, creating a unique landscape. Some are starting to dub Panama City “the Dubai of Central America” because of its modern skyscrapers — a sign of the city’s prosperous business district — and lively cultural city center. The “Cinta Costera” (Coastal Beltway), one of the newest roadways, beautifies the Bay of Panama City and provides recreational areas that have added to the attractiveness of the city. It received the 2015 Global Best Project in Roads and Highways award from Engineering News-Record in their annual competition.

Often branded as the “Crossroads of the Americas,” Panama is not only the geographical point where North America meets South America but also where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet in the country’s famed canal. Panama has been shaped by various cultures and traditions that come together to create a unique complexity and exotic country. Its ethnic diversity is reflected in the traditional products, as well is in its architecture, cuisine, and festivals. Panama is a place where the old and the new, nature and architecture, and culture and tradition come together, creating a uniqueness like no other.

Did you know…? Panama’s jungles are home to an abundance of tropical plants, animals, and birds — some of which can be found nowhere else on the planet. The Isthmus of Panama is the only place in the world in which one can see the sun rise in the Pacific and set in the Atlantic, due to a bend in the isthmus.

This is the sixteenth 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 Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America. Within it, you find three different geographical regions:  the Pacific Lowlands, the North-Central Mountains or Highlands, and the Atlantic Lowland. The Pacific coast is volcanic and very fertile. Nicaragua also enjoys coastlines both in the Caribbean Sea as well as in the Pacific Ocean. Spanish is spoken by 98 percent of its inhabitants, yet Miskito and other indigenous languages are still spoken on the Atlantic coast. Nicaragua has 84 national parks, reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries protecting 20 percent of its total land area, far more than any other country in Central America.

Nicaragua is home to Lake Nicaragua — the largest freshwater lake in Central America — as well as many other lakes, rivers, and lagoons that add to the natural beauty of its scenery. The lake is home to a creature known as the bull shark. Inside Lake Nicaragua you will find the Solentiname Islands, a series of 36 islands of volcanic origin. Most of the Central America Volcanic Arc is found in Nicaragua, featuring more than 50 volcanoes, of which seven are still considered active.

Some of the most influential poets have come from Nicaragua. Rubén Darío, considered the “Prince of Castillian Letters” and the “Father of the Hispanic Modernism,” had the lead role in promoting the poetic movement that combined Romanticism, Symbolism, and Parnassianism and introducing it to the world.  Some of his most distinctive work is found in “Azul…” (considered the first book of Modernisim), “Prosas profanas y otros poemas,” and “Cantos de vida y esperanza.” Other famous Nicaraguan writers include Gioconda Belli, Ernesto Cardenal, Claribel Alegría, and Salomón Ibarra Mayorga.

Did you know…?Nicaragua has nine six-crater lakes, more than any country outside Africa. Unlike most Latin American countries, baseball is the most popular sport in Nicaragua. Out of the 88 modern constellations, 86 can be observed in Nicaragua.

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

Between El Salvador and Nicaragua is Honduras, the second-largest country in Central America.  It is said that the country received its name — which means “great depths” in Spanish — once Columbus reached Honduran soil, after he survived a tropical storm off the coast and said, “Thank God we have departed these depths.” Honduras is generally mountainous, and is marked by fertile plateaus, river valleys, and narrow coastal plains. It also enjoys coastlines both in the Caribbean Sea as well as in the Pacific Ocean.

In Honduras, we find the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, an area surrounded by mountainous and lowland tropical rainforest with vast wildlife and plant life that has been a World Heritage site since 1982.  The area also includes more than 200 archeological sites and it is home to more than 2,000 indigenous people. The reserve contains part of the largest surviving area of undisturbed tropical rainforest in Honduras and one of the few remaining in Central America, with numerous endangered species — including the giant anteater, jaguar, ocelot, margay, and many others. There are more than 2,000 species of plants, 40 species of mammals, 370 species of birds and 120 species of reptiles and amphibians throughout the reserve.

Food and music are an intrinsic part of Hispanic culture, and Honduras is no exception. Honduran cuisine is a fusion of indigenous Lenca, Spanish, Caribbean, and African influences. Many of the sweet and savory dishes feature coconut or coconut milk, with some of the more regional specialties including fried fish, tamales, carne asada, and baleadas (flour tortillas with refried beans, quesillo, or cheese and sour cream, plus other fillings, such as roasted meat, vegetables, or eggs). Punta is a dance and music style originated in Honduras by the Garifuna people — a cultural group of mixed Amerindian, Caribbean, and African origin — that is performed in various festivities. It involves rapidly moving the hips in a circular motion. Other sounds, such as Caribbean salsa, merengue, reggae, and reggaeton, are widely heard in Honduras as well.

Did you know…? Don’t be confused if you hear both the terms “British Honduras” and “Honduras” being used, as they do not mean the same thing. The former refers to what is known today as Belize, while the latter refers to the country of Honduras. The term “Banana Republic” was first applied to Honduras by the American writer O. Henry, for the influence the U.S. banana companies had at one time.

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