2.  Student should be able to: ◦ Describe the environment and people of Mexico and Central America ◦ Identify and locate Mexico’s most visited sites, matching travellers, and destinations best suited for each other ◦ Recall and locate the most-visited sites in Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama, matching travellers and destinations best suited for each other ◦ Provide or find information needed to plan a trip to Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama.

3. ◦ Mexico’s boundaries:  North: Rio Bravo o Grande (to U.S.A.)  South: border to Guatemala and Belize  East: Gulf of Mexico  West: Pacific Ocean Baja California Peninsula: in the northwestern corner of the country Sierra Madre Oriental: a mountain range that runs along the eastern coast Sierra Madre Occidental: a mountain range that runs along the western coast Sierra Madre del Sur: a mountain range along the Pacific Ocean in southern Mexico

4.  Valley of Mexico: located in central-south Mexico, is a beautiful plain ringed by snowcapped volcanoes  Orizaba: (Indian name: Citlaltepelt) one of the volcano close to Mexico City  Isthmus of Tehuantepec: connect northern Mexico’s lands to Yucatan Peninsula.  Yucatan Peninsula: the peninsula is a tableland of limestone that is covered by cenotes (natural wells formed by the erosion of subterranean limestone)

5.  Yucatan peninsula is also occupied by Guatemala and Belize  Other Central American countries: Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

6.  Mexico has a Federal District as its capital: Mexico, D.F.  Mexico is divided into thirty-one states.  Mexico is rich in natural resources (oil, silver, and gold) and in history (reminders of pre- Hispanic civilizations and Spanish-colonial past)

7.  ¾ of Mexico’s population lives in urban areas  Third largest populated city in the world: Mexico City  US Border cities: Tijuana, Mexicali, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, and Matamoros.  North central Mexico: Chihuahua city  Yucatan peninsula; Merida  West central Mexico: Guadalajara

8.  Mexico City ◦ Located at 7,350 feet (2,450 m) ◦ It was the Aztec capital ◦ Because of its high altitude, Mexico City has a mild climate. ◦ In the heart of the city: colonial architecture mixes with modern buildings. ◦ The center of the city: Constitution Plaza, called zocalo in which is found the City Hall, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace, and the National Pawnshop.

9.  Mexico City (cont.)  Attractions: ◦ Chapultepec Park and Castle. ◦ Museum of Beaux Arts ◦ Condesa, a trendy sector. ◦ Mansions along Paseo de la Reforma ◦ Alameda Park (Ballet House and the Palace of Fine Arts) ◦ Avenida de los Insurgentes leads to attractions in the southern part of the city ◦ Plaze de Mexico (bullfight ring) ◦ Archeological sites (Copilco and Cuicuilco) ◦ The Floating Gardens of Xochimilco.

10.  Mexico City (cont.)  Dolores Olmedo Patino Museum (18 th -century hacienda): display Diego Rivera’s and Frida Kahlo’s works.  Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe: the most famous Catholic shrine.  Teotihuacan: the most striking ancient ruins In Mexico; known for the geometric and symbolic arrangement of its monuments: The Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, the The Street of the Dead.

11.  Mexico’s second largest city; it is the agricultural and industrial center of the western highlands. The city was home to the mariachis, as well as sombreros (hat) and the jarabe tapatio (traditional Mexican hat dance). Tequila was invented there.

12.  Puebla: Mexico’s fourth-largest city, famous for its tile work and pottery; a showplace for Spanish colonial architecture.  Cuernavaca: South of Mexico City, known for the City of Eternal Spring for its warm, sunny climate.  Taxco: known as the Silver City is southwest of Cuernavaca.

13.  Grutas de Cachahuamilpa: caves a s big as Mammoth Cave in Kentucky and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico  Baja California: no large cities; Ensenada and La Paz qualify as towns. A highway extended 1,000 miles (the peninsula distance) to connect Tijuana to Los Cabos, a main touristic destination.

14.  Guanajuato  Queretaro  San Miguel de Allende  Patzcuaro  Morelia  Dolores Hidalgo

15.  Mazatlan  Puerto Vallarta  Manzanillo  Ixtapa  Zihuatanejo  Acapulco  Puerto Escondido  Huatulco

16.  Copper Canyon: the spectacular Barrancas del Cobre is a series of gorges in the Sierra Madre Occidental, four of them are deeper that Arizona’s Grand Canyon.  Yucatan: Cancun: Cancun’s hotel zone is on a barrier island connected by bridges to the mainland. Local tours to: Mayan sites, to Cozumel, and to Islas Mujeres.  Yucatan: Cozumel: Mexico's largest inhabited island; a popular site for cruise ship.

17.  Other attractions of the Yucatan: ◦ Riviera Maya ◦ Xel-ha National Park ◦ Tulum ◦ Merida ◦ Uxmal ◦ Chichen Itza  Southern Mexico: Oaxaca: known as the Jade City due to the green color in the stone used to build its architectural constructions. Monte Alban: the sacred city of the Zapotec people.

18.  Belize ◦ Shipwrecked British sailors established the first settlement in 1638. the colony was called British Honduras until 1973; became independent in 1981. ◦ Belmopan, its capital. Northwest part is flat and swampy; central region has large savannas; southwest: the Maya Mountains. Belize City is the major transportation center in the country. ◦ Barrier Reef and the Cayes: Belize’s principal tourist attraction, the second largest in the world; two largest cayes, Caye Caulker and Caye Ambergris.

19.  Belize (cont) ◦ Northern Belize: La Ruta Maya (The Route of the Maya); Altun Ha, a Mayan archeological center; Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, protected by the Audubon Society and it is mostly wetlands, ideal for birds. ◦ Western Belize: Caracol, a Mayan site; Chiquibul Caves, the largest cave system in Central America. ◦ Southern Belize: Dandriga, the area’s largest town and is inhabited by descendent of Carib and blacks who fled Honduras. They are known as Garifuna people.

20.  Costa Rica is linked to ecotourism and adventure travel. Its natural environment is one of the largest and world best system of reserves and national parks, make it a top attraction for travelers with those special interests.  Most of the population lives in the country’s coffee growing region, the central plateau near San Jose, the country’s capital.  Puntarenas is the country’s principal Pacific port and Puerto Caldera is the port of call for cruise liners.

21.  San Jose was founded in 1737; its architecture is a blend of traditional Spanish and modern. Surrounded by coffee farms, can be the base for visits to the central plateau.  Parks and Biological reserves ◦ Volcan Poas, the most visited park in the country’ ◦ Fumaroles, a tunnel of ferns that brings visitors to bubbling vents in the earth crust. ◦ Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, located in western Costa Rica; Tortuaguero National Park, important nesting site for the green turtle.

22.  A chain of rugged mountains forms Panama spine: the highest point, Volcan Baru.  One-third of the country is tropical rain forest, much of it is protected, including Soberania National park, which borders the Panama Canal.  The Panama Canal: built across the narrowest point between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean; is one of the greatest engineering and medical achievements.

23.  The Panama Canal (cont): the canal extends for 51 miles from Limon Bay in the Atlantic to Panama Bay in the Pacific. During its building 5,609 people died mainly because of yellow fever and malaria. The canal opened in 1914 and U.S. dominion of the zone lasted until 1999.  Cristobal Colon City is the entry city on the Caribbean; and the country’s capital, Panama City, is the entry city in the Pacific.

24.  Darien Gap, this wild place links Central and South America. The region has the only break in the Pan-American Highway from North to South America.  San Blas Islands, Panama’s largest archipelagos are the San Blas and Bocas del Toro off the Caribbean coast. The islands have rustic huts, palm trees, and beautiful beaches. Cuna women are known for their gold nose rings and earrings.

25.  Guatemala ◦ A mountainous country with border to Mexico and coastlines on both the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean. Guatemala City is the largest and capital city.  Attractions ◦ Antigua, a colonial city and the center of the country’s weaving industry. ◦ Lake Atitlan, a mile-high deep-blue caldera; framed by three volcanoes and surrounded by twelve Indian villages named for the twelve apostles.

26.  Guatemala / Attractions ◦ Chichicastenango, a colorful Quiche Indian market town and colonial outpost. ◦ Tikal, one of the greatest Mayan cities. ◦ Takalik Abaj, a Mayan center emerging from the jungle of western Guatemala.  Honduras ◦ Between Guatemala and El Salvador. Tegucigalpa is the capital and largest city. The northeastern part of the country is known as La Mosquitia is heavily forested, swampy, and uninhabited. Copan, a Mayan ruins. Bay Islands, 35 miles off the coast, is a resort center.

27.  El Salvador, San Salvador is the capital and largest city; the only Central American country without a Caribbean coastline.  Nicaragua, Managua is the capital and largest city; it is on the Pacific Ocean. Lake Managua, one the biggest lakes in Central America.

28.  Health ◦ Don’t eat from street stands ◦ Used bottled water, even to brush your teeth ◦ Avoid salads and any fruit that is not personally peeled ◦ If you have respiratory problems, avoid Mexico City (air pollution) ◦ Use bug spray  Money ◦ Use a combination of traveler’s check, credit card, and cash. Cash should be exchanged to national currency.

29.  Language ◦ Spanish, except Belize  Customs ◦ Mexican and Central America cuisine is delicious and varied ◦ Alcoholic beverages are expensive ◦ The arts and crafts paly an important role in the region.  Transportation ◦ By air: domestic and international airlines ◦ By water: large and small cruise lines

30.  Transportation ◦ By rail: Mexico has an extensive government-owned rail network. The most popular rail trip is to Cooper Canyon. ◦ By road: In all Central American countries, traffic drives on the right, distances and speeds are shown in kilometers, and gas is sold in litters.