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. 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, there is a high amount of seismic activity in the region, such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, which has resulted in death, injury, and property damage.
Most of Central America falls under the Isthmo-Colombian cultural area. Before the Spanish expedition of Christopher Columbus' voyages to the Americas, hundreds of indigenous peoples made their homes in the area. From the year 1502 onwards, Spain began their colonization. From 1609 to 1821, the majority of Central American territories (except for what would become 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; however in 1823 they seceded from Mexico to form the Federal Republic of Central America until 1838. (Full article...)
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Maya (/ˈmaɪə/) are an ethnolinguistic group of Indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica. The ancient Maya civilization was formed by members of this group, and today's Maya are generally descended from people who lived within that historical region. Today they inhabit southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and westernmost El Salvador, Honduras, and the northernmost Nicaragua.
"Maya" is a modern collective term for the peoples of the region; however, the term was not historically used by the Indigenous populations themselves. There was no common sense of identity or political unity among the distinct populations, societies and ethnic groups because they each had their own particular traditions, cultures and historical identity. (Full article...)
Did you know...
- ... that Swedish naval officer Axel Lagerbielke was imprisoned in Lima for over a year, held in Callao and eventually escaped from Panama on an English packet boat to Jamaica?
- ... that Miles Rock served as chief of the commission that determined the disputed Guatemala–Mexico border?
- ... that the Central American government voted for annexation to the First Mexican Empire after a request from Regent Agustín de Iturbide?
- ... that footballer Alexandra Pinell scored the Costa Rica U20 team's only goal at the FIFA tournament hosted by their country?
- ... that El Salvador's only goal at a FIFA World Cup occurred during a 10–1 loss to Hungary?
- ... that in August 2021 Sheika Scott became the youngest player to score in the Costa Rican Women's Premier Division, at just 14 years old?
- ... that El Salvador was the first country to recognize Manchukuo, apart from Japan?
- ... that composer Gonzalo Brenes was a politician in the National Assembly of Panama and served for seven years as Panama's secretary of culture?
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In the news
- 12 July 2025 –
- Five men are lynched after being accused of robbing damaged homes in the Mw 5.7 earthquake in Santa María de Jesús, Guatemala, earlier this week. (Al Jazeera)
- 9 July 2025 – 2025 Guatemala earthquakes
- At least six people die when a Mw 5.7 earthquake strikes Guatemala and causes widespread damage. (ABC News)
- 28 June 2025 –
- The United Kingdom Border Force seizes 2.4 metric tons of cocaine worth £96 million (US$132 million) from a ship from Panama, reportedly one of the country's largest drug busts. (AP)
- 21 June 2025 –
- Panama declares a state of emergency in Bocas del Toro Province and temporarily suspends some constitutional rights amid a series of anti-government protests opposing a pension law that has left one person dead and injured at least 30 others, including several police officers. (Al Jazeera) (EFE) (Reuters)
- 6 June 2025 – Deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia
- Kilmar Abrego Garcia returns to the United States, two months after being mistakenly deported to El Salvador and spending time at the CECOT prison. He now faces criminal charges in Tennessee for allegedly transporting undocumented migrants. (ABC News)
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