CARTAGENA DE INDIAS The first time, the visitor get easy impressed with so much beauty. A colonial city with the flavor of the caribbean with its 19 kilometers of stone walls sorrounding the city. You fall in love with this town at the first sight. People amiable and always smiling, mixed with the breeze of the ocean and the ardent sun of this region. About the food of the caribbean coast is a must to talk about the fritangas, (fried pork, fish or chicken, just prepared and cooked in small fryers assembled on the sidewalk), and the delicious and nutritious cartagenean creole pot: olla cartagenera, (a mix of beef, potaoes, plantains, cassava, and spices); ...fruits of the region and from all over the country for any taste: watermelons, known as patillas, guavas, mangoes, bananas, passion fruit, oranges, apples ...a variety of scents, flavors and colors. Cartagena have beautiful beaches in the residential zone of Bocagrande, where tourists, mixed with natives, creates a wonderful enviroment. Cafes, restaurants and discoteques, along with the local businesses, gives to this area a unforgettable accent, with the inevitable street salesmen who, with their amiable "at your service, my friend" (a la orden, amigo), sells you a pair of sunglasses, an artcraft or a tickect for the lotto. And don't forget to see the sculpture of the Fat Lady of the artist Botero, in the Santo Domingo Plaza, inside the old section of the city.

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Chichen-Itza, the magic ruins of the Mayan culture are in the center of the state of Yucatan, it's like to travel in time. No far away, is the city of Merida, known as the White City by its houses painted with that color and the cleaning of its streets. Very calm style of life that does us think upon the delights of the Caribbean. No very far from Merida, about half an hour, is the Port Progreso, with its enormous wharf where they berth the cruises in his route by the region and his malecon that zigzag with the beach where tourists and locals goes. To the other side of the peninsula is Cancun (in Mayan language: "snake's nest"), where almost all the large chains of service and enterainmen of the world have its place... You'll find Italian style food, american burguers, german beer and mexican cuisine, without miss the expresso coffee. Click here for more information about mexican culture.<> PICTURES

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After arriving to the Airport of the the Américas, the first thing that one does is to see that shining sun of Santo Domingo. This time we rented a car to know by ourselves the wonders that this island hides. The avenue that directs towards our hotel is full of palms and grapes creeks borderimg the coast of the Caribbean Sea. Is one of the main avenues of the capital and the air of the sea gives us in the face welcoming us. On the way we stop in of the premises that sell fresh food in the border of the highway and we try some chicharrones (fried pork skin and cooked ripe plantains (guineos) just out from the kitchen. After resting awhile in the hotel, we left to take a walk to the downtown area, where we enjoy an expresso coffee and listened one that another occurrence of the patrons of the place. At night to know the levee illuminated by a moon not seen elsewhere and combined with the fresh breeze the sea, enjoying a delicious seafood cocktail. The next day, early in the morning, to take the highway to La Romana, to the refinery and village of the sugar factory. We left the highway and we took the dusty road of the cane plantations that takes us to the clear of houses where the workers live from the machete work. After to refresh the thirst with the water of the well, we left for the gorge to occur good splash. Surrounded by a spectacular green, we breathed the true air of the field, between the song of the birds and the slight murmur of the water of the brook hitting between stones. We enjoyed the enchantment of the island and soon, we will be back.... PICTURES

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Panama is a very interesting country where the colonial hits the modern life; Wide avenues divides the capital in several sectors and a new freeway goes until the city of Colon, on the other side of the country. In the Center of Panama City there is a paved boulevard surrounded by stores, offering from popular crafts to the latest of the fashion. The trip towards the city of Colon is a dream, bordering all the canal we arrived at to the important artery of the economy of the region. Boats anchored in the middle of the ocean, waiting their turn to enter the canal, stainning the horizon of oxidized colors and one by one they are approached the coast, or losing itself in the shinnig of the far away in its march by the Caribbean Sea. Returning to the capital we ran into one of the Spanish oldest establishments of Panama: the Fort of Santiago, in Portobello, constructed around 1760, and being the last bastion attacked by the revolutionaries of the XIX century. Panama became independent from Spain on November 28th of 1821 and from Colombia November 3rd of 1903, coming to be the region with richest economia of Central America, mainly based by the construction and operation of the Channel, by the United States de America until the end of 1999, when Panama received finally its real independence. When crossing the bridge of the Americas, that unites both continent, we went to one of best beaches near the Pacific Sea: Carmen Beach. There, the ardent sun makes us look for refuge underneath the coconut palms and savor some of the typical juices of the place, sold in one of the stores that form a rosary of saloons, done out of trunks, sticks and palm tree leaves roofs that borders the beach. Someone may says that I left the Caribbean for the Pacific, but is worth the trouble to leave the routine... PICTURES

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When entering these intrincate forests of Central America, something is feeling different in the atmosphere, when breathing the green air, the lungs are swollen of extasis and we got dizzy by the pure oxigen in these contours... When arriving at the volcano Arenal, the beauty of the region commit us to keep silence. You'll see the majestic silhouette of its crater hitting against the sweet blue of the sky. To its side, a tip with the form of a laid down woman, suggests to us, this king of the jungle never has been lonely. On the foot of the volcano, there is a turistic center, in which there are several swimming pools supplied with the water that appears from the crater, an immense cascade it drops a frothy and warm water, that, with the fresh contour of the forest gives us an pleasant and reflecting sensation. Costa Rica, is a country where their citizens, always maintain it in form. In any highway or local road, one is loaded gardens of flowers and scenery with the matchless butterfly-flower. And a little more to the deep of the landscape, spontaneous water cascades fall from the high skirts of the mounts, giving to the scenary an unforgettable view to the tica country side. Here, the hand of Creator, makes Its maximum in color; exotic birds flies freely showing their infinite colors and their skill in the flight... The fog covers the high tips in the central mountain range; parrots and toucans get lost in the mist, in the direction of their nests in the high millenian trees. At flight, they emit its distinct call to the pair and alerts to other birds that are in their reign. In the capital, San José, calls the attention to us the calm of its atmosphere. The cordiality of its inhabitants is extreme and we are quickly made friends of this contour. In the central park, on the Museum of Gold, couples takes a walk under the shade of the trees loaded of doves and sparrows. Mothers take to their children to a little ride of healthy distraction. People of all the ages, chat of different subjects in a cosy tone. Friendly salesmen offer crafts and memories of this beautiful country, postcards and t-shirts with landscapes of the jungle, nacre necklaces and stones brought from the volcanos, and articles done with sea turtle shells from the Pacifico and Atlantic oceans. To cross the city on foot, is another adventure that cannot be missed by the visitor. One of the best places to find the popular florclor is the park of the Glorieta, where the saleswomen of flowers gives a colorful symbol to the site. Leaving Costa Rica, we have the satisfation of been in a privileged place. PICTURES

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Borinquen is a land of enchantment; colonial, sweet, amiable, wanted... Rio Piedras, Santurce, Isla Verde, Carolina, Caguas, Ponce, Luquillo Beach, Ballamón... Tiny rock on blue-turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, is in the middle, between the greater and smaller islands of the arc of the Antilles, wonder under the tropical sky where the sun dances at will. Old San Juan is a colonial zone wel lpreserved, full of hoist centenaries like its constructions; houses painted with the inimaginable colors; iron grates forged to colorful forms and trasluces with all the colors of the rainbow when being hit by the sun, projects their range crism towards within the rooms. On top of thef clift, behind of the walls , the view is impressive, the bay, sees like a plate in rest and his surface cargo ships and loaded cruices of tourists berthing in the port terminal. Like in all the towns of the caribbean region, their streets are narrow and with the flavor of the colony. There are the castles of San Felipe and the Morro, fortifications that took care of the city of the attacks of corsairs and pirates who infested the seas, looking for the gold of the territories of the New World. Monumental churches and little parks full of trees and branches that invites to the rest of the heat of the afternoon, savoring mantecado (vanilla ice cream) or a cold lemonade. Amiable people everywhere; beautiful native which they always recreate the view with her smiles in their lips, like flowers in this garden of the unforgettable dreams... PICTURES

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Bahamas is one hour flight from Miami. This rosary of islands and cays is, wich can be called, recovered paradise. Don't get surprised if, when arrived, you see that driving is by the left side of the road: this custom was inherited of the English, as much as its flematic way to go to the visitor. Bahamas is a corrupted name of the words "lower sea", (in Spanish: bajamar), by the little deep of its waters. Each island has its particular enchanment. ABACO. Its, par excellence, the capital of the sailing, where, in charming 18th century fishing villages, the art of shipbuilding continues as it has for centuries.ANDROS. An island of creeks and forests, it's the largest of The Bahamas, and a bonefishing capital. BIMINI. Game fishing capital of the world where the waters are full of marlins, sailfish, bluefin tuna and more. CAT ISLAND. Rolling hills and ancient Indian caves with a hermitage at its peak. The Bahamas highest island is an explorer's delight. ELEUTHERA. Miles and miles of hidden pink beaches with excellent diving at nearby Spanish Wells and Harbour Island. EXUMA. The yachting capital of The Bahamas, these islands are known for their beautiful beaches, coves and inlets. GRAND BAHAMA offers nonstop action. In Freeport/Lucaya you found nightclubs, casinos, land and water sports. Nearby are tranquil, quaint fishing villages where the seafood is served right away from the water. INAGUA. A sanctuary for thousands of amazing pink flamingos in their natural habitat. LONG ISLAND is a full enchantmet of hills and caves. Features scuba dives and underwater shipwrecks from all the times. NEW PROVIDENCE. is where is the capital city, Nassau, along with a wealth of historical edifices, luxury hotels, cozy inns and intimate lounges. You can shopping and shoping and never get tired.PARADISE ISLAND, with their spectacular hotels, a espectacular golf course and a five stars casino can be reached by ferry or by bridge from downtown Nassau. You can't miss the acquarium with creatures from all over the Caribbean. SAN SALVADOR. Where Columbus first set foot in his discovery of the New World, it retains much of its original unspoiled beauty. PICTURES FACTS

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