Madrid, August 31, 2023 – Central America and the Dominican Republic can be visited and enjoyed by land, sea, and air. But a different plan, especially suitable for lovers of active tourism, is to get to know the multi-destination of Central America through its more than one hundred volcanoes, many of them active, which cross the isthmus and will make the traveler feel ‘on another planet’. It is not that the visitor will land on the south side of the Moon, but its geology is also spectacular and, at times, almost lunar in appearance.
If a map is displayed, the traveler will be able to visit the multi-destination of Central America through the 1,500 kilometers of the Central American Volcanic Arc. This is a chain of volcanoes that stretches along the Pacific coast from Guatemala in the north, through El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, to the border region of Costa Rica and Panama in the south. It is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and includes hundreds of volcanic lava and ash formations. It is an unusual volcanic richness with cones, fumaroles, calderas and lagoons in the craters that offer naturally wild landscapes.
Unique destination for lovers of ‘Volcano Boarding’
Volcanic tourism in Central America invites you to live nature intensely with hiking, camping, climbing, or simply enjoying the scenery, and the most daring, delve into extreme adventure with activities such as climbing or ‘volcano boarding’ (‘surfing’ on the slopes of the volcano on a board), which has in Nicaragua and Guatemala two of the few places in the world where to practice it.
This journey through the heights must begin in Guatemala, where the highest volcanoes in Central America are located. Tajamulco, at 4,225 meters high, is the highest and you can climb to its summit by hiking from the base camp to cross the ‘cloud ceiling’, which is also the ceiling of Central America. Other volcanoes are Fuego, Acatenango and Agua, Atitlán and Santa María. For its part, the Pacaya Volcano has become very popular because it remains active at a very low level, ideal for walking along one of its sides and right next to the lava rivers, with views from the top that are simply impressive. In addition, it makes it one more argument for making the essential visit to the nearby colonial city of La Antigua, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.
Nicaragua has 58 volcanoes, with a lunar orography surrounded by a jungle. The Cerro Negro volcano takes on special prominence for being the youngest, with origins in 1850, although it looks more like a hill, with an altitude of 450 meters. Cerro Negro presents lunar landscapes and expels sulfur vapors; the most adventurous can take an exciting sleigh ride down the slopes of the volcano. Visitors who want to know the flora and fauna of the volcanoes cannot miss the island of Ometepe either. It is also worth visiting the exuberant Indio Maíz Biological Reserve on the San Juan River and the paradisiacal Islas del Maíz in the Nicaraguan Caribbean.
Volcanoes National Park
The Volcanoes National Park is a protected natural area in El Salvador that encompasses three of the fourteen geologically young volcanoes of the Cordillera Apaneca-Ilamatepec: the Santa Ana, Izalco and Cerro Verde volcanoes, with ages between 2 million and 250 years. , according to geologists. Known as Los Volcanes Complex, its peaks are accessible to hiking lovers and the landscapes are spectacular. The Izalco volcano stands out especially, which was known as ‘The Lighthouse of the Pacific’, since it served as a guide and refuge for sailors and merchants. For its part, the Santa Ana Volcano has one of the largest craters in the world.
In Panama, the Barú Volcano stands out as the highest peak in the country, reaching an altitude of 3,474 meters. From its top, you can see both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean simultaneously. It is common for visitors to prefer to start the ascent at night to enjoy the impressive views at sunrise. Volcán Barú National Park is not only a popular destination for hiking enthusiasts, but it has also become a point of interest for bird watchers. It offers the opportunity to spot one of the most elusive birds in Central America: the quetzal.
In Honduras, one of the destinations to enjoy natural wealth is San Pedro de Zacapa, located in Santa Bárbara. This attractive space stands out for its natural diversity, its main tourist attractions being its rivers, hot springs and an inactive volcano called Cerro Cargamón. Its star attraction is the “El Cacao” waterfall. Adventurers can continue the journey from the Bay Islands in the Caribbean Sea to the tropical jungles and cloud forests of its national parks, with different trails throughout the country. Some trails are even accessible from the urban centers, allowing walkers to escape city life and enjoy some fresh air. The Pico Bonito National Park stands out.
Costa Rica is home to 190 volcanic formations, of which five are still active. One of them, in the Rincón de la Vieja volcano, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing bath in its hot springs, which reach temperatures of 40 degrees.
Mountains and natural waterfalls
And after this exciting tour of the Central American Volcanic Arc, it is possible to complement the multi-destination adventure in Belize and the Dominican Republic and its dazzling mountain tourism. Belize has a large number of reserves and national parks, and there are many tourists, and lovers of the mountains and nature who take ecotourism tours. In this line, in the inland area, adventure sports such as speleology or cave exploration, excursions and hiking through the jungle are carried out, as well as multi-adventure activities: zip lines, canoe rides through its rivers and being able to enjoy the jungle more calmly. and its nature. The famous Victoria Peak shines with light, the summit of which is the holy grail of many climbers. Seasoned adrenaline-seeking adventurers eagerly await the opening of the dry season so they can set out on the journey and gaze out over the vast canopy of the rainforest from the top of the rock ledge.
The Dominican Republic is well known for its paradisiacal beaches, but, in turn, it has a wealth of natural waterfalls in its mountains, ideal for lovers of adventure tourism. The Salto de Jimenoa is an aquifer beauty, approximately 35 meters high, which is located in Jarabacoa, in the north of the country, in a park created to preserve the rain forest in the northern part of the Eastern Cordillera. El Salto Alto is located a few kilometers from Bayaguana, in the province of Monte Plata. It is one of the obligatory visits in this province, for enjoyment and relaxation in the mountains. The Salto de Jima, declared a natural monument, is in Bonao, near the famous Jima river, which is born in the Las Neblinas scientific reserve and flows into the Camú river. This jump has the characteristics that it is formed by a set of twelve waterfalls and natural spas. The Aguas Blancas waterfall is part of the Juan Bautista Pérez Rancier National Park, known as Valle Nuevo, 20 kilometers from Constanza, in the province of La Vega.
Finally, the Salto de la Jalda waterfall stands out, in Miches, a coastal municipality located in the province of El Seibo and is a discovery open to ecotourism. The natural beauty of Miches extends to the mountains that shelter exuberant freshwater waterfalls, which dazzle day and night in the middle of the tropical forest, among them the Salto de la Jalda. Miches also has the Montaña Redonda, a beautiful place for selfies that will surely generate many ‘likes’.
For more information
Antonio Verdegay
CATA Communication www.visitcentroamérica.com
Moreturismo-PR Turismo Europa
Email comunicacion@prturismo.com / Phone: 629 69 36 27
