Guatemala, whose capital is Guatemala City, is the most populous country in Central America.

Guatemala was home to Mayan civilizations dating back to 2000 B.C. Their ruins are now a tourist attraction for Guatemala.

Although Spanish is the official language, it is not universally spoken among the indigenous population. Twenty-one distinct Mayan languages are spoken throughout Guatemala.

The two blue stripes on Guatemala’s flag (and on the flags of most of the other Central American countries) represent the fact that both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans border Central America.

The quetzal, which means “large brilliant tail feather,” is the name of the bird that is a symbol of Guatemala. The quetzal is also the currency of Guatemala.

Honduras, whose capital is Tegucigalpa, is located in Central America between Guatemala and Nicaragua and to the northeast of El Salvador.

Honduras is home to the famous Copán ruins of the Mayan civilization.

The five stars of Honduras’ flag represent the five countries that belonged to the Central American Union (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica).

Emmy-winning actress America Ferrera of “Ugly Betty” and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was born in the U.S. to Honduran parents.

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico and it is one of the largest, most populous cities in the world.

Mexico is home to both Aztec and Mayan ruins. One of the most popular ruins is Chichen Itza. The Mayans built it so that when the sun is positioned exactly over the equator, the shadow of a feathered serpent can be seen on its wall.

Although soccer is extremely popular in Mexico, charrería, which is similar to a rodeo, is the country’s national sport.

The Chihuahua is the world’s smallest dog and is named after a Mexican state.

Mexico has many beautiful beaches including Acapulco where you can cliff dive from the famous Quebrada cliff. Adventurous divers jump from a dangerous 147 feet into the ocean below. There’s even a small shrine at the top where the divers pray before jumping.

In most Spanish-speaking countries Valentine’s Day is called “El Día del Amor y la Amistad” (the Day of Love and Friendship).

El Día del Amor y la Amistad is celebrated on February 14th except in Colombia where it is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday of September.

The Mayans were the first to eat and drink chocolate which is a common Valentine’s Day gift in the U.S. and in Spanish-speaking countries.

In many Spanish-speaking countries, friends draw names and give gifts to their “amigo secreto” for El Día del Amor y la Amistad.

The Nicaraguan flag has two blue stripes that represent the two oceans that border the country. The coat of arms has the following symbols: a triangle (equality), a rainbow (peace), a red hat (liberty), and five volcanoes (the brotherhood between the 5 Central American countries).

Nicaragua is home to the two largest lakes in Central America: Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua.

Nicaragua had the first elected woman president of any Central American country. Violeta Chamorro served as President from 1990 until 1997.

Gallo pinto (meaning “spotted rooster”) is the typical dish of Nicaragua. It consists of rice and beans fried together with cilantro, onions, and peppers.

Panamá, whose capital is Panama City, is located in Central America. It is located to the east of Costa Rica and to the west of Colombia in South America.

Panamá was part of Colombia until 1903 when, with the help of the United States, it became independent. The U.S. helped Panama because it wanted to build a canal there.

The Panama Canal was built to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Over 14,000 ships pass through the canal each year.

Panamá is the only place in the world where you can see the sun rise on the Pacific Ocean and set on the Atlantic Ocean.

Mola art is a symbol of Panamá. It is made by the indigenous Kuna women of Panama who sew pieces of fabric together to create the intricate designs.

Paraguay, whose capital is Asunción, is the smaller of the two land-locked countries in South America.

The Itaipú Dam is located on the border of Brazil and Paraguay. It is home to the world’s largest hydroelectric power plant.

Making Ñandutí lace is a popular craft in Paraguay. Its intricate design is inspired by a spider’s web.

Paraguay is one of the world’s leading exporters of soybeans and beef.

Peru, whose capital is Lima, is located on the western coast of South America and is about the same size as Alaska.

Peru was home to the ancient Inca civilization. Machu Picchu, which is thought to be the “Lost City of the Incas,” was recently named as one of the new 7 wonders of the world.

The Nazca lines in Peru were created by the Nazca civilization over 1300 years ago. They are only visible by air, and it is believed that the Nazca people created them for their gods. The largest figure measures almost 900 feet long.

Potatoes are originally from Peru and they produce over 3000 different varieties.

Ceviche is a typical dish in Perú. It consists of raw seafood that is marinated in citrus juices.