Darien national park is a Unesco Biospshere Reserve, of 2,240 sq miles. It is the largest area of undeveloped land in Central America.

The park still has Amerindian tribes living in it, though it was one of their last remaining enclaves.

There are 2,500 or more plant species here as well as large numbers of bird, animal and fish species.

Cocos is an uninhabited island off the coast of Costa Rica, some have described it as the most beautiful island in the world.

Cocos Island is an oceanic island of both volcanic and tectonic origin. It is the only emergent island of the Cocos Plate, one of the minor tectonic plates. An Argon–Potassium radiometric determination established the age of the oldest rocks between 1.91 and 2.44 million years and is composed primarily of basalt, which is formed by cooling lava. The landscape is mountainous and irregular and the summit is Cerro Iglesias at 575.5 m . In spite of its mountainous … Continue Reading

Mosquitia is a wilderness in the east of Hunduras, it is a huge area covering 32,000 square miles, including swamps, rainforest and savannahs.

There are no roads into the region and very basic accomodation and food. Travel is by river in canoe, there are five seperate reserves in Mosquitia, the area around Rio Platano is a World Heritage Biosphere Reserve.

Mosquitia is inhabited by Amerindians but their way of life is threatened by economic pressure from the outside World.

Belize has the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. The reef was designated a World Heritage Site in 1996, much of the reef is still unexplored, around 350 fish and 65 coral species are recorded.

Despite these protective measures, the reef is under threat from oceanic pollution, uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing. Hurricanes, global warming, and the resulting increase in ocean temperatures are a particularly significant threat

The Pico Duarte mountains streach from Haita into Dominican Republic. They are the highest mountains in the caribean and Pico Duarte is the tallest.

The trail to the summit is full of rainforests, palms, banana and banyan trees.

There is a well-maintained system of trails leading up to the summit, with trailheads at several locations. The easiest access is from the town of La Ciénega, near Jarabacoa. The trail is 14.4 miles to the summit, with a total elevation change of 1,977 metres. Tourist-friendly travel agencies in the town of Jarabacoa can help arrange trips from this trailhead, using mules in … Continue Reading

The Pitch Lake, Trinidad, is a lake of natural asphalt located at La Brea in the southwest. It has fascinated explorers, scientists and the common folk since its discovery by Sir Walter Raleigh in the year 1595. Raleigh himself found immediate use for the asphalt to caulk his ship. Since then, there have been numerous research investigations into the use and chemical composition of this material. Above all, there have been countless theories, postulations and conclusions as to the size, source and origin of the asphalt. The lake covers about 40 ha and is reported to be 75 m deep. … Continue Reading

Vinales valley has a traditional rural charm. In 1999, the Viñales Valley was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a cultural landscape, both for its natural beauty and for the Vernacular architecture and traditions.

Tobacco and other crops are cultivated on the bottom of the valley, mostly by traditional agriculture techniques. Many caves dot the surrounding hillfaces (Cueva del Indio, Cueva de José Miguel).

Viñales is a major tourist destination offering mainly hiking and rock climbing. The local climbing scene has started to take off in the last few years with many new routes being discovered resulting in an increase in … Continue Reading

Pico Turquino is the highest peak in Cuba and is the highest point in the Pico Turquino National Park. During the late 1950s, Fidel Castro and members of his 26th of July Movement used the area as a base during the Cuban Revolution.

The name is believe to be a corruption of turqoise peak, named so for the blue hues taken by the heights in certain views. It was first mentioned on a map drawn by Gerardo Kramer in the late 1700s.

Christopher Columbus landed on Pillory Beach in 1492, the beach runs along the Western Shore of the island of Grand Turk, the admin capital of Turks and Caicos.

When Jamaica was granted independence from Britain in August 1962, the Turks and Caicos Islands became a crown colony. From 1965, the governor of the Bahamas was also governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands and oversaw affairs for the islands. When the Bahamas gained independence in 1973, the Turks and Caicos received their own governor.

One of the Worlds top dive locations the “Grand Canyon of the Caribean” is 1,000 ft offshore.

The Exuma Cays in the Bahamas, are a popular spot for yachting, sailing, diving, and coral reef and cave exploring. Many of the unnamed beaches and coves of the islands, including extensive offshore reef areas, are included in the protected Exuma National Land and Sea Park of the Bahamas National Trust.

Thunderball Grotto, located just a few hundred yards off Staniel Cay, is one location where the James Bond film Thunderball was filmed. Sandy Cay, just a short boat ride from Little Exuma was the location used for filming the Pirates of the Caribbean beach scenes and one Shell commercial.

The … Continue Reading