Central America, the land bridge between North and South America, offers an unparalleled diversity of landscapes with its countries Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. From the hot sandy deserts of Mexico to colorful coral reefs and palm-fringed beaches along the coasts, mangrove swamps, dry and rainforests, extensive palm, fruit, and coffee plantations, to cooler mountainous regions with volcanoes and mist-covered cloud forests, the range of natural beauty is seemingly endless. The flora and fauna are characterized by an astonishing variety of species. Remnants of millennia-old cultures tell of the significant past of the Aztecs and Mayans, while colonial architecture from the Spanish era is preserved in the cities. Modern architecture can also be found in the fascinating metropolises of Central America.