Central America is a small region in the western hemisphere that encompasses seven countries in the heart of the Americas. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Central America is home to a total population of just over 42 million people.

The seven countries where you can embark on a high school program in Central America are, from north to south, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and El Salvador. All of these are Spanish speaking countries except for Belize, where English is the national language.

Guatemala is by far the largest nation in Central America, with over 14 million citizens. It is also home to Central America’s largest city, Guatemala City. The rest of the Central American countries each have populations of several million, again Belize being the exception with only 300,000 citizens.

While you can choose any of these destinations for a high school program in Central America, recognize that each country has its own distinct political, economic, and cultural heritage. Spend some time researching all your different options to land on which country seems of the interest to you!