Nicaragua and Guatemala

The Maya civilization was a Mesoamerican civilization that started around 1000 BC. The height of the Maya civilization occurred between 250 and 900 AD and began declining during the 8th and 9th century. The Maya are known for having the first fully developed language of the pre-Colombian Americas. They are also known for their architecture, art, and mathematical and astronomical systems. In Guatemala, Spanish is the official language. However, among some indigenous people Spanish is not spoken. There are twenty-one distinct Mayan languages that are spoken; mostly in rural areas. There are also several non-Mayan Amerindian languages that are spoken. About forty-four percent of Guatemala’s population is of Maya descent. The other 56% is of Guatemala is Mestizo/Ladino descent which is a mix of European and Amerindian.

Nicaragua is located in Central America with Honduras to the North and Costa Rica to the south. To the east is the Caribbean Sea and to the West is the Pacific Ocean. The capital of Nicaragua is Managua which is located in the western part of the country on the southern shores of Lake Managua.