Boquete, Panama is most famous for its coffee. However, strawberries are another tasty crop the lush valley produces. There are several strawberry cafes, or "fresas cafes", in Boquete that serve everything from strawberry smoothies to chocolate-covered strawberry kabobs to simple strawberries and cream, as pictured in our Central America Photo for May. Yum!

• More photos of Panama food & drink

Even if you're not crazy about insects, you have to appreciate the beauty of this Panamanian leafhopper. His psychedelic colors are all-natural! Photo by Arthur Anker, part of our Panama insects photo galley.

Tikal is Guatemala's most famous Mayan archaeological site by far, attracting approximately 200,000 visitors every year. However, did you know El Mirador ruins are three times as large? The ancient city is just as awe-striking as its neighbor, but is much more difficult to access; travelers must either trek 5 days through Guatemala's forests, or visit via helicopter.

Lucky for us, travel writer Andrea Ellickson had the chance to make the trek and share her experiences. Here's her piece on the El Mirador ruins in Guatemala, with photos by Ian Stevenson (including the photo in this post).

Most travelers interested in Nicaragua's colonial history head to Granada. However, León -- Nicaragua's second-largest city, after Managua -- is another option (or better yet, an addition). León is still building its tourist infrastructure, but there are already numerous attractions to interest travelers.

I had a great time in León, the nearby beaches of Las Penitas, and most of all, sandboarding down the Cerro Negro volcano. More about that soon! For now:

• Photos of León, Nicaragua