Lake Atitlan and Chichiicastenango, Guatemala

Lago de Atitlan and the market town of Chichicastenango in the highlands of Guatemala are a travel photographer's dream come true. Ethereal blue and ringed by brooding volcanoes, Lake Atitlan ranks among the world's most beautiful lakes. Clinging to its shores are traditional Maya villages such as Santiago Atitlan where both men and women still wear their traditional clothing and adhere to age-old customs. The bustling Sunday market in Chichicastenango is the largest of its kind in Central America, attracting Maya traders from miles around. Hundreds of makeshift stalls overflow with rainbow-like woven shawls and bags, wooden ceremonial masks, household goods, foodstuffs, and countless other items.

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Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan, Guatemala - Images by John Mitchell

Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua

Floating like an apparition in the middle of  Lago de Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America, Isla de Ometepe has been called "an oasis of peace." Even during Nicaragua's brutal Sandinista Revolution of the 1970's, this tranquil island remained untouched by violence. Isla de Ometepe's lush tropical landscape, dramatic twin volcanoes, rich pre-Columbian past, and welcoming inhabitants make it a truly unique place. In fact, the Nicaraguan government has designated the entire island  a nature reserve and national cultural heritage site.

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Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua - Images by John Mitchell

Antigua, Guatemala

Antigua is one of the most atmospheric towns in Central America. The city dates back to 1543, when it became the capital of Guatemala. Antigua's many handsome Spanish colonial buildings were almost completely destroyed by a powerful earthquake in 1773. Three years later, the capital was moved to the present site of Guatemala City. Antigua slowly came back to life, and today its earthquake-ravaged convents and baroque churches, colorful Maya markets, and backdrop of soaring volcanoes offer endless photographic possibilities. Antigua was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

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Antigua, Guatemala - Images by John Mitchell

Granada, Nicaragua

Dubbed Nicaragua's "tourism capital," the handsome Spanish colonial city of Granada on the shores of vast Lake Nicaragua has become increasingly popular among travelers during recent years. Great pains have been taken to protect Granada's historical buildings and to preserve its colonial charm by ensuring that all new buildings blend in with existing colonial architecture. With its dignified churches, elegant plazas, colorful facades, and ubiquitous horse-drawn carriages, Granada promises to remain one of the most photogenic cities in Latin America.

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Granada, Nicaragua - Images by John Mitchell

Big Corn Island, Nicaragua

Big Corn Island is the kind of place you hesitate to tell people about. There are no unsightly high-rise hotels, no crowded beaches, and very few cars. In short, this idyllic patch of white sand and greenery languishing in crystalline waters some 80 kilometers (50 miles) off the east coast of Nicaragua is everything a Caribbean hideaway should be: uncomplicated, laid-back, and affordable. But perhaps the best thing about Big Corn Island is that the locals seem intent on keeping commercialism and mass tourism at bay, so the chances of this authentic tropical getaway becoming the next Cancun are remote.

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Big Corn Island, Nicaragua - Images by John Mitchell