North America consists of three large nations and one large island territory that covers most of its area. They are Canada, the United States of America (U.S.), Mexico and Greenland. There are also seven smaller nations at its southern extreme (collectively known as Central America), around two dozen island nations and territories of various sizes in the Caribbean, and one isolated French territory off the Canadian Atlantic coast. Although the Central American and the Caribbean regions are part of the North American continent, they are commonly listed separately from their larger neighbors to the north and hence the distinctive region names for cultural and geographical reasons.

• 23.1332-82.35941 Havana — the capital of Cuba is famous for its cigars, its strong Hispanic-Caribbean culture, and its legendary nightlife.
• 17.9711-76.79292 Kingston — the capital of Jamaica and the center of Afro-Caribbean culture, it is cosmopolitan, diverse and the home of Reggae.
• 34.0556-118.24563 Los Angeles — Hollywood and movie stars; mountains and beaches; and lots of traffic.
• 19.43278-99.133294 Mexico City — the capital city of Mexico, the third-largest city in the world is chock-full of museums, centuries-old architecture, modern amenities... and people.
• 40.7131-74.0075 New York City — the Big Apple is the center of North American commerce and culture, immortalized in film and song alike.
• 8.96988-79.536366 Panama City — the capital of Panama, a friendly city sitting at the nexus between two continents.
• 43.6702-79.38687 Toronto — Canada's largest city, a cosmopolitan mosaic with ethnic enclaves and cultural attractions galore.
• 49.28249-123.118328 Vancouver — a city of steel and glass condominiums and outstanding natural beauty, where you can go skiing and sit on the beach all in the same day.
• 38.8952-77.03669 Washington, D.C. — the capital of the United States, with many cultural and historical attractions.

• 51.4836-115.96911 Banff National Park — Canada's first national park is also one of its largest, located in the Rocky Mountains.
• 20.683-88.56872 Chichen Itza — the largest of the archaeological cities of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico.
• 8.5532-83.57783 Corcovado National Park — very biologically diverse national park in Costa Rica.
• 36.0968-112.09844 Grand Canyon — a massive canyon in Arizona, carved over several million years.
• 43.0778-79.07415 Niagara Falls — three grandiose waterfalls on the border between the United States and Canada.
• 19.69304-98.845866 Teotihuacan — the 'city of the gods', with some of the largest ancient pyramids in the world.
• 17.22203-89.623667 Tikal — an archaeological site in Guatemala, one of the largest and most important of the ancient Mayan cities.
• 28.4052-81.58228 Walt Disney World — the flagship of Disney's worldwide theme park network, near Orlando, Florida.
• 44.4607-110.82829 Yellowstone National Park — the world's first national park is also home to most of its geysers and an amazing concentration of animals.

North America is the third largest continent, with a surface area of 24,221,490 km² (9,351,969 sq mi), in the northern hemisphere, between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean and to the north of South America. North America's highest point is Alaska's Denali, which rises to 6,194 m (20,322 ft) above sea level.

Climate

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See also: Winter in North America

North America stretches across all climate zones. Much of Greenland, Alaska and northern Canada are in the Arctic, with cold or cool weather all year round, and few inhabitants. Most of Canada's land area is boreal, with short summers and long winter; most Canadians live in the temperate zone, which makes up southern Canada and most of the United States. Here you can find cosmopolitan and interesting world cities and relatively easily accessible national parks for friends of nature and wildlife.

The southern and southwestern United States, as well as northern Mexico, is in the sub-tropical zone. Southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean are tropical, with warm weather year round.

The three major languages of North America are English, Spanish and French. The United States and Canada are majority-English-speaking countries. English is also spoken in many Caribbean nations and Belize. A Creole variety of English is spoken by a minority along much of the Caribbean coast of Central America as well as on some Caribbean islands, most notably Jamaican Patois, but it will take some getting used to and may be unintelligible to second language speakers of English. Mexico, the majority of Central America (mostly the Pacific side) and portions of the Caribbean are majority-Spanish-speaking. Spanish is also spoken as a mother tongue by a minority of people and second language by others in many parts of the United States. French plays a substantial role in Canada — especially Quebec, but also parts of Ontario, Manitoba, and New Brunswick — and a role in other places, especially the Caribbean (though in some countries a French creole is more common, such as Haitian Creole in Haiti). Dutch is spoken on islands in the southern Caribbean that used to be part of the Netherlands Antilles. Numerous indigenous languages are spoken by Native Americans and the Inuit peoples of North America including Greenland. There are some isolated communities where only a few people speak anything but their indigenous language, and in Mexico, Nahuatl and Maya languages are having a revival of sorts. Danish is spoken along with Greenlandic in Greenland.

Generally, English proficiency tends to be poor in the Spanish- and French-speaking parts of the continent, though people who work in the tourism industry, as well as business people who regularly deal with foreign clients, often speak at least conversational English.

The range of things to see in North America is enormous. There is spectacular natural scenery ranging from mountains and tundra to deserts and tropical rain forests. The Rocky Mountains (Rockies) are the continent's largest mountain range, running from northern Canada to the southwestern United States, continuing into Mexico as the Sierra Madre ranges and Mexican Altiplano and on to Central America, making up the northern part of the American Cordillera. The Rockies contain some of the world's most visited national parks including the famous Yellowstone. North American cities like New York City, Mexico City, Chicago, and Washington, DC are home to some of the world's finest museums. Stunning architecture can be found from Panama City to Montreal.

North American wildlife, with iconic species such as the grizzly, the bison, the mustang and the bald eagle, is an attraction in itself. The tropics belong to another biogeographic region; see Central and South American wildlife.

Some of the best scenic areas include:

• The Appalachian Mountains, stretching from Quebec to the Appalachia region of the Southern United States.
• The Pacific Coast Highway along the cost of California.
• The Copper Canyon, with its 1,000 mile long scenic railroad, rugged mountains, and native populations.
• The Rocky Mountains (including Yellowstone and Banff national parks, among others).
• The Everglades, a massive wetland in Florida.
• The Panama Canal, America's shipping "shortcut" between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
• Niagara Falls on the Canada-USA frontier between Lakes Erie and Ontario.
• The Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and the Colorado River in Northern Arizona.
• The beaches and fishing villages of the East Coast, from Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada to the Carolinas in the United States.
• The "Inside Passage" between Vancouver Island and the coast of mainland British Columbia.
• The Caribbean coast of southeast Mexico, from Cancun south to Belize, the area includes islands, coral reefs, white sand beaches and tropical jungles

Usually, you can buy large ranges of clothing and lots of electronics. North America is known for manufacturing lots of electronics, such as Apple, Hewlett Packard (HP) and Dell, which are all major electronics manufacturers from North America.

Many North American cities have famous shopping districts such as 5th Avenue in New York City, Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. Downtown shopping districts have spawned some of the world's most famous retailers including Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Neiman Marcus.

Many tourists enjoy shopping at the biggest shopping mall in the United States, the Mall of America. It's located in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. As well as having an amazing number of stores, you'll also find a multi-screen movie theater, an amusement park, and many restaurants--including both sit-down and fast-food. Also, the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta is a popular destination having once been the world's largest mall.

See also: Chain restaurants in the United States and Canada, Fast food in the United States and Canada

Mexico is the North American country with the most distinctive culinary identity, with ancient flavors and ingredients that have spread throughout the world and permeated even the other "great cuisines". After all, if the pre-Columbian Mexicans hadn't cultivated chocolate, how could the French have created mousse, or without tomatoes, how could the Italians have created pizza or spaghetti sauce? Mexican cuisine is justly famous throughout the world, but today's modern Mexican chefs show innovation that goes well beyond the familiar tacos, tamales, and tortillas. Regional specialties range from cochinita de pibil in the Yucatan, birria in Guadalajara, and cabrito in Monterrey. Oaxaca has become a noted destination for culinary schools (or just hungry travelers wanting to taste something unique). Tequila and mezcal are classic distilled spirits.

Since the United States was heavily populated by pioneering peoples and global immigration, the diversity of its cuisine is immense. Many cosmopolitan cities (Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Las Vegas to name a few) have a broad array of dining options to offer tourists. These cities attract both famous chefs from around the world serving world-class fare in Michelin starred restaurants, as well as enclaves of various ethnic groups offering inexpensive regional cuisines from their homelands. Foreign cuisines have been adapted in many ways to suit American palates and use local ingredients; for instance, the United States and Canada have several distinctive variations of pizza.

Canadian food, like that of the U.S., varies from region to region and is heavily influenced by its immigrant culture. Broadly speaking, you should think seafood on the coasts, meat and potatoes in the center of the country, and pretty much anything you can think of in the cosmopolitan major cities. Poutine, french fries covered in cheese curd and gravy, may be the nation's favorite fast food snack.

The Caribbean is known for its seafood and specialties like Jerk chicken.

While Mexican influence extends into the cuisine of Northern Central America, countries like Nicaragua or Costa Rica have their own distinct flavor, based mostly upon rice and beans that together make up gallo pinto (also known as casamiento in other parts of Central America), a staple food that you will eat at least once during any visit, no matter how short.

Europeans used to mock American beers for their lack of diversity and flavor. Anyone still mocking should really look again. While a light beer can still be enjoyed in hot regions on sandy beaches, the U.S. has microbreweries dotting the country. Major concentrations of microbreweries can be found in New England, the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, and Northern California. The diversity of beers is now enormous and most beer-lovers will find at least one or two to their liking. Mexico is known for the lighter beers (Corona, Dos Equis, Pacifico) that go well with their cuisine and warm climate, although darker options are also available. The lighter beers are also more common in southern areas and the Caribbean, though many of these areas also have special non-beer options (regional types of rum are quite diverse, for example).

Canada and the U.S. have various wine regions and variants which have become internationally recognized and respected. Try the ice wine from Ontario and you will never forget the clean, clear beauty that is extracted from the frozen grape. The US has become the fourth largest wine making region in the world, with California producing roughly 90% of that volume. A trip to San Francisco should be accompanied by a drive through the famous Napa Valley, although if the crowds deter you, you can easily enjoy lovely wineries a few hours south along the Central Coast of California (add a stop at Hearst Castle) or beautiful Pinot Noirs in Oregon. Upstate New York (Finger Lakes region) is another major wine producing region.

Again, the immigrant influx to North America brought with it culturally diverse methods of alcohol production. Regional drinks and types of liquors abound. Beverages in the southern regions will often be mixed with tropical fruits; and of course, Mexico is famous for fermentation techniques with the agave plant (Tequila, anyone?). Rums abound in Southern areas of Mexico as well as Central America and the Caribbean, and have much diversity in methods of production. Cocktails made with gin and vodkas have undergone a renaissance in the U.S. and Canada, evoking memories of old movie stars from days gone by. And of course, who has not heard of the Mint Julep from Kentucky, or the Hurricane from New Orleans.

As with all cultures, there will be sports bars with large television screens and avid fans. If this is something you enjoy, be certain to check the season and game times to see when the next hockey, (American) football, soccer (association football), basketball, or baseball game is on and join the noisemaking.

North America is the birthplace of another drinking trend that is spreading throughout the world: the Fake Irish Pub. These establishments will usually be decorated with nicknacks from Ireland and may even have an authentic looking 19th century interior. Sometimes the interior is actually imported from a real Irish pub that has gone out of business. The bar menu almost always consists of Guinness, Harp, and Jameson. Fake Irish pubs may seem tacky to those who have been to the real thing, but they are a genuine part of the landscape in the U.S. and Canada and are often among the most popular bars in town. If you're in a major American city on St. Patrick's Day, a visit to one of these establishments is a must.

Drinking ages vary by country. In the U.S., a government-issued ID, demonstrating its holder is 21 or above, is required to purchase or consume alcohol. Availability to purchase will vary as well; some states issue liquor licenses more broadly allowing you to find alcohol in many shops and stores (California, Washington); while others may only be purchased in state run shops (Utah), or licensed bars and restaurants. In Mexico, the drinking age is 18, sending many young US border residents into the casinos and nightclubs on weekends. In Canada, the drinking age (18 or 19) will vary by territory and province. The drinking age is 18 throughout Central America, though enforcement certainly varies.

Hostels are available in the cities, though often in less desirable locations. If hostels are your usual lodging choice, consider options such as the YMCA or a cheap hotel. Independent hotels and international and regional hotel chains are widespread across both Canada and the USA. Most hotel chains have free smart phone apps to make it easy to schedule and keep up with travel itinerary while on the road. In these countries, as well as major tourist regions of Mexico and the Caribbean, high-speed internet service is typically available, though sometime at an additional fee. Hotel chains also offer reward programs and bonuses for frequent travelers, as do some of the online options. Bed and breakfasts are available in many cities and other popular tourist destinations. Camping spots are widely available, generally along highways or near lakes and rivers, many require a small fee, so read signs and inquire. In more populated U.S. national parks (Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone) camping and accommodations within the parks will often need booking up to 12 months in advance. You may also experience challenges with accommodations at the small hotels just outside the parks during high-seasons.

To really experience life in the United States, a small bed and breakfast is the way to go! Bed and breakfasts, which are usually run by the owners who live on the property, will give you a better feel of what it's like to "be an American". Many of these owners have traveled widely, read widely and have knowledge of their area to guide you to those unique experiences in the United States.

Police and other emergency services are widely available most anywhere throughout the United States and Canada as well as most areas of Mexico and usually have fast response times. In the United States, Canada and Mexico, police and other first responders can be summoned in an emergency by dialing 9-1-1 on a compatible phone. Safety varies widely from place to place, so see the appropriate article on the region of interest. Like anywhere, remember to practice good common sense safety procedures and you should be fine.

Many places in North America are occasionally affected by severe weather. Since mountain ranges run from north to south, storms can bring dramatic temperature changes. Cold weather is a seasonal concern in parts of the continent; see winter in North America.

Tap water is usually safe to drink in Canada and the United States.

While hardly present in dogs in the USA, rabies is a concern when bitten in Central America or a bat in the US. As rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms show (there is only one case of symptomatic rabies being survived by a human documented in the medical record) have a rabies vaccination before you head out and get to a doctor as soon as possible if you are bitten.

Tropical diseases such as dengue and malaria are endemic to much of Central America, especially rural areas and the Caribbean side. If you want to go to Panama you will need a certificate of yellow fever vaccination.

The Zika virus has spread through much of Central America, but it is advisable to check official government advisories and individual country guides on Wikivoyage before you go, as the situation can vary drastically between or even within countries. Zika is particularly dangerous to the unborn and thus pregnant women might want to postpone travel to affected areas.

Mobile telephone frequencies in the Americas (ITU region 2) differ from most of the rest of the world, with 850 MHz/1900 MHz being the most common frequencies in North America for 3G UMTS/WCDMA/HSPA (AT&T, Bell/Telus, Rogers). A few new entrants, regional carriers and higher-speed data services use 1700 MHz or 2100 MHz.

You should check if your phone operates on the North American frequencies, and that it can connect using 3G, 4G LTE, or 5G. As of 2023, some mobile networks have already shut down or are in the process of shutting down their 2G and 3G networks, and the build out of 5G networks is in progress. If your phone does not support the North American frequencies and the generation of network that is rolled out, it will not be able to call, receive calls, or send or receive messages while in North America.