Central America is often overlooked and it shouldn’t be. While most people have Costa Rica on their bucket list, this swatch of land that connected North America with South America deserves more than a one-country glance.
Panama is famous for its coffee, the Panama Canal and glitzy Panama City (often likened to Miami) but did you know it has volcanoes, rainforests, rare wildlife and beaches butting up against the Caribbean sea?
And what about Guatemala with historic Antigua, the Maya ruins of Tikal, Antiguan coffee, famous Semuc Champey, handicraft markets bursting with Guatemalan life and, of course, the active volcanoes bursting with photo opportunities?
Nicaragua, too, has volcanoes to climb, cities to explore and a culture of gentle people who will crack open a beer and let you rest in their garden while you wait for a bus (I know, because it happened).
Belize is famous for its islands where Latin America blends with Caribbean culture and the beach life gives you the best of both.
Honduras and Caye Caulker are both famous for scuba diving with Utila and Blue Hole offering some of the best diving in the world.
And looping back round to Costa Rica – where else can you zip-line on the longest zip-line in Latin America. Truly one of the highlights of all my travels.
El Salvador is on my travel wish list for a future trip.
The question isn’t when are you going to go to Central America, it’s ‘when can are you going back’?
Due to the fact that I am apparently more addicted to travelling than writing, there’s a chance I’ve visited but haven’t yet put some of my Central America blog posts online. In that case, contact me. Otherwise, sign up to my newsletter here.
I get asked on a regular basis where is the best place I’ve visited. It’s a hard question to answer because over the years I’ve fallen in love with so many destinations and all for different reasons. However, someone asked me a slightly different version of this travel question the other day: where is the … Read more
On 20th September 2010 I set off on an around the world trip that I thought would last a year. As my career break came to an end, I knew that I couldn’t go back – not because I’d done anything illegal (that I’d been caught for), but because wanderlust has taken root so deep … Read more
Whenever I meet travelers en route to South or Central America, I’m always quick to pass on my list of recommended hostels in Latin America, not least because I know what it’s like to turn up at a place and wonder if Hell might have any vacancies as a better alternative. A hostel, the … Read more
Indiana Jo – cycling from Alaska to Patagonia and climbing the highest points of each country in between? Given I’m very wobbly on two feet, let alone on wheels, I can’t proudly claim that achievement, but Thomas Laussermair can. Taking a staggering 14 months and who knows how much energy expended, Thomas has kindly agreed … Read more
There I was in Semuc Champey, the middle of Guatemalan nowhere, I’d explored the caves, toured the mirador, swung in a hammock for a decent amount of time, I was ready to move on. My next stop in Guatemala would be Flores and the jungle shrouded Maya ruins of Tikal. All I had to do … Read more
When I visited Semuc Champey in Gautemala, I did everything wrong. Here’s how not to do it and how to visit Semuc Champey properly. Don’t decide to visit Semuch Champey without knowing what it is Semuc Champey was the word on everyone’s lips in Guatemala. I mean EVERYONE! Never mind Antigua or even Tikal, visit … Read more
This post about Earth Lodge Antigua, an avocado farm in Guatemala is part of my my very first set of posts, way back when. I was toying with a festive theme for this post given the proximity of Christmas but I suspect everyone is nearly up to their ears with the one day event that is celebrated … Read more
Isla de Ometepe is very simply an island comprised of two conical volcanos looming out of Lake Nicaragua. What else was there to do on the island but to climb them (or at least one of them)? It was a decision that would bring me the closest to a near death situation on my trip … Read more
This post about getting to San Juan del Sur from Costa Rica is part of my First Time Around The World Series (my very first set of posts, way back when) which you can read in this section here. The longest journey ever lay ahead: Getting rom San Juan del Sur to Costa Rica I hit Central … Read more
Getting to Santa Teresa Beach from San Jose The day didn’t start well. In addition to the 4am wake-up, I ended up at the wrong bus station. I knew that I had to get there early to join the rabble-come-queue for the ludicrously popular Saturday morning bus to Santa Teresa. (Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica). So, when it … Read more