Mayan ruins, tropical rainforests, surfer seashores, and colourful cities — Central America has bought all of it! Whereas there could also be sure challenges to pay attention to, this assortment of bite-size international locations is reasonably priced, (largely) secure, and a rising backpacking hotspot.
Are you dreaming of touring the entire area? Or possibly a particular nation? Both method, scroll forth for my high ideas for backpacking Central America based mostly on my six months mixed within the area.
What’s the Gringo Path?
In case you’re trying to make an epic journey via Latin America, you’ll little question quickly hear concerning the “gringo path”.
Named after the Spanish slang phrase for foreigners, this loosely outlined journey route runs right through Central- and South America. It’s a favourite amongst backpackers and different overland vacationers.
The Central American a part of the Gringo Path will take you not less than about 2 months, give or take. This casual backpacker path begins in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, then goes down into Belize and Guatemala, after which via all the opposite international locations till ending in Panama Metropolis.
A key artery is the Pan-American Freeway, which runs from the north of Mexico all the way in which all the way down to Panama Metropolis alongside the Pacific facet.
Though it’s known as a ‘freeway’ it’s largely only a 2-lane highway. When backpacking via Central America you’re more likely to drive alongside many sections of it by bus. Motorbikers and different overland adventurers additionally comply with this highway usually, as might be seen within the highway journey documentary The Lengthy Means Up with Ewan McGregor (a favourite journey present of mine!).
To cowl the area it’s possible you’ll find yourself touring 1000’s of miles or kilometers, however Central America remains to be comparatively compact. You’ll be able to transfer round pretty shortly and go to lots of international locations in a single journey.
The map beneath will present you roughly the ‘Gringo Path’ that many backpackers comply with.
Some spots firmly on the Gringo Path have developed into backpacker celebration locations. For instance, the Bay Islands in Honduras, San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua, or Bocas del Toro in Panama. You’ll discover tons of bars, funky surf hostels, bar crawls, and all method of leisure in these locations. Whether or not you want to hunt down or keep away from them is as much as you. They are often actually enjoyable however clearly really feel much less ‘genuine’.
One factor to know is that the Pacific facet is simpler to journey (due to the Pan-American Freeway) whereas the Caribbean sides of Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama are usually a bit extra distant and fewer developed. If you wish to go off the overwhelmed path, these coasts might be enjoyable to discover. For instance, think about Bluefields in Nicaragua, which feels way more distant in comparison with Nicaragua’s Pacific coast.
You want about six weeks minimal to do the Gringo Path route, however extra is at all times higher. I initially did it in three months however nonetheless needed to skip rather a lot. When you have a number of months, you may take it a bit simpler and possibly linger for every week right here and there, maybe to study Spanish, to select up browsing, or to volunteer.
Don’t have time for the total route? Then you are able to do a shorter one…
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Shorter backpacking routes
If the Gringo Path or an identical route appears a bit an excessive amount of, why not chunk off one thing smaller? As a substitute of doing the total monty, simply decide two or three international locations you most need to go to. Listed below are two good combos:
Southern Mexico + Guatemala
This can be a nice slice of Central America to cowl in case you have a few weeks. These two international locations mix properly in a round route and pack an important punch.
Southeast Mexico provides you with some nice seashores, Mayan ruins, mountains, and jungles. It’s an incredible and straightforward space to journey and can give a great deal of selection.
Guatemala is a superb adventure-filled addition to your journey. You’ll be able to go to the epic Mayan temples of Tikal (simply one of the best and largest within the area) and the beautiful volcano lake of Atitlan.
To do that route via Mexico and Guatemala, you’ll want about 2 to three weeks at a minimal, however extra is at all times higher.
Nicaragua + Costa Rica
One other nice concept for a brief journey of every week or two is to give attention to Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Famed for its wildlife and ecotourism, Costa Rica can ship many epic moments even if you happen to’re on a tighter schedule. In Nicaragua, most of the greatest locations are within the southwest, very near the Costa Rican border. This makes these two international locations an ideal combo.
By the way in which, Nicaragua is method cheaper than Costa Rica, so it may well decrease your total prices rather a lot. Don’t miss my funds journey ideas for Costa Rica — you’re going to wish them! It’s not an affordable nation, however for a lot of causes many travellers think about it a bucketlist vacation spot.
Greatest backpacking in Central America?
Since I had way more to say about every nation in Central America, I break up off my impressions into its personal article. Take a look at these greatest international locations and locations to go to in Central America.
What are the hostels like?
There are a great deal of hostels in Central America and there are numerous totally different sorts. Don’t miss my information to how hostels work to keep away from sudden conditions.
Many hostels in Central America are like true traveler or surfer hostels; the sort of locations with numerous hammocks, a barbeque, most likely some dude with a guitar, a hostel canine, and many journey tales flowing each night. These are for certain my favorites.
The backpacking crowd in Central America is on common considerably older than in Europe, Australia, or international locations like Thailand. In consequence, most hostels are ‘all ages’ sort of locations.
A handful of hostels are positively celebration hostels — and since that is Central America, a few of them celebration very arduous. That is the place I whisper “I’ve seen issues…” and possibly lose myself in a dramatic flashback. I’m positively too outdated and sleepy for celebration hostels now, however I loved the scene at occasions when touring Central America once I was youthful. The events in e.g. Nicaragua are quite legendary (hello there “Sunday Funday”, my outdated pal).
Some hostels in Central America are distinctive and have to be booked upfront. Once I was final in Panama, I used to be kicking myself for not getting a spot in Bambuda Lodge hostel, which has a 150 toes water slide going into the ocean, or Misplaced & Discovered, an epic hostel hidden within the jungle.
Moreover hostels, there may be at all times some kind of low cost native lodging to seek out. Search for hospedajes or guesthouses. Whereas backpacking Central America, I break up my time about 50/50 between hostels and guesthouses, to have a mixture of socializing and quieter time. The fee distinction between a dorm mattress and a funds room is normally not that massive.
Attending to Central America
In case you’re flying to Central America, then the commonest entry factors (with essentially the most direct flights) are Mexico Metropolis, Cancun, San Jose (the capital of Costa Rica), and Panama Metropolis.
There are good connections with the US, however if you happen to’re flying in from Europe or elsewhere additional away, it’s possible you’ll discover there are comparatively few (good or low cost) direct flights to Central America. In that case, you would possibly need to verify if there are connecting flights via Miami Worldwide Airport or Fort Lauderdale Airport.
There aren’t many funds airways working inside Central America. Generally the most cost effective flight connection from, say, Guatemala Metropolis to San Jose would possibly truly go by way of the US! When you’re in Central America, it usually makes essentially the most sense to journey overland by bus.
Easy methods to get round
There aren’t as many (funds) airline connections in Central America as there are in different components of the world. Fortunately the area is sort of compact, making overlanding the wise method to journey.
The most affordable — and arguably most enjoyable — method to journey round is utilizing native transportation. Numerous types of bus companies exist, letting you get from A to B at various ranges of consolation and pace.
Collectivos are short-distance minivan companies. You’ll find them at bus terminals or you may normally flag them down on the highway. Whereas not that snug (I as soon as needed to trip one whereas hanging partly out of an open sliding door), they are often extremely low cost. Driving a collectivo for one hour in a single will set you again about $0.50 – $1.
Rooster buses are transformed former US faculty buses, apparently named so as a result of numerous items together with stay chickens will generally be transported on them. They cowl considerably longer distances than the collectivos. Drivers will normally be shouting out locations on the bus terminal, so simply hop on board one which’s heading the correct path. For costs, suppose single-digit {dollars}. Usually you simply get on board and pay later; an assistant normally comes to gather the cash from you in the course of the journey.
When utilizing hen buses, bear in mind to maintain a detailed eye in your baggage. Some vacationers don’t use hen buses in any respect attributable to stories of crime. It’s true that typically it’s not suggested to make use of inner-city buses in capitals equivalent to Guatemala Metropolis or Managua as these are a lot much less secure. However exterior the primary cities and in the course of the daytime, hen buses are usually effective (however inquire regionally if you happen to’re uncertain).
Lengthy-distance coaches (normally fashionable two-deck buses) join the capitals and different main hubs. Some international locations even have shuttle companies catering particularly to vacationers. These are sometimes a bit of extra handy, although they will price as a lot as ten occasions greater than the native options. In Panama, I ended up utilizing such shuttles rather a lot as they went instantly between sure vacationer locations with none have to switch.
Is Central America low cost?
It massively relies upon the place you go! Costa Rica and Belize are tremendous costly and plenty of travellers would examine the costs there to Western international locations. Resort-filled areas on the Mexican Yucatan coast equivalent to Tulum and Cancun will also be very costly. Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador are total very cheap.
To present you an concept, a hostel dorm mattress in Belize units you again not less than about $25 there, with non-public rooms beginning at round $50. That is not less than twice (possibly even thrice) as a lot as in Guatemala or Honduras.
For extra particulars, take a look at my article on journey budgets in Central America.
Easy methods to journey on a funds
By and huge, Central America is straightforward to do on a funds. You’ll be able to maintain prices down by specializing in the cheaper international locations, in addition to simply maintaining your day-to-day prices beneath management.
For one of the best offers, resist shopping for native excursions or experiences on-line, particularly via worldwide platforms. It’s because there could also be fairly a markup utilized by these platforms and different third events. It’s usually less expensive to arrange actions regionally. Most vacationer cities have little journey businesses providing all types of actions, or you may guide these via a hostel or guesthouse.
Moreover lodging and excursions, meals is one other key expense. Truthfully, Central American meals generally is a little samey and boring, however consuming the native staples like rice, beans, plantains, and so forth will certainly maintain your prices down. A filling set lunch at a market eatery in Nicaragua would possibly set you again about $3.00. Not dangerous! Choosy eaters could need to spend extra, however if you happen to simply have to gas up on a funds, you certain can do it.
Studying some Spanish can assist you haggle in addition to getting instructions to extra native locations with low cost eats.
Is Central America secure?
Central America is quite secure in most international locations and more often than not. In some locations or international locations, it’s actually not so secure in any respect, although you may nonetheless transit safely via it. I hope that is smart.
I was simply all like “yaaaay, journey is wonderful and also you’ll by no means face any hazard! Go along with the wind!”. However as I’ve gotten extra skilled, I’ve acknowledged the have to be a bit extra nuanced. Conditions can change and everybody has various tolerance for (perceived) questions of safety as properly.
The underside line is that Honduras is actually very tough across the edges. The massive cities in Belize and Guatemala even have excessive crime charges and it’s price being only a bit extra warning in these international locations on the whole. You’ll be able to fear much less in, for instance, Costa Rica and southern Mexico. El Salvador, as soon as the world’s homicide capital, has been among the many most secure locations not too long ago because of the many modifications going down there.
Simply don’t bounce in with none self-awareness or a whole lack of expertise of the native state of affairs. You’ll be able to learn just a few particular security ideas for Central America. It might additionally assist to have traveled in different components of the world first; Europe, Asia, and even many components of South America are simpler if you happen to’re going in your first-ever backpacking journey.
For extra peace of thoughts, make sure to have some complete journey insurance coverage. This can make sure you’re coated within the case of any accident or theft. You’ll be able to get journey insurance coverage at Heymondo, which I exploit myself and advocate for any backpacking journeys.
Pssst, don’t overlook your journey insurance coverage!
Insurance coverage in itself received’t maintain you secure, however it would shield you from any monetary points if something occurs. Insurance coverage from Heymondo covers you for medical emergencies, theft, journey delay, cancellation, misplaced baggage, and extra.
What’s one of the best time to go?
The perfect time to journey Central America is in the course of the dry season. The precise timing of that is totally different in every nation, however broadly talking the dry season is between November and April.
That doesn’t imply the ‘moist season’ is all that dangerous. I used to be in Guatemala in September, which is supposedly the worst month, however I wouldn’t actually have guessed it on the time. Perhaps I bought fortunate, however I had an important expertise.
Certain, it rained a few occasions. Annoyingly, it rained whereas visiting the unimaginable ruins of Tikal. But the vacationer sights have been additionally freed from crowds and the jungles have been particularly lush and inexperienced. I visited Panajachel on Lake Atitlan throughout September and it was tremendous chill; once I got here again in December it was a cacophony of memento sellers, tour operators, and so forth. Fairly a stunning distinction!
Nonetheless, the widespread recommendation is to keep away from the months of July to September. Come to consider it, I did additionally witness the ravages of a tropical storm in Mexico throughout this time. I assume the dry season does provide extra assurances of excellent climate and good vibes. If pressured to journey in the course of the wet season, you continue to can although.
Needless to say Mexico and Costa Rica, standard as they’re with American holidaymakers, will refill rather a lot throughout US holidays equivalent to 4th of July.
Do you have to know Spanish?
No necesitas saber español para viajar por Centroamérica, pero definitivamente te ayuda!
Sorry.
What I imply to say is that Spanish data is certainly useful. Few folks in Latin America are multi-lingual and English is just not broadly spoken, so any Spanish you may muster will definitely be a plus.
Can you continue to survive with out Spanish? Nicely, certain! Most hostels have workers members that talk totally different languages. Native hospedajes or guesthouses may not, however the issues you have to talk (fee, wifi passwords, meals, and so forth.) are usually not precisely arduous to guess.
I used to be with a journey buddy who knew completely zero Spanish. All he knew to say was ‘necesito’ (‘I would like’) adopted by some gesture, pointing, or displaying an image of what he wanted. He bought via South- and Central America with no hitch. After all, Google Translate will also be of nice assist.
Nonetheless, figuring out some Spanish pays dividends all through your journey. One factor I love about backpacking in Latin America is you can get a lot nearer to the native tradition. In Asia, as an example, I usually felt a bit trapped within the vacationer bubble, normally unable to speak with anybody native (studying Thai or Vietnamese is a bit past my skills). In Latin America I may chit-chat with passengers on the bus and even date locals, including a unique dimension to the expertise.
A visit via Central America is an effective excuse to take not less than just a few Spanish lessons someplace. Likelihood is these lessons can be cheaper than you’ll ever be capable to get them at house. In one other submit I share my experiences with studying Spanish whereas touring in Central America.
Prime experiences in Central America
The area is dotted with volcanoes all through, so when you’re right here, you need to climb a volcano not less than as soon as!
In Guatemala, I climbed up Tajamulco volcano at evening to catch the dawn, which was simply out of this world. In Nicaragua, I hiked as much as Telica volcano, which was energetic on the time, and you could possibly peek over the sting and see the lava down beneath. Merely unforgettable. Many backpackers additionally converse extremely of the volcanoes close to Antigua, Guatemala. In Nicaragua, you too can go volcano boarding (sliding down a volcano like a sled).
The jungles and cloud forests of Costa Rica are to not miss. Do a day hike or, higher but, get a jungle tour at evening with a superb information. I used to be amazed at how a lot wildlife you could possibly see at shut vary.
The epic Mayan ruins of Tikal in Guatemala are one other unimaginable spotlight. It’s a well-liked vacationer vacation spot however not as crowded because the totally different ruins in Mexico, and it’s surrounded by jungle in a distant location, including to its mystique. Take into account getting up early to catch the dawn from one of many temples. Lake Atitlan and Semuc Champey are two different must-go locations in Guatemala.
Whereas backpacking Central America you’ll have some nice alternatives to study to surf. I completely suck at browsing however nonetheless take pleasure in making an attempt. A lot of low cost classes might be had particularly in El Salvador, Panama, or Nicaragua.
In Mexico, it’s price being there round Day of the Lifeless and different native festivities. The nation as a complete is an actual cultural and culinary spotlight. The cenotes (river caves) within the Yucatan are wonderful. You’ll be able to snorkel via them and even scuba dive.
Lastly, I cherished the San Blas Islands off the coast of Panama. I noticed these on my method to Colombia and it was one of many actual highlights. My recollections of staying on almost uninhabited islands and snorkeling with large manta rays are just about burned into my neurons endlessly.
Needless to say do you have to want to proceed your journey to South America, it’s not doable overland!
There’s an enormous stretch of impenetrable and harmful jungle within the east of Panama known as the Darien Hole. There aren’t any roads in any respect via the Darien Hole so you’ll both need to fly or sail round. I can a lot advocate crusing between Panama and Colombia. Many captains function non-public companies taking vacationers to and from Cartagena. It’s an unimaginable 5-day journey that takes you previous the San Blas Islands.
In case you’re nonetheless on the fence about backpacking Central America, I hope I’ve impressed you to get off that rattling fence and to start out planning your journey! You positively received’t remorse backpacking Central America.
P.S. Did you discover this submit helpful however you could possibly use extra detailed assist? Then take a look at my guide, Journey the World With out Worries. Readers have known as it their “single greatest pre-trip buy” and “complete, informational, humorous and provoking”. I assure it would higher put together you for all of the challenges (and enjoyable) of backpacking Central America.
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