General Central Amercia thread - the must see and do things

General Central Amercia thread - the must see and do things

Author
Discussion

SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Saturday 17th January 2015
quotequote all
I have been looking at central America as a next see place to visit and tour. All looks very interesting, a few countries to visit without much travel, hardly any visas needed either.

Can't find many recent threads so thought i'd start a new general one on any of the countries, so
Any experiences ?
Must see places/things to do ?
Things to avoid ?

SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Monday 19th January 2015
quotequote all
I was thinking Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama. wink

SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Monday 19th January 2015
quotequote all
well, the spelling police haven't noticed my mistake so I'll keep quiet too !!

SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
quotequote all
Hi again Olli, i seem to be following you around !!

Looks like i might be pulling the trigger on a way one ticket to Cancun in a few days.

I've been flashpacking around but happy to stay in the odd hostel when needed (i like my own space and am now 46!).

I'm more into just travelling to interesting places, seeing weird and wonderful things, i like being by the sea but won't spend too much time on the beach. Partying with the 18-30's is now a thing of the past so will stay away from full moon parties and the like. Will still go to lively places though as always enjoy a few beers/live music.

I will have a couple of months i reckon before i need to move on, think you can get a visa on arrival in most countries bar one ? (Can't remember which one right now).

I hope to go to all the countries you have mentioned so if there is anything you did which you think is a must see thing to do, see or experience let me know.

Cheers thumbup

SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
quotequote all
Thanks Olli, just in from pub, will read tomorrow, flying thursday !!

SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for all the info Ollie. Someone told me to get the hell out of Cancun as soon as i arrive and head to Playa Del Carmen so i found a cheap place online to stay there for a couple of days. Sounds like i need to get out of there pretty quick too !

Having had a quick look at accomodation it certainly seems more expensive than Asia - i'm hoping thats just Mexico !!

So you can book up tours to the temples and ruins from Playa Del Carmen easily ?

Does everywhere take dollars ? Is it worth taking a bundle out with me or just use ATMs and their local currencey ?

SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Monday 9th February 2015
quotequote all
Hey Ollie - it seems you went from Coruzel to Ambergris Caye by ferry taxi ?

Any reason you didn't go from Chetumal to Ambergris Caye ? Seems easier than having to go into mainland Belize.

Went to Chichen Itza today, decided to stay in Valladolid for a couple a days and really like it, prpoer little colonial town. Massive difference to Playa Del Carmen !!


SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
OK, good tip about the tax, think I have deleted the details about my flight so will have to try and retrieve it somehow.

Any recommendations for somewhere to stay on Caye Caulker ?

SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
quotequote all
I just had a look on the back of the tourist card and it doesn't mention anything about the tax ?


SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
Yep, still alive !!

I haven't been moving very quickly so i'm still in Guatemala and think i'll stay here for the next two weeks.

I would have only managed Mexico, Belize and Guat in about 7 weeks.

Just had a look at my passport and it is scribbled with a '90' on it, didn't pay any attention at the time, just got the stamp which sounded like the most important as sometimes they don't stamp and then fine you 100 USD when you leave !. Did you pay you 20 Guatemalan Grouchos when you entered ?

SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Monday 2nd March 2015
quotequote all
I'm in Antigua right now but all quiet on the volcano front, it went off 3 weeks ago but nothing since. I like it here, very relaxing and not too expensive if you know where to eat.

Off to Lake Atitlan next for a few days.

Feeling a little old too, these backpackers have become very young all of a sudden !!

SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2015
quotequote all
Well I heard from a barmen last night that one of them could be seen the night before spilling lava from its sides so I'll have to watch out for that.
I've been up Mt Etna and saw large pool of lava oozing from its sides so unsure if I want to do another just yet.
Thanks for the info about Atitlan, not sure which hostel I've booked but think it was little out of town so might be lucky !!
There's some crazy prosessions going on here right now, hundreds of people in the streets carrying statues of Christ and all sorts. Gets bigger the nearer it is to Easter.

SimonTheSailor

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
quotequote all
Had a great time in Antigua, was there when the Easter celebrations had started. Only gets bigger as it gets nearer Easter.







There were thousands of people in the streets but when it becomes the easter weekend there hundreds of thousands as its the biggest Easter celebration in thd world ! Totally unexpected as i hadn't done any research as to what was happening. Back there next weekend so should be even bigger.

Antigua is a nice place by itself to visit without the celebrations -







Currently at Lake Atitlan, just about to go on a tour around the lake to visit some of the more local villages. Has a very cool backdrop this place with volcanos everywhere !!



I've been keeping a blog going of where i've been so if you're interested pop over to www.simonthesailor.com !!


SimonTheSailor

Original Poster:

12,609 posts

229 months

Monday 16th March 2015
quotequote all
Haven't travelled there yet I'm afraid, only come from Cancun, Belize, Guaemala.


@ Moto traxport - good tip about Indian Nose, not sure about the easy climb, I was wheezing like a 40 a day smoker by the time I got to the top !! Worth it though !!