Hi, my family is looking to move to a Spanish speaking beach town with a bilingual school for our kids and both these towns seem like a good fit. Anyone been to both and can weigh in on your experience?

I'm in SJDS right now and slightly underwhelmed, so I'm debating hopping down to Samara to check it out. Lots of people on the internet talking trash about CR these days and I'm not sure how true it is, I haven't been there in years. Would love some kind input, thanks :)

Hi everyone. I just wanted to ask if anybody knows of a reliable website/ company that I can use to buy a birthday card. I live in the UK and my friend lives in El Salvador, her birthday is coming up soon and I want to send her a card. Traditional posting through royal mail is very unreliable- the last time I sent her a letter it took 6 weeks to arrive. Her birthday is this month, and I don't want to send anything delayed. Through google I can't find a service that will allow me to customise a card and send it to her; in the UK we have a website called moonpig which sends cards and gifts, and I can't find an alternative. Any help would be really appreciated!

Hey guys,

Myself and three of my friends will be traveling from Mexico to Costa Rica. We will be traveling from Mexico in to Belize then Guatemala then flying to Nicaragua then finally making our way to Costa Rica.

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I suppose my main question is should I be concerned that Im traveling in June and July. I hear the countries have micro climates so some places get much less rain than other places that are reasonably closer (This could be completely false, hoping someone could verify!). Where should I travel to avoid really bad rainy days? And is ot even that bad will the rain ruin most of our days?

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Another concern I have is : Is it still a good and vibrant spot for students, i hear the party hostels are great but are these still great in June/July since its no longer peak season?? Is there still plenty of tourists?

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We have 6/7 weeks to do it all, any recommendations on places to go or stay at would be absolutely amazing.

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Thank you :)))

Hi everyone!

Travelling to central america for the first time this summer and am a keen reader. Can anyone reccomend some books (either fiction or non-fiction) about central america to give a good understanding of the area? Specifically interested in reading about Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

Thanks!

It seems each country has its own sign language. Is it possible to learn one sign language that most people in Central American countries will understand? If so, which one?

Me and my friend (both 22F) have a week to spend in the Caribbean this October before we head to Mexico. We’re on a backpacker's budget and can’t decide: should we explore just one island thoroughly or try hopping a few? We’re looking for:

• Budget-friendly options: Cheap stays, eats, and fun activities.
• Ease of travel: Especially since we’re heading to Mexico after. Is there an island that makes this easier?
• Activities: We’re up for anything fun and unique to the Caribbean experience.

Questions:

1. For a week’s visit, is it better to stick to one island or do some island-hopping? Why?
2. If you suggest one island, which one? If you suggest hopping, which islands and in what order?
3. Any specific tips on transportation, places to stay, or must-do activities on a tight budget?

Looking forward to your suggestions. Thanks!

Hey everyone, I hope you’re all well. I’m going to be travelling Central America for 3 and a half weeks in late July and I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations or adjustments to my itinerary. It’s been made with journey distances in mind as we will be getting buses between the destinations. We’re flying into and out of Guatemala. Here’s the current draft:

Antigua - 2 nights El Tunco - 3 nights Léon - 3 nights Omatepe - 4 nights Copan Ruinas - 2 nights Rio Dulce - 2 nights Caye Caulker - 3 nights Lake Atitlan - 4 nights

The main places I feel I’d love to fit in are the Bay Islands in Honduras, Tikal, San Pedro Sula and Santa Ana but how does my itinerary rary look to you? Literally any feedback would be so greatly appreciated

I'm going on a solo trip to Central America for around 2 months starting next week. What would be some advice for someone new to this region?

Looking for a quick 4 day getaway for labour day out of DFW. But i see its rainy season in all latin american.(saving guatemala for jan 2025) can anyone suggest some good places to travel and enjoy despite of bad weather?

(Never been out of usa 🙃)

Soy estudiante de doctorado en lingüística de la Universidad de Kansas y estoy haciendo una investigación sobre la percepción habla para personas que viven en El Salvador y que han aprendido o estudiado inglés (no tienes que ser experto, solo entenderla a un nivel básico). La investigación es sobre cómo se perciben los sonidos del habla entre estas lenguas distintas. Es totalmente en línea, sola tarde aproximadamente 40 minutos para completar, y recibirás $6 USD por PayPal o Western Unión al término del experimento. He subido un post aquí en el pasado sobre un estudio similar, este proyecto es una extensión a esa investigación!

Si quieres participar o si conoces a una persona en El Salvador, por favor envíame un mensaje directo o comentario aquí en Reddit o sigue el código QR abajo, gracias 🙂

I’m a linguistics PhD student at the University of Kansas and I’m doing a study over speech perception for Salvadoran Spanish speakers who have learned or studied English (you don’t have to be an expert, only understand it at a basic level). The research is over how speech sounds are perceived across distinct languages. The experiment is completely online, only takes around 40 minutes to complete, and afterwards you will receive $6 USD via PayPal or Western Union as a thank you for participating. I’ve posted a similar study here in the past, and this project is an extension to that work!

If you would like to participate or know someone in El Salvador who might be interested, please send me a DM, comment here in this post, or follow the QR code below, thanks! 🙂

Hey guys. I am in my 20s and am planning on traveling to Guat this July or August. I am going for 11 days and would like to visit Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and Semuc Champey. My first question is, is it possible to genuinely enjoy each of these locations in 11 days, or is that rushing the trip? I plan to do many of the attractions around Antigua, (Hobbitengo, Volcan de Fuego Hike, Mayan Ruins etc.), Visit most of the towns around Lake Atitlan, and have a least a full day at Semuc Champey. Does this sound reasonable? My second question is should I rent a car for part of/ the entire trip? I've read that the road to Semuc Champey is treaturous, but can't find any concrete answers on the internet. I would probably just rent the cheapest sedan that I could find at the airport (GUA) to drive around in. I have read that the public transportation is decent, but I am an adventurous traveler and like to have the freedom to go to and from places as I please. What do you guys think?

Hi everyone, im looking for a safe space in central america to experience kambo. I did ayahuasca in peru a couple years ago and although i would love to go back, im feeling more of a calling towards guatemala or the surrounding countries. Im also open to any spiritual places/retreats/people youve experienced in central america not necessarily related to any plant medicines. Thank you!

Hey there! So, ever since I've been hanging out in chilly Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, I've been lugging around all these bulky warm clothes in my luggage. Now I'm thinking it's time to send them back home to the UK by post. I checked out DHL here in Guatemala, but they quoted me a crazy price of 999Q (almost £100) for a small packet - yikes! Does anyone know of a more reasonably priced and reliable postal service in any Central American country? I'm melting in this heat with a big ol' suitcase that I seriously need to unload some stuff from. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

I (23M) will graduate from university this July and I am planning to travel around Central-America. At this moment i am thinking about going from Panama to Cancun.

Where should I go and what should I skip? And is The perfect route from South to the North or otherwise?

I would love to see every country in Central-America but i have doubts about Honduras and El Salvador.

I myself think about 6 months, I would like to see a lot of these countries but not everything. I start in Panama city and will go up North. I know everyone is talking about The San Blas islands in Panama but i want to skip these because they dont align with my route up North. Also, what should I not miss when I backpack trough these countries?

Every tip is welcome! ❤️ from the Netherlands

Im planning a trip this summer (July), with my gf. Currently, we’re planning on doing Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico (Yucatan). I’ve created an itinerary based on online research, and with a bit of help from ChatGPT.

How does this look to you? Any feedback?

Day 1-2: Antigua Guatemala

• Explore the colonial streets, visit historical sites like the Santa Catalina Arch and the Convent of the Capuchinas.
• Prepare for the Acatenango hike.

Day 3-4: Acatenango Hike

• Begin the overnight hike to Acatenango Volcano, where you'll camp and witness breathtaking views of neighboring Fuego Volcano erupting.

Day 5-7: Lake Atitlan

• Transportation: Return to Antigua from the Acatenango hike and then take a shuttle or public bus to Lake Atitlan (about 3-4 hours).
• Enjoy the picturesque lake surrounded by volcanoes.
• Visit villages like Panajachel, San Pedro La Laguna, and Santiago Atitlán.
• Take a boat tour around the lake.

Day 8-10: Semuc Champey

• Transportation: Take a shuttle or bus from Lake Atitlan to Semuc Champey (around 8-10 hours).
• Experience the natural beauty of Semuc Champey's turquoise pools and caves.
• Go tubing in the Cahabón River.
• Explore the nearby Lanquín Caves.

Day 11-13: Flores and Tikal

• Transportation: Take a shuttle or bus from Semuc Champey to Flores (about 8-10 hours).
• Visit the island town of Flores on Lake Petén Itzá.
• Explore the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal, one of the largest archaeological sites in Mesoamerica.

Day 14-16: Caye Caulker, Belize

• Transportation: Take a shuttle to Belize City and then a water taxi to Caye Caulker (total travel time around 6-7 hours).
• Take a ferry to Caye Caulker, a laid-back island paradise.
• Snorkel or dive in the Belize Barrier Reef.
• Relax on the island's sandy beaches.

Day 17-19: Bacalar, Mexico

• Transportation: Take a water taxi back to Belize City, then a shuttle or bus to Bacalar (total travel time around 5-6 hours).
• Travel to Bacalar, known as the "Lagoon of Seven Colors."
• Swim and kayak in the stunning turquoise waters.
• Visit the Fort of San Felipe Bacalar.

Day 20-22: Tulum

• Transportation: Take a shuttle or bus from Bacalar to Tulum (about 4-5 hours).
• Explore the beautiful beaches and ancient ruins of Tulum.
• Visit the Tulum Archaeological Site overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
• Relax in beachfront cafes and explore the town's bohemian vibe.

Day 23-25: Valladolid

• Transportation: Take a shuttle or bus from Tulum to Valladolid (around 1-2 hours).
• Explore the colonial charm of Valladolid.
• Visit nearby cenotes like Cenote Suytun and Cenote Ik Kil.
• Discover the nearby Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá.

Day 26: Las Coloradas

• Transportation: Take a shuttle or bus from Valladolid to Las Coloradas (about 2-3 hours).
• Take a day trip to the pink lakes of Las Coloradas for a unique photo opportunity.

Day 27: Return to Cancun

• Transportation: Take a shuttle or bus from Las Coloradas to Cancun (around 3-4 hours).
• Spend the day relaxing or exploring Cancun before your flight home.

I would like to organize a backpacking trip for a month in May, in Central America. The flights are to and from San Salvador, El Salvador (very cheap flights), but I am willing to travel to other countries.

I have already been to Guatemala (Atitlan, Antigua, Acatenango, Tikal etcc…) and Belize (Caye Caulker only) and also El Tunco in El Salvador. I have absolutely loved these places, the culture and natural beauty! However, I am now thinking of exploring more of El Salvador and then the rest of Central America.

I have heard Nicaragua is stunning, and would love to discover it.

Many have warned me about dangers in Honduras - but I don’t really know what to think.

Would you have any tips on how I should plan for a month long trip in that region? Keep in mind I am a rather adventurous traveler, without the budget for nice hotels, and ready to travel by chicken bus etc…

Thank you!!

Will be in Panama City for 6 days the 2nd week of May. Any must do’s?

Seeing the canal is on the list. Panama City itself looks to have some charming neighborhoods to explore. Will be saying off Cinco Costera.

Anything in the city and out that I absolutely need to check out?

Has anyone ever done a self-supported kayaking trip through Guna Yala and the San Blas islands? I would fly into Panama so I would need to rent a kayak. Is there somewhere to rent on on or near Isla Tigre? Or is it possible to rent one on the mainland and take it on a boat to Isla Tigre? Any other information about renting a boat to get to Isla Tigre/western end of the archipelago or knowledge about the tides and currents would be greatly appreciated. The trip would take place around the last two weeks of June. Thanks!

How strict is tag airline with their carry on size & weight. We will be going from guatemala city to flores & I don't want to check luggage, as I've heard it's not reliable. We have backpacks and I'm sure they will be under the 10lb limit, but they are a little bigger than the 16x9x9 dimensions given on their site. Will they actually make us check our back packs if the are larger? One is 17x12x7 & the other is a little larger. Most airlines let us fly these as personal items.

My dad passed a few weeks ago, and I’m grieving hard. I’ve had a trip planned for months to Guatemala at the end of this month, but I feel guilty about going and am afraid I’ll be depressed the whole time. Should I go or just stay home and grieve properly? Will the magic of Guatemala help me heal? Thanks

Hi everyone. My wife and I (in our 30's) are planning a trip to central/south America. We've about 6-8 weeks and we're planning to do 2-3 in either Costa Rica or Panama.

We are torn and I want to know if you have any opinions on which we should go to? For context we are Irish, like outdoors (not big city people), enjoy exploring other cultures etc. I'm a fairly confident driver if car hire is a must. We are both reasonably risk adverse (e.g. we are avoiding Brazil because of travel advisories). Neither of us have explore central or south America before, we've recently finished extensively travelling SE Asia.

TL;DR if you had 3 weeks, would you go to Costa Rica or Panama

Does one need a yellow fever vax for traveling in central america and crossing borders into different countries? I've read you only need one if you're coming from an infected area... but didn't feel like I could find a definitive answer.

Hi everyone!!

Planning a trip to honduras soon. We need to get from san pedro sula to la ceiba. What should we do about transportation?

Our flight lands at 1am. Can we grab a rental car that early? Do we need a honduran license?

Will a taxi take us there? How do we find a taxi?

Should we go by bus?

We need to be on the Roatan ferry by 9:30am. If we go by bus will we make it in time?

How much did transportation cost? Is there a way i can find out before hand?

I know it's not thier native habitat but i was wondering if there is sighting or proof some some lurk the waters simular to the Florida everglades situation due to stray pet snakes or maybe once in a while they migrate from colombia through rural areas eventually making thier way through the darien gap.