Backpacking Central America: Everything You Need to Know

Antigua, Guatemala — Usually the first stop on the Gringo Trail: The perfect Central America adaptation spot. You will be in awe hiking active volcanoes and feel like you’ve transported back in time as you see locals in their traditional Mayan clothing.

COUNTRIES IN CENTRAL AMERICA: Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

VACCINATIONS NEEDED:

• Yellow Fever (Needed for the Caribbean Coast)
• Malaria Tablets (Needed for the Caribbean coast)
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A
• Zithromax (Antibiotics)

Total Cost: $370 CDN (about $284 USD)

VISA REQUIREMENTS:

• Visa not required for U.S. or Canadian citizens traveling through Central America.
• If you would like to stay longer, visa runs are easy to get away with, especially in Guatemala.

Guatemala/Honduras/ El Salvador/Nicaragua: Can travel up to 90 days within the four countries

Belize: Proof of onward travel. Can travel up to 30 days

Costa Rica: Proof of onward travel. Can travel up to 30 days

Panama: Proof of onward travel. Can travel up to 30 days

“THE GRINGO TRAIL” (ROUTE):

1) Most people start in Mexico, heading to one of the best spots, Tulum, making a quick pit stop in Caye Caulker, Belize and then taking a chicken bus heading down to Guatemala.

2) Guatemala: Semuc Champey > Tikal > Panajachel (day trip to Chichicastenango) > ferry to San Pedro (day trip to Santiago and San Marcus) > back to Panajachel via ferry and to Antigua (day trip to Monterrico).

3) Honduras: Uvita Island (If you plan to get your dive certificate) or Rotan.

4) El Salvador: Everyone heads straight to El Tunco from Honduras or Guatemala and typically skips the rest of the country. Note: If you would like to check out surf beaches here, visit El Zonte, El Zunsal and La Libertad as well. For calm swimming and less tourists, go to El Cuco Beach.

5) Nicaragua: Leon (trips to Isla Los Brasiles and Las Penitas) > Granada (trips to El Gigante, Lago De Apoyo and Little Corn Island) > Ometepe Island > San Juan Del Sur.

6) Costa Rica: San Jose > Monteverde Cloud Forest > La Fortuna > Pacific Coast and Caribbean Coast including:

• North Pacific Coast: Del Coco Beach, Playa Grande, Tamarindo

• Nicoya Peninsula: Santa Teresa, Montezuma, Mai Pais

• South Pacific Coast: Jaco > Manuel Antonio

• Caribbean Coast: Tortuguero> Limon > Puerto Viejo

• Panama: Bocas Del Toro > Santa Catalina > Panama City > San Blas Islands

El Salvador is the second country typically visited — The breathtaking Playa El Tunco with its notorious boulder in the ocean is a popular swim destination, on which to watch the most beautiful sunsets of your life.

BUDGETING FOR ALL COUNTRIES (not including long-distance transit or entry/exit fees)

Fiscal Budget

• $15-20/day (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama)
• $35/day (Costa Rica)

Average Budget

• $25-30/day (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama)
• $45-50/day (Belize and Costa Rica)

ENTRY/EXIT FEES

Belize: Exit fee — $18.75 by land and $35 fee by plane

Guatemala: Exit Fee — $30 by plane (typically included in ticket), 20Q to exit by land is a scam

El Salvador: No Entry or Exit Fee!

Honduras: $3 Entry Fee

Nicaragua: $12 Entry fee by land, $2 Exit fee by land

Costa Rica: $7 Exit fee by land, $35 Exit Fee by plane

Panama: $4 Entry Fee by land, $6 Exit Fee by land

Between gorgeous nature reserves, soft sand beaches and hippie islands, Nicaragua has got it all!

TRANSIT

Types of Transit:

• Local Buses (aka: “Chicken Bus”)
• Collectivo (mini-van/shuttle bus)
• Coach (long-distance buses)
• Taxis (avoid unless necessary)

Long Distance Buses:

• Tica Bus (ticabus.com)
• Nica Bus
• King Quality
• Panaline (fascinationcostarica.com)

Note: can buy tickets from the station

If you like beaches, parties and a “pura vida” life, Costa Rica will not disappoint.

Transit Resources:

• The Bus Station: busstation.net (Information with transit-related links all over the world including Central America)

• The Bus Schedule: thebusschedule.com

“The online bus schedule for Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean and the Balearic Islands. The online schedule includes bus, train and boat connections between more then 3700 places for your travel in the following countries. All time tables are also available by cell phone.”

LOCAL TRANSIT COSTS

Belize: $3.50/water taxi from island, $0.50-$2/hour bus

Guatemala: $10/collectivo, $2/hour chicken bus

El Salvador: $0.50-$5/hour chicken bus

Honduras: $0.50-$5/hour chicken bus

Nicaragua: $2/hour chicken bus

Costa Rica: $8-10/bus

Panama: $5-10/bus

FOR DIET RESTRICTIONS IN CENTRAL AMERICA:

• Vegan/Vegetarian friendly throughout!

From the Caribbean coast, you will head straight to the island of Bocas Del Toro in Panama, getting around solely by boat and then end your Central American days taking in the beautiful Caribbean landscape.