Before delving into our favourite places in Central America, I would like to call attention to the fact (as obvious as it may be) that everyone travels differently. Phil and I enjoy exploring cities, meeting different types of people (preferably those without psychopathic traits), learning about the history and culture of the place we are visiting, and throwing in a few excursions through nature for good measure. You would not catch us visiting every museum and every ruin site or hiking every mountain and every volcano because we like variety and have a tendency to get bored easily. We are also not intrepid travellers so, anything that involves taking unnecessary risks is not something we are keen on. Our purpose is to enjoy the ride and not suffer throughout the journey.

With that said, after five months of travelling through Mexico and constantly being amazed by its magnificence, Central America left us underwhelmed. The region was more expensive than expected (or warranted) and the conditions for road travellers were far from ideal on numerous occasions. We felt that we could have easily cut our time there by at least a month. There were certain places that were recommended to us that, while we thought were nice, involved more stress than we like in our travels. Semuc Champey is an example of such a place and, as a result, did not make our list.

Despite the fact that we do not plan to return, we are glad we travelled through Central America and we did enjoy a few places. We hope that our account of the region is not too discouraging for anyone eager to visit. Remember that this is just our perspective and we personally know of numerous people who have loved Central America.

 

Tikal, Guatemala

Even if you’re not a big fan of ruins, no visit to Guatemala should go without a visit to Tikal, an archaeological site of one of the largest and most important Mayan cities from over 1,000 years ago. The site consists of numerous impressive structures scattered throughout the area that you can easily spend an entire day exploring. Many of these structures have been excavated while a number of them still remain enveloped by the jungle. Unlike many other ruin sites, at Tikal, you can climb to the top of a few the temples using proper modern stairs (as opposed to the hazardous ones that the ancient Mayans used) to enjoy the incredible views from above the treetops. Bonus is that the jungles serve as a home to some unusual wildlife. Ever seen an ocellated turkey?

 

Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala is a small city in the central highlands of Guatemala that is famous for its well-preserved colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. The city is safer and has better infrastructure than the rest of Guatemala thanks to its high tourist traffic and it also has lovely weather year-round; never too hot or too cold. It is easy to fill up your time here with museums, churches, restaurants, stores, and markets; however, if you are looking to take Spanish language classes, look elsewhere. While Antigua Guatemala has a countless number of Spanish language schools, quality is absent and you will make better progress with a free language learning app like Duolingo.

 

Panajachel, Guatemala

Panajachel is the gateway town to Lake Atitlán, a beautiful lake encircled by three volcanoes that also happens to be the deepest in Central America. While the tourist traffic through Panajachel can be attributed to its proximity to the lake, the town itself is quite nice and has a number of restaurants, market stalls, and various activities geared towards tourists. Some say that Panajachel is the best place in Guatemala to shop for souvenirs as the selection is large, prices are low, and haggling is the norm.

 

San Salvador, El Salvador

This one will come as a surprise to many due to the city’s (and the entire country’s) reputation, but San Salvador was quite a nice city. There are numerous areas that are in an unfortunate state; however, there were some areas nice enough to remind us of Mexico City. Salvadorians are some of the friendliest and most welcoming people you can ever meet and they will gladly advise visitors on where to go and where not to go. If you’ve had too many meals of rice and beans that are all-too-common throughout the other Central American countries, Salvadorian cuisine will offer you a much-needed delicious break with a variety of different dishes that happen to be cheaper than the aforementioned rice and beans in the neighbouring countries. Pupusas, anyone?

 

Granada, Nicaragua

Granada is a gorgeous colonial city on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. It is one of the more refined cities of Central America, perhaps due to its sizeable expat population. The city center is much nicer than the lakeside area and contains an array of restaurants, museums, galleries, and markets among the various things visitors can fill their time with. For a small fee, you can also climb to the bell tower of the Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral to enjoy an incredible view of the whole city.

 

Ometepe, Nicaragua

Ometepe is an island on Lake Nicaragua that is formed by two volcanoes and has a more laid-back and tranquil vibe than mainland Nicaragua. It is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with its tropical rainforests, diverse wildlife, freshwater pools, waterfalls, and beaches. Even if you don’t fall into that category, riding around the island on a bike (easily rented from one of the numerous bike rental places) is a great way to spend a day in Ometepe. Bonus is that the roads on the island are surprisingly good.

 

La Fortuna, Costa Rica

As a whole, Costa Rica is a beautiful country; very clean and with lush vegetation wherever you go. La Fortuna is a small town that serves as a gateway to the Arenal Volcano and the Tabacón Hot Springs. The town itself is charming and has a local feel to it, despite its volume of tourists. You see just as many locals in town as you do foreigners. A big drawback of La Fortuna (along with the rest of Costa Rica) is that it is really expensive and prices are sometimes higher than what you would see in the USA.

 

Panama City, Panama

Casco Viejo, the old quarter of Panama City, is a charming little part of the city that is very popular with local and foreign tourists due to its waterfront locale and colonial architecture. The area used to be a hotbed for gang violence and various other criminal activities; however, thanks to deep-pocketed investors, the area is quickly becoming gentrified and, as a result, is filled with numerous stores, restaurants, and museums now. Unfortunately, there are no nice beaches within Panama City’s vicinity; however, you can get a nice view of the city center from the seawall of the old quarter.