Author	Message
JaMeZ Moderator Amsterdam	# Posted: 22 May 2005 15:41:14 I'll be visiting Central America this summer for about two months, and am very curious about travel experiences from people who've already been there. I'll definitely be visiting Mexico and Guatemala, and possibly Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and who knows where else. I so far have no clue about my route or anything, but I'd definitely appreciate some recommendations for that region. Which villages, cities, regions, countries did you like best? (And are there places where you'd never ever ever want to go again?) Cheers! James "It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear." - Douglas Adams

Anonymous Guest	# Posted: 30 Sep 2005 04:58:10 James, I lived in Costa Rica for six months and I can tell you that you can't go to Central America and not see the Cloud Forests of Monteverde. Making it down to Corcovado on the southwestern peninsula of CR is also a must, but getting there can be tricky. If you make it down to Panama you should hit up Bocas Del Toro, a group of islands on the Carribean side. Good luck with your travels, I'm sure it will be a blast. From another, James
Anonymous Guest	# Posted: 1 Oct 2005 02:36:44 Nicaragua Hi, if you visit Nicaragua, I suggest Nicaragua Guest House, they are offering round trip transfer to the International Airport to Guest House, NO ADDITIONAL COST, please visit <SNIP> Roberto
JaMeZ Moderator Amsterdam	# Posted: 1 Oct 2005 13:41:53 · Edited by: JaMeZ Hi James, Thanks for your tips! Actually, I'm back a month from my journey by now and ended up visiting "only" Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. The region is just so huge and there's so much to see, two months really wasn't enough. You could easily spend six months exploring just Central America, and then you might as well take another six months for South America (you know, while you're in the neighbourhood might as well take advantage of it ;)). I've heard great stories about Costa Rica and Panama, including the places you mentioned, and the next time I'll visit the region I will most definitely spend some time there to take it all in. I'm quite certain I'll go back someday too, because I had a blast indeed, and the countries are ABsolutely gorgeous! James "It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear." - Douglas Adams
Helen Guest	# Posted: 27 Dec 2005 14:27:07 Hi James, I'm off to Guatemala next week to live for, as yet, an unspecified amount of time (at least 6 months)!I would be interested to hear of your experiences there. I'll be working in Guatemala City but hope to get the chance to see other parts of the country too. Thanks Helen
JaMeZ Moderator Amsterdam	# Posted: 27 Dec 2005 17:03:12 Hi Helen, Cool plan! Last summer I spent about a month in Guatemala travelling around. It's an absolutely beautiful country! Especially the magnificent nature (active vulcanoes, jungles, rivers, lakes, mountains, etc) is simply fascinating. I hardly spent any time in Guatemala City. The few hours that I did spend there I couldn't really appreciate the place. It's a huge contrast with the rest of the country: industrial, ugly, dangerous (the thefts I heard of from other backpackers occurred only there). I've written a destination guide on Guatemala (you can find it at http://www.worldbackpackers.net/destination/guatemala.html ) which is based on my own experiences. I hope that guide can be of some use to you. James "It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear." - Douglas Adams
lizzy sturt Member england	# Posted: 13 Aug 2006 18:34:06 hi guys, just have to highlight that people travelling through central america should really try not to miss out on NICARAGUA!! i spent ten weeks there last year and fell in love with the place, considering the relative unstability of the country, the people there more than friendly, always interested in the gringo's, and the places where beautiful and unspoilt by tourism. i'd only suggest avoiding the shitty capital managua, where extreme wealth only contrasts the extreme poverty, and crime is abundant, stay at home at night. and also bluefields, a port on the caribbean side, is a bit of a crack haven. gang warfare and the like! but safe enough if you literally dash through to the corn islands. on a better note, don't miss leon, the liberal city to the northwest, near volcan cosiguina (also definately worth a peek), and san juan del sur to the south, with chances to see the spectacular turtle arribada in la flor. not much is better than waking up on a stunning beach and peeking your head out of a tent to watch a massive olive ridley digging her nest on your doorstep! i'm off to mexico to start a six month tour (hopefully extending into forever!) of latin america in the first week of september, so if anyone has travelling tips for other countries, please fire away. especially the tricky problem of panama to ecuador, overland?? v. low budget. anywho's happy travelling guys love and peace Lizzy xxxx "the world is like a ride at an amusement park..."- Bill Hicks