Backpacking Central America

Destinations

Backpacking Central America

Composed of seven culturally rich and historically fascinating countries, all in the tropics, and all with at least one border made up purely of tropical beaches, it’s hard to go wrong backpacking Central America! The region is an unbeatable combination of geographic phenomena (volcanoes, rainforests and impossible large coffee and banana plantations), historical wonders, and a renowned backpacker’s scene.

Whether you’re on a longer trip, or just have a few weeks to get around, backpacking Central America is a win-win option with something to offer everyone – from 16th Century Spanish colonial towns, to ancient Mayan ruins, to world class surf breaks! Plus it’s an accessible and easy to navigate region: with no three-day bus journeys to get to your next destination. There are downsides – backpacking Central America can be expensive if you’re not careful (some countries are much cheaper if you’re on a shoestring), and many of the prime beachside regions are established holiday destinations for hordes of America tourists – but if you plan your route and delve a bit deeper then backpacking Central America will give you all you could possible wish for from your backpacking experience.

Where is it and what’s there?

Central America is the narrow landmass that links North and South America. Relative to its neighbours, Central America is pretty small – around 3% of the landmass of South America, and all seven countries together are actually slightly smaller than France.

Many of Central America’s countries have active volcanoes, and a chain of volcanoes runs through the centre of Central America from the Mexican border all the way through to Panama. This is the most volcanically active region of the Americas and, although their potential to cause devastation is obvious, they do provide many of the most breathtaking visual experiences of a backpacking Central America trip.

The northernmost countries of Central America – Guatemala and Belize – border Mexico, and Panama (the southernmost country) borders Columbia. Central America is sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Panama Canal runs through the narrowest point of Panama (it’s around 50 miles long), and links the oceans on either side, saving shipping from making the perilous (and much longer) journey around Cape Horn.

The climate

The whole of Central America lies within the tropics, resulting in high temperatures year round at low altitude – as you go higher towards the more mountainous interior the climate changes accordingly. Locally the climate is referred to in three distinct categories:

– Up to 900m (tierra caliente). The weather at these lower altitudes is hot year round. The wettest times of the year, with frequent tropical storms, are between May and September. – Between 900m and 1800m (tierra templada) the climate is cooler. This is where many tropical crops, such as coffee, are grown. The rainfall is still very much seasonal, but varies in different areas depending on local factors such as the prevailing wind in a particular region. – Above 1,800 (tierra fria). Temperatures here are significantly cooler, and there is occasional frost and snow, although nowhere in Central America is high enough to have snow all year round.

Another climactic variable that you need to be aware of when backpacking Central America is hurricane season. These do not occur every year, but there have been devastating hurricanes in the recent past. They can occur at any time between June and November, so if you’re heading anywhere ‘off the radar’ during this time be sure to check the (pretty accurate) long range forecasts before you set off.

In reality it’s Central America’s idyllic climate that makes it such an attractive region to visit – especially if sunshine and tropical beaches are your thing. Plus, although it does get very hot, afternoon sea breezes are pretty much guaranteed, and provide a perfect antidote to the heat giving you a chance to get some sightseeing done.

Getting there and visas

It is easy to begin your backpacking Central America travels by air. All of the capitals have airports with international links, and most have several other decent size airports too. There are always cheap flights from the US, and most international flights will stop off here before going on anyway. It can be worth looking for cheap flights to the US, and then arranging the onward leg as a separate journey – if you can be flexible and hang around for a couple of days or so, you may just find yourself beginning your travels with a bit more cash in your pocket. Be sure to check out flights to airports throughout the region too to maximise your chances of turning up a bargain.

You can also arrive by bus from North America – It’s around 1000 miles from the US/Mexico border to Guatemala,

In terms of visas, when you’re backpacking Central America you can travel pretty freely. Citizens of most countries (including most European countries, US and Australia) do not need pre-arranged visas to enter countries. Most offer a visa on arrival which is valid for 90 days (Belize is 30 days), but do check before travelling and note that some countries require evidence of your onward journey (if on a longer trip then evidence of your ticket home should be fine).

Getting around

Most backpacking Central America trips take in most, or all, of the countries in the region. As a consequence, a standard route either goes north to south or south to north. Consequently distances travelled in one hit are rarely massive (a quick-hop by South American standards!). There are flights between all of the larger Central American countries but, unless you’re in a real hurry, you probably won’t need to fly anywhere.

Buses are the primary form of transport for those backpacking Central America. The bus routes are many and varied – as is the quality of the buses! Several companies (such as Tica Bus) operate throughout Central America and provide a dependable and comfortable service for longer journeys that won’t break the bank. There are also hundreds of local operators for getting you around remoter regions (and to the beach!), most towns have a bus station so hunt this down and go from there.

Passenger train services are essentially nonexistent – there are some routes but none cross borders with other countries, and most are used by freight trains carrying coffee or bananas around.

Things to do

Backpacking Central America could be considered the lazy man’s backpacking option! You really can see and do most of the things that you’d get from a much more arduous trip (around South East Asia or South America for example) without the mega bus journeys and days spent getting to a particular spot. Although perhaps better suited to beach lovers than ‘trekkers’ or real history buffs, there is plenty of that too. Here are a few highlights by country:

Guatemala – Perhaps Central America’s most historical rich country Guatemala is home to many stunning Mayan archaeological sites, some dating from 2000 BC, and evidence of this period can also be found in contemporary Guatemala and the traditional practices of modern Mayan communities. The country is also home to Tajumulco, Central America’s largest volcano and highest point (4220m), which can be climbed in a couple of days and is a great place to watch the sun come up. Other highlights of Guatemala include some world famous fishing and some unique festivals, including Day of the Dead when the lives of dead friends and relatives are celebrated with skeleton-themed fancy dress and gifts!

Belize – The only English speaking country in Central America due to its colonial heritage, Belize has a very well established tourist scene and, although of the less ‘package’ variety than Costa Rica, still offers very little in the way of undiscovered havens. This said, the country is simply beautiful, it’s Caribbean Coast has thousands of idyllic islets to explore, and its dense inland jungles are home to all manner of creatures. And ‘discovered’ does mean that you can easily find a guide and take advantage of well organised and generally eco-aware tours and expeditions. Plus there are famous Mayan sites such as Lamanai and Altun Ha to get your cultural teeth in to.

El Salvador – Central America’s smallest country (by some margin) is often overlooked by travellers and is, in the main, also overlooked by mainstream tourism. This means that if you really do want to get away from the holidaying masses and find some less well known but equally stunning sites then it is worth committing some time to. In Punta Roca, El Salvador can claim the best surfing wave in the whole of Central America with far less crowds than the surf magnet of Costa Rica. The country has active volcanoes that can be visited and some stunning trails too – put El Salvador on your list and be prepared to be surprised.

Honduras – Rapidly emerging as a tourist hotspot, Honduras’ chequered past is very much behind it and it has managed to establish itself as a prime destination for those backpacking Central America. For nature lovers it has more on offer than most of its Central American counterparts. The Lago de Yojoa is the largest lake in Honduras and home to over 350 species of bird. Peaceful and stunning and a pleasant change to all those tropical beaches! The island of Utila is also a popular destination for backpackers and offers cheap accommodation and diving – your own personal tropical island!

Nicaragua – Another Central American destination that has put civil unrest and natural disasters behind it and embraced a settled and more prosperous future, Nicaragua is now embracing tourists and backpackers alike who are rewarded with some of the least spoilt and most ecologically diverse areas of Central America. Popular options include exploring the Rio San Juan as it winds through remote villages and dense rainforests, or checking out Isla de Ometepe by kayak – with monkeys swinging in the trees around you.

Costa Rica – Having been a settled and peaceful country for longer than any of its neighbours, Costa Rica has the most established tourism industry in Central America. It has been a popular destination for North Americans for decades and much of the country has developed with this in mind. Consequently if you stick to the main towns and resorts you may find it hard to believe that you’re not on a cheap week’s package holiday. All is not lost though, and it doesn’t take long to find the quieter and less developed towns and regions where you’ll find a buzzing backpacker scene and if you want to party (even if it’s just for a couple of weeks!) then this is the place to be. Hangovers can then be nursed on any of Costa Rica’s typically perfect tropical beaches.

Panama – Perhaps more renowned for its famous ocean linking canal than its merit as a backpacking Central America destination, Panama is one of the least explored of Central America’s countries. Which is a good thing. The country – which links the North and South American continents – really is a cultural and scenic goldmine. The stunning Archipeligo de las Perlas offers thousands of unexplored islands and inlets where you can easily find a beach to call your own for a day or two. Heading inland, and you’ll find colonial towns, stunning markets and craftwork, and some of the most hospitable people in the whole of Central America. As with El Salvador, Panama is truly worth having on your backpacking Central America itinerary for the true off-the-beaten-track element of your trip.

Backpacking Central America is equally suited to first time backpackers looking for something manageable to take on, as it is to seasoned travellers who want the wonders and climate of other popular backpacking destinations without all of the legwork. Getting around Central America is relatively easy, and there are numerous well known ‘backpacker towns’ to make a beeline for it that’s your thing. This said there are also plenty of genuine opportunities for finding yourself what feels like a million miles away from anywhere by a lake or in a rainforest, away from the hubbub, and feeling like you’re the only person on the planet...

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