Central America is an underrated destination that’s becoming more popular year by year. It’s even a great spot for Digital Nomads and CoWorking Trips in case you’re thinking of planning one. If you’ve always been attracted to travel through Latin America, but you were considering skipping Central America, this is my personal recommendation of why you shouldn’t and all the tips from a local perspective.
- Plan your route, with seven countries surrounded by the ocean and magical places full of history and culture, you definitely need to plan ahead your time in Central America, to make sure you don’t miss anything. Most people start from the north, in Guatemala, but you need to be aware of leaving enough budget for the end since Costa Rica and Panama are more expensive than the rest.
- There’s so much to see… and while you move through Central America, you move through time. You can discover ancient civilizations in the heart of the Mayan world, while exploring Guatemala’s famous ruins, such as Tikal, and Yaxhá; you can jump to Belice to find Xunantunich, and continue through Honduras to discover Copan, even el Salvador has wonderful archaeological sites like Casa Blanca, all of them will to immerse you in the magic of ancient pre-Columbian times. Moreover, you can jump some centuries and find the best of both worlds, while visiting wonderful colonial towns such as Antigua in Guatemala and Granada y León in Nicaragua.
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
- Connect with nature, because something breathtaking Central America has to offer, is for sure, its amazing landscapes, flora and fauna. You can’t miss all the natural wonders that Central America has: Volcanoes you can climb (Acatenango Guatemala, Poas and Arenal in Costa Rica), Lakes and lagoons you can dive (Coatepeque in el Salvador, Apoyo and Cocibolca in Nicaragua), Jungles and National Parks to get lost in, Waterfalls, Islands and of course wonderful beaches, with the best weather always around!
La Fortuna Waterfall, La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica
Just stop and imagine working in front of the magical lake of Atitlan, surrounded by hummingbirds, while drinking the best coffee.. well it is possible… and if you want to discover all this wonders while Coworking there’s an upcoming trip to Guatemala, you need to check:
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Join TripLeader Lucia and Explore the Mayan paradise. |
- Adventure is waiting: if you’re a fan of extreme sports this is your chance to do it and keep it budget friendly. Surfing, volcano boarding, diving, canoeing, rafting, among others! The pacific coast has the perfect waves to surf and the Caribbean has great spots for diving and snorkeling, but trekking and hiking have to be on your list too.
- The food in Central American won’t let you down because it’s the perfect mixture of Mayan traditional cuisine and Caribbean delicatessens! Don’t miss out on trying out the street food and snacks. You’ll find them everywhere and you can get a proper meal for less than 2 euros! It’s also a paradise for vegetarians and vegans, as most of the traditional ingredients are corn, rice, beans and veggies.
- Festivities! All year long in different cities of Central America you will find an excuse to celebrate. Each town has its own traditions, festivities and holidays, which is a perfect blend between ancestral traditions with Spanish influence. No matter the day, Central America has always a way of celebrating life. Also there are other celebrations like: independence day, carnivals, holy week, new years, and “fiestas patronales” where each town celebrates its own Saint and are an important part of the traditions of each country.
- Connect with locals because people in Central America are extra friendly with foreigners, they will always share a smile with you and will want you to make you feel at home! This is also a great opportunity to discover: different places, local traditions, foods and restaurants; and don’t worry if you don’t speak Spanish, many people speak English, or will find a way to communicate with you!
If you don’t believe me, im sure you have heard the expression “pura vida”, coming from one of the worlds happiest countries, Costa Rica, so go and check this trip that could be your opportunity to connect with the Pura Vida experience:
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- While you’re there why not learn Spanish? Central America is a great place to do so, as the accent is very neutral, it’s also not expensive to find a Spanish course there. You can find the opportunity to learn the language and stay for 2 or 3 months doing an intensive course in places like: Antigua or Atitlan in Guatemala, El Tunco in El Salvador, San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua, Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica, among others.
- Moving around between countries is easy and cheaper than you may think, from Guatemala to Nicaragua there’s a free mobility agreement that allows you to stay for 3 months between the territory of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The best way to move around is by a bus. It may take a few hours but it’s safe and cheap. Moreover, accommodation can be quite cheap in Central America. If you stay in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras or Nicaragua you will be able to get the most for your money and also support the locals.
La Paz Department, El Salvador
- Embrace its culture, each country of Central America has its own and unique cultural heritage and history. It’s important to learn about it to understand more about their traditions and customs.
I’m sure I can’t sum up all the wonders Central America has to offer in only 10 points, specially because each of these wonderful 7 countries is unique in its own way, but I hope that this just gives you a glimpse of why I am in love with Central America, and helps you discover how wonderful these small place may be. Without a doubt I can assure you that if you come and visit you will fall in love with the people, the food, the place, and its unique and colorful traditions, that will only make you want to discover furthermore!
