Central America Travel Guide | She is Wanderlust

With its breathtaking landscapes, sandy beaches, unexplored nature and warm locals, Central America is a great place for a unique getaway. Here are some reasons why I think this destination should be on your travel list.

Why Visit Central America

ANCIENT RUINS

Central america is filled with ruins from lost civilizations, specially from the Mayas. This ruins provide some of the most interesting historic sights to visit in the region, in addition to some fascinating colonial architecture brought by the europeans.

NATURE

Tropical forests thrive in Central America due to its location (weather), in addition to volcanoes, mountains, and the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. There are mountains, lakes, lagoons, rivers, huge active and dry caves, waterfalls and beaches on both coasts.

WEATHER

Being just a little bit over the Equator line, Central America enjoys a warm and tropical weather all year long. Of course, winter will always be a bit cold (less warm), but still. Ideal to do all kind of outdoor activities.

PRICE

Central America has something for everybody. It does offer some of the cheapest – on budget options there are, but it also features a lot of luxury accommodations and services.

Why Visit Central America

ANCIENT RUINS

NATURE

WEATHER

PRICE

Central America has something for everybody. It does offer some of the cheapest – on budget options there are, but it also features a lot of luxury accommodations and services.

Travel
DESTINATIONS

Bucket List

How to get around

Just like everywhere else, flying is the fastest but most expensive way to get around. Is the most convenient way if you are in a rush or need to cover big distances.

Taxis don’t usually have meters in Central America and you will have to negotiate the price in advance.

Buses are the most common and cheapest way to get around, used by the majority of the population. The average fares are usually less than 1 dollar (depending on the country).

Money Saving Tips

-Eat in the popular markets: Eating in Central America is really cheap overall, but if you really wanna nail it you should try the markets, where you can buy the food of the week for less than $10.

-Hostels or Camping: The difference in pricing between a hotel and a hostel is huge, and you can find plenty of cute and cozy hostels. There is also a new trendy camping service called Campspace, which allows you to pitch a tent in someone’s backyard for free or a nominal fee.

-Travel by bus: Bus is the cheapest and easiest way to travel around Central America.

-Plan in advance: Planning with time could save you hundreds or even thousand when it comes to flights, trains and accommodations.

What to expect in Central America

LANGUAGE: Spanish is the official language of almost all the countries in Central America, (except Belize) and spoken for the majority of the population. There are still some people in remote towns that speak native languages, but the majority of them will know at least a little bit of spanish. I would recommend to learn so basic phrases to get by.

CURRENCY: Every country in Central America has a different currency, but thanks to the tourism demand in these countries foreign currencies like dollar, euros and credit cards are widely accepted.

SAFETY: Central America has some known trouble-spots, but much of the region actually isn’t so bad. I would take some precautions in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala like researching the area where you will stay and trying to avoid going out late at night.

CLIMATE: Central America enjoys a warm and tropical weather all year long.

PASSPORT: Remember that many countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months (some just three months) after your arrival date before they’ll grant entry to their country. Some of them also require a VISA to enter the country depending on your nationality. Plan in advance and make sure you have everything in order.