If you thought that backpacking in Australia and Southeast Asia were insane, you haven’t been to Central America. The paths are well-tread, but more laid back than other areas. Popular with older travelers from Europe and Canada in particular, this is a great place to spend a few weeks or months.
For the sake of this post, Central America includes the traditional countries in the region as well as the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. Only you can decide what kind of adventures you want to add to your Central America bucket list, but here are a few of our favorites worth considering. This post contains affiliate links.
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Go ruins hopping.
Like in Southeast Asia, there are plenty of ruins and archaeological sites you can’t miss especially the Mayan and Aztec sites. In Guatemala, visit Tikal. In Mexico, check out Tulum and Chichen Itza, while Honduras has Copan. It’s easy to get fatigue from visiting too many, so choose which ones are the most interesting to you in terms of history.
Indulge in a party pool crawl.
This certainly isn’t a concept only found in this region, but they certainly take it to a new level as a way to cool off and mingle with fellow travelers. San Juan Del Sur‘s Sunday Funday, in particular, is legendary, moving from place to place all afternoon with drink specials and DJs along the way.
Tamarindo, Costa Rica and Bocas del Toro, Panama also have their versions. Caye Caulker has a Sunday Funday sunset cruise. If there isn’t an organized one, plan your own!
Learn Spanish.
Spanish schools exist all over this region and it’s one of the cheapest places around to get intensive lessons to help you travel better. Antigua, Guatemala is a popular place, but there are plenty to choose from. Give yourself at least a week to take daily classes and conversation lessons for the full experience. Some even come with accommodations or homestays.
Stay at an eco-lodge.
Get away from it all at an eco-lodge that supports a sustainable ecosystem and allows you to disconnect. Hacienda Merida in Ometepe, Nicaragua and La Iguana Perdida in Santa Cruz La Laguna, Guatemala were two of my favorites. Costa Rica, in particular, excels in these types of places, like Room2Board, as well as Lower Dover in Belize.
Visit a market.
There’s nowhere better to shop for everything from food to souvenirs to religious items. It’s where you can haggle for the best prices and get the real local experience. While I didn’t have time to stop there, Chichicastenango Market is considered to be one of the best local markets in the area, along with Mercado Central in El Salvador, Guamilito Market in Honduras, and Mercado Viejo in Nicaragua.
Ride a chicken bus.
The preferred form of transportation for locals, these colorfully decorated retired school buses take different routes for super cheap. Most denote where they are going in painted letters on the outside.
They might take local routes, stopping many places along the way, so this is the ideal method if you’re not in a hurry. For example, the one I took on the island of Ometepe took two hours just to get back to the port.
Eat street food.
The best way to eat in Central America is through streetside stalls and at small, family-owned restaurants. There’s no shortage of dishes to try like tamales, arepas, tacos, empanadas, and plantains. In Nicaragua, it’s gallo pinto, a rice and beans dish found everywhere in the country. Take advantage of this region’s excellent coffee as well.
Climb a volcano.
Central America is full of volcanoes, including a few you can climb. Antigua, Guatemala is surrounded by many, but keep an eye on the conditions before you attempt to hike, especially after the tragedies of the last few years. You can also climb the ones on Ometepe, Nicaragua and ride a board down them in Leon, Nicaragua.
Enjoy wildlife encounters (responsibly).
Just like in other parts of the world, Central America has so much biodiversity worth exploring. But you will find plenty of places cashing in on tourism while not caring responsibly for their animals. The Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica is a rescue and rehabilitation center that educates visitors but doesn’t allow holding because of how it affects the creatures.
La Tortuga Feliz, also in Costa Rica, allows volunteers to help with the sea turtles. You can also see plenty of animals in the wild. I saw a sloth in a tree near San Juan del Sur. If you’re interested in learning more about wildlife volunteer projects, check out EarthWatch.
Spend time on the water.
The best way to experience Central America is on the water. The beaches are incredible, home to surf camps and laid back accommodations, but this isn’t the only way. The San Blas Island and Bocas del Toro in Panama are popular, as is Ambergris Caye in Belize.
Lake Atitlan is a place that can’t be missed as you can visit each town by boat. Lake Peten Itza surrounds Flores and nearby Tikal, where I spent the day swimming at Jorge’s. Semuc Champey in Guatemala was home to one of my favorite day trips, along with Ojo de Agua on Ometepe.
Scuba dive in unique places.
It may be super cheap to learn to scuba dive in Southeast Asia, but it’s equally inexpensive to learn in Central America. Playas del Coco, Costa Rica; the Corn Islands, Nicaragua; and Ambergris Caye, Belize, in particular, are great places to dive. You can even dive in Lake Atitlan through the shop at La Iguana Perdida!
Visit a big city for street art.
Many travelers tend to skip the big cities like Guatemala City, Managua, Panama City, and San Salvador, but some actually have something unique for travelers. In Guatemala’s Zona 4 are trendy coffee shops and restaurants as well as colorful street art.
Attend one of the unique festivals.
Because of the religious background of this region, there are many unique festivals, especially Semana Santa in Guatemala and Dia De Los Muertos in Mexico. But it’s not just about the ceremonies. Central America also has some legendary music festivals!
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