What is your favorite overall Central American country to vacation to and why? (life, cost)
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Thanks Davy-040. I haven't been to Central America yet but I'm planning a trip. A lot of experienced off the beaten track backpacker type travelers seem to like Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras a lot.
Thanks Davy-040. I haven't been to Central America yet but I'm planning a trip. A lot of experienced off the beaten track backpacker type travelers seem to like Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras a lot.
Yeah Honduras is last on my list because it has by far the highest homicide rate in the world.
Panama is my favorite Central American country. I really like the vibe there, especially in Panama City. Its unlike any other country in Central America.
Yeah Honduras is last on my list because it has by far the highest homicide rate in the world.
I don't think that effects tourists that much, mostly Honduran on Honduran and drug dealing related. Tons of single female backpackers go though Honduras every day. Just stay out of the bad parts of Tugicigalpa their big city. People tend to over hype that stuff in 3rd world nations. Most people go to the Bay Islands in Honduras which is like a Caribbean paradise and you are totally safe. Does the high homicide rate in the worst parts of Miami affect you if you vacation in Sarasota FL? Does the high homicide rate in Philadelphia affect you if you go hiking in the Pocanoes of PA? Does the high homicide rate in Detroit affect you if you vacation in Traverse City on Lake Michigan? No it doesn't, b/c you don't vacation in the worst pockets of those cities. Just like you wouldn't in Honduras.
I have only been to these countries, so these are the ones I will rate.
1. Costa Rica-This is my top rated because it is safe and has everything we could possibly want to do. So many places to visit and it can be touristy or not depending on the type of vacation we want. We have been many times and each time we have a different vacation with different sights.
2. Panama- Fun place with lots to do. The canal is fascinating and the country is easy to drive around. Not as pretty as Costa Rica in our opinion.
3. Roatan, Honduras - Very relaxing vacation with a laid back vibe. This is our top place for snorkeling and diving. Very small island and very easy and safe to get around. I would not want to travel unescorted through the mainland of Honduras. We don't speak spanish well enough and I definitely look like a gringo.
4. Belize- It has wonderful natural beauty with lots of Eco tourism, but we find that Costa Rica has more opportunities for variety.
I am open to visiting Nicaragua, and may take a day or overnight trip from Guanacaste region in Costa Rica. We like to dip our toes into a new place before taking a long trip there.
Thanks Meyerland for your thoughts. I have heard from others that Costa Rica is really great for outdoor beauty with the beaches, national parks. wildlife. But I've heard other more experienced adventure type travelers not like CR as much because it's a been overdeveloped and is very Americanized. CR get's more of the package tourist crowds and cruise ship type crowds. I have heard some popular spots in Costa Rica like Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Arenal and Tamarindo Beach area (aka "Tamagringo") are super, super touristy.
Many travelers I talk to like Nicaragua and Guatemala for the opposite reason as it has less of the mainstream tourists and has more authentic culture and less of the big all inclusive resorts that attract the package tourist type crowd. Nicaragua is very safe I hear too. Also Nica and Guatemala are much, much lower costs for hotels, food, guided tours and everything. They also have real old style Colonial cities (Granada, Leon, Antigua) that Costa Rica lacks.
Yes, if you go to The touristy places in CR it will be very very touristy. We tend to split our vacations with one week roughing it at Eco lodges and off the beaten track and one week relaxing in a more touristy spot.
Parque Nacional Marino Ballena is very beautiful and is not touristy, as well as Uvita the town.
The Osa peninsula and drake bay is the farthest thing from any tourist spot we have ever been to. Corcovado national park is Amazing!
The caribbean park Tortuguero and Cahuita are really empty of a ton of tourists. Heck, most of the places to stay are budget friendly and don't have any sort of luxuries like glass in the windows or AC.
You can have any type of experience you want in CR.
It does sound like Nicaragua would be a good fit for you. Be aware of pickpockets though, which target people at the beach. Had two separate sets of friends who experienced this in San Juan del sur,Nicaragua. Other than that, they loved it.
Thanks Meyerland you are confirming exactly what I have heard. All those places you mention (Tortuguero, Cahuita, Osa Peninsula, Parque Nacional Marino Ballena) are off the heavy tourist trail from what I hear. I have heard you can hit these places and really avoid mass tourists and they are all awesome.
I'm trying to decide right now whether to vacation to: 1. Costa Rica and hit the Caribbean side + a lesser traveled volcano, OR 2. try out Nicaragua + the Little Corn island (a lesser know paradise island off the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua) OR 3. combine the Yucatan in Mexico with the Guatemala highlands. It's really hard to make a decision!!
How did you like Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo and Tortuguero in CR? If I went to Costa Rica that would probably be the core of my vacation. Reading the Lonely Planet and other guidebooks that area sounds pretty cool.
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