Central America

[Captain...]

Panama City is just really nice, compared to other Capitals in the area, it's big sprawling and modern but very safe, we even got lost once and this guy just gave us a lift to where we were going. It'll be a good way to ease you in...

 

With regards Spanish, I learnt the grammar and vocab from a book, but really struggled to understand anyone out there, so I could read things, conjugate those verbs, and ask questions, but was buggered if I could understand any replies.

 

Get some sort of listening practice in if you can, have a look for language meet-ups, http://spanish.meetup.com/cities/gb/h5/leicester/ unfortunately nothing in Leicester, but maybe you don't live there, if you live in London there are loads, mostly free or cheap and you can just go along and chat and practice your Spanish.you might be able to find someone on here, prferably a Latin American speaking as they have very different accents: http://www.conversationexchange.com/s_map/learn.php?language=Spanish and chat on skype.

 

This was the hammock hotel: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g309265-d1217686-Reviews-Rocking_J_s-Puerto_Viejo_de_Talamanca_Province_of_Limon.html

 

Just over the border from Panama, on the East coast, not to everyone's taste but I loved it,

[Monk]

Honduras - is it a worry? Think she's read some horror stories.

 

Depends on where you go and how travel savvy you are. TBH stick to the main bus routes and travel with a reputable bus or tour company and you'll be fine. As mentioned, San Pedro de Sula is a hole and you won't want to be there long - though Roatan is definitely worth it and that is where the ferry leaves from. If you make it to Honduras, go to Copan, there's some amazing Mayan ruins there, I believe second best only to Tikal in Mexico.

[kingcarr21]

I did similar - it's an incredible national park - well worth the visit. We went out to see the turtles at night. A Jaguar had killed one on the beach the day before so it was a bit weird standing out on a beach in a thunderstorm watching this 8 ft long turtle lay eggs, with big cats somewhere nearby in the bushes! Spent about 3 days in that park seeing wildlife and in a hammock living it up.

 

Yeah but have you been to pets corner at abbey park??

 

Seeing them guinea pigs must be on par with your experience.

 

Saying that with the places you've been you have probably ate guinea pig. Tasty????

[Captain...]

Yeah but have you been to pets corner at abbey park??

 

Seeing them guinea pigs must be on par with your experience.

 

Saying that with the places you've been you have probably ate guinea pig. Tasty????

 

I was going to eat guinea pig until I realised it came out like this:

 

 

I would eat guinea pig meat, but just couldn't face eating it like that.

[Monk]

Saying that with the places you've been you have probably ate guinea pig. Tasty????

 

Saw it on the menu in Peru a couple of years ago but I er, gave it a miss.

I was going to eat guinea pig until I realised it came out like this:

 

 

I would eat guinea pig meat, but just couldn't face eating it like that.

 

Jesus! Didn't realise their balls were that big!

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Honduras is amazing! San Pedro and Techugigulpa are shut holes but Roaton and Tikal are good although Roaton bis more touristy and expensive still $3 American a beer and the baliadas are to die for.

[Freeman's Wharfer]

Nicaragua - one of my favourite countries in the world! Firstly, everything is cheap. When I lived there whilst teaching English I used to get a couple of beers on the way home for the evening, at 35p a beer it was rude not to! Most of the places you'll go (unless you want to get really adventurous) will be along the West coast of the country. Omatepe has already been mentioned and definitely set at least a week aside for it - it's an island created by a volcano emerging from a lake and unbelievably rural and peaceful! Leon is an interesting city and worth a few days, we sand-boarded down a volcano there which was actually the toughest physical challenge of our lives (no breakfast, sweltering midday sun, wearing jumpsuits, carrying boards, trekking over slippery volcanic rocks...). Esteli is where I lived, not much to see/do but if you're interested in history and the revolution it was a really key place. As someone has said, Managua, get out as fast as you can! Not a nice place and ruined by an earthquake which has left it in bits.

 

Costa Rica - nice country but very touristy in places, tends to be the place in Central American that a lot of middle-aged Americans go for a holiday. Places of note for me were La Fortuna (big, active volcano that glows at night and nearby natural thermal springs) and then Monteverde (Costa Rica cloud forest). Getting between the two is a long bus journey or you can do a jeep-boat-jeep ride which will save you loads of time and is quite nice way to travel. Finally, you HAVE to go to a small town called Cahuita! It's quite easy to get to from Panama and is a small Carribean town - amazing food, nice beach, only two bars in the whole town so a really intimate feel but completely unique.

 

Panama - get yourself to Isla Colon. It's the main island to stay on in Boca del Toro and you can find a hostel there before taking boat taxis every day to amazing beaches nearby. Golden sand, clear blue sea... some of the best beaches in the region! Panama City is fun but it's got such a contrast between the old town and the new town it's unreal. In the old town you have crumbling buildings and ramshackle local markets but just across the bridge skyscrapers, casinos and nightclubs. You'll probably go to see the Panama Canal, everyone does, but it's just a big canal! Nothing more impressive than any lock you could find in Leicestershire in my opinion.

 

Mexico - Cancun is cheesy and cheerful. Again, a bit of a tourist's playground and not really representative of real Mexico. I went to quite a few places which I'm struggling to remember off the top of my head but definitely go to Tulum if you're looking for a quality beach.

 

Tips - As others have said, if you can learn Spanish it will help, particularly in Nicaragua where the standard of education is poor so consequently so is the English. Read a bit about the history of the country, particularly Nicaragua where the revolution shapes so much of what the country is like today. By and large these places are safe and the people are friendly but keep your wits about you and don't go wondering places you're not familiar with, particularly in the capital cities. I noticed someone said San Jose was nice, very much depends on the area as I was in horrid place the first time I was there and my mate witnessed a street robbery at gun point.

 

Apart from that you'll have a great time and should easily get by on £1000 per month in terms of budgeting. Seems to be a place that is often missed with people deciding to travel South East Asia or South America but it's a great part of the world and well worth the time you're dedicating to it!

[Fox_in_spain]

Had a month volunteering in the Osa peninsula in Costa Rica. Would recommend that part of the world to anyone. Make sure you go to Puerto Jimenez, most chilled town you will ever find, capuchins in the trees, crocodiles in the nearby River but great food too!

[Captain...]

Had a month volunteering in the Osa peninsula in Costa Rica. Would recommend that part of the world to anyone. Make sure you go to Puerto Jimenez, most chilled town you will ever find, capuchins in the trees, crocodiles in the nearby River but great food too!

 

Where in Spain are you?

[midland_red]

First of all, really, definitely, absolutely, learn Spanish. Most people don't speak English and there will be times when you need it. Try to learn the latin americna pronunciation (its easier anyway)

I used to live there but 20 years ago and so its changed since then, but, must sees..

Places - Mexico City - always shocked at the number of people who go on hols to Mexico and not see the big city. And this IS s a big city - biggest on earth, and with some wonderful colonial zones. Absolutely full of interest and a fantastic city just to be

Pyramids - Teotihuacan, just north of Mexico City, and Palenque in the Mexican jungle. Palenque is steamy and humid, a real jungle. From there you can get a bus right up in the mountains to San Cristobal where you will need your warm clothes

Elsewhere in Mexico - Veracruz on the Caribbean coast, a steamy tropical port and a fantastic Graham Greeen-esque place just to chill out in, and Jalapa, the capital of Veracruz state.

Not sure whether yours ending in the DF (what the local call Mexico City, pronounced def-eh) but if you're going further north, there are lot of stunning colonial cities, especially Queretaro and Guanajuato

Guatemala - Guatemala city isn't up to much but the mountains are staggering, and there are lovely cities like Antigua or Quetnaltenango, and a grate mountain like called Atitlan. You can stay in a resort village called Panajachel. Aldous Huxley called Atitlan more beautiful than Lake Como, and having seen both he was right.

Honduras and El Salvador suffered a lot from the wars of the 1980s in terms of there being an awful lot of guns around. San Salvador isn't remarkable having been bashed about by numerous earthquakes. Yet the volcanic subsoil here make Salvador just gorgeously green. When I was there in the 1980s its people were the friendliest in Latin America, they saw so few tourists and most white faces were CIA spies or death squad types, so when they found you wern't they just loved to talk. The small seaside resort of La Libertad is worth a visit - it has black volcanic sand, and you can ride there on top of one of the small busses people take there.

I liked Panama City, it was very run down in parts, and very tropical, it felt like the southern state of the USA, large black population who were the descendent of those brought in to dig the Panama Canal. That is a must see BTW, you can get a bus to the visitor centre at Miraflores lock..it's kind of bigger than foxton locks.

Apart from that

--  don't try driving, it really is crazy. Bus services are cheap and - especially in Mexico - really good.

--  Take personal security seriously. These countries have vast income and wealth inequalities. That was the root cause of the wars of the 1980s - El Salvador for example is owned by just 14 families.....

--  see your doctor re shots before you go

--  and make a start on that Spanish - sign up for some classes and do it now, you will miss out on so much if you don't!!!!

[Monk]

On the language side I have been using the free 'Duo Lingo' app and the podcast 'Coffee Break Spanish'. Both are excellent.

[ronnup]

I knew I'd get excellent advice here, really useful throughout lads thank you.

Duolingo is incredible! Currently half way through.

There's a superb array of options and I'm loving the fact that there's so much on offer.

Keep it coming! More questions.

What is the hostel industry like? Well catered for?

I spent some time in Cuba and liked the casa particulates options, (legal home stays theatre very popular) anything similar?

Is there a place you know that'd make a good base for an extended time? Maybe. Month or so.

Thanks again.

[midland_red]

in terms of a base, depends, what do you like doing?

[Monk]

For a month? Is say Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica. Amazing beaches, surf school, great forests and wildlife. Maybe a bit touristy but not in the sense of the coast of Spain for example.

Failing that in terms of language teaching I think Leon and Grenada in Nic are maybe best.

For wildlife look up turtle volunteering in Costa Rica there are some interesting wildlife projects you can get involved in.

[ronnup]

Cheers. We like like wildlife, history, meeting and hopefully getting to know people and getting pissed. And dancing. Love dancing.

That sounds a cracking option Monk thanks.

[martyn]

Agree entirely with what midland says about mexico. It is a fantastic country with rich history, culture, amazing landscape contrasts and fantastic food well worth suffering the inevitable stomach issues for.

Mexico City is a vastly under appreciated city and safe. The centre has recently been pedestrianised to an extent and it has really altered the feel of the place for the better. Definitely worth 3 days of anyones time.

Guanajuato, Queretaro, Merida, San Mig de Allende, San Cristobal, Taxco, lovely towns. Guanajuato is also a popular base to learn spanish as well as Cuernavaca (nice city but perhaps a bit more unsafe now than it used to be)

Chiapas for rainforest, mayan ruins (Palenque is fantastic). Oaxaca for "real" mexico indigenous culture and fantastic food. Riviera Maya (playa del carmen/tulum) for great carribean beaches, alternatively Rivjera Nayarit, Oaxacan Coast for a more relaxed slightly less touristy beach.

Always feel Mexico gets overlooked and pigeonholed by the Cancun brigade, which is a shame. You can get anywhere cheaply by air or luxury coach...

[ronnup]

If I'm honest I had subconsciously done the same with Mexico too. Looks like I'll give it a lot more though actually.

[ronnup]

Pancake, that Monkey hut looks sensational.

[ronnup]

Anyone got any experience of working casually in this region? Hostels or bars etc?

[Merging Cultures]

One of the few places I've not visited. I do have a good friend who lives down that way. British guy, been working down in Arge for a long time. I don't know you so can't introduce!!

[ronnup]

Not going to Argentina but thanks anyway B More

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Anyone got any experience of working casually in this region? Hostels or bars etc?

 

Had a friend that worked at a Hostel bar, but it just got her free accomidation.

[ronnup]

Had a friend that worked at a Hostel bar, but it just got her free accomidation.

I'd go for that I reckon. Be a nice change of pace from working in a school.

Hondouras sounds mint, can't wait

[Grandad.]

Well I haven't got any information for you Ronnup, apart from Cancun, loved it there but like most have said it's just a resort now, full of Americans and Brits on an all inclusive holiday or people my ages going for Spring Break. 

 

I am bloody jealous of you though, sounds a brilliant trip you have planned, enjoy it. 

[ronnup]

Well I haven't got any information for you Ronnup, apart from Cancun, loved it there but like most have said it's just a resort now, full of Americans and Brits on an all inclusive holiday or people my ages going for Spring Break.

I am bloody jealous of you though, sounds a brilliant trip you have planned, enjoy it.

Thanks mate. It's been a long time coming but I'm buzzing. Just need to get more ideas of routes, places, and things to avoid. Some amazing advice on here already though.