Central America Itinerary

I traveled around Central America for 6 months so let me share with you my Central America Backpacking Trip Itinerary!

Also what I recommend, what I learned, what I would have done differently.

I am adding Mexico to this Central America Itinerary because although it is not technically Central America, it is on the route for most backpackers, including myself.

The route I recommend in Central America, that you can also easily do in reverse!

1. Panama

2. Costa Rica

3. Nicaragua

4. Honduras

5. El Salvador

6. Guatemala

7. Mexico

8. Belize

PANAMA

The reason why I and many other travelers start their Central America itinerary in Panama is obviously for geographical reasons but also, some of the best and cheapest flights to Central America from Europe and the USA are to Panama. It really is an economical and logistical hub of Central America!

The other good airport is Cancun airport in Mexico, which is why I recommended that you can easily start your Central America itinerary the other way around!

In Panama, a must-do is the Capital - Panama City! Not only because of the lovely Panama City old town, skyscrapers, and the promenade but also to experience one of the great examples of human engineering - the Panama Canal.

Other popular destinations in Panama to add to your backpackign trip that I researched worth visiting are:

• Pearl Islands

• Volcan Baru

• Santa Catalina

• San Bas Island

• Bocas del Toro

• El Val de Anton

• Gulf of Chiriqui

I knew I wanted to explore one of the hot beach destinations in Panama on the Caribbean coast, so for a long time I couldn't decide on beach town Bocas del Toro or San Blas Islands, but I did decide in favor of San Blas Islands because the place is just so so so picturesque! Also, Bocas del Toro is known to be a good party place and that is just not for me. So if you want to meet other travelers and have a good beach party on the Caribbean coast, Bocas del Toro will be your choice. Those wanting to visit a corner of tropical paradise - San Blas Islands!

Then continue your backpacking trip either with a bus through the city David, you can have a bus journey to Costa Rica or take a flight to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica.

COSTA RICA

In Costa Rica, you can easily spend a month. In Costa Rica there is so much to do in so many different places. Beaches on the Pacific side, lush greenery rainforests in the middle, and also amazing nature reserves and beaches on the Caribbean side.

Here is a structured breakdown of all the top places I researched and recommend in Costa Rica during your backpacking trip. ⬇️

Rainforest Magic in the middle of the country:

• La Fortuna & Arenal Volcano

• Rio Celeste

• Monteverde

These 3 places are also amazing to see animals and experience the rich rainforest life in Costa Rica.

Great beach towns in Costa Rica by the Pacific Ocean Coast that are also good for surfing:

• Quepos

• Playa Hermosa

• Tamarindo

• Montezuma

• Nosara

Other good beach towns in Costa Rica by the Pacific Ocean:

• Playa Dominical - more for those loving yoga and chill vibes

• Santa Teresa - good digital nomad base, reliable wifi, and even a few setups catering to travelers using mobile office vans as their remote workstations.

• Uvita - whale watching & good beaches

And some further areas in Costa Rica worth mentioning:

• Tortuga National Park

• Irazu Volcano and National Park

• Catarate del Toro Waterfall

Although Costa Rica offers so much, it also is quite expensive compared to other Central America counries. A lot of focus is on tourism so traveling through Costa Rica is not budget-friendly. Which is why I decided that I would experience the most significant part of Costa Rica - the rainforest. Because similar beaches during a backpacking trip can be enjoyed in other Central American countries, just for less. And I decided to base myself in Costa Rica in the town center of La Fortuna which is a town in the rainforest, with the Arenal volcano next to it, creating some hot springs and loads of activities to do around. I had so much fun there!

NICARAGUA

This country I would have traveled to next after Costa Rica but because I travel and work, it is extremely important for me to be connected to wifi 24/7. And turns out that currently, the ruling power can simply switch data/wifi off for the whole country. On my list was to visit the beautiful city Granada and surf at some great beach towns as the value for money in general in the country is great. I wasn't aware of the situation, so Nicaragua from the beginning was a solid stop on my Central America backpacking trip, but then traveling and hearing information about the current political situation in Nicaragua I decided to skip it.

Some places on my Nicaragua travel itinerary would have been: ⬇️

• Granada

• Playa La Flor

• Lake Nicaragua or also called Cocibolca and its islands

• Masaya Volcano

• Esteli

• Isla de Ometepe

• Cayos Perlas

• Leon

• San Juan Del Sur

• Beaches for surfing: Maderas, Remanso, Hermana (all 3 are near San Juan del Sur)

Before your trip, make sure to check out these things to know before traveling to Central America!

EL SALVADOR (and HONDURAS)

The plan was to then travel from Nicaragua through the islands of Honduras on the Pacific coast and get to the capital of El Salvador - San Salvador.

But because we last minute decided to cancel on Nicaragua and book a flight to the next destination, just way better flights were to Guatemala City so we decided to fly there first. And then if time and money allow we will drive from Guatemala City into El Salvador.

Honduras was never really on my backpacking trip list because the statistics of murder cases and especially regarding women really made me think twice if it is worth it. The islands are supposedly very beautiful and fairy safe which is why I had the idea of at least visiting a small bit, but due to travel arrangments, we skipped Honduras completely.

If you want to immerse yourself in Central America fully and have peace of mind during your backpacking trip, consider getting travel insurance.

GUATEMALA

Without a doubt my favorite country in Central America. Guatemala has no competition - nature, people, local cuisine, value for money - Guatemala is one of the best travel destinations ever!

The plan was to stay in each country for a month but because we skipped Nicaragua, we stayed 2 months in Guatemala. That is how much we loved the place.

2 things I missed out on in Guatemala were hot springs Semuc Champey and ancient Mayan ruins Tikal in Tikal National Park. But this is all I managed to visit and do and highly recommend: ⬇️

One of the top life experiences I had in Guatemala! I saw an active volcano erupting! It was so much fun! It was a hard 8h hike up but the views were incredible:

More about the hike read here: Acatenango Volcano Hike!

Then one of the most beautiful places in the world is in Guatemala - Atitlan Lake! Lake Atitlan is so picturesque. Imagine swimming in a lake surrounded by volcanoes. Lake Atitlan is must-visit when in Guatemala:

I also have prepared a Central America Packing List!

Then you can't leave Guatemala without visiting the vibrant city of Antigua, which holds a rich tapestry of cultural heritage, colonial architecture, and breathtaking landscapes that are quintessential to the Guatemalan experience. A walking tour in Antigua is a must! Also, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is just an hour drive away from Guatemala City.

Throughout my trip via Central America I stayed connected in every country by using a global eSIM. It is easy to instal one and it works straight away. I stay connected and avoid roaming fees with Airalo eSIMs. Get 10% off your eSIM with code ALIKI10

MEXICO

Mexico is a place where you need a month minimum...so much to see and do! From amazing cities to stunning famous landmarks, Mayan ruins, and pristine beach towns. This country really has a lot to offer. I have prepared a detailed blog article about All the best places to visit in Mexico! So if you are also planning to include Mexico on your Central America backpacking trip then check it out!

BELIZE

Here is my main tip of this article! However you can try to find a flight to Belize City, but it will always be expensive! There are no cheap flights from any country in Central America. The trick is to travel to Mexico, the Caribbean side, and from there get a bus to Chetumal which is a little Mexican city by the Belize border. You can get a bus there from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum. And then from Chetumal, you take a bus to Belize City!

In the end, I decided to skip Belize purely because of the budget. Belize is stunning natural beauty but also not a budget traveler destination for sure. 2 things I wanted to do in Belize are to see the Great Blue Hole and go on a snorkeling trip in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve as the reefs around Belize are incredible. There also an option to learn and do scuba diving. But I managed to do amazing snorkeling by Cozumel in Mexico so I decided not to go to Belize just for one thing. Also, the best way to see and experience the Great Blue Hole is with a helicopter or small plane ride, and again that is 🤑.

If you are also considering doing a backpacking trip to South America, make sure to check out my South America section full of tips and ideas!

Would you like to combine your passion for travel with your career? Explore exciting job opportunities in the luxury travel industry on platforms like Jooble!