Road to Central America
There’s no better way to experience the diversity and authenticity of Central America than a road trip along the legendary Carretera Panamericana. Outside Belize, Panama and Costa Rica, Central America is cheap for travelers. Food and drink prices are low – typically $2-5 for a lunch, a little more for dinner; a bottle of beer costs less than 70p. Wages are low, so a small tip is appreciated (10% is typical). Travelling by public transport is very cheap. To get between villages using overland transport, you can choose between pick-ups (which carry as many people as they can squeeze in the rear cargo bed), tuk-tuks (which carry three passengers) and local buses – known as chicken buses. All these are very economical. Chicken buses compete with smarter, airconditioned buses for the longer routes to Antigua and other major cities. A wide range of bus companies operate between the major towns and cities along the Panamerican Highway. Tica Bus (www.ticabus.com) operates regular services from Guatemala City to San Salvador, San Salvador to Managua and Managua to San José. A one-way journey from Guatemala City to San José, stopping only to change buses, would take two days and cost from US$74.
Food & Drink Across the region, the diet is based around maize tortillas (savory pancakes), frijoles (beans), rice, plantain, yucca, chicken, avocado pears and mildish chilli sauces. Breakfast means eggs with something; coffee is sometimes instant – the posh stuff is exported. In the touristy centers of Suchitoto, Granada and Panama City, you can feast on fish, steaks, decent pizzas and pastas. When you’re close to the coast try the ceviches (raw marinated seafood). Fruit is everywhere, and cheap – the roadside is the best place to explore it.
Central America Highlights Suchitoto, El Salvador. A 30km diversion takes you up from San Salvador and the throbbing highway to this well-preserved, low-slung and laid-back colonial-era town. Ometepe Island, Nicaragua. Take a boat from San Jorge port (just off the highway) and spend a night or two at one of the lodges on the slopes of the Maderas volcano. You can hike to the crater (1,394m), watch birds from your hammock and take a break from driving. Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. Before you leave Costa Rica, take a sharp right and head for its largest park – boasting the highest biodiversity – right on the Pacific coast. It’s one of the few places in Central America where jaguar populations are still relatively healthy. Panama City. The most underrated of Central America’s capitals, combining a Frenchified old town, compared favorably by the UNESCO World Heritage experts with New Orleans, and a thrusting modern metropolis. Coffee plantations. See how hard locals work to make the aromatic, energy-giving drink you take for granted. The shade-grown coffee plantations are very beautiful. Visit Vacation-now.com for more travel tips and destination