So glad I found this site. So many thoughtful, insightful travelers!
As you say, the countries around Guatemala are potentially very dangerous. South America is not too bad by comparison (ignoring petty theft).
But your main problem is your budget. While you might be able to find some cheap accommodation, travelling about is expensive and could easily wipe out your budget.
It's been some years since I was last in Guatemala and it was fairly safe then but I don't know now. You could have a look around, pop into Tikal and the like and then head north in the direction of Cancun.
Belize is a bit of a dump and I didn't think Belize City that safe. Most who go to Belize go to an offshore island.
As to off the beaten track, I read a story of someone doing that fairly recently in Central America and he came across people growing drugs on a large scale and was lucky to escape alive, thanks to his guide.
Oh wow.
Thanks for the thoughts and tips, Cyberia!
There is a part of me, that is thinking that what I might do, if I do go to Central America, is to spend a month in Xela, studying Spanish, and be really embedded in one community there, and then travel to Honduras and Nicaragua with a tour. The tour would let me out in San Jose, Costa Rica. I could explore Costa Rica and Panama on my own.
Perhaps, I won't go off the beaten path too far then But, I do generally enjoy smaller towns, over the Capital cities.
Oh boy, still so much to figure out. Where to fly to, where to fly home from, and where to study Spanish. What an adventure already!
I increased my budget to $300 a week.
I narrowed it down a little more:
Central America:
- Two weeks in Guatemala studying Spanish
- Two weeks in Honduras studying Spanish
- Followed by Intrepid Tour through Nicaragua and more of Honduras, ending in San Jose
- 2 weeks on my own in Costa Rica and Panama
- (However, these last two points could be replaces with Belize/Mexico)
OR
- 2 Wks studying in La Paz, Boliva, 2 wks studying in Sucre, Bolivia
- 4 weeks to travel through Argentina, Uruguay and maybe Chili
Don't both of these sound awesome?
Has anyone taken similar trips? Any recommendations?
Personally, I think the first one sounds best, but I am worried about my safety traveling on my own, on buses, etc.
There's much more variety in South America but distances are vast and apart from Bolivia you've chosen the three most expensive countries to travel in.
I am worried about my safety traveling on my own, on buses, etc.
Why?
People do this every day without incident-someone is doing it right now in fact.
The best thing you could do is ignore people who constantly post childish warnings about places they've never visited.
HI. I guess I am worried about crossing borders on my own through Central America because of the robberies on buses and hijacking that sometimes occurs there, and the robberies that happen around bus terminals. Traveling on my own, as a woman makes me more of a target, I thought.
I know it happens infrequently, but it is something that I do fear. I thought my fears might be eased with traveling with a group.
I have traveled on my own before, but not through Central or Southern America.
I recently spent a month in Nicaragua and LOVED it! Based off your self description, I think you would realy like Leon and San Juan Del Sur. In Leon, we did an awesome cooking class where we actually spent the day at a local Nica's house learning an indigenous recipe, which you can read about -snip-.
Leon is not touristy at all, has beautiful Spanish colonial architecture with fun bars and amazing food! And it's cheap! We stayed at the Iguana Hostel and really liked it.
Playa El Cocoa, which I included more information about -snip- is 20 minutes South of San Juan Del sure if you want a break from the party city. But SJDS has tons of cheap places to stay and great local bars and food.
-snip-
Let me know if you have any questions about Nicaragua.
One note about crossing the border from Nicaragua to Costa Rica, try to go during the week. I've been told it usually goes very smoothly and takes around 45 minutes. However, we went on a Saturday afternoon, stood in line for almost 4 hours in the heat and it was miserable.
Thanks for the tips on border crossing! Noted and committed to memory!
Your description of Nicaragua sounds amazing! I think I am going to take the Intrepid tour through Honduras and Nicaragua, because it is relatively cheap and will guarantee I have a travel buddy for the border crossings. It ends in San Jose, so if I love Nicaragua as much as I think I will I can just head back into Nicaragua, or just stay there and not go with the group to Costa Rica
At that point I will have spent almost a month on my own in Xela, Guatemala and Copan Ruins, Honduras studying Spanish, so it might be fun to hook up with a little tour group for the parts that make me nervous, which is border hopping. I feel like a wimp. But it's okay.
Man, if Costa Rica or Panama had better and cheaper Spanish schools, I would just skip Guatemala all together and just spend time in CR, Nicaragua and Panama. I am dying to go to Panama and spend a week or two with the Kuna Luna.
if Costa Rica or Panama had better and cheaper Spanish schools, I would just skip Guatemala all together and just spend time in CR, Nicaragua and Panama. I am dying to go to Panama and spend a week or two with the Kuna Luna.
The Spanish school in Costa Rica near my place in the Central Valley is academia-columbus dot com , but I don't know about their schedules and rates. Inform yourself of the latter without accommodation, meals etc. and contact me off-forum to solve that issue if you like.
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