Americas - Central America
Messages: 44,818 - Threads: 5,952
Jun 18, 2008 10:30 PM
Irene_Adler
last reply
Jun 18, 2008 10:30 PM
Irene_Adler
0 replies
7,654 views
Welcome to the Central America branch!
1. Welcome to Thorn Tree’s Central America branch!
2. Find out all about Central America here! Things to think about before posting:
3. Has my question already been answered? Check out the FAQ thread and use the Search bar on the right-hand side to find out.
4. Seeking travel companions in Central America? Please post on our Travel Companions branch instead.
5. Please remember this is a forum about travelling in Central America, not a place for political discussions. Please keep all discussions relevant to travelling in Central America or they will be removed.
6. Remember that commercial advertising of any kind is against our website terms and will ...
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Central America Branch FAQ
Here are some tips to help you find the information you want and need about Central America:
1. Have a good look around the Thorn Tree before asking your question - quite often your question (or one very similar to it) will have been asked and answered before. Some of the most frequently asked questions are included in this thread below.
2. Research before asking a question and make your question as specific to your situation as possible. It will help you get better, more detailed and useful answers from the community. Invest some preliminary time and our knowledgeable community will help you fill in the gaps.
3. Explore Lonely Planet's Destinations, an online resource which has a wealth of key info and tips.
4. When you're ready to ask a question, choose the relevant country from the drop down menu to ensure the most rel...
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Migrating to a new server
Hi all,
Thanks,
Zabba
Going on a trip somewhere in Central America in mid-July, worried abt rain
My sister and I are going on a trip somewhere in Central America in the third week of July, but we trying to figure out where exactly to go. This of course is the rainy season in the region, but it's a convenient time and place for both of us to travel, because she'll be going from Nicaragua to Florida around this time, so it'd be an easy stopover.
Right now we're thinking of some combination of the Yucatan, Belize and Guatemala. It'd be a short trip - 9-12 days. I've read some about these places and they sound great - we'd want to snorkel or scuba the reefs, swim in the cenotes/underground rivers, and visit ruins.
Besides time, the biggest thing I'm worried about right now is the rain and mosquitoes. Does anyone have an idea of what we can expect in the region at that time of year? Are we talking about all day rain, or a short downpour in the afternoon, or is it really a crapsh...
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May 19, 2013 1:26 PM
HafsteinnThor
last reply
May 19, 2013 1:26 PM
HafsteinnThor
0 replies
9 views
location:
Panama
Surfing Schools in or around Bocas del Toro
Hi :)
Me and my girlfriend are travelling to Peru and Panama for the next two months.
We will be in Panama for from the end of June till the end of July.
We were thinking about going to Bocas del Toro and travel to the Islands around it.
I've been reading about the conditions in June-July and though it isn't the high season, it seems to me, that the weather is good and the surf is fine, do you agree?
Can you recommend any other surf schools in Panama?
Cheers and thanks in advance,
Haffi
May 19, 2013 7:57 AM
Gold_Satsuma
last reply
May 19, 2013 1:50 PM
travelbfun
2 replies
62 views
location:
Guatemala
3 weeks in Guatemala & Belize
Hi
We have just come back from a 3-week trip to Guatemala and Belize, and thought we would share our route and some of the main things we did as we found other people's posts really useful before we went:
Day 1: Arrive Guatemala City, headed straight to Antigua (shuttle buses to your right as you leave the airport)
Day 2: Volcano trek up Pacaya (booked through hostel - Hostel Antigua)
Day 3: Shuttle bus to Panajachel - recommend staying at Mario's Rooms, great location but quiet inside, you would never know you were by the main street
Day 4: Visit to nature reserve (a tuk-tuk will take you there for cheap)
Day 5: Day trip to Chichicastenango (booked through Adrenalina tours)
Travelled back to Pana, and then on to Xela (but think it's possible to arrange to go straight to Xela from Chichi, we didn't realise this though!)
Day 6: Day trip to visit indigenous villages and Fuen...
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May 19, 2013 6:30 AM
ornecoma
last reply
May 19, 2013 1:14 PM
hermosajoe
2 replies
60 views
location:
Honduras
Roatan, Kids, snorkelling
Hi, with my family (my husband and my two kids 8 ys) we are planning to visit Roatan next august.
We've been already there 4 years ago and at that time we stayed in the Banararama dive centre in West Bay and we had great time: the hotel was comfortable and the reef was so close by the beach and beautiful. This time we’re going to stay in Splash Inn Dive Resort – West End: any suggestions or experiences from the community? Is the reef in west end gorgeous and close to the beach as in West Bay?
May 19, 2013 1:24 AM
julio3745
last reply
May 19, 2013 1:24 AM
julio3745
0 replies
33 views
location:
El Salvador
Car rental at the airport hours of operation question
Can anyone tell me if the car rental companies are open after midnight at the airport? My flight arrives at 1am (Spirit) from Orlando FL, and I would like to rent a car when I arrive to San Salvador on August 1.... Thanks. - Julio
May 18, 2013 4:57 PM
abuelafromGranada
last reply
May 19, 2013 4:22 AM
MrTim
2 replies
90 views
location:
Guatemala
San Juan shuttles in Guatemala
This company has problems including criminals who will sell you tickets that don't exist. We were sold one on Monday by Jimmy in Flores at the Guatemala Xpeditions office just a few doors south of the Hotel Villa del Lago. He operates out of that office and out of a restaurant just a few doors north of the same hotel. The owner of the restaurant works with him. Both speak quite good English. Jimmy has no connections to any shuttle. His ticket looked just like the ones from the company, it is just that he never notifies the company. This company has many problems, look for another connection, there are two others that are reputable. The local buses are very reliable and have real tickets. His office is not connected with Guatemala Expeditions.
May 18, 2013 9:12 AM
2crazy
last reply
May 19, 2013 12:47 PM
StripeG1
22 replies
442 views
location:
Costa Rica
Transit through Newark Airport
Has anyone had experience of flying from UK to Costa Rica and having to change planes at Newark? We are flying with Lufthansa to Newark and then onwards with American Airlines.
Have read that some people nearly missed, or nearly missed onward flights because of transit problems in JFK. We only have 1hr 30 mins for transit. This will be next February. Will we have a problem with transit through Newark and do we need any documents to transit through USA?
Have done transit through Bangkok, Asia with no problems but now becoming worried about transit through USA.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
May 18, 2013 7:50 AM
Behrbi
last reply
May 19, 2013 7:31 AM
Behrbi
8 replies
228 views
location:
Costa Rica
October - Caribbean Coast
Hello,
I am beginning to plan a two-week trip to Costa Rica for my husband and me in October and was hoping to get input and observations about my draft itinerary from the regulars who seem to have a good idea of what's reasonable and makes sense in CR. So here goes...
Going in October to the Caribbean coast, as it appears the weather is good there at that time of year. While a car is not out of the question, I'd hoped to take public transportation.
Stay overnight in San Jose, then on day 2 raft the Rio Pacuare. I've noticed comments that a 2-day raft trip is better - really? I'd thought one day would suffice. However, afterwards we'll carry on to Tortugeuro, so my hope is that the tour company will pick us up at the hotel in SJ and then drop us after rafting at Moin to catch a boat. Will it be too late in the day at that point?
Stay two nights in Tortugeuro. Is it better ...
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May 17, 2013 7:58 PM
Maeja
last reply
May 18, 2013 6:40 AM
wiremu
2 replies
126 views
location:
Costa Rica
Costa Rica in september 2-3 weeks.
Hello my friend and I are planning a trip in september, possible to CR, we are both 25 years old, into nature, hiking, swimming, would love to learn to surf.. so my question is, is september a good time to travel costa rica?
I've been reading online that the weather is CR varies depending on the region and that the caribbean side is rather dry and a good area to check out? Although it would be rainy, I would still like to check out tamarindo and that region.
Flights that I have looked up indicate that it's more affordable to fly into san jose than liberia
Please let me know what you think?
Any seasoned costa rican travelers out there that could give me the 411 on CR in september would be extremely helpful!
Thank you!
May 17, 2013 8:36 AM
melissaolsen01
last reply
May 19, 2013 8:04 AM
StripeG1
8 replies
203 views
location:
El Salvador
Late night taxi from airport
Hello!
I am arriving into Comalapa late Wed night (yeah, the Spirit flight). As a woman traveling alone, is it generally considered safe to travel by taxi late at night in San Salvador?
If not, can anyone recommend inexpensive accommodations that will provide a shuttle for a reasonable price?
Thanks for the help!
May 17, 2013 5:53 AM
LeinsterMel
last reply
May 19, 2013 12:27 PM
StripeG1
24 replies
555 views
location:
Nicaragua
Electricity in Nicaragua
I wonder can somebody let me know the situation with electrical stuff in Nicaragua? I've googled it and I see they use the same two pronged plugs as in the US. However, I've also seen some references to bringing a surge protector- is this necessary? I will only want to charge an iPhone and digital camera. I don't especially want to have to hunt down a surge protector (never used one before), but i would hate to damage my phone in particular. Any advice appreciated!
Many thanks in advance.
May 17, 2013 2:32 AM
paul87
last reply
May 18, 2013 2:57 PM
maliante
7 replies
224 views
location:
Panama
Onward travel - Panama & Costa Rica
Hello,
As part of a round the world trip I am due to fly into Panama city from the US and after 3 months of Northward travel I plan to fly out of either Mexico/Belize home via the US. We plan to do this all overland but have heard of potential onward travel ticket issues. I have researched quite a lot online and get plenty of mixed messages. Any help anyone could provide would be massively appreciated. Do people think getting a bus ticket from Panama into Costa rica before flying would be a solution? And same for bus ticket out of Costa rica into Nicaragua before we enter Costa Rica?
Thanks in advance
Paul
May 16, 2013 11:05 PM
boske
last reply
May 19, 2013 4:17 AM
kpiperedd
4 replies
173 views
location:
Panama
Choosing honeymoon destination
Hello fellow travellers,
I'm trying to figure out the best destination for our honeymoon next year in February. I get to choose where we go and prepare the whole shabang, but she imposed the conditions ( to which I agreed). The criteria are few but very precise.:
- see vulcanoes and heavy vulcanic activity (lots of fumaroles, mud pots, volcanoes etc);
- clear skies and good temperatures to have beach time;
- no need to take malaria pills;
- good diving spots
- if possible: see whales (but this is the least important one)
Thank you very much!!!
May 16, 2013 11:04 PM
boske
last reply
May 18, 2013 6:35 AM
MrEd
9 replies
235 views
location:
Costa Rica
Choosing honeymoon destination
Hello fellow travellers,
I'm trying to figure out the best destination for our honeymoon next year in February. I get to choose where we go and prepare the whole shabang, but she imposed the conditions ( to which I agreed). The criteria are few but very precise.:
- see vulcanoes and heavy vulcanic activity (lots of fumaroles, mud pots, volcanoes etc);
- clear skies and good temperatures to have beach time;
- no need to take malaria pills;
- good diving spots
- if possible: see whales (but this is the least important one)
Thank you very much!!!
May 16, 2013 8:52 PM
Tlynn_Traveler
last reply
May 18, 2013 7:07 PM
likeeveryoneelse
2 replies
164 views
location:
Nicaragua
Windsurfing in Nicaragua
Just wondering if anyone has gone windsurfing in Nicaragua, and if so where and were they able to rent the equipment etc. I tried searching online but wasn't able to come up with anything useful.
Cheers
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