Hi all,
I am travelling from Belize to Colombia, arrive about 6th Jan 2019 ( coming from Cuba via Cancun) and looking at uros79 question the other day (Guatemala to Costa Rica in 7 weeks) there seems to be a set Gringo route pending your interest. I will be following in part, mrmoto suggestion.
My interest is National Parks for wildlife( birds in particular) So whist I have a guide book, what Parks do you see as a must visit and for that matter not to bother with? Any little gems you found in your visits? Places to stay at you came across with good ambience for a base.
To start with, I plan to visit Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize Zoo, Payne's Creek NP, back up to Cockscomb ( somewhere) to San Ignacio area, then to Tikal. So you get the idea here.
Hoping the usual guru's can step in from here for a basic route.
Also can I fly into Northern Colombia from Panama City, say to Turbo?
I have about 6 months for this trip.
Explore mentioned cities
I can assist you with Costa Rica, which is a serious mecca for nature/wildlife/birding, and also 25% of its land is National Parks. The bio diversity is very diverse, and to see the top eco systems and key parks, figure 3 weeks. The issue is, they are are both coastal areas, but not connected via a easy route.
Will you be interested in hiking, overnight camping? The key park in Central America, considered one of the most Bio Diverse parks in the hemisphere, is Corcovado, which is near Panama on the Pacific side, and it is closed in October, as that is the heaviest rain month on that zone of the country. The caribe coast of CR is the opposite weather, and also possesses some of the best wildlife/nature in the country, as this coast is mainly rainforest and jungle.
The Key Parks to focus on are-
Corcovado NP Osa/Drake Bay
Sarapiqui/La Selva (biology center for tropical studies)
Tortuguero Canals & Rainforest NP
Cahuita NP
Cano Negro NP
La Amistad/Chirrpo NP
Rincon NP
Monteverde NP
Tenerio NP
Get your hands on the National Geographic Explorer Costa Rica- should be at the library, to see the amazing landscapes and parks in pictures.
You can cross two different borders between Costa Rica & Panama, on the caribe side via Sixoala, which is great for accessing Bocas del Toro area, or the Pacific side, on the CA-1 the main hwy connecting the capitals.
Another option for getting to Colombia from Panama is sailboat charter, about $500PP, and you take a sailboat via San Blas Islands 2nights/4days.
Be sure to book your boat with a safe captain and boat crew, there are some real horror stories. The above link knows them all and wants their guest to be happy.
Good Luck.
Based on personal experience:
Belize/Guatemala--you've already hit the ones we had a chance to explore (with the exception of the New River Lagoon and Mountain Pine Ridge)
Honduras: I'm mostly familiar with the northern part of the country--Pico Bonito, Reserva Cuero y Salado, Lancetilla Botanical Gardens, Rio Santiago Nature Resort/Lodge
El Salvador: Bocana Rio Jiboa (near the airport), PN Cerro Verde, Montecristo is on our list as that's supposed to be fantastic
Nicaragua: Masaya, El Chocoyero, Reserva Montibelli
Costa Rica: Tenorio/Bijagua, Cerro de Muerte/San Gerardo de Dota, PN Tapanti, Sarapiqui/La Selva OTS, Tortuguero, South Caribbean (between Cahuita and Manzanillo), Tarcoles/Carara, Arenal Observatory Lodge (Arenal is mediocre except for the AOL), Cano Negro, Palo Verde, Rincon de la Vieja, Santa Rosa, Osa Peninsula, Monteverde, vicinity of San Isidro del General (essentially the valley between Cerro de Muerte in the mountains and Dominical on the coast).
Panama: La Amistad and Volcan National Parks (one lodge--Los Quetzales, has cabins inside these parks), Finca Hartmann, Lagunas del Volcan, Cerro Azul, Valle de Anton, PN Soberania/Pipeline Road, Metropolitan Park, Cerro Ancon, Chagres River/Lago Gatun
Thanks mrmoto,
I am not planning to take a tent. Is it necessary for Corcovado? To gain access I plan to go to Golfito across to Jimenez and work it out from there.What's your thoughts on going Drake Bay way, I see there is a refuge nearby.
The sail boat is not my cup of tea ( I haven't rule it out especially if it goes to Turbo region). I will be checking out your suggestion on Parks to visit, thank you. ( you actually help me out a while back, hope you are well )
Cheers
Forget the tent. No need for it.
Corocvado, if you choose to hike the LOOP, and base in Pt Jimenez, then you need guide/reservation/permits, and sleep at ranger stations dorm...
if you want to access the park via boat, and not the long 8 hours each day of hiking, then go to Drake Bay, and lodging will arrange everything for you. But you need to access DB via boat from Sierrpe, to get there you bus to Palmar Norte/Sur, not Golfito...
I acknowledge your last. Just to clarify, if I go to DB via Sierrpe, to access the Park proper, can I stay at Sirena Ranger Station for a couple of days to do the hikes there? (or only the other way, the long hike in).
Cheers
Thanks racandee, that's fantastic of you, just what the doctor order. I am looking at Impossible NP in El Salvador as well, as it is kinda on route. I'm checking out your suggestions. Thanks for the detail infor, the lodges in particular. I'm not sure of the situation in Honduras but I liking your choices there. I have enough to make a plan.Cheers for that.
Take care
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Hey redmark - maybe racandee will post a link to his flickr photos, but he has an incredible collection of birds from Central America!
Might I suggest to cross Guatemala, have a look around western El Salvador, and then do Honduras? It will involve the least backtracking. And for Honduras,consider adding Lago de Yajoa. Lots of birding in the area, plus it includes nearby Pulhapanzak Falls; my favorite for all of Central America!
If not interested in Yajoa and the mid-region, from la Ceiba take one of the direct buses to Tegucigalpa for continuing on to Nicaragua. This way, you don't have to come back through San Pedro Sula.
As for getting from Panama to Colombia, I previously bookmarked this link - which you'd obviously want to do in the opposite direction. Numerous other experiences traceable through web search. None sound straight forward, but if it's adventure you're looking for...
Enjoy ~
If you are interested in overnight camping (without carrying the tent), look at the El Mirador trek in Guatemala. Its 4 or 5 nights in the jungle but mules carry all the tents and other camping equipment.
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