Central America

My wife and I will be travelling in Costa Rica for ten days. I am a Canadian, using a Canadian credit card. That will result in an immediate exchange expense when the card is charged for US dollar amounts. Then there is the question of the local currency and the possibility of being dinged twice for exchange rates. So should I simply get a wad of local currency or US dollars and pay for everything in cash? I know it's risky wandering around with a big paper bag full of money, so the "cash" route…

Hi,

I'll be visiting Costa Rica for 5 weeks (beginning next week, mid-March) and rather than follow the tourist/backpacker trail for surfing, jungle treks, and bars (not that those things are 'bad'), I'd prefer to spend time visiting with communities and projects that are more eco/'spiritual'/sustainability oriented.

Any suggestions/recommendations for this? I've never been to CR before, but have a fair bit of backpacking experience in Belize, Guatemala, and El Salvador. (And I have experience…

I have spent the past 4 weeks studying at Educacion para Todos in Quetzeltenango with my husband. My original reason for choosing this school was that they were very informative and professional both on their website and in my constant questions before leaving the UK. They were also happy to tailor make the course according to our needs.

The experience at the school has exceeded our expectations. My husband and I both have very different levels of Spanish and the school has tailor made the…

I just received an unusual email. From what I can gather (between my limited grasp of Spanish, and a funky translating program) Aurora airport will be closed for a couple of days (March 11-12). I'm not at all sure why I was cc'd on this email (we have a flight to Tikal, but not until May), or whether the whole thing is even legit anyway. I don't recognize the senders name, but I had been emailing travel companies with some questions, so maybe I just got mixed in with the wrong distribution list…

If anyone knows the answer to this, please reply.

There's talk (in LP and on these message boards) of a hydrofoil or "fast boat" being reinstated from Granada/Ometepe/San Carlos either now or in the near future.
IS there a fast boat yet, or not?

I plan on crossing Lago de Nicaragua in April. Any info will help.
Thanks.

I am entering el salvador through nicaragua and it looks like the only entrance is through el amatillo in the east. can anyone confirm this for me and also does anyone have any info on crossing this border re times open, bus connections, etc. Also, as i was originally intending entering from guatemala, everything i have researched is in the west and wondering if anyone can advise on things to do in the east or whether i should hop skip from the border to somewhere in central el salvador. I am…

I know asking How long should I spend on Utilia is like asking "how long is a piece of string?"

So I plan on traveling around Guatemala for 1 month, then Copan, then straight to Utilia. How long would you recommend to stay on the island.

I don't want to pursue any big certifications, I just want to dive dive dive. I also want to relax a bit. I was thinking 2 weeks? Is too long to stay on the island? Assuming i do diving for 1 week, and relaxing/drinking for the other? Is the island big enough for…

hello there,

we're going to be in alajuela next week for one night and then the next day until we head the the airport to catch a 6pm flight back to ny...

i was wondering if anyone can reccomend:

-a good place to stay overnight that will be a good jumping off point for a bit of sight seeing the next day and give us a chance to see some of the character of the city... maybe with an inc. breakfast but not absolutely necessary

-the best place to eat!

-any good 1/2 day trips or sights we should see while…

hello there,

im currently thinking of taking an 8-week break in C.A. from end June to end August. my first idea is to arrive in Costa Rica and do a 4 week Spanish Course and then spend 4 weeks travelling up to Belize and leaving from there.

Can anybody recommend a good website/company for Spanish courses in Costa Rica (or any other country in C.A. for that matter, im open to alterntaive suggestions!). Ive looked at spanishabroad.com and it seems pretty good.

Also is 4 weeks a decent amount of time…