Travelling from Cuba to Guatemala and down through Central America

Hello,

So in march time i plan on flying to Cuba, where im hoping to stay for a few weeks. I guess my question is how and where is my best option for reaching mainland central america? I want to travel Central America for roughly two months before catching a boat through the San Blas Islands of Panama to Colombia and then travel through South America for four months. Im definitely starting in Cuba and definitely want to travel Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil and would be open to other suggestions or detours. Understand it might be a lot to fit into 6 months but was just looking for suggestions, ideas, places to visit, other countries i may want to visit and maybe most importantly travel advice/ route suggestions

I don't know the answer here, but I hope it goes well! I am looking to do something similar, but starting in March. Good luck, looking forward to updates!

Hello,

Your best option is flying Havana - Cancun.

http://www.travelindependent.info/america-central.html

To Cancun is the cheapest for sure......that doesn't leave you a lot of time to get all the way through Central America,but if you move fast (and miss out a lot of stuff)you can get down to Panama from Mexico in 2 months.

Yeah I have looked at flights and cancun seems to be the cheapest. Do you know anything about the journey from cancun to Guatemala as I don't think I have the time to fit any of Mexico in?

Basically there are two ways.(If you want to visit Tikal in northern Guatemala on the way down) ) ...straight down the coast of Yucatan, into Belize and then across to northern Guatemala.....or across Yucatan towards Chiapas and then down from there.

Do you want to see Belize?

I don't have a particular interest in Belize cos of the prices and time constraints but wouldn't mind staying for a few days to break up the journey from cancun to Guatemala. Would ideally like to see as much of Guatemala as possible

Its a pretty easy trip from Cancun down to Belize City,by bus.

Then..you could either head to the cayes for a few days (Caye Caulker is great for relaxing,snorkelling etc),or inland to San Ignacio (if you prefer ruins,caves,jungle stuff).Belize City itself is not too interesting.

From San Ignacio its easy to get to the border and then head on to Tikal.

With such general questions and so many at that, wouldn't it be prudent to read some of the books that were written about this before you expect others to guide you through six months of your life?

I mean there was only one real question... but moving past that, I like being guided by people that know better, and personally I find it a little more helpful speaking to people about it. Last time I checked there weren't many books on where to fly to from Cuba... and on top of that, as far as I'm aware, and tell me if I'm wrong, the point of lonely planet threads are to ask questions and have them answered by people who have done what you're asking

Thanks, you have been incredibly helpful. I will definitely drop you a message in the near future if that's ok, with more questions as I can see you have travelled extensively to say the least.

8 weeks for 7 countries (Excluding Belize but including Yucatan MX) is a lot of moving around. Getting about these parts takes time and planning, as many of the key areas and parks take you in different directions and they are not all in a row as the crow flies.

With two months, I would focus on Guatemala (2-3 weeks) and then get to Nicaragua, 7-10 days, then Costa Rica, 2 weeks and the remainder Panama.

Note: You need proof of "Onward Travel" to enter Costa Rica and Panama at the borders, meaning a flight out of the country you are entering.

Not sure what passport you hold, but can you fly into Cuba on a Oneway? Keep in mind it the airline that enforces the rules, so they may sell you a Oneway ticket, but when you check in for flight, they may require you to prove Onward Travel.

Keep in mind also that all of Central America size wise, 7 countries, fits into the size of Colombia, so distances and time to travel in SA are far greater then in CA.

You will need Yellow Fever Jab for Brazil. (and possibly a Visa).

What time of year are you going? There is a rainy season to contend with, as well the crossing from Panama to Colombia via boat some months is not advised due to high seas. Don't forget the Andes has its winter when North America is summer.

You're welcome. ..you can PM me if you want, or just post on here.

Most of the regular posters on this branch know the region better than me to be honest ;-) I know the parts I have done....

By the time you figure in the cost of getting from Cancun (where you have no interest in going) to Guatemala it will erase any savings from just flying direct to Guatemala City.

Two months is a good amount of time to see the main sights of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, CR & Panama, no need for Honduras unless you are interested in diving.

Last time I checked (August) there were no direct services between Guate and Cuba. At least I couldn't find any. Maybe Avianca runs something out of Salvador, but the only direct connection I am aware of between Cuba and Central America is to Panama City on Copa. Although if there are direct flights I'd be happy to be told I'm wrong.

One option worth considering is flying from Cancun to Guatemala City, which isn't too expensive and there are two direct flights per week. But that way you would be skipping the Peten, of course, and if you're interested in spending time there you would then have to backtrack.

Yea I think Avianca flies from it's El Salvador Hub to Havana. I also thought Cubana Airlines served Managua Nicaragua and San Jose Costa Rica, but not sure. Check Cuba Branch...

If you want to see Tikal or anything else in northern Guatemala, no point flying to GC.

You don't mention your main interests for this trip?
What is the difference in flight cost, Cancun vs Guatemala City.
You could fly Cancun, make a B-line to Chetumal, water taxi to Caye Caulker, stay a few nights, killer place and cheap.
Bus to San Ignacio and do the ATM trip, about 100us but worth every penny. 2 nights in SI, then bus to Tikal, awesome ruins.

This would be about a week and $400us to get to Tikal, includes buses, lodging, ATM trip, food and booze and maybe a snorkel trip on Caulker.

Yeah looks pricey but a lot of fun and very scenic week and one of the highlights of the trip.
the rest of Central America is pretty cheap.

I would go the route: Caye Caulker > Placencia (via 2 night camping & sailing with a certain tour operator) then across the bay from Punta Gorda to Livingston then up the river to Rio Dulce. Thence trucking up to Tikal/Flores Guatemala and then proceed south via Semuc Champey to Antigua & thereabouts.

But, depending on what enhances the buoyancy of your watercraft, after a round trip on Rio Dulce you could proceed from Livingston across the bay to Puerto Barrios & through Omoa and San Pedro Sula to the Bay Islands & get in a little scuba diving. If you go that way you might take a little side trip from SPS to Lago Yojoa (a 2 hr one way detour) for a little craft beer break at the D&D. It's a hoot.

There are many routes by which to do it, and to backtrack a little is not criminal. I'm not so big on San Ignacio Belize and guided cave tours though others rave on it. It's amateur night/chucklefest to me, but then I'm hard core.

I advise focus on Guatemala Honduras and Nicaragua. Best stuff is there.

I guess the Cubana direct flight HAV-GUA has been discontinued however Avianca flys HAV-SAL-GUA or better yet take buses from San Salvador to Copan stopping at the sites along the way then on to Tikal and other sites in Guatemala of interest finishing up in Antigua then a shuttle to El Tunco and continuing south from there, no backtracking involved.

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