I will be traveling from panama city up toward mexico starting feb 1st, and was looking for interesting places to visit that arent to touristy
Hi there, i will be starting my trip feb 1st down in panama city and will be working my way north towards mexico. I dont have a time line for this trip and want to make the most out of it. I wanna see the countries for the countries not just the tourist spots. if anyone has any cool places that they have been or head of around central that arent to touristy that would be sweet. the more info the better, it will make it a way better trip.
thanks
Reply to this Hi,
I was in Guatemala this past summer. Definitely suggest that you check it out. Some good places to visit are Tikal in Northern Guatemala, Antigua, and Xela. These places can be very touristy, but are nice to visit for a couple days at a time. Particularly in Antigua, there are volcanoes around the city which you can hike. Pacaya is amazing and you can actually roast marsh mellows over lava. There are some good deals from Antigua for day trips to Belize if you were interested in checking them out-- some also go for up to a week I think.
There are many amazing plantations around Guatemala as well if you are looking for the real deal. There are a few eco-tourism lodges where you can visit and volunteer and learn about the community and culture. You can stay as long as you want, doesn't have to be long. One such place is www.fincalaflorida.com.
I would suggest going straight to Antigua from the airport (not a long drive--40 mins tops I think). From there you can explore the city and make plans. Antigua is the "tourist hub" of Guatemala, but not in an annoying "touristy" way. The city is beautiful. From there you can meet and ask questions about travel routes. There are many foreigners everywhere, especially Spanish students.
Hope this helps a little, feel free to ask more questions!
Reply to this Hey thanks for the info about guatemala, that is helpful.
I looked into these cities a bit but i havent looked at them to extensively since they are a little ways away. Gotta make it up from panama first. the hiking sounds really cool, was it mostly day hikes or overnight nights? if overnight hikes is the case do you need to bring a tent with you? the volocanos sound really sick to especially the roasting marshmellows over the lava.
Do you remember how far away the bus station is from downtown there too? Any cool hostels there or did you stay in hotels? Sorry got lots of questions and i leave sunday night.
This has been very helpful and will help me in the decision making process when i get to it. thanks
Reply to this No problem at all! The volcano is definitely a must. It is really easy too, so to answer your questions:
There are tons of hostels in Antigua. Pick relatively any one and you are in good hands. Our hostel was called "Le Hostel" I am pretty sure (yeah, funny name). For about 9 USD you got a bed, hot showers, free breakfast (which was surpisingly good) and a location which was near everything. There are two hostels in the city which are the most popular and apparently a good time: the Black Cat and Jungle Party. I'd advise looking into these before getting to Guatemala because they are booked all the time, and I am pretty sure you can reserve online.
We actually got picked up at our hostel. You can find little travel companies all around the city which offer volcano shuttles. I think it is around 5 USD to get picked up at your hostel and go about 35 minutes to Pacaya (there are two other volcanoes to choose from, but I recommend Pacaya). It is very convenient and the hostel we stayed at arranged everything for us, so if your not into going out and booking they can do it for you. So NO bus stations haha. In terms of hiking Pacaya, it only takes about an hour and a half to hike, and you have to have a guide. In total it takes about 3-4 hours out of your day to get up and down and take pictures, etc. They do early morning (shuttle gets you at 6 in morning) and they do evening ones. Certain companies do overnight trips (one I spoke to was run by a gringo) where you can see the sunset, and I think they provide tents.
I am not positive on the tent thing, but I am sure if you googled pacaya tours or something there would be lots of information, very spectacular and famous volcano. Hope this helps and ask as many questions as you want!
P.S definitely stop in Guatemala!
Reply to this Sweet mate that sounds like a definate stop in my trip. This is helping me get more stoked and just wanting to leave right now. Did you go to guatemala city too, or did you just stay to the cities outside? just wondering what it is like, i have been told that where you have told me is sick, is amazing.
Thanks so much, and i will be stopping in guatemala
Reply to this No, longest that we were in Guatemala City was enough time to get on and off airplanes. The airport is really nice, about all I personally experienced of Guate City. Obviously you know it isn't all that safe, but like other cities I am sure there are places you can go in the city that are safe-- well safer than others. Look into it though, I am pretty sure the average number of murders in the city a day is over 20, but I am sure many are within gangs. I guess it's better to be safe then sorry!
Reply to this I know its not that safest place in guatemala, but i still got to see it even for a day or two. i am really looking forward to the rest of guatemala though too, its gonna be amazing. thanks so much for the info though
Reply to this Hi Canada Traveler.. Is it safe to leave your pack at 'La Hostel' while you are off roasting marshmellows ? .. and does your answer apply to most hostels in Guatemala ?
Reply to this http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-467456.html This is about Antigua, Guatemala
Reply to this we did a similar route a couple of years ago - check out our blogs
we had no firm plans and most places we just went to on recommendations from others we met on the road!
climbing the volcanoe pacaya is great from antigua, lago atitlan is awesome, tikal, bocas del toro, tulum, nicaragua was our favourite place for the peopl - who were the friendliest!
have a good trip and have a look at our blogs, if you have any specific questions give us a shout
Reply to this hey, sounds like my trip that keeps on happening. I thought that i would be out of panama in 3 weeks and i have been here for almost a month and a half now, though i am leaving friday. its pretty crazy though, though i love it so so much. i have heard amazing things about nicargua and guatamale and i am so excited to visit them, i will be looking at your blog i am stoked to learn about this. Guide books tell you whats in the area, but they dont tell you if the place is really worth it, thats why blogs are the best, thanks so much
eric
Reply to this Hey Eric (and whoever).. Do the border patrol need to see a return ticket before they allow you entry to their country. If so.. how do you deal with this if you intend to be passing through on the way to somewhere else?
Happi days
Reply to this Hey yinka,
Technically you are suppose to have a return ticket back to where you came from, but it not strictly enforced at all, sometime they want one, but sometimes they dont ask. hope this helps
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