Best Country In Central America To Visit
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Having been to all 7 countries in the region (Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama), I can provide some helpful information on the best country in Central America to visit. If you don’t visit this beautiful part of the planet, you’re seriously missing out!
It’s a region with numerous Mayan ruins, 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, diverse rainforests, stunning Caribbean beaches, beautiful colonial cities and even a volcano you can see erupting in Guatemala!
I’ll be rating each country out of 5 based on cost and danger, where 5 is the most expensive/most dangerous rating and 1 is the cheapest/safest. I will also be talking about the highlights of each country and who would like each nation in the region.
Of course, this is very subjective. The surfer, the wildlife enthusiast and the Bitcoin bro will have very different opinions. I’ll be addressing who would enjoy each individual country the most and summing up right at the end. Countries are ranked in order of personal preference, but even the country in 7th was awesome therefore “last” does not mean “bad”.
Let’s get stuck into a list that includes some of the most underrated gems on earth.
Where To Go In Honduras
Honduras is a country overlooked by many due to its dangerous reputation. And sure, Honduras certainly isn’t the safest country in the region, but that doesn’t mean it’s a no-go zone with danger lurking around every corner. In fact, many parts of the country are very safe.
Copan Ruinas is the first of these. This Mayan ruin site is very close to the Guatemala border. Despite Honduras’ dubious safety reputation, Copan Ruinas is undoubtably the safest place on the country’s mainland.
The ruins themselves are not as spectacular as those at Tikal (Guatemala) or Chichén Itza (Mexico). However, there are several macaws living here which often swoop down and eat right in front of tourists. And they add a layer of charm the other ruins sites don’t have. The ruins themselves are less touristy than others in Central America, perhaps due to the country’s reputation.
I really enjoyed the ruins, however the town of Copan Ruinas itself is a fun little place to take it easy and enjoy some of the local shops and restaurants. For foodies, you can easily find baleadas round here. These are an everyday staple of the Honduran diet, often consisting of fried beans, cheese, butter and sometimes other ingredients.
Also check out the Bay Islands. These are the safest parts of Honduras and are generally dominated by tourists rather than locals. The main two islands are Utila and Roatan. They are world famous diving spots (in fact Honduras is known as the world’s cheapest country for diving qualifications).
I must admit that as a non-diver, Utila wasn’t really worth the 3 nights I spent there. It’s a nice island, but if you don’t dive then it’s certainly possible to skip without really missing anything of note. Walking up Pumpkin Hill and enjoying a refreshing juice at a local’s home-turned-cafe near the top was a lovely experience. As was sampling a popular Honduran coconut-based cocktail called the “monkey lala” at Neptune’s, a boat ride away from the populated southeastern corner of the island. But I would say it was something that wouldn’t have bothered me if I missed it.
Roatan is more of a slower-paced island than Utila, which has more of a backpacking scene. Roatan is more expensive than Utila. Although Roatan is more built up. So which one you’d prefer depends on whether you’re looking for more of a hippie backpacking vibe on a budget with a bit of nightlife (Utila) or a bit more space and comfort (Roatan).
The other popular and safe spot in Honduras is Lake Yojoa, a large mountain lake in the country’s west. Most tourists will only visit Copan Ruinas and the Bay Islands. But if a third spot is on the itinerary, then it is generally here.
Where To Avoid In Honduras
The capital Tegucigalpa and second city San Pedro Sula have reputations for being two of the most dangerous cities in the world. The latter was once the murder capital of the world with an average of over 3 killings per day (yes, 3 out of a population of over 850,000).
Are these reputations justified? Well if you’re a tourist and you don’t flash any cash or valuables then you should be okay in these cities. Most crimes here are directed towards people associated with rival gangs. And tourists won’t be attacked unless they make themselves a target, or end up getting caught in the crossfire (about as likely as winning the lottery).
I gave these cities a miss during my own 3-month trip through Central America due to their reputation and my lack of travel experience at the time.
If you’re streetwise, you’ve experienced a few grittier countries and you can speak a little Spanish then you shouldn’t have any problems here.
If I went to Honduras again today, I would happily explore both cities during the daytime and not feel this is risky. But for newbie travellers, maybe give these a miss for now.
La Ceiba is also linked to high crime rates. Chances are you will pass through here on the way to the Bay Islands, as this is where the ferries are based. I spent two nights in La Ceiba and didn’t feel in danger. Although I went to a football match in the city and away fans let off fireworks in the stands before they stormed the home end until police came over and they turned back. No one was hurt, and I never felt immediate danger. But I guess on another day, that’s not necessarily the safest environment to be in… So make of that what you will.
Honduras Is Best For…
Divers. The Bay Islands are one of the world’s leading diving destinations and they attract people from all over the world to see the tropical reefs, view exotic wildlife and gain diving qualifications and experience.
History lovers will also appreciate Honduras, most notably for Copan Ruinas. Although Fortaleza de San Fernando will also pique their interest. This colonial fort is located on the Caribbean coast a 5-hour drive from Copan Ruinas and just 50 minutes from the Guatemala border.
6) Belize
Cost rating: 3.5/5
Danger rating: 2.5/5
Where To Go In Belize
Belize is the closest you will come to visiting the Caribbean without leaving the American mainland.
Belize is all about the water activities and island life. And there is no better place to experience this than San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. If you want to go snorkelling or diving, this is where you need to go. Hol Chan Marine Reserve is the number one place to go diving. If crabs, fish, rays, eels and even sharks are what you want to see, then you’re in the right place! The sharks are harmless nurse sharks which have never been known to attack humans. So don’t fear them!
San Pedro was my favourite place in Belize. You can travel around on golf buggies and spend your days sipping cocktails before the sun sets in the evening. It’s safe there and full of good vibes. Would highly recommend it.
The next place you should visit in Belize is Caye Caulker. This little island (well, two islands now) is much smaller and quieter than San Pedro. It was split in two by Hurricane Hattie in 1961 which created two separate islands, with small boats ferrying passengers between the two. I explored both and the north island is mostly untouched. There are few tourists there. I found one massive beach and not a single other person was there.
The north island has a few upmarket hotels and restaurants dotted around, but they are in limited supply.
The south island on the other hand, is a lot more built up. The island’s motto is “go slow” and I can confirm they do this here. It’s a far cry from the pure chaos I found whilst backpacking India. But equally a little frustrating when you go to a restaurant and in true Caye Caulker style… they go slow.
If you’re used to the fast-paced work ethic of Western Europe or East Asia, then Caye Caulker can be quite the culture shock!
The whole south island is walkable, and the southern third of the island is undeveloped, giving off a very similar feel to the north island. Whereas the northern two thirds of the south island are packed full of bars, restaurants, hotels and places to book excursions.
Now we can’t talk about Belize without mentioning the Great Blue Hole. Admittedly, this was one spot I didn’t go to, and there were reasons for that. You can experience the Great Blue Hole in two ways. You can go diving there. Although people who went diving told me it’s a bit boring and you can’t really see much.
The best way to go there is via helicopter. It costs around $250-300 to fly to the Great Blue Hole, therefore I gave it a miss as a budget backpacker.
Belize is arguably the best country in Central America to visit on a high budget. It’s popular with rich expats who come to retire here and soak up the paradise island life.
Belize is also home to the Belize Barrier Reef, the largest such reef north of the equator. It is a popular snorkelling spot where you can encounter hundreds of different marine creatures.
One hidden gem I really loved was San Ignacio, close to the Guatemala border. It’s best known for nearby Mayan ruins (albeit overshadowed by Tikal which is just a 2 hour 15 minute drive away), and the nearby Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) caves which are popular for adventurers.
My personal highlight however was the Iguana sanctuary located at San Ignacio Resort Hotel. Here they will take you on a tour for US$11.25 and educate you on green iguanas. They will tell you about their conservation projects and even give you the chance to feed and hold iguanas. Although the latter turned out to be a bad idea, since the iguana scratched me…
Whilst it didn’t feel too bad at the time, iguanas carry salmonella which is one of the main types of bacteria found in food poisoning, and illness can start within weeks of infection. Well, just over a week later I had some pretty nasty food poisoning. Now it could’ve been a coincidence, but picking it up from the iguana can’t be ruled out…
Where To Avoid In Belize
The most notorious spot in Belize is the former capital, Belize City. This city on the coast is one of the country’s main arteries, connecting main roads from Mexico and Guatemala with boats to the Cayes. It is notorious for gang violence, which takes place mostly south of Haulover Creek, a canal splitting the city in two.
I spent 15 minutes walking through the south side whilst heading from the water taxi terminal in the north, to the bus station in the south. It certainly felt like a place with a bit of an edge to it, even ignoring what I already knew about the city. However, nothing bad happened during the short time I was there. It helped that I memorised the route to avoid having to take my phone out along the way.
Now of course “nothing bad happened to me” does not mean “this place is super safe so you should come here alone at night waving your iPhone in the air”.
Oh, and I met a dodgy character in Corozal who appeared to have pretty bad intentions and proudly told me about his numerous spells in jail… Maybe I’ll save that story for a separate post as it’s a pretty long one. Of course, it would be unfair to base the safety of one place off a single character. But from what he told me, he seemingly has a lot of “friends” in the area, and let’s just say they didn’t quite sound like doctors or lawyers…
Belize Is Best For…
Divers and snorkellers. If you love water sports, you will absolutely love Belize. If Honduras isn’t the best country in Central America to visit for divers, then Belize certainly is.
Island lovers. For some people, living on a slow-paced island without a care in the world is peak life. Sun shining every day, seafood by the beach, go for a swim whenever you fancy… If this is you, then Belize is your kind of country.
5) Costa Rica
Cost rating: 4/5
Danger rating: 1/5
Where To Go In Costa Rica
Most people’s number one country in Central America only just scrapes into the top 5 in my own rankings. Look, I get it. Costa Rica is the best country in the world for spotting wildlife, and that’s awesome. But I would say the all-round package it has to offer pales in comparison to some of its neighbours.
In Costa Rica you should focus on the jungles. I started in Monteverde, best known for its huge cloud forest. I did a night walk as part of a group tour and it was awesome! We saw frogs, scorpions, birds and even a deadly lime-green pit viper, who fortunately kept his distance. Didn’t get good pictures as he wasn’t close to the trail, but I didn’t get bitten by one of the world’s deadliest snakes either, so that’s probably a fair trade off.
Our guide said that it would take hours to reach the nearest hospital that’s open at night time. Therefore you really don’t want to get on the wrong side of one of these chaps at night.
We also saw tarantulas which were cool to see, despite not wanting to leave their hiding holes in the ground.
The second place I went to was La Fortuna. My highlight here was undoubtably the Bogarin Trail which is famous for its sloths. To be honest, the sloths did a good job of hiding up high in the trees. Without binoculars I could barely see them. However, this place more than made up for the lack of good sloth sightings with toucans, the deadly fer-de-lance viper and the colourful “blue jeans frog” – a poison dart frog that looks like it’s rocking some denim on its red body. A fun place to visit for sure.
Costa Rica is one of Central America’s safest countries, but the fer-de-lance viper is one of its few dangers you should be aware of.
Following La Fortuna was remote Tortuguero, where you can see turtles hatching on the beach if you go at the right time of year! Hatching season takes place from September to October. At any time of year you can do jungle treks during the day, night treks and a boat tour which takes you through the mangroves. I did all three, saw all sorts of awesome wildlife and was even offered the chance to go on an illegal danger tour at night time which heads through thick forested areas full of deadly snakes and other dangerous creatures. I came unprepared for something this risky however and therefore reluctantly declined.
I then went to Cahuita on the coast, where the national park wasn’t as impressive as what I’d already seen, but this is a good small town to soak up a Caribbean feel, and enjoy local reggae parties.
My last major stop was Manuel Antonio National Park. Although I made the amateur mistake of not checking opening times before going, with plans to visit for my birthday on the Tuesday… only to find out on the day that it’s closed on Tuesdays. Not my finest moment, but I went on the Wednesday and it was well worth it.
The one place I intentionally skipped was Corcovado National Park. This is meant to be Costa Rica’s best wildlife habitat. However it is mandatory to visit with a guide, and guides cost upwards of US$100 which meant this wasn’t (and still isn’t) a budget backpacker-friendly destination.
Where To Avoid In Costa Rica
Whilst there are no serious danger spots in Costa Rica, I’d advise minimising time in the capital, San Jose. It’s run down, boring, gloomy and there’s certainly an edge to the city. A lot of tourists will pass through anyway as it’s located centrally and a key transport hub between the national parks dotted around various corners of Costa Rica.
Let’s not exaggerate things here. San Jose is not Mogadishu. You probably won’t have any safety issues here, assuming you take reasonable safety precautions. But it’s a city with (minor) risk and just about no reward. So transport links aside, it isn’t worth visiting.
Costa Rica Is Best For…
Wildlife enthusiasts. I’m pretty lukewarm on Costa Rica, but for animals it is the best country in the world. After all, over 500,000 different species of animals make their home here. You could spend years exploring this country’s jungles and barely scratch the surface in terms of seeing all the natives.
Beach lovers. Beach bums love Costa Rica. Particularly on the Pacific Coast side with well-trodden coastal destinations such as Tamarindo.
4) Guatemala
Cost rating: 1.5/5
Danger rating: 3/5
Where To Go In Guatemala
Guatemala is an absolute gem of a country with so much to see and do. If you come down from Mexico or Belize then one of the first major stops will be the small lake town of Flores. Whilst there isn’t loads to do here, it’s a nice little town to watch the sun set over Lago Peten Itza. Flores itself isn’t the main reason why people come to Flores however…
Flores is where most people base themselves ahead of a trip to Tikal, the Mayan ruin site in the country’s north. There are several tour companies in the town offering excursions to Guatemala. I did one of these tours as part of a group and it took just over an hour to reach Tikal in a shared minivan.
In my opinion, Tikal has the best Mayan ruins of all. Even more so than Mexico’s World Wonder Chichen Itza. The ruins themselves are just one of three points of interest within Tikal National Park. It is also home to loads of awesome wildlife. Most notably the coatimundi, a raccoon-like creature that can be found across most of Central and South America. In fact I saw several of these in Argentina as well, when I visited Iguazu Falls. Tapirs, howler monkeys and even jaguars also live here. Although you’d need some serious luck to spot the latter. Your best option is booking a hotel inside the national park overnight. But even then, these guys don’t often come out to say hello.
The third point of interest at Tikal is being able to observe traditional Mayan ceremonies. Locals in traditional clothing sometimes light fires and engage in traditional chanting right in front of the large temples that Tikal is best known for. We even saw a couple of foreign tourists getting involved in these ceremonies. They would walk in circles around the bonfire with their arms outstretched whilst chanting. A cool thing to witness first hand.
Anyway, enough on Tikal. Guatemala also has Semuc Champey, a stunning natural staircase-like monument with a pool on each “stair”. Most people stay in nearby Lanquin and do a day trip to visit. I did this as it was pretty affordable (about US$25 for everything including transport, entry, tubing and cave exploration).
The cave trip is not for the faint-hearted. You will be wading through deep water that comes up to your neck. And at 6 ft 3 I’m one of the lucky ones! Others struggled to stay afloat at times whilst holding the candles used to illuminate the pitch-black cave. The water was also filled with bat droppings.
Yum! I was horribly ill the next day though despite (obviously) trying to avoid drinking the water…
Oh and you come up here standing in the back of a truck weaving up and round a bumpy hill. I was stood on a pile of cargo in the back gripping the sides for dear life. Semuc Champey is for those who crave adventure. And yes, most people here are young backpackers on the classic Central American “gringo trail”.
After Semuc Champey, head to Antigua. This cool colonial-style city is fun in its own right. But it’s also not the primary reason for coming here. That would be to hike up Volcan Acatenango. Take a tour and you will be camping on the side of the volcano overnight. Why’s this cool? Well in the distance you can see Volcan de Fuego which erupts every 15 minutes. We had bad luck for the first few hours with fog obscuring the view. However, at 1am, one of our tour group woke us all up as the fog had cleared and we were able to see lava coming out the top as the volcano erupted. Unfortunately the photo I have from that moment is pretty poor, but this was one of the most memorable experiences of my life and you should visit Guatemala for this phenomenon alone.
Oh, but bring proper hiking boots. I didn’t have any and just brought trainers. Lost count of the number of times I fell over, which included rolling a couple of meters off the edge of the volcano at one point, fortunately towards the bottom where plants and soil broke my fall… I was able to get up with nothing worse than a muddy face, a few scratches and a bruised ego.
This is a tricky hike so bring hiking boots and poles. In fact this was far tougher than the 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu in Peru which involved over 83km of walking. So come prepared accordingly.
The other must-visit spot in Guatemala is Lake Atitlan. It is known for having 11 small towns dotted around the shore, each with a different vibe to it. I visited the two most popular: San Pedro La Laguna and Panajachel. Pana (as the latter is sometimes called) was pretty average. A handful of bars and restaurants were dotted around, as was a local crafts market. But San Pedro was much more lively, with tuk tuks squeezing through the tight alleyways, hidden spots throughout the labyrinth which makes up a good chunk of the town, and better views of the lake. Many of the other towns are more “off the beaten path” and better for connecting you with locals rather than other tourists.
Where To Avoid In Guatemala
Capital Guatemala City is a notorious hotspot for gang crime. In fact, I ended up seeing a Polish doctor when I was ill in Colombia who had previously worked in the main hospital here, and he had countless tales of shooting victims coming in on a daily basis, multiple times a day at this city’s low point in the early 2000s.
The city is split into 22 different zones. Some are fine, some are a little sketchy, and others are downright dangerous. Do your research before heading here so you known where you can go safely and where to avoid.
Several hiking spots have also been the scene of armed robberies in Guatemala. These include Volcan de Agua near Antigua and many trails between the towns of Lake Atitlan. Unfortunately, if you spend several months backpacking through Latin America as I did, then you will encounter many people with robbery stories to share, sometimes armed robbery. Guatemala was the scene of some of these crimes, so be cautious here. In fact I almost got mugged myself in Quito, Ecuador. Fortunately most of the touristy places are pretty safe in Guatemala. Just be wary of heading off the beaten path here.
Guatemala Is Best For…
Adventurers. This is the best country in Central America to visit if you like risk-taking and adrenaline rushes. It’s seriously good fun.
Indigenous culture. The Mayans aren’t some extinct people from a bygone era. They’re very much alive and thriving today. Mayan culture can be seen all over Guatemala. It is most notable in the traditional dress of locals across the country.
Volcanoes. Whilst Nicaragua is also amazing for volcanoes, and you can see lava there too, seeing a volcano actually erupt with your own eyes is breathtaking and few experiences in my life were as memorable as witnessing Volcan de Fuego erupt. This is serious bucket list stuff.
3) Panama
Cost rating: 3/5
Danger rating: 2.5/5
Where To Go In Panama
I went to four places in Panama, and would strongly recommend two of them.
Of the two I wouldn’t recommend, David is a pretty boring city. It’s really just a transport hub that acts as a crossroads between Panama City, Costa Rica and Boquete/Bocas del Toro. Panama City is the other I wouldn’t recommend purely because I didn’t see much of it in the time I had. This does not mean that you should avoid it, just that I personally didn’t see enough to say “wow, you should go there”. Oh, and the canal is closed on Mondays. My one full day in the city was on a Monday and I found out the hard way…
Anyway, that leaves two places I have seen first hand and believe you should absolutely visit in Panama. The first is Boquete. Popular with retirees, this town in the north is surrounded by beautiful nature. It has great scenery with green forests, fast-flowing rivers and mountains in the background. There are lots of hiking trails here, and it’s a great spot to see some rural wildlife. I encountered chickens, horses, butterflies and more here. Boquete isn’t a place for party animals, but if you love nature then you’ll enjoy beautiful Boquete.
Now my favourite spot in Panama by far was Bocas del Toro. This archipelago consists of a series of islands on the Caribbean coast of Panama. The main island is called Isla Colon and this is where most of the action takes place. The highlight here was Playa Estrella (starfish beach) which is home to many giant starfish. They come very close to the shore and can easily be seen in the clear waters. You should bring some water-friendly shoes here as you won’t be able to go far along the beach without wading through the water.
Isla Colon also has a jungle in the north which you can trek through. I made a new friend at the hostel I stayed in, and we spent several hours trekking through the jungle to find yellow poison dart frogs.
Fun fact, frogs of different colours exist on each of the archipelago’s islands, and finding them is part of the fun!
We were successful in our mission after many hours of searching, and encountered several howler monkeys and a dead snake along the way.
Aside from the wildlife, Isla Colon is home to slow-paced island life throughout the day and some wild parties in the evening. It is most famous for “Filthy Friday” pub crawls which head from Isla Colon to nearby Isla Solarte and Carenero Island. Whilst I’m too old for this kind of thing, we bumped into some revelers who continued the party back at Selina on Isla Colon, and they only had good things to say about the event.
The next most popular island in Bocas is Bastimentos Island, home to “Red Frog Beach” which gets its name from the red-coloured frogs on the island. These ones were easier to find than those on Isla Colon. Bastimentos is less touristy than Isla Colon. The further you head from Red Frog Beach, the fewer tourists you will find. We also did a short tour from Selina Red Frog where we stayed, and saw the crocodile-like caiman among other things.
Bocas del Toro would be my top recommendation in Panama for wildlife, beaches and parties.
Where To Avoid In Panama
Despite mostly being a safe country, Panama does have its dodgy spots. Two in particular stand out. Firstly the city of Colon. This industrial port town with little of interest to tourists is a hotbed of violent crime, with tourists said to be targets. Now I haven’t been to Colon myself, but I haven’t heard a good word about it either. There are better places to check out in Panama.
The Darien Gap. An area that absolutely fascinates me. There is a huge jungle spread across Panama and Colombia which has no roads and only a handful of indigenous settlements. This lawless region is home to drug smugglers, paramilitaries, incredibly challenging weather and terrain and numerous deadly creatures.
Exploring the outskirts of Darien National Park on a guided tour should be fine. But attempting to head towards the Colombia border is a terrible idea. Youtuber Bald and Bankrupt made a brilliant video where he joined illegal immigrants crossing the gap and highlighted the horrors of this part of the world. Unfortunately, the gap makes crossing continents overland from North America to South America virtually impossible.
Panama Is Best For…
Island life. If you like slow-paced “take it easy” living with beaches and water activities then Panama is a great place for you.
Jungle adventures. Whilst Costa Rica is king for jungle treks, Panama still has a lot to offer and a lot of wildlife to see.
Expats. Panama is one of the most stable countries in Central America in terms of overall safety and access to modern amenities. It also has favourable tax laws. Therefore it attracts a lot of expats coming over to either retire, or just upgrade their lifestyle.
2) El Salvador
Cost rating: 2/5
Danger rating: 1/5
Where To Go In El Salvador
El Salvador is one of my favourite Central American countries. Not only is it one of the safest nations in Latin America these days, but it also has a lot of cool spots to visit.
When coming down from Guatemala by bus, my first stop was Santa Ana. This colonial city has a lot of charm and is worth visiting for a couple of days. I even stayed in the house of former president Pedro Jose Escalon, which has now been converted into Hostal Plaza Antigua. This hostel has both shared and private rooms, and I’d thoroughly recommend staying there. It is also a two-minute walk from the main square where you can visit Santa Ana Cathedral. I was fortunate enough to be there during Semana Santa (the week before Easter, which is a big deal in Latin America). They had a big service going on for Easter Sunday, whilst the country shut down to celebrate.
Santa Ana is also located near the spectacular Santa Ana Volcano, famed for its turquoise crater, and neighboring Coatepeque Lake. Combine the two for an incredible day trip.
El Salvador is also famous for its beaches. I visited two. Firstly El Tunco, a major surfing destination in Central America. Admittedly, if you aren’t a surfer, it’s a bit of a small hippie town with little else to do. But for surfers this place is a big deal.
Secondly, along the coast is El Zonte, also known as “Bitcoin Beach”. This is a cool spot for its black volcanic sand. But the beach gets its nickname from the fact that most places accept Bitcoin as payment, with efforts to create a Bitcoin eco-system. This surprised me a little as the beach was very underdeveloped during my visit in 2022. Aside from a few low-key hotels, most buildings were small shacks. It’s an interesting place to go and see if their Bitcoin economy does take off after all.
Another fun spot in El Salvador is the capital, San Salvador. Like San Pedro Sula, a former world murder capital. However, a major crackdown on gangs just a few days before I went to the country in April 2022 has led to the city and country completely transforming and becoming very safe.
The capital is fun because the centre is full of colonial architecture and you can really get a feel for local life, with pupusas sold pretty much everywhere. I even got a super cheap haircut there and it was one of the best I’ve ever had!
Towards the western side of the city, you have a more modern Americanised area with big shopping malls and popular global brands. It’s a Central American brand however that I particularly enjoyed. San Martin bakery sold some cracking shortbread that wouldn’t look out of place at a tearoom in a quaint British countryside village.
Just outside the city to the northwest is San Salvador Volcano, also known as El Boqueron. You can take an Uber pretty much to the top. It doesn’t take long to look around, but you can see the crater from above here. Definitely worth the trip for half a morning or so.
Where To Avoid In El Salvador
In 2024, I’m struggling to think of a single part of El Salvador that requires extra caution. The crackdown on gangs in the last couple of years has been so successful that El Salvador is one of the safest countries in the region by far and there are no longer the no-go zones that plagued the country previously.
In 2023, nowhere saw more than 14 murders across the entire year. A fantasy statistic just 24 months previously. Although it’s important to remember that murders aren’t the only crime to exist.
Of course, heavily reduced crime doesn’t mean no crime. But with common sense precautions you should be fine pretty much anywhere in El Salvador, particularly during the day.
El Salvador Is Best For…
Surfers. El Tunco is a world famous surfing spot, and this is one of the key draws to El Salvador for foreign visitors.
Crypto enthusiasts. El Salvador aims to make itself a world leader in cryptocurrency, with “Bitcoin Beach” just the beginning. In fact I met a fellow tourist who had come over from a crypto conference in Miami to visit El Salvador because she wanted to see the crypto culture in action. She had absolutely no idea about the country’s dangerous reputation.
Adventurers. Guatemala is the best country in Central America to visit for an adventure, and Nicaragua is second. But El Salvador also offers opportunities to get off the beaten path and explore somewhere your friends may be afraid to visit because they read an old news article claiming it’s dangerous.
1) Nicaragua
Cost rating: 1/5
Danger rating: 2/5
Where To Go In Nicaragua
Start with the small colonial cities of Leon and Granada. Both are charming and the rooftop of Leon Cathedral offers breathtaking sunset views. But both cities are overshadowed by excursions to more adventurous places.
From Leon, you can do a volcano boarding tour. And that’s exactly what I did. If you join a group tour, they will take you in a truck to Cerro Negro Volcano where you will hike up with a board to reach the top. Thankfully the hike doesn’t take long, and the only challenging aspect is the hot sweaty weather. At the summit, you will receive instructions before taking it in turns to bomb down the volcano at speeds that put Usain Bolt to shame.
It seems fun until you realise how tricky it is to control the board. I struggled more and more to hold on as the board picked up speed, before finally flying off at the bottom. Fortunately, the tour provided us with protective clothing which was enough to avoid any injuries. But this can be brutal in the wrong circumstances.
From Granada, it is possible to visit Volcan Masaya, where you can peer down into the Santiago crater and see lava at the bottom. Whilst not quite as cool as seeing a volcano actually erupt, it’s still a pretty awesome thing to see and should be towards the top of your Central America bucket list.
Just a 20-minute drive from Granada is a hostel called Treehouse. And the hostel itself is the main attraction here. Spend a night in the jungle, surrounded by wildlife and spectacular sunsets. Every Friday they host parties there, so it’s not a good time to visit for anyone who doesn’t like that sort of environment. I stayed on the Saturday and the atmosphere was rather subdued with remaining guests feeling the aftereffects of the previous night. Staying in the hostel is a really cool experience, and they host a series of activities for guests. I would advise bringing your own food however. They only had vegan food available during my visit (and said this was what they do daily) with no other options.
Now one of the highlights of Nicaragua is stunning Ometepe Island. Located in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, this figure-of-eight-shaped island consists of two volcanoes – Maderas and Concepcion, both of which can be hiked up.
My highlight of Ometepe by far however was Charco Verde wildlife reserve. It costs just US$5 to enter which I would call a bargain given how awesome this place is. It feels very remote with few other visitors, and many animals around. Howler monkeys and horses were amongst the most common creatures I saw, but the colourful butterflies and fascinating dung beetle rolling their own… you know… were very memorable. One local resident I did not encounter unfortunately was the boa constrictor. They are said to live in the area.
Back on the mainland was another Nicaraguan highlight. That would be the coastal town of San Juan Del Sur. This is another major surf spot, although it also has incredible sunsets, many seafood restaurants, and short hikes up to a Jesus statue overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I don’t normally love surf towns, but SJDS (as it’s often abbreviated to) was one of the better ones.
I made a 1 or 2 week Nicaragua itinerary explaining how best to see all these wonderful places.
Where To Avoid In Nicaragua
There’s only one real dodgy spot in Nicaragua. And that’s the capital Managua. I met a couple who were scammed by a taxi driver there who charged them $10 for literally a 10 second drive to their hotel. They claimed the driver threatened to lock them inside if they did not pay.
Managua is a city where many visitors have had issues with scams or even muggings, it was mentioned by many other travellers I met along the way. Personally I only passed through to switch buses at the station. But Managua is not known for having much of interest. You’re best off skipping the capital and heading down to Leon or up to Honduras instead.
Nicaragua Is Best For…
Surfers. SJDS is a surfers’ paradise. There’s a strong hippie theme going on in the town, with surfing the most popular draw for tourists.
Adventurers. As mentioned, I would put Nicaragua second only to Guatemala in the adventure stakes. The volcano activities and Ometepe offer a lot of interest to adrenaline junkies.
Nature lovers. Whilst Nicaragua pales in comparison to Costa Rica when it comes to wildlife, it still has a fair bit to offer and Charco Verde especially was a really fun place to experience this.
Is Mexico In Central America?
No, Mexico is in North America. The seven Central American countries are Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
Many people backpacking through the Central American “gringo trail” will start in Mexico City or Quintana Roo, but Mexico is generally considered to be (geographically) in North America rather than Central America.
This is despite the fact that it is a Latin American country and has a lot more in common culturally and linguistically with its southern neighbours than the United States and Canada in the north.
What Should I Know Before Visiting Central America?
Firstly, be sure to join Facebook groups dedicated to travel in Central America, for up-to-date information on each country in the region. This is useful to make you aware of any issues which may impact on your trip. For example, protests getting out of hand and shutting down roads for a while. This is not an uncommon occurrence in Latin America.
Also, one of the most important travel tips is to have travel insurance. You never know when something goes wrong, and many countries in this region are full of adventures which could lead to accidents. So be prepared for this possibility. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Perhaps most of all, don’t be scared. The region has a bad safety reputation. And the sensationalist headlines make it sound like a dangerous place to those not familiar with the region. In reality, these headlines combine outdated information from times of war and mass violence, with modern incidents which only really affect locals. Few places on the tourist trail have anything to worry about. People are very kind and welcoming in this part of the world, so don’t be afraid to ask a local for help if you need it.
Lastly, learn a little Spanish. I was not even close to being fluent during my trip here, but being able to order food in a restaurant, carry out simple transactions and ask for directions as well as knowing general niceties went a long way here.
If you’ve been to South America before, I’ve written about which of Central and South America is better, with details on how the two regions compare. You may want to check it out and learn a little more about what’s similar between both areas.
So What Is The Best Country In Central America To Visit?
Now this is very subjective, and it really depends on what you’re looking for. Central America is home to some of the cheapest countries in Latam, so you can do a lot even on a low budget here. I will list below the best country for the most common types of individual to pass through Central America:
- Divers/snorkellers: Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua
- Surfers: El Salvador, Nicaragua
- Adventure lovers: Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador
- Wildlife: Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala
- Beaches: Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, Belize
- Mayan ruins: Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras
- History: Nicaragua, Guatemala
- Safety: El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua
- Volcanos: Nicaragua, Guatemala
- Affordability: Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador
- Parties: Panama, Nicaragua
If you have any more questions about this beautiful region of the world, please comment below and I’ll be happy to help you out!
Nice review, yet I have to disagree with some of the ratings specially the ones related to safety. However, I understand that the ratings could be a combination of facts and personal experiences; therefore, subjective.
Thank you!
Travel is most definitely subjective, so it’s impossible to come up with “perfect” rankings that aren’t open to debate
Would love to know what your safety rankings would be for each country 🙂
I think your work is really helpful, and I learned a lot from this info. on Central America. I am also reading your comments on X about the countries you have visited. About Romania – Polls of Romanians repeatedly show that Ceaucescu is more popular than any president who has come after him. I don’t claim to be an expert, but our taxi driver, without prompting, told us the same thing. He said he much preferred the “Communist” government because the schools were better and everyone had a job.
Thank you!
That’s interesting to hear about Romania. It sounds like many people feel similar in former Soviet Union countries. A lot feel life was better in the times of the USSR rather than today.