A Budget Travelers Guide to Central America

However, the tours are what really cost, and some you can hardly avoid if you want to see the best of what is on offer. Still the demand for them means if you have the money to spend there is a beehive of activities (still reasonably priced) you can take part in, such as white water-rafting. Along with two coasts Costa Rica also has cool mountains and the chance for some good trekking.

25% of Costa Rica is national parks…and by comparison Belize's ratio is 35%. Costa Rica does have most things, but not everything as so often claimed.

Highlights: Volcán Arenal, if it is in an animated active state (you have to take pot luck here), the beautiful cool highland areas around La Fortuna and Monteverde (although the jury is still out on the cloud forest), Montezuma and the Nicoya peninsula, Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast and the trek to Chirripo Grande.

Lowlights: Petty crime, the cost of tours and the number of tourists. In the most 'gringo-infected' area, which is the northwest (Province Guanacaste), there is more tourist-related thievery. In Costa Rica, with the exception of the public buses and the great Centenario rum, everything is more expensive relative to the rest of Central America. Almost twice as much as Guatemala and even more in relation to Nicaragua.

Visa Tips: Almost no one needs a visa, and you can stay for 90 days if from a more developed nation. However be sure to check ahead of time as for instance, Kiwi’s (New Zealanders) only get a 30 day stay.

Typical tourist trail: With many points of interest there is no trail as such, but most independent travelers take in San Jose, Jaco, Montezuma, Fortuna, Monteverde and maybe the Caribbean coast.

Getting around: Public transport is easy to use and a good standard. In more remote areas transport is normally limited to a few buses a day, making connections hard to meet. Many wealthier visitors hire 4x4 jeeps for their trip. This is a fantastic option, but just out of the price range of most budget travelers.

Guide book: Lonely Planet, Footprint or Rough Guide.

Dangers/Crime: Like in most touristy Latin American nations, petty crime targeted at tourists is high in Costa Rica. The developed feel of Costa Rica does seem to give many a false sense of security. Don't let it. Now this does not mean there is more crime in Costa Rica than the aforementioned places, it probably means that there are more easily targeted tourists in Costa Rica. Luckily hardly any of these crimes are violent.
A Budget Traveler’s Guide to Central America

Nevertheless if you have all your stuff stolen this doesn't make everything alright.

On public transport keep any bags you have with you very close to hand if under your seat or above you chain then up.

It doesn't matter if no one else is doing it. Everyday travelers get off buses - which are frequented by professional thieves and stop everywhere - without their bags. Don't let anything distract you and keep everything together. Keep important documents on you in a money belt.

Weather: Yes, it can be hot, wet, windy, dry and in some spots, cold. Climate and humidity vary dramatically across the country. December to February which is the best time to visit is also the most crowded. Outside of these months heavy rain falls are sporadic depending on location and exact time of year. Just remember at least some rain is likely during your trip and for that reason at least an umbrella is a good idea.

Costs: US$30 and up a day for most travel excluding tours and activities. To give you an example of how the cost of these can add up: the short trip to see the Volcano from La Fortuna - at least US$30 (including hot springs), the 30km (Taxi Boat Taxi) short cut ride from Fortuna to Monteverde (saves you a day compared to on public transport) again at least US$30.

At Monteverde canopy walks US$25, high wire rides much, much more. Add rafting to this and activity costs go sky high. There is a feeling in Costa Rica that with so many North American visitors on two week trips splashing money around, tour costs are just a reflection of what the market can stand and not good value.

Money: ATMs in most towns, even smaller ones. TCs and USD easy to change. Credit cards can be used in some circumstances and are worth having.

Tourist factor: 8/10

Accommodations: Among more expensive options catering to tourists, guesthouses and cheap hotels are plentiful. The price of these averages about US$25. In the high season many of the better rooms, especially in smaller places like Montezuma fill up quickly. In the capital there are many hostels, which charge about US$25-35 for a basic double room (no bathroom) and have many dorms (per-person from about US$10) cheaper.

These hostels generally have TV rooms, kitchens, sometimes free internet or breakfast, are always crowded and noisy with either music, drunkenness or backpackers sitting and having the same conversations late into every night. Some people love this, others hate it. And finally on the Caribbean coast, try beach huts and cheaper still, hammocks. These range from $10-15.

People vibe: The locals are fine, but quite varied from coast to coast. Tourists – there is a huge variety, as Costa Rica draws tourists from all over the world, but mainly from America and Canada.

Communications: Internet and phone widely available and excellent value of excellent quality in the capital.

Language: English is widely spoken by those who work in the tourist trade and on the Caribbean coast.

Books: Very good selection of first and second hand books in the capital and other major tourist haunts. Newsweek and Time are easy to find as are guidebooks

TV: Plentiful everywhere. Hostels and better hotels will have American cable TV, cinemas are numerous in big cities

Food: Many restaurants to cater for visitors, the meal of the day (casado) is a normally excellent value as are the cheaper restaurants (sodas) they are often found in. Be warned better restaurants seem to slap as much as 25% onto bills. At the other end of the scale commonly found bakeries and supermarkets make basic self-catering a perfect money saving option.

Tourist factor: 8/10
Vegetarians: Fine
Hassle Factor: Limited, more on the Caribbean coast
Women Alone: Generally fine

Drugs/alcohol: Pot is easily found all over Costa Rica, but best on the Caribbean coast in small backpacker resorts such as Puerto Viejo.

Rating:7.5/10

HONDURAS…THE BLUE WATERS OF THE CARIBBEAN..THIS IS A VERY WELL TRAVELED REGION, SO YOU ARE NEVER REALLY OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

HONDURAS

Honduras has two main focuses with most travelers failing to explore little else. The first is Copán, one of the largest Mayan sites in the region. Copán is an easy side trip from Guatemala and sits just over the border, helping to explaining its popularity.

The second focus is the Bay Islands which are touted as budget Caribbean and rightly so with beaches, tropical islands, widely-spoken English and inexpensive wonderful diving. This also helps to make these islands one of the world's most popular backpacker hubs.

As for the rest of Honduras it does hold a few surprises and beautiful (sometimes difficult) routes through hilly countryside. Gracias for example is a pretty colonial town with many trekking options surrounding it, not to mention a beautiful alternative route to the capital.

So most go head straight for the blue waters of the Caribbean, but remember that this is a very well travelled region so you are never really off the beaten track, nevertheless the hillside paths of Honduras are interesting and a good chance to find some space to yourself.

Highlights: Copán, the Bay islands (especially the diving and the chance to see Whale sharks), Gracias and trying to get off the beaten track a little. The Parque National La Tigra often comes highly rated and is a good way to see a cloud forest without the crowds or expense of Costa Rica.

Lowlights: The capital and major cities, plus the occasional crowds, sand flies and mosquitoes in different area.

Visa Tips: Nationals of almost all developed countries do not require a visa.

Typical tourist trail: From Guatemala to Copán to San Pedro Sula (overnight stop) then on to a Bay Islands (Roatán being the most popular, second to Utila). Many will then transit through Tegucigalpa, the capital.

Money: ATM's in major towns including Copán and on Roatán. Stock up where you can or take TCs and/or cash. Not all banks will take TCs.

Getting around: Chicken buses (old American school buses) ply most routes, along with more standard looking buses often called express because they're not suppose to stop so much, but they still do. On major routes such as between San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa you can find nice, genuine express, AC buses although they are more expensive.

The road system in Honduras is in fact probably the best in Central America. However, head into the hills and roads soon deteriorate and become very windy. You will of course need to take to the water to get out to the Islands. To major islands this is not a problem, but internal flights to and from the islands which can often take you as far inland as Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula are good value and save lots of time.

Guide book: Multi-regional guide.

Reading: A must is The Mosquito Coast, set mainly in Honduras. The story tells us chronicles the "adventure" of a family whose father takes them all to live in the Honduran jungle. This is a stunning book and a great read. The story is fantastic; a mixture of sarcastic humor, adventure and emotion.

Dangers/Crime: Parts of Tegucigalpa can be bad for theft. Mosquitoes and sand flies can be an annoyance on the Caribbean coast. Walking off into the countryside around Copán is not advised.

Costs: US$20-40 per day, a little more on the Bay Islands

People vibe: The locals are fine. Other travelers tend to be budget travelers from all over the world: as always many northern Europeans and North Americans. The Bay Islands have even more North Americans.

Tourist factor: 8/10

Accommodations: There is a wide range of accommodation. You can normally fine a nice room for US$15-20. Nice rooms at the cheaper end are difficult to find in big cities.

Communications: Internet easy and plentiful in major cities and Copán. On the Bay Islands internet is available.

Books: Basic English language book shops in Tegucigalpa and book exchanges on major islands

TV: Most good hotels have American cable TV and so do some of the cheaper ones

Tourist factor: 8/10

Food: Fine, more expensive on Bay Islands. Major cities are over run with American fast food restaurants.

Vegetarians: Fine
Hassle Factor: None really
Women alone: No real problem

Drugs/alcohol: Alcohol is more pricey on the islands as other things are. Weed can of course be found on the Caribbean coast and larger islands.

Rating: 8/10

The next part of this series will cover El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

AUTHOR : Anjali Wilde was born in Africa, schooled in Europe and America, and spent her young adult years in the Caribbean. Married, she now divides her time between Mexico and Europe with her husband, Pier Paolo, a photographer and artist. Anjali, a working artist and poet, has recently taken up freelance writing. Her articles cover a broad range of subject matter including travel, art, tourism, history and culture.

Email : Anjali Wilde