Central America

What can I expect from Central America?

Climb aboard the Central America express and prepare for one heck of a colourful adventure with Absolutely Lucy. By far one of my favourite continents to explore – it’s been a magical blend of jungle, beach and desert along the way. Visit Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. From snorkelling and ocean cruising around national parks, to all the tacos you can eat, music festivals and much more. Climb ancient Mayan ruins, volcanos and jump into crystal clear lakes. Central America, you absolute wonder.

Check out some of my favourite posts:

Prepare for the adventure of a lifetime – Central America was one of the best trips of my life. I spent four months travelling from Mexico down to Colombia and could have easily spent double that time. Guatemala will always stay close to my heart – it’s a country that I instantly felt at home in and can’t wait to return to.

Explore my posts by country:

Things to See and Do in Central America

Snorkel near Caye Caulker

Tikal Mayan Temple at sunrise

Visit Semuc Champey

Beaches & surfing in Nicaragua

Climb Volcano Acatenango

Party in Antigua

Relax at Lake Atitlan

Panama City old town

National Parks in Costa Rica

Music festivals in Costa Rica

Punting in Cambridge

Amazing beaches in Panama

Explore Panama City

Tikal Mayan Temple at sunrise

Typical Costs When Travelling

Accommodation – Hostels are by far the best option – there’s some really luxury ones available for low prices. Plus they’re the best way to meet people! Also cheap Airbnb, homestays and apartments available.

Food – Street food all the way! Skip the restaurants and head to night markets and local food vendors for the freshest meals.

Transportation – Skip the internal flights which can be quite expensive and instead choose slow travel. Bus routes and shuttles are available everywhere and feel very safe. They’re cheap and efficient – you can also find “chicken buses” as an even cheaper option.

Lucy sitting on the Hanging Bridge at Monteverde

Suggested daily budget – 50-100 GBP / 60-120 USD (Note: This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel, eating out a little, cooking most of your meals, and using local transportation. Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. However, if you stay in fancier accommodation or eat out more often, expect this to be higher!)

Money Saving Tips

Eat local with street food Don't try and cook for yourself, it's more expensive! Much better to head for night markets and street food vendors for cheap eats.

Choose the ``chicken buses`` Save on transport by travelling on the local buses – I've done it solo and it's safe, comfortable and a fraction of the price of shuttles.

Work for accommodation If you decide to stay in one area for a while – perhaps to learn the language – try and get a work for accommodation stay in a hostel. It can help cut back on spending.

Choose your activities If costs are mounting – pick wisely where you spend your money. Don't try and do every activity, instead choose the top ones and then look for free things to do.

My Must Have Guides For Traveling

Everything you need to know about traveling.

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Which is my favourite country?

It’s so hard to choose when they’re all so fabulous, but I felt a real connection to Guatemala before I even arrived. It instantly felt like home and I can’t speak highly enough of the kind and welcoming people I met there. It was perfect for adventure travellers and fuelled my love of architecture, nature and vibrant colours. It’s a country everyone should visit once – I can’t wait to go back in the future.