Backpacking Central America
I traveled across all of Central America, backpacking from Panama City to Mexico City, over the course of four months, moving overland on a limited budget.
Whether you’re planning a two-week trip or a multi-month adventure, to a single country or the entire region, this article provides plenty of useful information, itineraries, costs, and tips to help you plan your trip to Central America effectively.
Quick menu
- When to go to Central America
- Documents and vaccinations for going to Central America
- Backpacking Central America: where to go and costs
- Travel itineraries in Central America
- Backpacking Central America: what to bring
- Backpacking Central America: safety
Volcano Telica, Nicaragua.
When to go to Central America
What is the best time to go to Central America?
The dry season, which for most countries runs from January to March (November to April in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama), is considered by many to be the best time to visit the region. However, the rainy season also has its charms: vegetation is lush, prices are lower, places are less crowded, and in most cases, rainfall is concentrated within a few hours in the afternoon.
I personally visited the entire region between June and October, right in the middle of the rainy season, and it was absolutely no problem. However, for some countries, such as Costa Rica, the peak of the rainy season between September and October can be an unpleasant time to visit.
For more detailed information on each individual country, please refer to the specific sections of my travel guides.
Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.
Iguana in Costa Rica.
Documents and vaccinations for going to Central America
With most passports, you can easily visit all Central American countries without needing to apply for a visa in advance. Typically, you only need to present your passport upon entering the country by air or land to receive a 90-day tourist visa. However, in some cases, a small fee is required to enter or leave the country.
Be cautious, though, as Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador are part of the CA-4 agreement, which allows for a maximum stay of 90 days across all four countries. For example, if you spend 40 days in Nicaragua, then 20 days in Honduras, and another 20 days in El Salvador before entering Guatemala, you will only be given a 10-day visa upon entering Guatemala.
Panama and Costa Rica officially require proof of exit within the limits of your visa. This isn’t an issue for those with a return flight or a flight to another country, but it can be problematic for travelers with a one-way ticket who plan to exit Panama and Costa Rica by land or sea without a clear date or booked tickets. Border checks are at the discretion of the officer; while I was not asked for proof of exit, I met a couple of travelers who were. I recommend renting a ticket (a real, paid service) on websites like Onward Ticket.
Regarding vaccinations, some countries officially require yellow fever vaccination if you are coming from an at-risk country. When arriving in Panama from Brazil (a high-risk country), the certificate was not requested by the immigration officer but by the airline operator during check-in. This check also seems to be discretionary, but getting this vaccination is advisable, along with Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccinations.
For more detailed information on visa duration, entry and exit fees, and vaccinations for each individual country, please refer to the specific sections of my travel guides.
Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.
Antigua, Guatemala.
Backpacking Central America: where to go and costs
Below you will find a summary description of each country, highlighting the most beautiful places and providing an overview of the costs to give you an idea of what to expect. For more detailed information, I refer you to each country’s guide, the links to which you will find provided.
At the beginning of each country section, you will find the recommended daily budget. This budget depends on your travel style and the activities or tours you choose to do, but it is quite reliable if you are traveling low-cost. This can be summarized as staying in hostels, eating street food or at local restaurants (and cooking some meals, especially in the more expensive countries), using public transportation, taking occasional tours, and not indulging in excessive nightlife.
If you plan on volunteering, cooking all your meals, hitchhiking and similar cost-saving measures, you can easily reduce your budget to less than half of the recommended amount.
Panama
Daily budget: 40-45€.
Hostel night: 15-20€.
Panama, after Costa Rica and Belize, is definitely one of the most expensive countries in the region. Costs increase considerably if you decide to visit the San Blas archipelago or do a lot of diving.
While Panama may not have as many spectacular attractions as Guatemala or be as extremely low-cost as Nicaragua, it certainly has a lot to offer. Its geographical location and relatively cheap flights to Panama City make it a great starting or ending point for a trip to Central America.
In addition to the famous San Blas islands, you can visit the cheaper and more accessible Bocas del Toro archipelago, the little-visited but spectacular Isla Coiba, and the small town of Boquete. Boquete is surrounded by rainforest at the foot of the Baru volcano, from the top of which you can see both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is an excellent base for many activities, including trekking, rafting, and touring coffee plantations.
For itineraries, tips, other destinations within the country, and more, I invite you to check out my Panama travel guide.
Bocas del Toro.
Costa Rica
Daily budget: 40-45€.
Hostel night: 15-20€.
Costa Rica is considered by many to be the most expensive country in the region, especially noticeable in the cost of entrances to national parks (often $15 and up), guided hikes, transportation, and consumer goods. Accommodation, however, is relatively inexpensive compared to everything else.
Costa Rica is undoubtedly a spectacular country for nature lovers, with national parks and protected areas covering 23.4% of the territory—the highest percentage in the world!
If you are looking for a low-cost destination, you may be better off looking elsewhere. However, budget permitting, Costa Rica is probably the best destination in the region for ecotourism.
For itineraries, tips, destinations within the country, and more, I invite you to check out my Costa Rica travel guide.
Cahuita National Park.
Nicaragua
Daily budget: 30-35€.
Hostel night: 8-13€.
In my opinion, Nicaragua is the cheapest country in the entire region. You can find meals in local restaurants for about 2€, super cheap transportation, and hostels that rarely cost more than 10€ per night.
However, Nicaragua is not just cheap—it has a great deal to offer for every taste. The beautiful colonial cities of Granada and Leon may not rival Cartagena in Colombia or Antigua in Guatemala, but they are definitely worth a visit.
The Corn Islands are a true Caribbean paradise still relatively remote from mass tourism, located just over an hour by plane from the capital, Managua, or at the end of an adventurous ferry crossing.
Nicaragua also boasts many volcanoes with numerous trekking opportunities and more adventurous activities such as “volcano boarding.” Additionally, the many coastal towns offer great spots for surfing or simply enjoying the nightlife, especially in San Juan del Sur.
For itineraries, tips, other destinations within the country, and more, I invite you to check out my Nicaragua travel guide.
Cerro Negro.
Honduras
Daily budget: 30-35€.
Hostel night: 8-13€.
Honduras itself is a very cheap country. However, many people end up spending a lot of money here because they visit the Bay Islands. These islands offer some of the most beautiful dive sites in the world and, along with Thailand, the lowest prices for getting a scuba diver certification. Although these prices are really cheap relative to the rest of the world, they can still be a significant expense.
In the rest of the country, tourism is not well developed, mainly because of security issues. The exceptions are the beautiful Mayan archaeological site of Copan near the Guatemalan border and Lago de Yojoa in the center of the country, which is an excellent base for learning about local flora and fauna.
In short, if you are planning a trip to Central America and are interested in getting certified as a diver or just diving at a fraction of the prices you would pay elsewhere, then be sure to visit Honduras.
For itineraries, tips, and more, I invite you to check out my Honduras travel guide.
Copan.
El Salvador
Daily budget: 30-35€.
Hostel night: 8-13€.
In terms of prices, El Salvador is comparable to its neighbors Honduras and Guatemala.
This is probably the least visited country in the entire region. Tourism is underdeveloped, mainly due to security concerns, which it shares with neighboring Honduras. The lack of must-see attractions also contributes to this.
Nevertheless, my stay, although short, was very enjoyable. There are a couple of archaeological sites worth visiting, and the area around the town of Santa Ana offers several activities that can keep you busy for days: climbing the nearby Santa Ana volcano, which has a sulfur lake inside the crater, exploring numerous lagoons, visiting coffee plantations, and traveling along the Ruta de los Flores.
Along the coast, there are numerous popular destinations, especially among surfers, given the excellent surfing conditions. El Tunco is probably the most popular.
For itineraries, tips, and more, I invite you to check out my El Salvador travel guide.
Suchitoto.
Guatemala
Daily budget: 30-35€.
Hostel night: 8-13€.
As mentioned earlier, Guatemala has similar prices to its neighbors Honduras and El Salvador, and in many cases, prices are even lower, especially for accommodation. Being much more touristy, there is high competition, especially in the main tourist destinations.
For many travelers, Guatemala is the country of choice in Central America. It is relatively safe (outside of Guatemala City), very affordable, and offers a wealth of tourist attractions.
The only thing it may lack is some nice Caribbean beaches, but otherwise, Guatemala has plenty to offer. To the south stretches a vast plateau where you can find Antigua, considered by many to be the best-preserved colonial city in Central America, Lake Atitlan, and numerous volcanoes including Acatenango, from where you can view its extremely active younger brother, Fuego, and Tajumulco volcano, the highest peak in Central America.
To the north, nestled in the jungle, are the Mayan ruins of Tikal, possibly the most impressive in the entire region. Finally, there’s Semuc Champey, a true gem consisting of a series of natural pools set deep in the Guatemalan rainforest—a marvel of nature.
For itineraries, tips and more, I invite you to check out my Guatemala travel guide.
Semuc Champey.
Belize
Daily budget: 45-50€.
Night in the hostel: 15-20€.
I haven’t personally visited Belize, opting instead to travel directly from Guatemala to Mexico for several reasons, including the high cost, which has been confirmed by fellow travelers and my own research.
Many visitors are drawn to Belize primarily for the Caye Caulker Islands, along with some notable archaeological sites and the San Ignacio caves.
However, with several nearby countries offering significantly lower costs, Belize may not offer the best value for money. The beaches farther north in Mexico’s Yucatan and south on the Bay Islands in Honduras are equally stunning, with lower costs for living and diving. Similarly, neighboring Mexico and Guatemala boast larger and more impressive archaeological sites.
For more detailed insights and recommendations, I encourage you to explore dedicated travel guides for Belize.
Blue Hole.
Mexico
Daily budget: 30-40€.
Night in the hostel: 10-15 €.
Technically, Mexico is part of North America, but it is often included in classic Central American travel itineraries.
Mexico is generally a very affordable country, but costs can vary significantly depending on the region you visit. For example, the Yucatan Peninsula tends to be a lot more expensive compared to regions like Chiapas, where prices are among the lowest in all of Central America.
The country is vast, and while I have only explored part of it personally, Mexico offers spectacular beaches along the Yucatan Peninsula, numerous archaeological sites scattered across the country, charming colonial cities, delicious cuisine, and rich cultural experiences.
For detailed itineraries, tips, destinations, and more, I invite you to check out my Mexico travel guide.
Teotihuacan.
Travel itineraries in Central America
For country-specific itineraries, please refer to the dedicated section within each individual travel guide.
Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.
For those planning a trip to multiple countries or the entire Central American region, the typical itinerary is roughly as shown on the map below. Detailed information on crossing borders can be found in each country’s guide.
Another popular variant skips El Salvador and Honduras by traveling from Guatemala to Nicaragua, with Tica Bus offering a direct bus for this route.
Ideal departure airports, considering both geographic location and cost-effectiveness, include Panama City, Mexico City and Cancun.
Backpacking Central America: what to bring
For a trip to Central America, as opposed to South America, traveling extremely light is really easy. I have often seen other travelers with a backpack no larger than 30 liters.
This is because-unlike South America where the climates traversed are very different due to latitude but also altitude, which in the case of some tourist destinations can even exceed 5,000 meters-in Central America temperatures are relatively constant throughout the year and generally quite high.
To make a long story short, with a few rare exceptions-such as some destinations in southern Guatemala, central Mexico, and a few other destinations here and there that are in some “mountainous” areas (Boquete in Panama and Monteverde in Costa Rica come to mind) where in the evening once the sun goes down you are definitely better off with a sweatshirt on-I spent the rest of the time in shorts and flip-flops.
Basically, avoid filling your backpack with unnecessary weight and bring only a “heavy” change (sweatshirt+long pants) plus of course any light clothes you think you need.
To make your life easier, I leave you my (complete) list of things to put in your backpack.
In conclusion, many people ask me which sim is best to choose, the fact of the matter is that there are no roaming agreements between countries as there are in the European Union. If you want to be always connected, I recommend buying a local sim whenever you enter a new country.
If you have a phone that supports eSIMs and you want the convenience of being connected right away without having to buy a local sim, then I recommend using a service like the one offered by Airalo and Ubigi. If you opt for this solution, however, there are at least a few considerations to make. First of all, with rare exceptions, you pay much more for data than it would cost using a local sim; second, their local partner is not always the one with the best coverage in the area.
Basically, I think most travelers would be better off buying a local sim (or maybe try buying an eSIM from a local provider) but I encourage you to make your own considerations as there is no shortage of exceptions. For example, when I visited Japan, the plan offered by Ubigi was cheaper than any local sim I could buy without proving I was a resident.
That said, I don’t think it is absolutely necessary to do so; you can safely travel far and wide without being constantly connected to the Internet. It may sound absurd, but in the course of my entire trip between South and Central America, I never had a local sim. I only ever used wifi whenever I had the opportunity and in general I think staying disconnected is not that bad. To navigate the cities you can just download Organic Maps and the various maps you need.
Backpacking Central America: safety
Central America is much safer than it used to be but obviously a good deal of precaution and common sense must be used. Some areas, especially in big cities, are actually places to avoid even during the daytime, and some countries are statistically more dangerous than others.
Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua are considered for all intents and purposes safe countries to visit with obviously a few exceptions but this also applies to certain areas of some western cities.
While other countries such as Honduras certainly have serious problems related mainly to gangs controlling certain territories, very rarely does this violence take place in tourist areas or more generally against tourists. The situation in El Salvador has actually improved a lot in recent years.
It’s always a good idea to ask someone local about the current security situation, especially in larger cities. Using common sense is key, but it’s also important not to be overly paranoid. In my four months traveling through Central America, I personally never encountered any issues.
Check out my tips and tricks on how to travel safely anywhere in the World and have a safe trip!
Do you have any questions? Updated information? Feel free to leave a comment or message me on Instagram!
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