Thread: Central America

Central America. Here is my personal angle of C.A....

Nicest views, prettiest country in C.A. GUATEMALA. I like the town of Antigua especially. Very colonial and pretty, interesting old churches and monestaries, great volcanic views, like three of them right there. Volcan de Agua, volcan de fuego and Acetenango. Town square is nice, Mayan ladies selling things speaking in Mayan tounge.

Most rustic. Caribbean coast of Honduras. Earth build homes, donkeys carrying loads, dug out canoes on the beach, with thatched roofed bars, Garifanus dancing with turtle shells for instruments, mountains overlooking everything with nice ranches and olive trees. "NO CONTRAS" spray painted on side of buildings and signs to protest the war involvement in neighboring Nicaragua. A heavy military presence of Honduran and military U.S. forces. (1990)

Nicest climate. Costa Rica. Best of both worlds. A tropical rainforest with some elevation and cooler weather. Great tropical foods and fruits, fish, shrimp and other seafood is plentiful. Stable government, interesting volcanos and jungles. Very layed back and safe. This country is a hidden jewel though the word is out, but nevertheless, one of my favorite countries. It rains alot in Costa Rica, and the rain in SJO can be a little bit on the cool side.

Most fun and most modern and more expensive too. Panama kind of grows on you. Very hot down in Panama City, but you can get away to neighboring mountains for some mountain air. Lots of fun, great night life and party atmosphere, great restaurants, shopping centers in the city. A bit pricey. Very different characteristics than the rest of C.A. until you get out to the Chiriqui or western most province. PTY has experienced a boom. Plenty to do and see. The KUNA indians are quite unique and interesting to visit them in their home islands of San Blas. If you don't mind hot humid climates this is a great place. The climate is cooler there than in Texas in summer months. Temps seldom go over 95 degrees there. Lots of rain and cloud cover. Food is great, lots of seafood there too. They use the U.S. dollar there, Panama Canal is interesting, nothing like it, and so is the former Canal Zone.

Cheapest, probably get more bang for your buck in Nicaragua. If you get out towards Granada on the lake Nicaragua, only like 45 minutes from Managua, its a very interesting town. Looks alot like Antigua in Guatemala, only a slight difference. Lake and isletas are very unique. Volcanos are very interesting particularily MASAYA and MOMBACHO volcanos. The central markets like in Masaya have the most interesting artisans that they sell in the market, and hauled in by man pulling a cart. Very rustic scenario, as though they've been doing this for ages. Hotels are very cheap, food sells on the streets like PATACONES, or what they call it there, TOSTONES, same thing. Managua at BELLO HORIZONTE has some interesting restaurants and shopping mall. Downtown Managua is abandoned, wrecked from the 1972 earthquake, its a tomb there for many.

Easiest place to get around and be in the coast in one minute, then the mountains the next, with descent roads is El Salvador. Very impressive country, everything right there. If you want to cool down, you just drive up a nearby mountain, and they have nice views of San Salvador and nice places to eat up there. They use the dollar so its convenient and don't have to change money. Seafood and pupusas are great. Nice big shopping malls in San Salvador. Metro Plaza, Metro centro, Merliot plaza and more. Smallest country in C.A so everything is close. Heavily populated, lots of poverty and many had moved to the U.S. during the war years in 1980's. Problems with heavy crime and gangs there. Extorsion is huge business there. You have to be careful where you go and what you do but nonetheless, very polite, kind people for the most part and very hospitable.

Neatest places and towns not neccissarily in order. Boquete Panama, Antigua Guatemala, Granada Nicaragua and the isletas on the lake, Trujillo Honduras, Cerro Verde, E.S, Volcan Poas CR, San Blas islands Panama, El Valle, Panama, Izalco volcano E.S, Islas Perlas, Panama,