Central America

25 Apr 2025 – 27 Jul 2025 · by gb2025

Destinations

Cancún, Mexico
Valladolid, Mexico

Food: Start with Panuchos or the hamburgers in Yucatan style. These corn tortillas fried in oil are usually served with toppings such as lettuce, meat varieties, tomato, and onion. Carrots, avocados and other ingredients may be added. Salbutes are a variety of Panuchos. These are mostly served as light yet delicious starters. Papadzules or the delicious egg stuffing embraced by the corn tortillas with tomato sauce and habanero promise another must have delight when you travel to Valladolid. Spice up your Mexican adventure but don't get too addicted! Visiting Valladolid you have to try Cochinita Pibil. The marinated pork filling in a banana leaf is going to fully gratify your senses. Enriched with a special sauce made of sour orange, habanero and red onion.
Tulum Beach, Mexico

Tulum ruins
Bacalar Lagoon, Mexico

N. B. Embajada has breakkie included. But Che hostel is a must stay apparently
Chetumal, Mexico
Ambergris Caye, Belize
Caye Caulker, Belize

The lazy lizard Sting ray beach
San Ignacio, Belize

The old house hostel. Must stay
Flores, Guatemala

Stay on the island because ferry timings annoying. Sunset
Tikal, Guatemala

Tikal ruins, Flores Gonna be short and sweet It was cool but not amazing, to see the ruins fully excavated definitely gave us an impression of what El Mirador would have been like in its prime. There is very little information available so definitely take a guide. Also you have to wake up EXTREMELY early as in the middle of the day Tikal is 40C and HUMID! So 6am tour for us! Overall a bit iykwim but just made El Mirador all the more impressive!!! Take 4:30am bus
Semuc Champey Natural Monument, Guatemala

Greengoshotel!!!! MUST STAY. BOOK ADVANCE Careful with water We decided to do the Semuc Champey tour - Q235 (£23) and 100% worth it 100 GENUINELY AMAZING First started off with the caving (pictures 2,3) genuinely weirdest, best, least health and safety ever. We were swimming, full on swimming « one handed as the only light source we had was one candle each, held in our hand. And as we were the first group, the guide was at the back sticking candles to the wall as we went @@ The guide then took us to some waterfalls (picture 4,5) Where we could jump off and swim in the freezing water, much appreciated in the 40 degree heat Tubing was next (pic 9), super relaxing, just using the river to push you along. Well until a man started chucking beers at us, shouting "PAY LATER" being broke, we chucked them back. Then the hike to the 'mirador' or the view point (picture 6,7,8) which was a solid km of just uphill and nearly killed me off, it was at least nice to know the guide was also struggling. And finally, Semuc Champey itself (picture 1) which was gorgeous and super lovely to just swim after the hike. We got to chill for an hour, before our guide proceeded to take us on an obstacle course around the pools with jumping off, underwater caves, and using the rocks as slides. I almost managed to crack my head open!!! In all a very active day, and boo and I slept well that night :)
Lanquín, Guatemala

Get bus to atitlan
San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala

Indian nose hike for sunrise MR MULLETS - San Pedro Safe to say Mr Mullets is probably my all time favourite hostel 20/10 100 everyone is super friendly, rooms were comfy, and honestly just super great fun vibe all round ++++ some really really good nights out & * It also probably helped that the group of Americans I had made friends with had managed to follow us to Mr Mullets! In short Then had a very chill day of kayaking (picture 7) with our new dorm friend Nick and our first dip in the lake!! Night 2 at Mr Mullets was a big one (pic 9-10) super super fun, someone let me, drunk, pick up fire spinners and baso j partied w the Americans, lilz and boo. All together a very decent night out! The following morning, however, not so fun boat ride to San Juan! Anita's Myan cooking class (picture 2, 3) in San Pedro which was super interesting, we got to go round the market with Anita, choosing the vegetables and food we were going to use Then we learnt how to make Tamales, which honestly was j like playing w playdough Pepino a traditional Myan Ceremonial stew and rellenitos which was plantains stuffed w beans and chocolate (not quite to our taste buds) but overall a good experience.
Santa Cruz la Laguna, Guatemala

Free cerveza hostel. Must stay. BOOK ADVANCE
San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala

In short we just stayed by the lake in San Marcos nature reserve playing cards s and swimming (Picture 1,9,10) Tho a special highlight was the 12m cliff jump we all did and Lily's backflips!! Hippy village but nothing to do with 25kitzales to take boat
Panajachel, Guatemala

Pana was great! Did a lot of reading in Cafes and staying at Selina the first night allowed Lily and I to really get into our Yoga with daily classes overlooking the lake (picture 2 and 6) e hot tip!! Stay at Selina the first night and then a much cheaper hostel so u can keep using Selina's facilities Selina also provided a lovely night out at their beach bar where I met the first group of Americans I actually liked! (Photo 5) 21 The main attraction of Pana however was Chichicastenango (picture 1 and 4) which is the biggest market in Latin America and where I managed to buy a football top for 80 quetzales down from 150 (g) This trip also gave us the opportunity to try the chicken bus saving us £20 each even if for half of the trip back Boo did have to sit on my lap as it was so crowded. But seriously they are super fun and super affordable, will defo be main source of transport from now on! Bus arrives here. Biggest city
Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala

Somos hostel. Must stay apparently Antiguan flan. A desert layered w figs and sweet potatoes
Acatenango Volcano Trailhead, Guatemala

Honestly this was the absolute hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Like this was disgustingly gruelling. We went from 1500m altitude to the top of Acatenango at 3900m in one day then decided to get up at 3:30 to hike Fuego. AND I would do it again, ask me any day. The views were surreal like nothing you have ever seen before. To stand that close to an erupting volcano and then watch sunset, it honestly doesn't do it justice. The pictures are amazing but isn't even close to what it was like to experience this first hand. Boo almost cried (potentially because she was about to die from lack of oxygen) but honestly same. Safe to say tho, the rest of Day 5 was spent in bed trying to feel human again
El Paredon, Guatemala
Santa Ana Volcano, El Salvador

Hike Santa Ana Volcano (Ilamatepec) • Duration: ~4–5 hours round trip • Cost: $6 park fee + $1–3 for a guide (mandatory) • Views: A turquoise crater lake at the summit — incredible photo ops • How to get there: • Bus #248 from Santa Ana to Cerro Verde Park (~2 hrs) • Hike usually starts around 11:00 a.m., so leave Santa Ana by 7:30–8:00 a.m
Santa Ana, El Salvador

Hectors walking tour
Ruta de las Flores, El Salvador
El Zonte, El Salvador
El Tunco, El Salvador
La unión, El Salvador
León, Nicaragua

Catedral de Léon 25th We stayed in Bigfoot hostel for the three nights, definitely a party hostel with loud music blaring in till midnight og We had a very lovely chill day in Pan y Paz, a very nice French cafe where we drank our chai lattes and ate baguette sandwiches (photo 6) Admin was completed and a plan was formulated for the next two weeks of Nicaragua! (Little did we know it would all go to 26th That afternoon Lily and I decided to chuck ourselves off a volcano! After a sweaty 40 min hike (photo 2) carrying a very non ergonomic metal board, we made it to the top and proceeded to change into prisonesque jumpsuits (photo 1) and volunteered ourselves first to barrel down the mountain at 45km/hour. Liv managed to win the race, mainly due to Lily eating shit. Twice. After only minor injuries, and with Lilys legs at that point looking like a Meth users, we were treated to Watermelon. You would think this would be the end of the day, but no! Our transport home quickly turned in to a party bus where free shots were forcibly funnelled down our throats (we had no choice parents (6) also the cause of photo 5. We stopped off at a local village where they fed us dinner and we danced with the local children :) We continued the party into our hostel even including a quick trip out for instant noodles 27th I went on a walking tour of the City (photo 7,8) and its History (largely involving the disastrous effects America had on Central Asia) finishing with sunset on top of the beautiful León Cathedral (photo 9) That evening we had a bar crawl organised by the Hostel and we partied well into the night.
Cerro Negro Volcano, Nicaragua

Volcano boarding
Telica, Nicaragua

Volcano Circuit Itinerary: Telica → San Cristóbal → Pilas–El Hoyo Day 1: León → Telica Volcano (Night Lava Crater Camp) • Morning: Jeep or truck transfer from León to San Jacinto or Chinameca, depending on starting point. • Hike: Ascent of Telica Volcano (~1,061 m) — moderate climb through dry forest and rocky volcanic terrain. • Evening: Set up camp near the crater rim; view glowing lava at night! • Distance: ~8–10 km • Time: 4–5 hours hike • Highlights: Active crater, sunset, night-time lava views ⸻ 🌄 Day 2: Telica → San Cristóbal Volcano Base Camp • Early start: Hike down Telica’s slope and begin long trek across farmland, foothills, and dusty roads to reach the base of San Cristóbal. • Set up camp at the base or on the lower flanks (depending on pace and water availability). • Distance: ~15–20 km • Time: 6–8 hours total (long day) • Highlights: Remote highlands, rural scenery, gradual approach to Nicaragua’s highest volcano ⸻ 🏔️ Day 3: Summit San Cristóbal → Transfer to El Hoyo / Pilas Volcano • Predawn: Summit San Cristóbal (2,745 m) — the tallest and most demanding volcano in Nicaragua. The trail is steep, dusty, and exposed. • Return to base: Descend and transfer (via truck or local transport) toward the Pilas-El Hoyo complex trailhead near La Paz Centro. • Optional camp near El Hoyo crater or inside Pilas caldera. • Distance: ~7 km ascent/descent + 1–2 hour transfer • Time: 6–8 hours • Highlights: Epic summit views (weather permitting), fumaroles, massive crater ⸻ 🌋 Day 4 (Optional): Pilas–El Hoyo Traverse →asososca laguna → León • Early hike: Cross volcanic terrain to El Hoyo, a collapsed crater with a massive sinkhole on the rim. • Descend toward Laguna Asososca, a beautiful crater lake. • Swim + rest, then return to León by late afternoon (pickup pre-arranged). • Distance: ~12–15 km • Time: 5–6 hours • Highlights: Crater rim camping, crater lake swim, stunning ridgelines
Bluefields, Nicaragua
Corn Islands, Nicaragua
Granada, Nicaragua

Stopover between Leon and ometepe Hostel Oasis which is gorgeous! Must stay!
Ometepe, Nicaragua

Rent motorbikes to explore island We spent the night of the 28th in Granada as a stopover between Leon and Ometepe at Oasis Hostel which is gorgeous! 29th A long travel day including missing our ferry to Ometepe for some very tasty pasta @ © We then arrived to a lovely surprise at our hostel: a 20 minute walk through multiple fields to our room from reception, no plugs, no reception, no fans and a lot of spiders Family dinner in the hostel, however, was delicious and we made some friends! 30th super fun day!! * We hired mopeds with our new friends and toured the island, where we had beautiful views of the coast and the Volcán Concepción (photo 3,4,5) We continued round the island on now a very bumpy dirt track to Punta Jesus Maria (Photo 1), a spit of land where Lily managed to start a mud fight We ended up at El Pital Chocolate Paradise (photo 6) and tried their delicious famous vegan chocolate brownie and chai chocolate smoothie (photo 7) We then watched the sunset and happily chatted :) 1st - 7th I unfortunately started feeling the effects of Utila and happily left to die in my own private AC room whilst Lily went off and had her own adventures! LILY'S BLOG After dropping Liv off for a week of airon and good food, I had a lovely last Mediterranean lunch and picked some mangos with our friends in Ometepe, before heading off to Granada for the treehouse rave! (Photo 9) It was a super fun night with good techno music however l am a dranny at heart and Campbell and I took the first bus back at midnight for a good night sleep The next day, Josh and I spontaneously decided to head to Popoyo for some surf so he changed his flight (10 hours before boarding...) so we chicken bused to Las Selinas where we met an Aussie DJ playing in Popoyo and managed to hitch a ride in with him - although to the wrong end of the beach which lead to a treacherous half hour walk through the water...more on Popoyo in the next post ;)
Popoyo, Nicaragua

Amahula surfhouse 3 days living in the spare room of a surf shack. Eating and cooking delicious home-cooked meals and spending the day surfing, swimming, walking on the beach and getting some much needed rest.
Liberia, Costa Rica
Sámara, Costa Rica
Monteverde, Costa Rica

Riding
La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Uvita, Costa Rica
David, Panama
Boquete, Panama
Playa Venao, Panama
Pedasi, Panama
Valle de Anton, Panama
Panama City, Panama
San Blas Islands, Panama
Panama City, Panama
Santa Marta, Colombia
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia
San Gil, Colombia
Socorro Santander, Colombia
Valle de Cocora, Colombia