Our thoughts on Central America

Well, Central America was not supposed to be as good as this! Most people seem to travel through quite quickly on the Pan Am, why, we have no idea! We found it nearly as good as South America and we had a wonderful time. Again its hard to pick a favourite country but we do have a winner here and have been back since...

PANAMA - 3rd

We enjoyed Panama, visiting Mira Flores locks, the roller coaster ride to Carti to pick up the AT and great ride back. We missed customs when soaked in the rain, then had to stay a few days before they opened again. We got soaked a lot! It was also quite expensive. Had new chain & sprockets fitted, sent from Lings in Harleston. Seeing the lovely Sloths in El Valle was a real highlight. We visited Boquete where there were a lot of US expats. Leaving the AT at the Bomberos at Almirante to visit Bocas del Torro.

Good:

Saw new AT in shopping mall

Ride from Carti

Panama Canal

Sloths in El Valle

Bocas del Torro

Bad:

Wet

Expensive

COSTA RICA

We never planned to spend too much time in Costa Rica as it was more expensive but we did enjoy what we saw. Our main focus was to visit Territorio de Zaguates - Land of the Strays, which we found out about before we came. We enjoyed the beaches on the Caribbean coast and also the better food. Maybe we will come back and explore this lush country another time.

Good:

Land of the strays
Beaches

Bad:

Very expensive, when compared to other CA countries

NICARAGUA

We really liked Nicaragua, which is a very poor country. We crossed a small border and stayed in a small town near Lago Nicaragua where we listened to band practice from our room. We met a man with his pig walking down the road. We visited Volcan Masala when we stayed at Granada. Isla Ometepe was a lovely place to spend a few days. Great Volcan. Met couple travelling on Transalp.

Good:

Volcan Masala
Isla Ometepe

Bad:

Very poor

HONDURAS

We found Honduras a very friendly country and people were genuinely grateful that we visited. Copan was amazing, we could even walk about at night. However, elsewhere, armed guards everywhere. We spoke to one at a petrol station who had a sawn off shot gun, very friendly to us though. We met Drew and Rich at Lago de Yojoa travelling south on their DR650's. We swapped plenty of stories over a few beers.

Good:

Copan Mayan ruins
Macaw Mountain
Lago de Yojoa

Bad:

Pump action shotguns everywhere

GUATAMALA - 2nd

Guatamala is a real gem, very raw and poor but a lovely country. We visited Tikal, perhaps the best Mayan ruins we have seen. I took a local trip and climbed Volcan Acantenango with overnight in tent on the way. Climbed up Pacaya as far as we could. Stayed at Antigua with Volcan Agua in the background. Stayed at Lanquin, a bit of a dump, to visit the blue swimming pools at Semuc Champey. We also saw the elusive Quetzal! Staying on the shore of Lake Atitlan was nice for a few days in a cheap room. Had to be careful which roads we took as mugging tourists was quite common. Horse riding near the lake was fun.

Good:

Friendly

Volcanos everywhere
Volcan hiking
Semuc Champay
Rio Dulce - bridge like Orwell bridge
Tikal Mayan ruins
Lake Atitlan

Bad:

Rough roads

MEXICO - 1st

Mexico was great and such a BIG country. I had to get 2 months extra off work! We loved the Yucatan with its Cenote sink holes, Lake Bacalar, like the Caribbean sea and the majestic Mayan ruins, especially Uxmal. Merida on the Day of the Dead was particularly interesting, like the start to the James Bond film Spectre. Dee loved the Churros and we both loved the really tasty food - mmm - refried beans, nachos, guacamole, tacos! The best food of the whole trip. We saw the very old Olmec Heads when travelling off the beaten track. The Bahia was brilliant, great camping, such a lovely place but also our experiences with the Whale Sharks and the Grey Whales - unforgettable. Riding the sandy tracks was 'interesting'.

Good:

Food

Music

Cheap

Churros

Mayan ruins

Beaches
Olmec heads

Bad:

Snow birds