Central-America

Granada Granada is one of the oldest European settlements in the Americas. While it has nice Spanish-era architecture, there isn’t a lot to do in Granada. I would recommend starting your day with a walking tour. Afterward, consider visiting the Chocolate Museum of Granada to learn about the chocolate history of the region. In the evening, do the tour of an active volcano, Volcan Masaya for USD 22 per person. The volcano is good and one can see a fair bit of magma. If, however, you have seen active volcanoes before , then it can be a bit boring. ...

Panamá is one of the wealthiest countries in Central America. The gorgeous skyline of its capital, Panama City, reminded me of Singapore . Beyond that, there isn’t much to do in the city. The Panama Canal, in my opinion, is a bit overhyped for tourism. I had a much better experience seeing the locks in Seattle and going through locks in Stockholm . Major areas to visit in Panamá San Blas Islands - gorgeous islands that are equivalent to mini-French Polynesia Boquete - Gorgeous small town in the highlands Bocas Del Toro - Caribbean vibe, I decided to skip this Darien National Park - It is filled with Narcos and human traffickers. I skipped it this time. Day 1 - Panamá City Start the day with a walking tour of the city’s Old Quarter, “Casco Viejo”. It is gorgeous, similar to Antigua . ...

Guatemala is a hidden gem in Central America. Just like its English-speaking neighbor Belize , it is a picturesque country worth visiting. Day 1 - Ride to Antigua After landing at the Guatemala International Airport, I took a taxi to Antigua. It’s only an hour away and is much safer than the capital city, Guatemala City. Antigua is a UNESCO world heritage site. It has cobblestone roads and is surrounded by volcanoes. It is a backpacker’s paradise. ...

The country is roughly divided into inland and cayes. Inland has historic Mayan sites. Cayes (pronounced “keys”) have water sports. Day 1 - San Ignacio After landing at the Belize airport, I took a USD 25 taxi to Belize city since there is no public transport to Belize City. From there, I took a 2.5-hour bus costing USD 4.5, heading west to San Ignacio. There I check out the Cahal Pech ruins . Established in 1200 BC, this is the oldest Mayan site in Belize. The entry fee is USD 5. Do me a favor and get a guide for another $10 -15 USD. Guide’s explanation adds real value in terms of understanding how the site was used. I spent the rest of the day checking San Ignacio city. Nothing much exciting in it. ...