Last Updated: 02/08/20 | February 8th, 2020

Surrounded by the Pacific as well as Atlantic Oceans, central America is a wonderful region that is ideal for backpacking. The area is full of rainforests, unexplored Mayan ruins, gorgeous beaches, amazing reefs, inexpensive prices, tasty food, as well as warm welcoming people.

Though it is not expensive, it is frequently confusing to organize your own transportation throughout the region.

So, in this post, I’ll offer some useful hints on getting around central America. Here’s exactly how you can travel around central America cheaply – no matter exactly how long you’ll be there.

Table of Contents

Getting around By Bus

Getting around By Flying

Getting around By Car

Getting around By Backpacker Bus

Getting around By Boat

Getting around By Train

How long Does it take to get around central America?

 

Getting around inexpensive By Bus

Buses are the primary type of transportation you’ll utilize to get around central America. In fact, it’s about the only method to get around central America as there are no train lines as well as regional flights are expensive. You’re going to take buses most of your trip.

There are a number of different type of buses in the region.

The most comfortable are the worldwide buses that run between the larger cities as well as tend to have their own bus terminals. They have set, trustworthy routines as well as are finest for long distances. They make traveling simple as well as even take care of the hassles at border crossings. The business you utilize may vary by country, however a few of the larger services include:

Tica Bus

TransNica

Central Line

Nica Bus

Pullmantur

Comfort Lines

Hedman Alas

On Tica Bus, for example, you can get from Panama all the method to Antigua in Guatemala for $136 USD (a 32-hour journey). From Panama to Costa Rica is about $55 USD (a 16-hour journey).

The routes are frequently straightforward, the buses are air-conditioned, there’s a restroom on board, as well as the seats recline. Some business (like Tica) will likewise have partnerships with regional hotels/hostels to ensure that you get dropped off right at the door rather than having to discover your method at 2am upon arrival.

While most of these bus services have websites, they’re frequently incredibly buggy as well as challenging to use. To compare routes as well as prices, you can research study your journey on Rome2Rio.com before either booking on the bus company’s website or just showing up at the terminal to purchase your ticket.

For short distances, you have the “collectivo.” This short-distance minivan service is super cheap, however frequently extremely crowded. You’ll usually discover them at bus terminals, so it’s worth inspecting with the drivers to see where they’re going.

Finally, there is the regional poultry bus. These colorfully painted vehicles were formerly U.S. institution buses. They are called “chicken buses” since they likewise deliver chickens as well as rice, therefore have a great deal of chickens on them. It’s a nickname that has stuck among travelers. They stop just about all over to let people hop on as well as off. They are a cramped however fun as well as fascinating method to get around places. I always end up satisfying intereting folks.

Here are some sample fares for reveal bus routes in central America (in USD):

Belize City to Flores – $25 (5 hrs)

Flores to Guatemala City – $28 (8 hrs)

Guatemala City to San Salvador – $22 (6 hrs)

San Salvador to Tegucigalpa – $15 (7 hrs)

Tegucigalpa to Managua – $30 (6 hrs)

Managua to San Jose – $25 (8 hrs)

San Jose to Panama City – $55 (16 hrs)

San Salvador to Antigua – $19 (6 hrs)

Bocas Del Toro to Boquete – $37 (6 hrs 48 mins)

San Jose to Tamarindo – $8 (5 hrs 30 mins)

San Jose to Boquete – $13 (8 hrs)

Getting around inexpensive By Flying

Flying isn’t the cheapest method to see central America (and routes are truly limited). San Salvador as well as San Jose are the most prominent hubs, so you may be able to discover decent costs to/from these cities.

But then you always have to link as well as that’s a pain. right here are some sample flight times as well as costs (which are truly high since the region just doesn’t have that numerous inexpensive flights):

Guatemala City to Belize City – flight time: 1 hr 15 min.
TAG 358 USD (one way), 501 USD (return)
Avianca 284 USD (one way), 299 USD (return)

Guatemala City to San Salvador – flight time: 35 min.
TAG 200 USD (one way), 347 USD (return)
Avianca 357 USD (one way), 459 USD (return)

Flores to Guatemala City – flight time: 1 hr
TAG 125 USD (one way), 220 (return)
Avianca – 136 (one way), 218 (return)

Managua to Panama City – flight time: 1 hr 35 min.
COPA 332 USD (one way), 481 USD (return)
Spirit** 226 USD (one way), 379 USD (return)

San Jose to Panama City – flight time: 1 hr 45 min.
COPA 150 USD (one way), 312 USD (return)
Avianca 151 USD (one way), 260 USD (return)

Managua to Guatemala City – flight time: 1 hr 23 min.
COPA 347 USD (one way), 317 USD (return)
Avianca 348 USD (one way), 528 USD return

Tegucigalpa to San Jose – flight time: 4 hr 10 min
COPA 357 USD (one way), 355 USD (return)
Avianca 357 USD (one way), 355 USD (return)

San Pedro Sula to San Salvador – flight time: 50 min.
Avianca 356 USD (one way), 525 (return)

San Pedro Sula to Managua – Flight: 3 h4 15 min.
Avianca 405 USD (one way), 515 USD (round trip)

**Extremely long flights because of layovers

Note: If you book early, you can save on fares. Fares likewise vary depending upon the time of year.

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Getting around inexpensive By Car

Renting a vehicle as well as driving around central America on your own is not a great idea. For one, rental cars and trucks are much much more costly than the public transit options.

That said, if you come down right here with a car, I would state go for it. great deals of people drive with the region with a vehicle or van they bought elsewhere. It’s totally doable. I just wouldn’t lease a vehicle to do it in the region.

Getting around inexpensive By Backpacker Bus

Bamba Experience is a backpacker bus business that serves central America (among other regions). Bamba has a fleet of hop-on-hop-off buses that travel set routes throughout the region, making it simple to get around as well as check out if you’re looking for a simple tranportation option.

As with all pre-arranged tours, there is much less versatility with this option as you’re going on their routine (though they will always be back if you want to stay somewhere longer). That being said, you can satisfy a great deal of truly awesome fellow backpackers with this option. They likewise organize tours as well as excursions, too.

Personally, these buses are just not my thing. By doing it yourself, you’ll have much more versatility as well as save money. want to satisfy people? just discover to state “hi” to strangers on buses!

Getting around inexpensive By Boat

If you want to see islands or coastal towns, boats as well as ferries are choices to consider.

In Belize, ferries to the islands are normally $15-20 USD. You can reach Honduras’ Bay Islands (including Roatan) by ferry, as well as you’ll certainly want to take a boat trip if you’re heading to the Corn Islands.

If you are traveling from Belize to Guatemala, there’s a water taxi from Punta Gorda to Puerto Barrios. as well as there’s a service from Belize (Placencia or Belize City) to Honduras (Puerto Cortes).

Here are some sample ferry fares:

Belize City to Ambergris Caye – From $15 USD (one way), $25 USD (round trip)

Belize City to Caye Caulker – From $23 USD (one way), $35 USD (round trip)

Between Ambergris Caye & Caye Caulker – From $15 USD (one way), $25 USD (round trip)

La Ceiba to Roatan – $33 USD (one way), $65 USD (round trip)

Punta Gorda to Puerto Barrios – $25 USD (each way)

Placencia to Puerto Cortes – $60 USD (each way)

For short journeys (like between the Corn Islands or to different towns on Lake Atitlan), it’s simplest to just show up as well as hire a boat or water taxi to take you across. costs are usually negotiable this way.

Getting around inexpensive By Train

There are no trains in central America. It’s not an option!

How long Does It take to get around central America?

Getting around central America can certainly be a bit tedious from time to time. Buses can be sluggish as well as don’t always depart or show up on time. They will frequently wait up until they are full as well as stop as well as pick up people on the method or for rest breaks.

But, to assist you plan, right here is a distance as well as time chart so you understand (roughly) exactly how long it takes to get from location to location in central America:

Route

Road (km/miles)

Air (hrs)

Bus (hrs)

Guatemala City – Belize City

625/388

1:15

14 hrs

Guatemala City – San Salvador

235/146

:35

6

San Jose – Panama City

800/497

1:10

14

Managua – Guatemala City

735/457

1:23

20

Belize City – Flores

840/525

:45

5

Flores – Guatemala City

481/299

1

8

San Salvador – Tegucigalpa

329/204

1

7

Tegucigalpa – Managua

367/228

4:20*

6

Managua – San Jose

422/262

1

8

San Jose – Panama City

851/528

1:20

16

*No direct flights.

***
Central America is such an remarkable location – though getting aroudn the region will take some planning as well as research.

Things won’t always go smoothly. getting from location to location right here can sometimes be a hassle. however with a bit preparation as well as a pinch of patience, you’ll be able tohave an remarkable experience.

Be versatile with your schedule. Make sure you plan ahead. Do that, as well as you’ll be able to delight in this amazing region of the world!

Book Your trip to central America: Logistical tips as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to discover a inexpensive flight. They are my two preferred browse engines since they browse websites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned. begin with Skyscanner very first though since they have the biggest reach!

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest stock as well as finest deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses as well as inexpensive hotels. My preferred locations to stay are:

Dirty McNasty (Caye Caulker, Belize)

Rocking J’s (Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica)

The Naken Tiger (San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua)

Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will safeguard you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s extensive security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it numerous times in the past. My preferred business that offer the very best service as well as value are:

Safety Wing (for everybody below 70)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for extra repatriation coverage)

Looking for the very best business to save money With?
Check out my resource page for the very best business to utilize when you travel. I listing all the ones I utilize to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want much more info on central America?
Be sure to see our robust destination guide on central America for even much more planning tips!