Well, let’s do it this way. I have about fifteen blog posts in progress about places I’ve seen in the last six weeks. But trying to write meaningful posts accompanied by nicely edited photos has proven to be very difficult on the road. So here’s a summary of what I’ve been doing and what’s on deck next. Full posts to come.
So far I’ve seen:
- Antigua, Guatemala – two weeks in a homestay while studying Spanish in a former colonial capital. Good times being a student again, for a little bit.
- Pacaya – hiked an active volcano that erupted within 12 hours of me leaving it.
- San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala – another week of studying on the shores of Lake Atitlan. Kayaking, hiking, and swimming in the pub quiz capital of Central America.
- Guatemala City, Guatemala – a few days in a surprising metropolis, including a birthday celebration with the locals.
- Copan Ruinas, Honduras – my only stop in Honduras, to visit the Mayan ruins, with the added bonus of large parties in the town square on the weekend.
- Santa Ana, El Salvador – an incredibly quiet night after a day of traveling and vomiting at the El Salvador border crossing, plus home to the worst bus station in the world.
- El Tunco, El Salvador – first time swimming in the Pacific, first time trying to surf, in a quiet town with black sand beaches and excellent food.
- Leon, Nicaragua – quick visit to a modern art museum and the local cathedral, plus the biggest hostel I’ve ever stayed in.
- Granada, Nicaragua – a few more days of colonial life on the shore of Lake Nicaragua.
- Ometepe, Nicaragua – a completely different experience; eco lodge where the lobby was shared with 3 dogs, 4 kittens, 2 pigs, a baby chick, and the occasional toad.
- San Jose, Costa Rica – delayed on the way in and really only crashed here for the night before moving on.
- Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica – decent but uninspiring beach town on the Caribbean. Cut my stay short and moved on.
- Bocas del Toro, Panama – far more wonderful destination on the Caribbean. Spent 3 nights here and could have spent much more. Exploration of the island beaches and general relaxation after moving down the continent so quickly.
Where I am now:
- Panama City, Panama – in a modern hotel for a few days to recharge. Showed up with my foot cut up in three places, a broken laptop, and a debit card on the verge of being canceled by my bank – but I’ve fixed my laptop, my new debit card make it to me against all odds, and my foot is on the mend.
What’s next:
- One more night and most of the next day in Panama City, where I swear I’ll get to the Panama Canal and hopefully the brand new (4 day old) metro, the first in Central America.
- A redeye flight to Buenos Aires Wednesday.
- One night in BA to visit an old friend from Chicago
- Friday AM flight to Ushuaia on the southern tip of the continent.
- Ushuaia, Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales in Patagonia on the way to Torres del Paine.
- Four or five days trekking in Torres del Paine.
- After that, the pace slows down finally, and I make my way north, specifics TBD.
Melissa H April 8, 2014
Looks like an amazing time! No trip to the southernmost continent?
Pete S April 9, 2014 — Post Author
Not going to be possible. To quote a popular TV series, winter is coming to the south…I’m lucky to be able to squeeze in Patagonia. Antarctica will have to wait.