Whether you thought about it or not...
Central America is for most Canadians and Americans just a short flight
to one of the worlds most exciting places.
But wherever you're from, it is definitely something not to be missed.
The countries of Central America are rich with a diversity of life, culture, scenery, beaches, and wonderful peoples.
If you like diving and snorkeling, the reefs off the coasts of Belize and Honduras will definitely make your day!
The mainland is literally covered with Mayan historical and archeological sites. Lost cities like Tikal, Copan,
and Altun Ha will intrigue you for hours.
The mountainous portions of Guatemala and the colorful indigenous Indians that live there will keep that camera shutter
clicking. If you are looking for handicrafts, the towns of Chichicastenango, Panajachel, and the nearby villages
offer a variety of textile goods.
For those who would like to get away from it all, the back country villages in the mountainous portions offer quiet
secluded places, where you can catch up on that 1000 plus page novel.
Don't forget the food. Central America has a wide range of food for most peoples appetite. You can get almost everything
from Taco's to Lobster, Rice to Pasta, Torteas to Bagels, Beer to Wine, and all for a mere pittance (depending
on where you eat, and what you eat!)
About this site:
The year was 1979, and I had made up my mind to "hit the road"
and see the world. As a youngster I had been to Europe with my parents, but going it alone was always a big dream
of mine. So for 4 months that summer, I backpacked around the classic European countries.
That initial trip abroad later led to another European trip in 1981. This time I met up with some friends in Switzerland,
and the 4 of us drove through what was then Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia. Communism was strong then,
and you could see the oppression in the peoples faces. The trip sparked a new trend for me when it came to traveling.
Seeing the world from a travelers point of view, I decided it was time to get busy. When 1985 finally came around,
I felt I was ready for the big one. My plans had me start out in Europe, then slowly head for the Middle East.
From there I followed the Nile down to Kenya, and then continued to the Indian Subcontinent. After some time there,
it was off to South East Asia via Burma. Later I took it easy and worked for a while in Australia. With Cash in
hand I then continued up through North East Asia, and finally back home. All in all the trip took around 18 months,
and I haven't been the same since then. Lately I've been checking out this corner off the world. Since 1990, I
have been to Latin America 4 times. The trips have been 'shorter than what I had done in the past, but enjoyable
none the less. I have tried to spend more time in fewer places and thus get a better feel for the place.
Travel in the "real"
part of the world can be trying at times. Information tended to be scarce back in the 70's and early 80's. Guide
books helped a lot. but the information was usually outdated, inaccurate, and generally designed for the $100.00
per day tourist. When Tony Wheeler first decided to put together his Shoe String series of books, there were few
books or articles dealing with the subject of budget travel. Since then there are literally hundreds of publications.
Unfortunately up to date information can still be hard to come by. That's why I decided to build this site. The
information contained here was updated in the spring of 1999. Some of the data was obtained from fellow travelers
who had just recently visited many of the areas. But the majority is from my own experiences.
Speaking of guide books... Some of the books I've used in the past are:
Lonely Planet Guides. The Handbook series.
Ulysses Travel Guide.
Whatever book you use or prefer, remember that your fellow traveler can
be a wealth of information. So pull up a chair, sit back, and click your way to Central America...
This site is copyrighted 2000 Doug Meier
Please contact the author if you wish to use any information on these pages.
This site last updated Sept 01 2000.
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