I've wanted to add information about each location since we left. Reading other people's blogs was my best research for the trip and I would like to add to the collective information on the web. One thing that I have learned on this trip is that different people have different experiences in the same place. This is our experience and what worked for us...you will have to find your own way.
Belize
- Belize City
- Belcove Hotel - around $30 US - Our very first Central American Hotel. We were very happy there and enjoyed talking to the young guy at the hotel. He was extremely helpful and friendly.
- Caye Caulker -
- Lorraine's Guest House - $17.50 US Further down the beach, little cabanas on stilts...stinky bathroom, get a room with no bathroom.
- Orange Walk
- Akihito Hotel - Quiet hotel, the cable TV has the best selection of English stations that we have seen in Central America. Wifi.
- Lamanai boat trip and ruins - We loved the boat ride and the ruins. Lots of crocodiles and a monkey that we got to pet. We scheduled ours through the Lamanai River Retreat. The guy who hooked us up with them was incredibly helpful and informative. The Lamanai River Retreat had some cabins and is right on the river. We had a great lunch there and they doctor up their own ketchup which was delicious.
- San Ignacio
- Hi-Et Guesthouse - $19/night. Nice big room and big bathroom. They cleaned our room daily. Nice atmosphere, great place to meet other travelers, good location, talking parrot and cute dogs.
- Eva's - bar, restaurant, tour company. We spent a lot of time at Eva's. The people were friendly, the food was good and there was wifi.
- ATM Caving Tour - $75 per person. Very expensive but worth every penny. We booked through Max at Eva's and our guide's name was Gonzo. He was the best guide we've seen...a real archeologist who is from the area. We highly recommend him as a guide.
- Hannah's Restaurant - You will have to ask around to find it because the name changed to something mayan which sounds like Hannah's. This is the best food in San Ignacio hands down. Get there early because it fills up.
- Flores
- Dona Goya 2 - Another nice room with a decent bathroom. There is hot water but you have to play with the knobs to figure it out...one knob works the water pressure and the other is for temperature I think. One of the best rooftop hangouts with comfy hammocks and a view of the lake. Right across the street from a great swimming spot.
- Dos Mundos - Spanish Classes - There is only 1 option for spanish classes and I dont recommend it. Our teacher taught straight from a book. There was no conversational practice at all...even when we finished the book after 3 days and I asked for some conversational practice agreed and then stared at us for the next day and a half until we finally put the experience out of its misery and quit early. We did enjoy the hike that we went on with the school to some nearby unexcavated ruins with Deter.
- ARCAS - 30Q per person (more than Lonely Planet had stated) - I really enjoyed this place and would consider volunteering there sometime. They rescue monkeys, parrots and various other animals and work to rehabilitate them and if possible, set them loose again into the wild.
- Finca Ixobel outside of Poptun - This place felt like summer camp in a good way. There is a huge variety of rooms from dorms to tree houses to cabins. We met some great people here who we continued to run into throughout Northern Guatemala. There is a swimming hole, a cool bar and a nightly bonfire. The food was delicious, healthy and plentiful. No need to get the all you can eat option because they will load up your plate with a ton of food on the first go round.
- Rio Dulce
- Casa Perico - We hated this place but have met many people who loved it. Its all about who else is staying there. The owner seemed miserable and we felt like we were bothering him anytime we needed anything. The bugs were terrible and we could smell sewage in our room even though we had no bathroom in it.
- Livingston
- Hotel Rio Dulce - Great location, decent room, decent bathroom.
- Tapado - You can get this great dish at many restaurants and if you like seafood, this is something you must try in Livingston. Various seafood including shrimp, crab, a whole fish in a coconut milk broth with plantains and other goodies.
- CocoLoco - the chop the top off a coconut, add rum and a straw and your good to go.
- El Estor
- We hated this place. Our room sucked and the bathroom had no toilet seat. It did set us up for a long but interesting trip to Lanquin.
- Lanquin
- El Retiro - Another place that felt like summer camp in a good way. Make reservations since it fills up. Wifi, the best and biggest buffet in Guatemala. This is a great place to meet people and hang out.
- Semuc Champey - We opted to forgo the group tour and were glad that we did. We rode in the back of a pickup truck to get there. Try to get a group together to keep the price of the truck down. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been.
- Antigua
- Hotel across the street from the Yellow House. We dont remember what it was called but it was nice. We stayed upstairs but the shared bathroom was downstairs which kind of sucked.
- San Pedro Atitlan
- Gran Sueno Hotel - 100Q per night for a week - This was a very nice, quiet hotel. The rooms were big and airy. Cable TV. Nice big bathroom. Lake view. Highly recommended.
- San Pedro Spanish School - Highly recommended. We learned so much spanish in our 3 hrs per day for 5 days. She didnt use a book and focused on conversational spanish and vocabulary that we actually use. Classes are held in palapas overlooking the lake. Ask about the 45 minute spanish club held most evenings, it was fun and a great way to meet other travelers.
- Antigua
- Casa de Gregorio - My mom set this place up and we highly recommend it. Greg is the owner of the Bagel Barn and this is his house. It came with a land rover to get us around town. 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms...it was huge for the 4 of us and could sleep many more people. Its in a safe and secure neighborhood. Its a really nice place, the bathrooms were really nice. Its decorated beautifully and Greg has put a lot of work into both the house and the garden. Look into this place if you can get a big group together to share the cost. Even on a budget, if we went back to Antigua, I would find as many backpackers as I could find to share this house with...its a breath of fresh air from the hotels and hostels. The washer and dryer were a godsend.
- Guatemala City
- I dont recommend Guatemala City...go straight from the airport to Antigua.
- Gustavo and Odie's house - We were lucky enough to stay with this lovely family who are friends of my cousin. They fed us well and gave us a nice private room and bathroom. We consider them family now.
- Copan Ruinas
- La Posada de Belssy - This was a nice hotel with wifi. Its only downfall was its close location to the central park which is only a problem on Saturday nights when the club next to the hotel pumps out incredibly loud music until 3am.
- Santa Rosa de Copan
- I cant remember the name of the hotel but it was something like Hotel Jorge. It was very nice and the staff there was very nice and helpful.
- Flor de Copan cigar factory - We loved this cheap tour. It is only offered at 9am and 2pm. No cameras allowed.
- Gracias
- Finca Bavaria - Despite the good writeup in Lonely Planet, we couldnt even get the lady to show us a room so we left. Dont bother.
- Guancascos - This is the place to stay in Gracias. The restaurant is great and it has a lovely view. Wifi.
- Copan Ruinas (again)
- Hotel Calle Real - Its only downside is that it is at the top of a grueling hill. Most of the showers lacked decent pressure although ours was ok.
- Roatan
- We rented a house big enough for our group of 8 in Sandy Bay through a lady named Lynn. I need to get some better information about it because she was super nice and helpful and the house was perfect. It was in a little community with a nice pool and a pier that you could swim right out to the reef for great snorkeling.
- Tela
- Its best to go to Tela during the week since during the weekends its packed with Hondurans enjoying the beach. During the week, this is a tropical paradise with long stretches of empty beaches.
- Hotel Mango - #1 in Lonely Planet for Tela and therefore the best place to meet other travelers. We were very happy with our room. Wifi, TV, Air Conditioning, slightly warm shower.
- Bungalow Restaurant - We ate here twice and enjoyed the good prices and great food. Very much the expat hangout so eat dinner there if you want the lowdown on Tela and the north coast of Honduras.
- San Pedro Sula
- Hostel Tamarindo - a nice hostel and another great place to meet other backpackers. We've stayed twice in the 4 bed dorm on the first floor and recommend a room on the 2nd floor. The shower on the first floor is frigidly cold. Nobody was able to get the wifi to work. Quick walk to a good cheap baleadas place.
- Lago de Yojoa
- D&D Brewery - We really love this place. There are a variety of accommodations. The cabins are really big and nice. The rooms in the lodge are small...we recommend room #1 since the toilet is far from the bed and it has 2 windows. The food is good but its all about the beer. If you love nature, this is the place for you. This is a place for birdwatchers and orchid lovers but dont worry...even if you arent into those things, you will be by the time you leave. Bob is always looking for musicians to jam with so make sure to let him know if you are one. The real star of the place is Charles T. Fatpuppy.
- La Ceiba
- Banana Republic Guest House - This is a good cheap hostel. It seemed to be backpacker central so you can pick up lots of info about the bay islands and things to do around La Ceiba. We spent the first night it the furthest private room from the front and were happy, good breeze, quiet but the lock was broken. Moved the next night to the private room that is on the right side as you walk in upstairs, across from the bathroom. This room is right above the hammock and all we heard late into the night and early in the morning was the squeeking of the hammock. This place is handy because the bus to the ferry stops right in front of the hostel.
- Roatan
- Georphi's - We liked this place. We stayed in the dorms for a few nights and had the dorm to ourselves. In the dorm is a fridge and bunkbeds and 1 fan. They have cabins with kitchenettes but we didnt look at them to know if they are any good.
- Fort Saphrey - $400 for the month for our upstairs 2 bedroom with kitchen. They come and clean once a week. I think the 2 bedrooms are pretty decent but I'm not sure about the 1 bedrooms, they are more of a hotel room with a kitchen that you share with 1 other 1 bedroom. The other residents are nice and its right on the beach. Our downstairs neighbor calls this the "Secret Place" because it is off of the main strip and nobody knows it is here. Sometimes the water in the shower smells sulphery but not always.
- La Ceiba
- Lastenia Hotel - This place was decent with AC and TV.
- Tegucigalpa
- Hotel Iberia - Cheap hotel. All of the rooms on both floors face out into the hallway. For some reason, the way that this hotel was built, everyone can hear everything that goes on in every other room.
Nicaragua
- Esteli
- Hotel Nicarao - good location, homey kind of hotel. The room was ok, with a fan. They have a pet duck. The shared bathrooms left a little to be desired on cleanliness. $15 /night with shared bathroom
- Matagalpa
- Hotel Central - We really liked this hotel. The bed was so comfortable with 2 excellent fans and TV. $15 per night. Its 2 doors down from a great coffee shop (Barista) that wifi.
- Granada
- Hospedaje San Jorge - $10 a night for a double with bathroom and TV. Located in the market area. Nice upstairs hang out area. The hottest night that we have spent anywhere. The room was 10 degrees hotter than outside.
- Laguna de Apoyo
- Crater's Edge - $20 a night. We liked this place but the food was expensive. Breakfast is mandatory at $4 a person. There is a little comedor to get food at down the street.
- Ometepe
- Buena Vista - $20 . This was a good place to stay on the beach. Its a good place to meet people and is centrally located on the island.
- San Juan del Sur
- Encanto del Sur - $25 per night AC, TV, bathroom in the room. There is a communal kitchen. I think this is one of the best deals in town. Really clean.
Costa Rica
- Tamarindo
- Chocolate Hostel - $15 a person. We shared a dorm room with another couple. Since we payed $60 in total, we should have rented a small condo. The hostal was really nice though, with a pool and monkeys. AC, TV and a kitchen in our room.
- Samara
- I dont even know the name of this place. $35 a night. 1 block from the beach. This Canadian couple has 2 rooms in front of their house. Very clean, TV, AC, the best shower that we have experienced so far (hot, hot, hot)
- Santa Elena / Monteverde
- We showed up and ended up staying at the hostel being pushed by one of the local guys hanging out at the bus stop. Our room was nice and big and comfortable with a good bathroom. Our only complaint was that the "free breakfast" was just a do-it-yourself of whatever was in the kitchen...mostly bananas and corn flakes. I believe it was called Nuestra Casa and we think it was $25 per night
- Volcan Arenal / Castillo
- We took the taxi/boat/taxi from Monteverde to Arenal and really enjoyed it. It was expensive for Central American transportation but much faster and more scenic than the alternative.
- Our hotel was called Essence and we really enjoyed it. It is on the lava side and you can watch the volcano erupt all night long. We found most of it pricey for what it was but we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Despite the prices we recommend this place highly to anyone who asks. Double room with shared bath $28 per night. Fun dinners which were worth the price for fun but never enough food $11.
- San Jose
- Hostel Pangea - this is the big San Jose Hostel. It was very hostely but a good place to talk to people for information. With the world cup going on it felt like a sports bar with a hotel attached. The shared bathroom is right in the middle of things so if you require a ton of privacy you will want to skip this one. There are great views of the city and it is in a good location, especially if you are headed to the Caribbean. Laundry was the most expensive that we have seen at $9 per load. The room was $32 per night for the both of us.
- Cahuita
- Shangrila Hostel - This was a brand new hostel built by a really nice Italian guy. The room and shared bathroom were decent with very hot showers. There were lots of mosquitoes in our room, though. It is right next to the bus station. We think it was $18 per night.
- Puerto Viejo
- We stayed at Kaya's Place. It was pretty nice and we really enjoyed the atmosphere at the bar/restaurant. Finn, the chef, was extremely talented and offered dinners for about 3500 ($7) which were excellent. Our biggest complaint was that they advertise wifi but were never actually able to connect to it. Others had better luck but it never worked for us. The room with bathroom was $30 and our other room with a shared bath was $20. I think they gave us a deal on the room with bathroom because when we arrived, there was a little fiasco with the girls who were supposed to be checking out of the room that they wanted to give us.
Panama
- Bocas Del Toro
- Hotel Zapatillo - We had wanted to stay at Calypso but they were all booked up. One of the locals that met the bus to push his hotel showed us Zapatillo and other than it not having internet, we were very happy with our big room with A/C and TV. We payed $25 per night.
- Boquete
- Mamallenas - We stayed here for one night before heading to Paradise Gardens. It is a very nice hostel right off the square and is the place to stay in Boquete. Our room with bathroom was very nice. We payed $25.
- Paradise Gardens - This was our best accommodations for the whole trip and only cost our time end energy for volunteering every day. The bad news is that as we were leaving the place was sold to private owners and from what we hear, they are not taking volunteers anymore.
- Lost and Found Hostel
- This is between Bocas and David and is about an hour by bus from David. The bus driver will know where it is. There are 2 entrances and you should try to get the driver to drop you off at the entrance that is closer to David. It is a longer walk up the mountain but less steep if you have big backpacks. The other walk is doable and the one that most people take but the steps are huge and its a pretty tough walk. This place is not for you if you are very out of shape because just getting to the bathroom is a bit of a walk. We loved it there, though. Our private room was $30 a night with a shared bath and the dorms are $10 per night (with the 3rd night free) but it is 1 big dorm room crammed with beds. Most nights they do a nightly dinner for $6 which was usually pretty good. You can buy groceries there for a markup to cook for yourself. I recommend bringing food to cook with you but remember that you will need to drag it up the mountain.
- David
- Hotel Toledo - This was walking distance from the bus terminal and pretty nice for $27.50 a night with a bathroom, AC and TV. There were a lot of good cheap restaurants around and we were very happy with the rotisserie chicken place across the street ($2.50 for 1/4 chicken with 1 side - try the yuca)
- Panama City
- Pension Corona - Private room with AC, TV and nice bathroom located at Espana and Calle 36 Este for $25 per night on weekdays and $30 per night on weekends. We ended up staying a week and they did cut us a deal on the rates. The rooms with no windows are very dark and very quiet so you will need to set an alarm if you dont want to sleep the day away. The rooms with windows are very loud with street noise. Wifi seemed to work the best on the 3rd floor.
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