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With cheap chicken busses across
CENTRAL AMERICA

Zigzagging from Mexico City to Panama City along the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans.

On this journey, we set out to explore Central America over the course of three months. Our ambition was to experience the fascinating meeting point between the Pacific coast in the west and the Caribbean world in the east.

 

By zigzagging our way across the tropical isthmus that links North and South America, we immersed ourselves in a remarkable blend of cultures, shifting from the indigenous traditions of the highlands and Pacific regions to the vibrant customs, rhythms, and heritage of the Caribbean shores and islands.

 

Central America is an extraordinary explosion of nature, culture, and belief systems, woven together in a colorful and often chaotic harmony unlike anywhere else on the planet. Although the region is geographically small, it is home to an astonishing diversity of peoples, histories, and identities. The seven nations and countless offshore islands together create a cultural tapestry that is both dynamic and endlessly fascinating.

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Locations: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama; during 3+ months

Travel in Central America is rarely fast or comfortable, but that is part of the adventure. Over three months, we journeyed through all seven countries of the region while also exploring parts of southern Mexico, where our journey began.

From the colonial atmosphere of Mexico City and the Caribbean beaches, reefs, and Maya ruins of the Yucatán Peninsula, we continued into Guatemala, the cultural heartland of the ancient Maya civilization. Here, among volcanoes, mountain villages, colorful indigenous markets, and spectacular archaeological sites, we spent more than a month following sections of the legendary Ruta Maya, a network of destinations stretching across Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the region is its diversity. On one day, we found ourselves hiking through cold indigenous highlands, sharing simple meals with local villagers; a few days later, we were waking up in a beach bungalow in Belize, surrounded by turquoise Caribbean waters, Creole culture, and freshly caught seafood. The contrast between the Pacific and Caribbean worlds is extraordinary and can be felt in everything from language and food to music and traditions.

In Honduras, we combined visits to Maya sites with time on the beautiful Bay Islands. El Salvador, often overlooked by travelers, offered dramatic landscapes and a strong sense of local identity. Nicaragua, the land of lakes and volcanoes, impressed us with its authenticity, colonial towns, and relatively untouched countryside. Costa Rica delivered lush rainforests, waterfalls, abundant wildlife, and pristine beaches, while Panama proved to be far more than its famous canal—a tropical paradise with idyllic islands and coastlines on both the Pacific and Caribbean shores.

What ties the region together is a fascinating blend of indigenous, African, European, and Caribbean influences. The result is a vibrant cultural mosaic that makes Central America one of the most diverse, rewarding, and captivating travel destinations in the world.

More travel content on the slice of Earth:

 

Selected pics from this journey:

(to see all photos, click Show More at the end of the gallery)

© Anders M. Pedersen & Jakob M. Pedersen. All photos have been taken by Anders & Jakob.

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