[ESchlop]

Como estas, mis amigos! I did South America last summer, Rio, Buenos Aires, Bogota, Lima, Medellin, Quito, Cuzco, Cali. Had a great f-ing time, time of my life. Now, I have 1.5 months to backpack. I'm thinking of Central America.

Starting in Panama City, Panama, working through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and on up to Mexico City. Does anybody have opinions or experiences of this journey? Any tips when it comes to the broads? How hard is it to stay away from hippies? Best towns/city? Any advice. Thanks fellas

Wish you all good travels and luck, wrap em up

[thegmanifesto]

Costa Rica, at least when I was there (which was a while back) there are only girls in the capital. The beach towns are real surf heavy. You might get lucky with a tourist though.

That being said, I know the beaches have been really built up since I went so things change. The capital has fly girls in the university areas for sure.

Panama, I can't help you as I was in a super small town, no running water etc. Unreal surfing though. I was hiding out.

Belize, I have been to before, and girls were tough going. Although I did swoop some tourist girls. I did see some fly local girls though, just not enough volume.

Sick diving and fishing in Belize though.

[exe]

I recently did Panama and Costa Rica this past Dec and Jan. Flew in & out of Panama City and went to Bocas del Toro and in Costa Rica: Puerto Viejo, Limon, San Jose, Manuel Antonio, Domenical and Golfito. Puerto Viejo had a very rasta vibe. If you go, check out Rockin' J's. Rent out hammocks right on the beach for like $5. Lots of North American, Argie & European backpackers in Puerto Viejo.

The north Pacific coast of Costa Rica is quite developed after decades of gringo tourism. Lots of upscale resorts and condos.

Surprisingly, I saw lots of Argie hippie types on both coasts - selling friendship bracelets, jewelry, and doing firedancing shows.

I would recommend crossing into CR at the west border town of Paso Canouas and not in the east at Sixaola. I did the latter and almost fell to my death crossing the rickety bridge lugging my full sized roll away luggage. This bridge has loose planks and it's like a 100 foot drop down to the raging river full of rocks & boulders below. Another thing to note: CR has really shitty roads.

If you are spending time in SJ, CR and want detailed info on nightlife, just let me know.

[The_CEO]

I've recently heard that Guatemala is very dangerous (virtually lawless right now according to the UN).

[College Game]

Guatemala is fine in some places, and horrible in others. I just went through CA in November, D.F. MExico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, in that order. I posted on some of that trip, but my advice is to hit El Salvador. It had some of the best beaches I have ever seen and the nightlife was the best I saw in the region, with the obvious exception of DF. If you want info on El Salvador just ask, I have been meaning to do a report but I am a busy guy.

[College Game]

(04-02-2010 04:41 AM)chrisss Wrote:  

What Central America country or city would you guys recommend for a best mix of surfing/nightlife/nice girls/and safety?

El Salvador, hands down. But where I was those did,t come simultaneously.

[Rocco81]

Backpacking through those places can be dangerous as hell. All of Centro America is pretty crazy.

I only spent time in Guatemala...Ciudad de Guatemala was cool and though I am not a big strip club guy, I can honestly say that the girls in the Guatemalan "Putaria's" were better than any in Mexico or Colombia.

Some Guatemalan chicks are like short and dark mayan looking, which can be very sexy depending on what you like. I actually saw some of the best asses there too believe it or not. Big drug gateway from South America to Mexico..allot of Colombian putas and cheap drogas if that is your thing. Good clubs in Zona Viva.

Guatemala city is very dangerous though, know someone there and stay in the good areas. The city is made of Zones, learn which are safe and which are not. Life is very very cheap in the poor zones.

Antigua (Short drive from Guatemala city) is nice and romantic if you want to take a date, but the clubs and bars there are full of pudgy American and German (don't ask me why) gringa's grinding on short Guatemaltecos, serious lack of hot latinas and plenty Fratastic white boys dancing to regeaton while swilling beer in cargo shorts and UVA hats. Im not kidding either.

[College Game]

"Antigua (Short drive from Guatemala city) is nice and romantic if you want to take a date, but the clubs and bars there are full of pudgy American and German (don't ask me why) gringa's grinding on short Guatemaltecos, serious lack of hot latinas and plenty Fratastic white boys dancing to regeaton while swilling beer in cargo shorts and UVA hats. Im not kidding either."

Hilarious. So true.