BootsnAll Travel Community

I have a few random questions for anyone who can help. I plan on spending a month or so studying Spanish near Lake Atitlan (San Pedro) and another month or so making my way to San Jose, CR. I hope to hit the following: Antigua, Guat - Copan, Hon - La Ceiba, Hon - Esteli, Nica - Leon, Nica - Granada, Nica - Ometepe, Nica - San Jose, CR.

1.) Can you suggest any alternate destinations that I have not included? Should I skip any of the places that I have included?

2.) Does anyone have any exp. with schools in the Lake Atitlan area (San Pedro)? Which would you recommend?

3.) Can any suggest places to stay, restaurants to eat, bars to drink or must see sights?

I would also be very thankful for any other helpful tips anyone could provide. Thanks in advance!!

What's up D?
Looks like you'll have the kill trip! Try to check out Tikal while you're in Guat. it's worth it. Pana Hachel (spl?) has all the good bars and eats(the main town on Lake Atitlan)and cheap places to stay. San Marcos had a cool little restaurant (luna azul) where you can sit at a table on the lake and burn some Mayan reefer. There are no police, so it's really laid back. Peace.

Hey Diesel

Sound like you're in for a great trip. If you're in Guate one place you've got to check out is Rio Dulce a small river town on route from Guate city to Santa Elena (tikal).
There's a great jungle lodege there called hacienda tijax (tee-hash) A guy named Eugene owns the place Speaks english, french, italian and a few other languages. Go to the Atitrans transport terminal in Las fronteras (the real name of Rio Dulce and have them radio them over for you (only water access to the place). If I remember right the separate lodges are about 15$ a night and the dorms are only a few bucks. From there you can get out to english guate (Livingston) for a taste of what the caribbean must have been some thirty years ago. If your interested you can head out to the bay islands of Honduras and on to la cieba too... Sometimes you can do so by crewing on one of the many sailing boats found in Lago Isabal.

any other questions, feel free to email me.

www.liahonaquest.com
"Vacations Without Limits"

I think in Guat you have to try to get to the Little Spit of Carribean coast they have and see Livingston. Tough to get to. Worth the journey

d

--Uh. I think it's this way...--

In Honduras:

In Copan, the hostel "Los Gemelos" is one of the cheapest, and it's a nice little place. You can walk to the ruins from the town, though the minibuses will try to tell you otherwise.

Another good arch. site is El puente, near the town of La Entrada.

As for the north coast, I would pick Tela over La Ceiba. La Ceiba is kind of a big dirty city. In Tela, you can stay at the Marazul for $3 a night, eat overlooking the river at the Mango Cafe, check out Punta Sal and Punto Izopo, and check out the view from the rust-colored hotel. If you're on the north coast already, you may as well check out the Bay Islands.

Have a great time! Good luck with the Spanish school stuff--
Jessie

"Whenever I have to choose between two evils, I always like to choose the one I haven't tried before." --Mae West, I believe

stay away from san jose, cr. it's a great staging grounds to see the rest of the country but the city itself is kinda worthless, just my opinion.

More recs:

Do NOT swim in Atitlan without the knowledge that it is extremely poluted. I didn't find this out until I'd had my 2nd episode of paracytes, YUCKY. Think about it...all the water used in the villages in the mountains runs into the water, there are no toilets in the mountains...

Go to Finca Isabel in Poptun. Yes it is expensive, relative to other Guate locations, but the 6 hour river cave walk is worth it. Just spend a night there on the way to Rio Dulce, don't forget a head lamp and/or flash light.

If you have the cash ($500-600??), I went on a 7 day trip from Rio Dulce, stopped in Livingston, and then learned out to SCUBA at some BEAUTIFUL islands off the coast of Belize. The boat was a large Cat with bedrooms in the hulls. I HIGHLY recommed it. To get certified at such an amazing location is truly the way to go, and you can't beat the price. The boat's name is 'THAT' and I believe you can hook up with them in San Marcos.

If Jules, the dive master is still there, go with him!

My favorite place in CA is the Bay Islands. I like Roatan, but most packpackers go to Utila. Skip Tela and Le Ceiba. They are dirty and and I thought a little scary. You may have to spend a night there, though. The boat to the islands is about $14 for an hour trip. The plane is $20. Pass on the boat if the weather is up. On Roatan, diving is 5 dives for $100 or 10 for $150. There are some nice beaches too. Have fun!