Backpacking through Central America:
The Preparation and arriving into Mexico
My three-month trip to Central America in 2011 was my first extended adventure. And it came about without much thought, preparation, or planning. I had graduated from university in the summer of 2010 and shortly after I found myself in a temporary role, which ended in December 2010. Rather than start to look for another job, I decided to take the opportunity to travel.
With the generosity of my brother and sister-in-law, I had lived rent-free for those past six months. And so, I was in a fortunate position of having enough to last me around three months – and I booked a return ticket to Cancun (the cheapest return flights from the UK), leaving in January and returning in April. Aside from that, I booked a week of Spanish lessons in Antigua – to continue from my previous Spanish excursion. I then had a rough plan to travel down to Panama and back. That was about it, as far as planning goes.
My mum bought me a backpack for Christmas 2010 – which I still have today – and I have since used in Central America, New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, the Rocky Mountains of Canada, and Europe. So, I’d say it’s worth investing in a decent brand. Other presents that year were mostly travel-themed; first-aid kit, a belt bag (which I could wear under my clothing, to keep my passport and spare cash hidden), and a guidebook.
Speaking of guidebooks, I found them very useful on this trip – particularly in the time before smartphones. They provide a comprehensive list of accommodation, public transport options, maps, places to eat and points of interest, as well as ideas for itineraries. Even in the age of smartphones, I think they are a useful resource in an unknown land, and a good backup if you’re likely to be ‘offline’ for large parts.
The description of my trip is deliberately short on precise details such as the name of the guesthouses I stayed in and where to get buses from. That is the type of information you can obtain from guidebooks or websites and will likely be regularly updated there. Instead, I want to write about the highlights, what I encountered and felt of my experience, in the hope of giving you an idea of what a trip might hold in store for you. Hopefully you can learn from a few of my mistakes as well!
The Beginning
I flew into Mexico via Cancun blissfully unaware it was a popular spot for Spring Break. Either way, I only stayed for two nights, to adapt to the time difference, and the climate. I spent the second night on a bar crawl with another Brit – an experienced traveller who passed on some useful tips for backpacking. Most memorable was the art of sleeping on public transport with the bag straps around your arms or legs, to prevent an opportunistic would-be thief from parting with your goods. Unfortunately, I have heard of people suffering this trouble, and I practice it on long journeys to this day.
From Cancun, I headed to Valladolid. Although it’s ideally located to visit Chichen Itza nearby, it’s far less touristy and felt that I had arrived in Mexico. Here, I had my first taste of the local street food. And after a night in a hostel, I took the opportunity to visit the Mayan site, taking a bus the 90 minutes or so.
Chichen Itza
This is a large site, dominated by the large pyramid in the centre. The condition of the well-preserved pyramid almost makes it inaccurate to describe Chicen Itza as ruins. Although there are a collection of surrounding architecture that hasn’t survived the centuries as well. Guided tours are available to learn more about the history and culture of the Mayans.
Leaving Mexico
From Valladolid, I headed south, to the border town of Checumal – around four hours by bus – which was a stopping point before heading to Guatemala. While there, I met a friendly Mexican from the capital, who suggested I should visit Mexico City on my trip – and with that short encounter, my plans for the end of the trip changed.
The next day was a long bus journey, through the soaring heat in Belize City, looping round to Flores, in the North of Guatemala.