Seven places I saw on my epic seven country trip across Central America that changed my life

Central America is very much a part of the North American continent but most people mistake it for being a part of South America. It has countries like Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama. I didn’t know what to expect from the trip but it totally changed my life. When I signed up for the trip with G Adventures, I didn’t know what to expect, however the trip was really smooth because of the local guides – Juan and Enrique who knew all the insider tips to explore the place. I also loved that I could travel hassle free and did not have to put in any thought to plan my days. I focused entirely on enjoying my trip. 

I came across these seven wonders of Central America on my trip which felt like a spiritual experience. I felt like there is so much the world has to offer, we just have to be open to it. 

1. Scuba diving in The Pit in Tulum – The Pit is one of the most famous scuba dives in Mexico where I dived in a cenote and saw stunning stalagmites and stalactites in the cenote. While scuba diving, I noticed a stunning halocline layer form in the water where salt water mixes with fresh water. I also saw some stunning trees fallen at the bottom of the put, giving it an eerie feeling. 

2. Climbing Mount Masaya in Nicaragua – Mount Masaya is an active volcano located in Nicaragua. I had the pleasure of seeing some stunning views of Mount Masaya from the ground and climbing it later. It had active lava but we could not see it. There was a whole layer of gases which rose from the volcano and I saw a light glimmer of red colour which was enough to make me feel like I was a part of something very few people had seen and experienced in their life. 

3. Spotting the green tree frog in Costa Rica – The green tree frog is a rare non-poisonous frog which can only be spotted in Costa Rica and a few other parts of the world. While walking in the wild in Costa Rica, I spotted sloth bears, kinkajus, toucans and several other species of spiders and snakes. However, the top highlight was spotting the green tree frog by chance and seeing our guide hold it. I could never have imagined having this experience but I did. 

4. Scuba diving in the blue hole in Belize – The Blue hole is an iconic scuba diving spot in Belize where you can see giant stalagmites and stalactites in the ocean. It is also one of the only round circular holes located in the ocean which look turquoise blue distinctly different in colour from the rest of the ocean. I scuba dived in the blue hole and checked off a classic bucket list experience for me as a scuba diver. 

5. Spotting Macaws in Honduras – Macaws are rare species of birds which can only be spotted in some places. I spotted over fifty macaws in the wild in Honduras near the copan ruins. It was a rare experience. As a birding enthusiast, I was thrilled to see so many colourful macaws so close. They were constantly chirping, leading me to feel inspired to read about their lives more. 

6. Walking around the cobbled streets of Antigua – Antigua is a major city in Guatemala which looks like it’s in the middle of Europe. I saw stunning architecture in Antigua, walked on the cobbled streets, saw street performances and saw beautiful sights of couples walking arm in arm and in love. Some cities are walkable and just walking around them is enough to make you fall in love with them. 

7. Spectating moving sunsets in El Salvador – El Salvador offers some stunning beaches with views of the Caribbean which I truly enjoyed. They also have surfing, turtle hatching etc that one can see on the beach. I enjoyed a laid back lifestyle filled with swimming in beach ponds and spectating sunsets while in El Salvador. 

While travelling with G Adventures, I was able to give back to the local community because they had specific G for Good programs in every country through which I could engage with local communities and travel more sustainably. The memories I made with the people I met on the trip are truly special. I met people who love to travel, just like me while giving back to local communities from all across the world. I came to the trip a stranger, but I left with many lifelong friendships. 

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