Well, it's been almost 18 months since I got back from my SE Asia trip, and I've been getting that travel urge again. This time I'm planning to backpack around the Yucatan and Chiapas in Mexico, and then the 7 countries in Central America(Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama). To keep my options open, I've only booked a 1-way flight, and will just come home when I feel like it(or more likely, when I can't force myself onto another Chicken Bus). I'm guessing that this will be a 3 to 4 month trip, but who knows really. I'm going to play it by ear. I'm flying to Cancun on Nov. 17/2010, and will beach it in Playa-del-Carmen for a couple days before escaping to less touristy areas. My Itinerary is pretty vague, but right now it kind of looks like this:
Yucatan(Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Merida) > Chiapas (Palenque, San Crisdobal) > Guatemala(Highlands, Atitlan region, Tikal, Livingston, Coban) > Belize(Caye Caulker, Sailing trip to Plancencia, Hopkins) > Honduras (Copan, Bay Islands) > El Salvador? > Nicaragua (Granada, Isla de Ometepe, Rio San Juan boat trip) > Costa Rica (Corcovado National Park), Panama (Canal, Bocas del Toro).
I plan to fly back from Panama, but who knows. I may end up finding some place I can't leave, and just hang out for awhile. I'm not really committed to getting to every country in Central America, but right now that's the plan.
I've had lots of time for trip planning this time around, but haven't stressed out too much about it. I could be wrong, but I'm expecting this trip to be a little less exotic than my SE Asia trip, and maybe a bit more dangerous(thefts, bandits, etc). I will be a bit more challenged with communications, as my Spanish is not great. I dropped out of the Spanish Class I started in January, since I am basically a lazy bum. But, I do plan on taking a 1-week Spanish Course and Home-Stay in Guatemala. Hopefully that will get me by. I do have a Phrase Book, and have been practicing with Spanish CDs in the car.
As for gear.... I bought a top of the line Travel Pack for this trip (Deuter 70L), as I wasn't really happy with the MEC pack I took to SE Asia. I've also tweaked my gear a bit, and will be taking a little Asus Netbook this time around. After traveling with a woman in Indonesia who was on a 2-years trip around the world, with only a 10 kg pack, my target was to get down to that weight. Well.... it's not going to happen. Right now my Pack will weigh at least 16 kg. Oh well. Hopefully the new backpack is more comfortable.
I've posted the country maps, but not much else there yet.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/K9DRfQDpnFjQAj3y7
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