Davide and Luca go to Latin America: We are back !!!!

Sorry, we’re late!

Belize

So, where were we?

As all of you might remember, we were heading to Belize from Mexico with the idea of spending New Year’s Eve there. We went straightaway to a very small island called Caye Caulker, very popular with tourists. In Belize English is the official language. Also the Jamaican culture is quite spread and at times you do not really feel to be in Central America.

We passed by the capital, Belize City, on our way to Caye Caulker. The city seemed very poor and also a bit dangerous. We expected to find a different atmosphere, let’s say a friendlier one. Anyway, we got to the island and after three days decided to leave and go back to Mexico to celebrate New Year’s Eve. This because we wanted a more lively place and also there wasn’t cheap at all. Of course, before leaving we treated ourselves with a delicious lobster dinner.

Back to Mexico.

We went back to the lovely Tulum and we were lucky to find a place to stay a few days by the beach. We spent a unique New Year’s Eve on the beach. Someone, Davide, said “The best ever!”.

From Tulum we went to the Yucatan State and then to Chapas. What a lovely place. We spent more than a week traveling around these two lovely states seeing and experiencing an amazing atmosphere having the feeling that Mexico deserved the top place on our list so far. We visited Palenque, San Cristobal and went for a couple of day trips. See below the pictures.

Guatemala

We crossed the Mexican border by “lancha”, motorboat. Our first destination was Flores and of course Tikal, the biggest Mayan ruin in the area. Tikal is really a magic place. We got there at 4 in the morning to enjoy the sunrise and spent the all day climbing and exploring the temples.

After that we went to Coban and spent only a few days there. We so much enjoyed the company of the locals their simplicity, kindness and generosity.

We wanted to stay a bit longer in this poor but so friendly country but our “very flexible schedule” did not allowed that.

Honduras

We just rushed through this country as many tourists do and stopped by just at the Capital.

Nicaragua

The very first impression of the country was very good. Why? We run out of money and traveled for 3 hours for free. Anyway we got to Leon as first destination. We spent there 3 – 4 days and went for a daily expedition on a volcano where we did some volcano boarding (see below the lovely pictures).

Then we got to Granada on our way to San Juan del Sur, where we wanted to stop for a couple of weeks and do some Spanish and other activities. Granada is another lovely place that gives you the idea of how much Nicaragua has to offer. In fact, nevertheless the recent civil war the Nicas tend to be very hospitable.

In San Juan del Sur, as planned, we attended a Spanish course of two weeks. We stayed with a local family, well there were two, in fact after the first week we changed as the first family was “too much” for us. We also took some salsa and surfing lessons. San Juan del Sur also offered the opportunity to enjoy the locals’ company to the full and a real taste of Latin American culture.

Costa Rica

From San Juan del Sur we got to San Jose`, the Capital. We stayed there a couple of night and we quickly spot the better state of the more stable country in the region.

In Tortuguero, a national park, we went to see the green sea turtles but it was the wrong season. However we enjoyed the rest of the wildlife of this amazing park.

We carried on towards south, Atlantic Cost, to Cahuita first and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca later. Those two places are quite popular with tourists also because of theirs Jamaican atmosphere.

Panama

We are now in Panama City. We have already been to the very well known Canal and are now ready for the Carnival. Panama City is a huge city, a mixture of cultures races. In some parts very modern indeed. We enjoyed the carnival and the company of the locals, very friendly.

Tomorrow we off to Columbia, we are now ready for South America.