Speed busing through Central America?

Question

I have a couple of weeks off in December and was wondering the logistical possibility of taking buses from Cancun to Panama (ticabus, etc). When I travel I move fast and don't like to spend more than a day or two in any place (we all travel different- save the speech). Is it possible and feasible to do this? I'm guessing the following:

Cancun-Belize: 3 days

Belize- Guat- 3 days

El Sal to Hond- 1-2 days

Hond- Nicar: 1-2 days

NIcar- Costa (1 day, plus a few at the beach)

Costa- Pana (2 days)

Thoughts? It is pretty easy to do? Will it be busy in Dec?

Answer 1

In Central America 'Speed' and 'Busing' do NOT go together.  There is nothing fast down there.  Latin people travel at a different pace and if you let it, you'll learn to like it.

Trying to coordinate all those buses can get difficult.  You will have to go to different bus stations in each town in order to change buses.

If that's your time frame you'll be spending most of it on the buses.  i would recommend the 'first class' buses as they are more comfortable for long trips.  Ticabuses can be hard on the body when you are squeezed in with two other people on a school bus seat. Plus border crossings can be difficult on the ticabus! I know people who were left behind at the border because they took so long to get through. The first class bus will wait for you.

it takes about 8 hours to get from San Pedro Sula (Honduras) to San Salvador (El Salvador), and about 15 hours to get to Managua (Nicaragua). It's another 8 hours from San Salvador to Guatemala City.  Guatemala and Nicaragua are larger than you may realize.

Answer 2

I will save the speach and just say I would prefer a sharp stick in the eye than to be on a bus that long  .... BUT if that is what you really want ... Yes, it is very feasible.  It should not be too busy.  Anything can be had in Central America for a price and that price, for Americans, is not too bad. If the bus you want is full, go with a "first class" bus.  Only a couple of dollars more and comfortable.  Other than that, just leave a day in between connections.  You don't want to miss a bus if the road is congested.

If you are stopping in Antigua Guatemala you may want to check out http://www.MyAntiguaOnline.com for things to do, advice and cheap places to stay.

Answer 3

I have riden my bike on the Guatemala to Belize part of your trip and would say Cancun to Belize should take half a day or less, it's probably only 200-300 miles.

Belize to Flores Guatemala is about 2-3 hours, and Flores to Guatemala City shouldn't take longer than 6-8 hours.

I would think Cancun to Guatemala City could be done in 2 days if you are lucky with connections.

I don't know from Guatemala to Nicaragua, but Costa Rica to Panama is another one you might be able to do in a day if you leave early in the morning, it's not very far, although the oing is slow initially on the mountainous roads

Answer 4

Buses are not fast in general, they have a tendency to stop a lot. I live in Panama and I can personally tell you that driving from Panama City to the border in Costa Rica in a car takes 6 1/2 hours and to San Jose at least 5, 51/2 more in car. In a bus add at least 3 more hours.

The trip is great but I would recommend you spent at least a month, month and 1/2 doing it. If not don't waste your time.