Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama; A Journey Through The Heart of Central America

Cerro Negro, Nicaragua

The joy of visiting Central America is in getting to experience so much diversity and uniformity all at once; the Spanish language that unites the region also changes subtly from Guatemala to Panama, the Caribbean cuisine prevalent across countries like Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, has its own distinct flavors in each country, while travel experiences also change dramatically from country to country.

Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica

Nicaragua, the ‘Land of Lakes and Volcanoes’, is exactly as its nickname suggests; teeming with majestic volcanoes and quiet lakes. One of the most famous volcanoes is Cerro Negro, a looming black mass just 10km from Malpaisillo. Here, atop the crater of one of Nicaragua’s most active volcanoes, travelers tear down the ashy slopes on top of a rickety wooden board. Just make sure to hold on tight, as the boards can reach up to 90km per hour!

Bocas del Toro, Panama

Costa Rica offers its own host of intrigue, not least for the spectacular biodiversity within the country. The country is said to be home to over 5% of the world’s biodiversity; some of which can be enjoyed at Corcovado National Park and Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Visitors to Costa Rica can explore the many natural parks, reserves and wildlife refuges that make up more than 25% of the land. One ‘must-do’ includes climbing to the top of Mount Chirripó to see both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea at once.

Panama marks the end of Central America, and
has a lot more to offer than just its famous canal. Bocas del Toro is an archipelago in the north of the country that never fails to tempt travelers to extend their holidays and consider early retirement. The islands are ideal for scuba diving, snorkeling and surfing, making Panama the perfect destination in Central America for beach-loving adventurers.

Before You Go... 

Pick up our Central America South GPS Mapset. This GPS map will give you turn by turn directions to your destination using a point of interest (POI), city point, and/or latitude and longitude, with the ability to preplan driving destinations before getting into your car.

The easy to follow instructions allow you to download and install the map into Garmin BaseCamp desktop software and transfer it to your Garmin GPS in minutes. This installable map is compatible with ALL Garmin GPS units .

It's like having your own personal travel guide with you on your trip!

Screen Capture from our Central America South GPS Mapset

Screen Capture from our Central America South GPS Mapset

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My Travel Bucket List

Have you caught spring fever yet? I am just aching for a change of scene and variety, and that's when I start thinking about all of the places on my "must see before I die" bucket list. Here are a few of the destinations on my list. What places are on yours?


#1 - Hiking Dominica
I admit it was an episode of "Man, Woman, Wild" that first introduced me to the breathtaking beauty of Dominica, but I have learned more about it in my work with GPSTravelMaps.com. When I learned about the Waitukubuli National Trail from our Dominica GPS map I knew I had to get there someday. With 114 miles of trail there is something for everyone as far as scenery and hiking difficulty. Waterfalls, ruins, jungle, and more await discovery. This tropical paradise includes plenty of locations for beach relaxation as well as outdoor adventure and wilderness solitude. It's the perfect vacation in my book. Our GPS map includes the Waitukubuli National Trail, thousands of POI's, and road coverage for easy turn by turn navigation so don't start your travels without first purchasing the Dominica Garmin GPS map from GPSTravelMaps.com .

Hiking in Dominica

#2 - Machu Picchu 

Who doesn't want to visit this place, really? I have since I was a kid, but I learned a few years ago through our Peru GPS map how I wanted to visit it. There are multiple trails leading to the famous ruins and each passes through its own unique vistas and places of interest. I have one of the "alternate trails" in mind for my visit. Read up on these trails here and then buy our Peru map to help you navigate your trail of choice.  

Machu Picchu

#3 - Roatan, Honduras
I spent a week in Honduras a few years ago, but never made it to Roatan.  We had an amazing time along the north coast zip-lining over hot springs which we later soaked in, and snorkeling and hanging with the Garifuna people in Cayos Cochinos , but all that only upped my desire to get to Roatan one day. Scuba diving and snorkeling at a coral reef to rival Australia, shopping, white sandy beaches, turqoise waters, and luxury at more than half the cost of most other tropical vacations - what's not to like? If you make it to Roatan there is so much on the mainland of Honduras you won't want to miss either like the Copan ruins, the Pulhapanzak waterfall,  and Punta Sal.  With our Central America map bundle which includes a map of all of Honduras (even Roatan) you can be assured you won't have to miss out on any of it. For the price of one map you get maps for several other Central American countries too so why not explore them all?

Roatan from the air

Honduras Paradise

#4 - Surfing in Costa Rica
I love water and I'm a decent swimmer so surfing has been on the to-do list for awhile, but even when I've made advance arrangements and traveled across several states to get to the coast, it just doesn't work out for me to try it. Which of course just increases the allure of the sport for me. I've wanted to visit Costa Rica ever since my high school's environmental science class went I did not, so when I learned that not only were rainforest exploration, volcanos, tree frogs, and huge iguanas all famous in Costa Rica but also surfing?! Well, it immediately became a bucket list item. If any of that sounds like the vacation you are looking for start planning your trip to Costa Rica.  And I guarantee you won't want to leave without our Costa Rica GPS map.  It is detailed and up to date with all the data you will need to get to where you want to go so you can do what you want to do.

La Fortuna Waterfall, Costa Rica

#5 - Guna Yala, (formerly known as San Blas) Panama
Guna Yala is a 120 mile area stretching along the eastern coast of Panama and includes remote islands off the coast as well. Not only are there pristine white beaches, coral reefs, and everything else to make it a tropical paradise, but this is also the one and only place you can experience the colorful culture of the indigenous Guna people. Once I've had my fill of snorkeling on my own private island and exploring the thatched roof shops of the Guna, I'll would definitely take in the rest of the Panama destinations that are on my bucket list like the Panama canal, the Pearl Islands, and the Baru Volcano. Our Panama Garmin GPS map which can be purchased in our Central America map bundles will get me and you to all of these locations and more.  Send me an email at support@gpstravelmaps.com and I'll get you a coupon code that will allow you to purchase the bundle for the price of just 1 map! You'll get Panama plus Nicaragua and Costa Rica all for $49.95

One San Blas Island in the Guna Yala region

I'm not sure if my spring fever is worse or better after pondering all of these amazing destinations, but regardless I'll keep day dreaming anyway. Let me know what bucket list destinations we have in common below in the comments. Did you add any from my list to yours? And PLEASE share all the other locations I need to add to my list so I can day dream about those too.

-Nicole.