Vacationing with kids in Central America

[arwenevenstar]

Where would you go? What would you want to see, what would be high on your list of priorities? Where is child friendly?

We would like to explore a bit of Central America next year and are throwing this out into the wind to get advice from the mothers out there who may have done this. Our children will be 3, 5 and 8.

Any thoughts gratefully appreciated

[Starr]

We spent 2 days in Antigua Guatemala and loved it! You could easily spend 3 days there. Next time we go back I also want to jump up from there and see Lake Atitlan and the ruins near there. I have seen pictures and heard that its beautiful. Belize is supose to have great scuba diving if your into that sort of thing but I haven't been there. El Salvador and Honduras are pretty close so you would be able to go there pretty easily as well. DH's uncle is a pilot and he flies from Venezuela to Brazil and said its beautiful there as well.

[sraplayas]

I am most familiar with Guatemala, although I have traveled to El Salvador and Nicaragua as well. Guatemala is a beautiful country. I too would recommend Antigua. It is small but very accessible for Americans. There are some beautiful places to visit in the mountains, great historical sites and yes, Lake Atitlan. The Guatemala City airport is do-able as well. If you don't mind last-minute arrangements, speak some Spanish and are more adventure-seeking, then I suppose you could settle your accomodations upon arrival. I travelled to Guatemala as a child with my family several times but since we have relatives there I remember the people more than the activities! Hope this is somewhat helpful :)

[paakbaak]

i lived in guatemala for 6 years, in the capital and antigua. i´m from mexico but looove guate. it´s beautiful, people are great. i would plan ahead and make reservations from home. antigua, chichicastenango, tikal, all the maya archeological sites you can see, izabal, livingston...i can´t stop!!!!! it´s been 5 years...melancholy...
i also visited el salvador and honduras...both beautiful.
when the time comes, if you want some help, let me know.

[mbelisle2]

We just returned from a week in Costa Rica with our 2 DD, ages 3 1/2 and 15 mos. We stayed at a friend's house (and they have 2 young boys) on the nicoya peninsula on the pacific. We found it to be not only stunningly beautiful, but very kid friendly. The restaurants in particular love having the kids around. The beach is great for playing of course! Costa Rica is very friendly and peaceful (no army since the 1940's I think). I'd like to go back and see the volcanoes!

[JWSJ]

OK, lets put it another way:

What places are not kid friendly in Central America?

[gibsonsmom]

People of Latino culture, in general, love children, children are a blessing here. If you mean what areas are not safe for travel in general I would advise against Honduras, Columbia and El Salvador. That is based on what I know of living in CentAm for the past 3 years. If you want to go some place really fun, go to Panama, it's cheaper than Costa Rica and just as beautiful. Panama City is amazing and the beaches there are beautiful. They also have a Caribbean and Pacific. On the Caribbean try Bocas del Toro, have water taxis take you to different islands every day, it's an archipelago of about 200 islands. Also, they are on the dollar so you don't have to worry about exchange rates etc. Almost everyone in Panama speaks English too so it's a great place for first timers to the region!
Have fun!

[paakbaak]

i hope we can reve this up a bit!

i´mp lanning to take ds and dh tu mexico to meet my family and also to guatemala to meet friends and see the country...well, antigua, lake atitlan, chichicastenango...
i was wondering, for those who have traveled in guatemala with children, did you go on the "chicken bus" or how did you travel?
i lived many years in guatemala but now that we´re going back with ds (he´ll be 20mo) i don´t know the best way to travel. thanks!