Twenty years ago, if you said you were going to Central America for a vacation, people would think you were nuts. Images of civil unrest, military coups and banditos at every corner were what came up when you thought of space south of Mexico, not palm trees and beach resorts.
Things have changed. Vacationers are getting spoiled and constantly on the lookout for something new (even if underneath the surface it’s the same old thing) and the Central American countries have reached a relative stability and are looking for ways to draw that tourism buck.
Here’s a quick guide to accessing the seven countries between Mexico and Colombia. The information is for Canadians but, essentially, it’s all the same for American citizens, as well. As for the currency conversions, the Canadian dollar and American dollar are riding pretty much at par right now.
Common across these countries is a regulation in place where you have to show proof of Yellow Fever vaccination if coming from an infected area. There might be yellow-bellied fever in Canada and the U.S. but there ain’t no Yellow Fever!
Starting from the north and working our way down to the Darien Gap:
Belize
Capital: Belmopan
Largest City: Belize City
Population: 313,000
Currency: Belizean Dollar (1 CAD=2.01 BZD)
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your expected departure date from Belize. This is a common theme throughout, but there are subtle differences, so take note.
Travel visas are not required.
Guatemala
Capital and largest city: Guatemala City
Population: 13.8 million
Currency: Guatemalan Quetzal (1 CAD=7.91 GTQ)
Your passport must be valid for at least six months at time of entry into Guatemala. Note the difference between Belize and Guatemala. In Guatemala, it’s six months from the day you expect to leave that country. In Belize, it’s six months from the day you arrive.
No tourist visas are required.
Honduras
Capital and largest city: Tegucigalpa
Population: 8.2 million
Currency: Honduran Lempiran (1 CAD=20.05 HNL)
Like Guatemala, Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your expected date of departure from Honduras.
If you plan on staying in Honduras 91 days or more, you must acquire a tourist visa. There is no tourist visa required if your planned stay is 90 days or less.
El Savador
Capital and largest city: San Salvador
Population: 6.1 million
Currency: U.S. Dollar (1 CAD=1.01 USD)
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your expected date of departure from El Salvador.
Tourist visas are not required.
Nicaragua
Capital and largest city: Managua
Population: 5.9 million
Currency: Nicaraguan Cordoba (1 CAD=24.31 NIO)
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your date of arrival in Nicaragua.
No tourist visa is required.
Costa Rica
Capital and largest city: San Jose
Population: 4.3 million
Currency: Costa Rican Colon (1 CAD=503.65 CRC)
Costa Rica has something called the one day passport validity rule. Your passport must be valid for at least one calendar day beyond the date that you enter the country.
Tourist visas are not required but your stay is limited to a maximum of 90 days.
Panama
Capital and largest city: Panama City
Population: 3.6 million
Currency: Panamanian Balboa (1 CAD=1.01 PAB) equal to the U.S. Dollar.
Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date of arrival in Panama.
No tourist visa is required.
The information presented here is just a guide and valid as of January 21, 2013. The information could change at any time. I strongly urge that you check with the official site of your government of the government of the country you are about the visit for guidelines to enter that country.
