Caribbean and Central America Travel Forum

I am planning to visit Panama in February. I have been told this is the most favorable time to visit. I would like to know the following:

1. What is the best way to go from Panama City to Bocas del Toro?

2. I am traveling as a single person; is this a place where I need to take a companion or will I be able to find companionship in both Panama City and Bocas. If so where would I be looking. (I am 62)

3. I hear Boquete is a lovely place to visit. Do I do Bocas or Boquete.

4. I am planning to make this a 3 week vacation. How would you plan this out?

Thank you for all your help. I know there are many questions but you never go wrong when you get the information you are looking for from those who live there.

My husband and I have a conference in Curacao in March 2013 and our adult children would like to come stay with us. While I'm thrilled they want to vacation with us, I want to get the best possible location on the island. What part of the island would be best? I'm assuming some nightlife.

Hi I will be in guardalavaca in oct.we will be staying at brisas guardalavaca.whilst were there me and my husband would like to renew our wedding vows.If anybody has done this I would be very greatful if you could advise me on how to pre book a date with the hotel as my huband has emailed the hotel with no reply also we have tried telephoning reception only to be hung up on.please help.

Hello, me and my girlfriend are arriving in Playa Samara tommorow for a couple of days. We leave Costa Rica on the 21st (the following monday). I was hoping to get some advise as to what other Nicoya beaches to check out in the few days we have left in Costa Rica.

I am thinking about doing a study abroad program in Santiago for around 7 months and I am really setting my sights on the neighborhood of Valle Verde because of the cheap prices of rentals homes. I don't know much about this neighborhood because I have never been to DR before so I am wondering if this a safe place for a 23 yr old college student with her 3 year old son to live alone in an apartment.
Thanks

We will be docking on August 30 on the Freedom of the Seas and are considering renting a car to see the island, there are 6 adults in our party. What car rental companies are based at the cruise port and what places are "must see"?

Hi Folks,

I'm a 22 year-old college student from Long Beach, CA. I'll be visiting Cuba for the first time with only a few contacts in Cuba, whom I know through friends who have been to Cuba before.

If any of you are visiting Cuba during the month of June 2012 and possibly want to meet up, or travel to one of the many tourist destinations together, you're welcome to message me.


Thanks.

3 couples and 1 single looking for a 3 or 4 bedroom villa or house, with pool and on beach in Feb. 2013 for 7 nights,any ideas?

I am thinking of coming to Trinidad in early August. And have heard about tours along the Orinoco delta. Does anyone have information on how to get to one of the stating points for these trips in Venezuela? I believe. They start in maturin or tucupita. Is it feasible to do a side trip like this from Trinidad?

Does anyone have any recommendations for a 2 week itinerary for these 3 islands? Can any of the 3 be skipped? Best food, snorkeling? Affordable accomodations?

Me and my boyfriend are planning to go to montego bay July 26-30 for a friends wedding. We haven't purchased our airline tickets yet which are around $500 at the cheapest I've seen so far. Should we wait to purchase our airline tickets around a month before the trip or go ahead and purchase them now? This will be our first time going there so I don't know if $500 is a great price for this location or if we'll have a better chance of getting something cheaper the closer we wait to our departure date.

Hello,
Our family, which is composed of 4 persons (2 parents and two teenagers of 14 and 17, all enjoying hiking, mountain biking or any water-sporty activity), is getting increasingly enthusiast about spending 3 weeks in Costa Rica this summer (from the 7th of July to the 29th of July). We come from France but we unfortunately can’t go any further than the basics of Spanish.

We are particularly concerned about finding a human dimension in this trip and want our project to correspond with the country’s environmental assets and culture. We therefore research contacts with host families or persons likely to guide us in order to discover the country's beauties.

Above all, we wish to visit the the country though public bus and therefore getting any advise or informations from you would be extremely useful.
As it is quite complicated a question, we have joined our program with some of the things we are most wondering about. (Indeed the number of questions in blue makes me feel quite embarassed ... )
What do you think about it, is it all realistic (we have one more night to be spent at any time of the trip, what is the best place for that according to you ?)

We sincerely thank you for your help

Solène, saymy-duophodes@live.fr

Program
07-jul : arrival at 17 o’clock - rent the car (useful ? four wheel drived as we are going to La Fortuna, Paulo Verde and Rinjo dela Vinja ? ) – night at San Jose (any advise ?)
08-jul : trip to volcano La Fortuna (how long does it take ?) , canopy tour, observation of the volcano’s lava by night, overnight around
09-jul : around the volcano, bathing, overnight at the same place
10-jul : transfer to park Paulo Verde, night in an inn run by tropical research center in the heart of the park
11-jul : park Paulo Verde, hike, overnight at the same place
12-jul : Transfer to Rincon de la Vieja and horse riding, overnight at the same place
13-jul : Rincon dela Vieja, overnight at the same place
14-jul : transfer to San José, we bring the car back and leave most of our things somewhere so that we are light for Corcovado park (do you have an idea ?) , overnight there
15-jul : communautary bus to Puerto Jiminez or La plana (any idea of the schedule? ) , night there (any advise ?)
16-jul : communautary bus (any idea of the schedule? ) to Los Patos entrance of Corcovado park (we will also have to walk don't we ?)
There, around 5-6h hike with a guide (19 km) to Sirena (how much for a guide for the day ?). Night in Sirena's dormitories
17-jul : park corcovado, overnight at the same place
18-jul : morning walk and boat ride to Drake or Sierpa (do you think it should be done the other way round ? in order to go back to San Jose then, which is the best place to land?) night there
19-jul : bus transfer to San Jose to get our things back (any idea of the schedule? ) , night there
20-jul : bus from San Jose to Pierto Viejo de Limón (any idea of the schedule? ) , overnight in the rented apartment/house
21-jul : beach, overnight in the rented apartment/house
22-jul : beach, overnight in the rented apartment/house
23-jul : beach, overnight in the rented apartment/house
24-juil : beach, overnight in the rented apartment/house
25-jul : transfer from Pierto Viejo de Limón to Moin by bus (any idea of the schedule? ) , then boat to Tortuguerro, overnight there
26-jul : Tortuguerro, overnight there
27-jul : Tortuguerro, bus to San Jose though Cariari
28-jul : GAP DAY, at which moment and place of the trip should we spend one more night ?
29-jul : departure at 15:25 PM

Hi all----we are making our yearly trip to Negril this coming June and want to visit Rockland Bird Sanctuary (I think it is just outside Mobay). Any VTers been here lately and is it still a good place to see hummingbirds? We get to Mobay around 11am and want to go there before heading to our rental house in Negril. Will this be too late (or early) for seeing birds?

We am hoping to travel to Cuba for 10 days this year. We are looking at 10 days, split between Havana and Varadero. Would it be possible to see the sights / experience the culture of Havana in 4 days or would longer be needed?

Does it really rain 18 days (average) in June??? I'm trying to get away from the rain and I’m going to get rain there?!?!? I'm renting a car to travel around the island, which are the best beaches? What else to do? I'll appreciate all your contributions.

has anybody been to guate city-lately-------is it safe or is it as bad as i read----thanks duncan

Can someone tell me how to get from San Fernando to Chaguanas via maxi or taxi...emergency

Hi - I am looking for a photographer in San Juan who can offer a combination of sightseeing & photography. The photographer would drive us to various spots and take our pictures there.

Please send me a message if you know of a photographer who may be interested.

Planning first trip to Costa Rica in June. Family of three, with 17-year-old boy. Wife speaks Spanish. Looking for a great "home base" on a beach from which to do day trips or do nothing at all. Moderate outdoor adventure. Horseback riding. Hiking. Water. Prefer an all-inclusive resort. I've read June is technically in the "rainy season", so trying to factor that into the plans. Any recommendations are very appreciated.

Hi. My husband and I are going to Antigua, Guatemala in December and we are wondering about safety measures...are there certain places, things, pointers that would be good for us to know about? I have read travel advisorys about the crime and have talked with people...some say its fine others say the opposite...any feedback would be greatly appreciated...Cheryl

I will be in San Juan, staying at the Caribe Hilton...I will be down there with three friends (all single males in their late 20's/early 30's)....Looking for some good places to go out. Bars/clubs etc..in that area..I can google something, but want to hear more from similar people who were there.

Thanks!

need information again--how do i get from managua airport to mini bus depot that go to granada--or airport bus to mini vans to granada or leon--thanks duncan

need information again--how do i get from managua airprot to the cheap mini van or mini buses terminal
to granada

I am arriving on Bahamas Celebration cruise ship to the Grand Bahama Island soon and the last time I arrived I only saw that their were taxi's availible to get to the mainland that were very expensive. Is there bus transportation from the port to the mainland that I might have overlooked last time I was there. I hear that there is bus transportation on the Island but Im not sure if it is available at the port. Please help me and my friends save a few pennies so we can have more fun with the drinks once at the mainland. Kevin

Anyone have 1 0r 2 atv,s for rent in Jan-Feb 2013?

Okay, you got it. I live in CA.
I understand to get to Cuba we have to fly from another country.
Tell me what a first timer should do to enter & return safely.
Has a US citizen gotten caught lately coming and going?
How easy is it to travel back and forth without the US knowing.
I suppose the Cubas don't stamp your passport.
Saludos

My 15 yr old daughter wants to participate in a volunteer program in Tecpan this summer. She would fly into Guatemala City airport and be picked up direct by the volunteer organization and driven to Tecpan. Can anyone please advise me regarding any safety or violence issues that I should be aware of in deciding as to whether or not to allow her to participate? Most appreciated.

Hi, we will be arriving in San Jose airport in April 4:05pm and I am concerned how to get to La Costa De Papito since the last bus leaves at 4:00pm.
What are our options, we are family with 2 boys. How can we make it to Puerto Viejo less costly. what is a good place to stay in San Jose for the night?

As well we wanted to see Poas Volcano! How to go about from Puerto Viejo on May 8th to Alajuela, visit Poas Volcano, stay for the night and head back next day, May 9th to the airport, since we have a plane to catch at 12:20pm.
Any helpful tips greatly appreciated.

I am looking to fly to Cuba from the East Coast of N. America, but am willing to fly from Mexico, Florida, Canada, if this is easier/cheaper.

What have people done before and how much was it?

I was wondering if someone could help me to find it email addres from Santo Tomas Hotel in Chichicastenango, Guatemala ? Thank Yoy