How to Travel Central America on Budget in 2025

February 28, 2025 Editorial Staff 88 Views 0 Comments

The region is full of rainforests, unexplored Mayan ruins, gorgeous beaches and incredible reefs. It is also cheap to travel there. It can be challenging to arrange transportation in the entire region. Here are some tips to help you travel cheaply in Central America, no matter how much time you plan on staying. It’s the best way to travel around Central America, as there aren’t any train lines or regional flights. Most of your journey will be spent on buses. There are many different types of buses available in the area. International buses, which run between larger cities, tend to have their bus terminals. These buses are reliable and have a set schedule. They are ideal for long distances. The companies you use may vary by country, but some of the larger services include:

Here are some approximate fares and journey durations for express bus routes in Central America (in USD):

Belize City to Flores – $30 (6 hrs)

Flores to Guatemala City – $28 (8 hrs)

Guatemala City to San Salvador – $25 (6 hrs).

San Salvador – Tegucigalp Some of the major companies include:

Belize City-Flores-$30 (6 hours)

Flores-Guatemala City-$28 (8 hrs.)

Guatemala City-San Salvador-$25 (6 hrs.)

San Salvador-Antigua-$30 (6 hrs.)

San Jose-Tamarindo-$18 (4 hrs.)
San Jose Some companies have partnerships with local hotels/hostels so that you get dropped off right at the door rather than having to find your way in the middle of the night upon arrival.
While most of these bus services have websites, they’re often extremely buggy and difficult to use. Rome2Rio.com allows you to compare prices and routes before booking your bus ticket on the company’s site or at the terminal.
Colectivos are available for short distances. The minivans are super-cheap, but they can be very crowded. You can usually find these minivans at bus terminals. It’s worth asking the driver where they are going. The local chicken bus is also a thing. These brightly painted vehicles used to be U.S. School buses. These vehicles are also called “chicken busses” as they transport both chickens and rice. The nickname has become popular among travelers. The buses stop almost everywhere so that people can get on and off. I always meet interesting people on chicken buses. It’s not the cheapest option to travel around Central America. (And routes are limited.) There is a limited air network. Copa Airlines is the largest operator, based in Panama. The Colombian airline Avianca offers some direct flights between big cities in Central America, and the Guatemala-based TAG flies directly to a few other destinations in the region.
Outside of the capital cities and any international airports, the airports tend to be very small and only accommodate small propeller planes. The majority of these small airlines are not very safe, so I avoid them whenever possible.
Here are some sample non-stop flight times and one-way ticket prices (USD):
Guatemala City to Belize City – $200 (1 hr 15 min)
Guatemala City to San Salvador – $60 (45 min)
Flores to Guatemala City – $50 (1 hr)
Managua to Panama City – $765 (1 hr 40 min)

San Jose to Panama City – $370 (1 hr 20 min)

Managua to San Jose – $370 (1 hr 15 min)

San Pedro Sula to San Salvador – $80 (50 min)

Note:
If you book early, you can save on fares. Prices also differ depending on when you book.

Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights around the region.

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Getting Around Cheaply By Car
Having a vehicle gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace and stop wherever you want along the way. Many people travel through the area, either in a rental vehicle or a van or car they purchased elsewhere. Rental car prices have decreased in recent years, making it cheaper to rent a car for driving through Central America. It can be an affordable option if you travel with other people (which may be friends you made at your hostel). Renting a car is a good way to get to know a country better. The roads aren’t always in good condition, and the rules of the road may be loosely enforced. You should also take the usual safety precautions, like not leaving valuables inside the car and not driving in the dark (this increases the risk of carjacking). Also, ask locals for advice about the general safety of the area you are planning to drive through. You can get around cheaply by boat. DirectFerries.com allows you to book tickets and find ferries (it searches for thousands of local operators on your behalf). In Belize, the ferries that take you to the islands cost between $35 and 45 USD. The main operators of these ferries are Caribbean Sprinter Belize and Ocean Ferry Belize. Ferries are available to reach the Honduras Bay Islands, including Roatan. Boat trips to the Corn Islands and Honduras Bay Islands will be necessary if you want to visit them. If you’re traveling from Belize to Guatemala there is a water taxi that runs from Punta Gorda in Belize to Puerto Barrios. There’s also a ferry service that connects Belize (Placencia, Belize City or Belize) with Honduras.

Here are some sample ferry durations and fares (in USD):Belize City to Ambergris Caye (1.5 hrs) – $42 (one way), $57 (round trip)

Belize City to Caye Caulker (45 min) – $36 (one way), $45 (round trip)

Ambergris Caye to Caye Caulker (30 min) – $36 (one way), $45 (round trip)

La Ceiba to Roatan (1 hr 15 min) – $40 (one way), $71 (round trip)

For short journeys (like between the Corn Islands or to various towns on Lake Atitlan), it’s easiest to just show up and hire a boat or water taxi to take you across. The prices are often negotiable.
There are freight trains in the region that transport cargo, but there is no passenger train network. (Belize does not have any train lines of any kind.) If there are trains, they usually run from the capital to one other major city and are generally commuter trains.
How Long Does It Take to Get Around Central America?

Getting around Central America can definitely be a bit tedious from time to time. The buses can be slow, and they don’t always leave or arrive on schedule. The buses will wait until the bus is full before stopping to pick up passengers or taking a rest break.

But, to help you plan, here is a distance and time chart so you know (roughly) how long it takes to get from place to place in Central America:

Route

Road (km/miles)

Air (hrs)

Bus (hrs)

Guatemala City
– Belize City

625/388

14 hrs

Guatemala City

– San Salvador

235/146
:35
6
San Jose – Panama City

800/497
1:10

14

Managua –
Guatemala City

735/457

1:23

Belize City – Flores

840/525

:45

Flores – Guatemala City
481/299

Tegucigalpa – Managua

367/228
4:20*

Managua – San Jose

422/262

San Jose – Panama City

851/528

1:20
16

***
Central America is a beautiful place, but getting around will require some research and planning. It’s not always easy to get from one place to another in Central America. But with a little preparation and a pinch of patience, you’ll be able to have an amazing experience.

Be flexible with your schedule. Plan ahead. Plan your trip to CENTRAL AMERICAN like a professional

Get my BEST travel tips and my FREE planning guides sent directly to you to see more of this region at a lower cost! Book Your Trip to Central America – Logistical Tips & Tricks

Book your Flight

Use Skyscanner for a low cost flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation

You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. Booking.com is the best place to find cheap hotels and guesthouses if you don’t want to stay in a hostel.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. This is comprehensive coverage in the event of an accident. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?

Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. Looking for the Best Companies for Saving Money?

Check my resource page to find the best companies for you to use while traveling. Here’s a list of all the companies I use when I travel to save money. You will also save money by using them. Want More Information about Central America? Visit my comprehensive destination guide for Central America to get even more tips on planning your trip!

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