Central America - Guatemala or El Salvador or Nicaragua ???

My buddies and I do an annual "guys" trip (Usually 6 to 8 guys) to a random Central/South American country to get away from the wives/kids and girlfriends for a week. We usually do a mix of eco/adventure sports (rafting, repelling, hiking, motorcycling, kayaking, fishing, ziplining, ATV, etc...) and then some R&R and nighlife activities (nice restaurants, clubs/bars, museums, Macchu Picchu, something unique to that country)... We're all in our mid 30's and have enough money to splurge for a week.

We have already been to Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Panama, Colombia and Peru. Our policy is to never visit the same country twice. This year we're a little strapped for time, so we can only get away for about 6 days. Due to the short duration, we've decided to stay close to Home/California to minimize travel time... thus the options for this year are Guatemala, El Salvador or Nicaragua... and the trip will be during the last week in May, so about a month from now.

We had the best time/most fun in Peru, Panama and Costa Rica... while the trips to Belize, Colombia and Mexico were mediocre at best. I think the reason Peru/Panama were so good was becuase we were jam packed with adventure activities during the days... and then at night, cities like Panama City or Cusco, Peru where vibrant and modern/developed... giving us a lot of good options for nightlife as well...

Sorry for the long post... but based on this information, what would you recommend for our trip destination? Guatemala, El Salvador or Nicaragua... and why???

Thanks so much!!!

out of those 3 I would vote for Guatemala only because I imagine their tourism industry is much more developed than the other 2.

have you considered destinations in the Caribbean such as Dominica?

Thanks! Yea, a few of the guys are really against going to the caribbean for some reason. They feel it's too resorty and overly touristy. Although, we do want to live it up, and can splurge... we also don't want it to be overly picturesque...or someplace newlyweds honeymoon. We were looking into Cuba at one point, but that got a little too complicated logistically for the timeframe we have for the trip.

I'd love to hear from anyone who's been to Guatemala, El Salvador or Nicaragua... even if you haven't been to all 3 for comparison.

Thanks!

its ironic that I havent been to Nicaragua since I can just drive to it :)

Its on my 2012 (or 13?) destination list, San Juan del Sur, Granada, both of which are supposed to be very nice

Mexico is a BIG country, I dont see why you couldnt do a second pass

You dont mention Honduras which is definitively a possibility (Roatan, some Mayan sites etc) plus you fly into Tocontin so that already classifies as an adventure

True, Mexico is big... but living in Southern California, the Mexican border is a 90 minute drive... We've all been there many times over the years on "Non Guy" trips. The reason we decided on Guat/Salv/Nica was because there are Non-Stop or Direct flights from LAX. We can basically get to an exotic foreign locale in less than 5-hours, which is very appealing when you only have 5-6 days for the whole trip.

I've been to all 3 - Guatemala would be a better destination for tourism, beauty, sites, and weather; however, I think safety should be considered. Guatemala and El Salvador are very dangerous places. Nicaragua is much safer. (Plus, because tourism is new for Nicaragua, it is still very cheap; but not as developed as Guatemala.)

Overall: Guatemala hands down
Considering safety: Nicaragua

Been to Guatemala and Nicaragua. Have not been to El Salvador.

Honestly, I don't think of either as ideal destinations for the adventure activities you describe. Guatemala and Nicaragua do have many scenic sights and cultural/historic sights worth exploring.

I would choose Guatemala over Nicaragua, but with just six days your visit is too short and you may not be able to visit the areas of Guatemala that you'd like to. I recemmend Tikal and Antigua for sightseeing - both are in opposite directions from GUA. Fortunately, Antigua is only an hours drive from GUA. Guatemala is not a safe destination to visit, English is not widely spoken and independent travel in the country can be challenging.

Thank you for the reply's... Safety is a concern, obviously... but we have been to several "unsafe" countries already with no issues... Colombia, Peru and Mexico were all supposed to be very dangerous. Plus, we're all 6'0" tall 200lb ex-athletes... I'm sure there are easier prey for criminals than to approach 6-8 big dudes like us. Obviously, we're also very smart about our traveling... common sense goes a long way in keeping you safe!

Yea, I've been leaning towards Guatemala myself...because of the better developed infrastructure/tourism. Any additional recommendations from fellow travelers is much appreciated! Thanks!

MightyBuff, I have been to Peru, Mexico and Colombia, while each country has it's own problems I would say Guatemala is much more unsafe than the other three countries. Unfortunately, based on what I had read when planning my trip tourists are a target in Guatemala - while you obviously do have a lot of travel of travel experience, please don't think that the crime in Guatemala is similar to some of the other countries you have been to.

I had taken a tour in Guatemala a few years ago, I choose a tour because of safety concerns. I generally avoid tours, on this particular tour, the tour group had police escorts and often there were police vehicles (marked and unmarked) surrounding the tour bus at times. I have travelled extensively, and Guatemala is one of two countries where I have encoutered police escorts during my trip. While some may argue, the police escorts were not necessary, obviously the company I travelled with felt the police escorts were needed and did what they could to ensure that the tour participants were safe.

Thanks for the feedback. We've taken the "safety" concerns to heart, and have decided on Nicaragua for this trip. I'll read through some of the other posts for info on Nic... but if anyone has suggestions for sites & activities that would interest our group... I'd love to hear from you. Thanks again!!

I have travelled extensively, and Guatemala is one of two countries where I have encoutered police escorts during my trip. While some may argue, the police escorts were not necessary, obviously the company I travelled with felt the police escorts were needed and did what they could to ensure that the tour participants were safe.

Tours in El Salvador have police escorts too, as we are also experiencing security issues, and the tourism industry here is so concerned on making a good impression on the few tourists that visit El Salvador that they'll want to have all sides covered - security included.

I'd say the police escorts are needed (in both countries) because a bus filled with tourists, iPods, cameras and money is simply too attractive for thieves. Especially when the tourist buses drive through the roads near the coffee plantations in the mountains where the wages are just US$0.43 per hour :(

Thanks for the feedback. We've taken the "safety" concerns to heart, and have decided on Nicaragua for this trip. I'll read through some of the other posts for info on Nic... but if anyone has suggestions for sites & activities that would interest our group... I'd love to hear from you. Thanks again!!

I haven't been much to Nicaragua, but my friends from there always recommend Isla de Ometepe (which I haven't visited yet) .Then there's Granada, a calm colonial town next to the Nicaragua Lake.

In Managua Galerías Santo Domingo has restaurants and bars at night. And La Cocina de Doña Haydée which serves delicious Nicaraguan food.

http://www.lacocina.com.ni/

The best of all: In my experience, Nicaragua has the lowest prices of all the Central American countries ;)

Thanks everyone for the recommendations and help! We are all booked and ready for our trip to Nicaragua... Now we are trying to hammer down the itinerary. Unfortunately, the trip is even shorter than what I had originally planned... We arrive in Managua at 9am on 5/23 and our return flight is at 5pm on 5/27... so, we only have 4-days and 8-hours in Nicaragua :(.

We were originally thinking of doing Granada, Ometepe and San Juan Del Sur... but with the very minimal time in Nic, I think we can only manage 2 locations at most. What would you recommed for our group? As i mentioned in the original post, we are 6 guys in our mid-30's and money is not a primary concern!

Thanks again!!

my brother just got back from san juan del sur! he loved it (& all of nica!) - surfing and plenty of partying at night (hes 26). not city partying though - drinking / beach parties.
its a pretty cheap place to travel to - so with a little cash itll be a great beach vacay!!
do you guys surf??
it is easy to get from managua to san juan...

wish i saw your thread sooner, we just back from guate last week & had a great time!!
and contrary to popular belief - felt safe the entire time :)

Tours in El Salvador have police escorts too, as we are also experiencing security issues, and the tourism industry here is so concerned on making a good impression on the few tourists that visit El Salvador that they'll want to have all sides covered - security included.

I'd say the police escorts are needed (in both countries) because a bus filled with tourists, iPods, cameras and money is simply too attractive for thieves. Especially when the tourist buses drive through the roads near the coffee plantations in the mountains where the wages are just US$0.43 per hour :(

Interesting, I have not been to El Salvador. Thanks for the info. Part of the problem is that Western tourists are considered to be rich in some of the world's poorer countries.

Mighty_Buff, enjoy your trip.

After spending two months in Guatemala & El Salvador (I have visited Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, Peru, Brazil & Argentina) I have to say that I found Guatemala by far the most dangerous country (Brazil too) that I have ever visited.

I am lucky to be alive after being nearly strangled to death, in my hotel room (in a classic old luxury hotel over looking the Presidential Palace) in Guatemala City. I toured much of the country, the roads are very dangerous and the threat of crime is severe. They just elected a military president, General Otto Pérez Molina, who was intelligence chief during their civil war (he did sign the peace accords): Perez was elected due to the massive crime problem in the country.

One Guatemalan I met (the manager of a pizza place) told me that he used to commute on the NYC subway at 2am and it did not bother him, but after 10pm in Zona 1 (or even Zona 10) is a dangerous thing.

In many ways nothing has been resolved from the 40 year civil war, the money used in the conflict has diminished a once semi-grand old world city, to a near wreck.

El Salvador is actually on the up-swing, which was the true surprize on my business investment trip. San Salvador is much more American that I knew, the US Dollar is the currency (it goes far there) and the people here a VERY pro-American, yea!!!

The issues in the civil war have been resolved with rebels in the current government and their is an optimism in the air. The country has great roads, nice people, great food and good reasonable hotels. The Crown Plaza was one of the best Hotels I have stayed at for a while (the Best Crown Plaza I have ever stayed at).

You can go anywhere in the country under 45 min, as there is so much to see and do, who would have thought? I really can't say enough about this great little country, which likes and respects Americans and all things American. Really, El Salvador is as pro-American as Columbia; they respect what we have done for the peoples of the region.

You know that the US Embassy in San Salvador is the second largest (a half mile long) behind the US Embassy in Iraq. As well they have many American stores and all the American chain restaurants one could want (with better quality of meat/vegs than in the States).

San Salvador & El Salvador has much more to offer than most people realize. You just need to be used to strong security and guns in all areas!!


The Royal Decameron Salinitas is just over $100 per room (up to 2 people) all inclusive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlHnTh_35qY&feature=related


http://www.decameron.com/eng/salvador/salenitas/overview.html (http://www.decameron.com/eng/salvador/salenitas/overview.html)


How about low cost, high quality dental, Lorenzana Dental Center?
http://www.lorenzanadentalcenter.com/en/home.html

Hotel 'Los Almendros de San Lorenzo' refers to the 'Valley of the Almond Trees' where the first houses of Suchitoto were built more than 500 years ago. http://www.hotelsalvador.com/index.php?id=3&L=1


Another great historic hotel, is Hotel Las Puertas de Suchitoto
http://www.laspuertassuchitoto.com/

Here is a great travel show about a visit to San Salavdor for US car people.


Armed Guards & Vintage Porsches: El Salvador Part 1 of 3 - LIVE AND LET DRIVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceX8Tfo6KP0

J.F. Sends Alex on an unexpected journey to El Salvador to meet a mysterious man named Julio. What does he find? Pump-action shotguns, beautiful driving roads, vintage and rare replica Porsche cars... but these things are just the tip of the jungle pyramid that is car culture in Central America.

Mighty_Bluff - you sound like a moron and the type of idiot tourist I try to avoid every time I am in a foreign land. I certainly hope your girlfriends and wives get a chance to get away from you and your meathead friends, too.

Mighty_Bluff - you sound like a moron and the type of idiot tourist I try to avoid every time I am in a foreign land. I certainly hope your girlfriends and wives get a chance to get away from you and your meathead friends, too.


WTH?

:confused:

Maybe it was one of the aforementioned wives/gfs