How to Get Around Central America on a Budget in 2025

Surrounded by the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, Central America It’s the perfect magical realm for backpacking. The area is filled with rainforests, unexplored Mayan ruins, gorgeous beaches, incredible coral reefs, cheap prices, delicious food and welcoming people.

Arrangement of transportation throughout the region can be difficult.

This post provides some useful tips to help you navigate your area safely and avoid Central America without breaking the bank.

No matter how much you are there, here’s how to travel cheaply through Central America:

Cheap bus routes

Buses are the main form of transportation used to avoid Central America. In fact, it is the only way to get around Central America, as there are no train routes and the regional flights are expensive. You’re going to ride the bus for most of your trip.

There are several different types of buses in this area. The most comfortable are international buses that run between big cities and tend to have their own bus terminals. They have a set, reliable schedule and are perfect for long distances. They make travel easier and havesle at border intersections. Although the companies you use may vary by country, some large services include:

The approximate fares and travel duration for Central America (USD) Express Bus routes are as follows:

• Flores from Belize City – $30 (6 hours)
• Flores to Guatemala – $28 (8 hours)
• Guatemala to Salvador – $25 (6 hours)
• Tegucigalpa from San Salvador – $35 (9.5 hours)
• Tegucigalpa to Managua – $30 (6 hours)
• Managua to San Jose – $30 (7.5 hours)
• San Jose to Panama City – $80 (16 hours)
• San Salvador to Antigua – $30 (6 hours)
• San Jose to Tamarind – $18 (4 hours)
• From San Jose to Boquete – $20 (9 hours)

The routes are often easy, the buses are air-conditioned, there is a bathroom onboard and seats are reclining. Some businesses have partnerships with local hotels/hostels, so instead of having to find a way in the middle of the night on arrival, they will fall quickly on the door.

Most of these bus services have websites, but in many cases they are very buggy and difficult to use. You can research your trip to compare routes and prices rome2rio.com Before you book on the bus company’s website or simply view it in the terminal and purchase your ticket.

It’s in a short distance collectivos. This short-distance minivan service is very cheap, but often very crowded. Usually you’ll find them at the bus terminal, so it’s worth checking out the driver to see where you’re heading.

Finally, there is a local chicken bath. These colorfully painted vehicles were previously American school buses. They also carry chicken and rice, which is why they are called “chicken buses” so there are plenty of chickens. It is a nickname stuck among travelers. They stop everywhere and people jump. They are a way to wander around but fun and interesting places. I always meet interesting people on the chicken bus.

Fly and go around cheaply

Flying is not the cheapest way to see Central America (and the routes are really limited). The region has a limited regional aviation network. The largest operator is Copa Airlines, based in Panama. Colombian airline Vianca offers several direct flights between major Central American cities, while Guatemala-based Tags fly directly to several other destinations in the region.

Outside the capital and international airports, airports tend to be very small and only house small propeller planes. Most of these small airlines have suspicious safety records and are trying to avoid them whenever possible.

Below is the sample’s non-stop flight times and one-way ticket price (USD).

• Guatemala to Belize City – $200 (1 hour 15 minutes)
• Guatemala to Salvador – $60 (45 minutes)
• Flores to Guatemala – $50 (1 hour)
• Managua to Panama City – $765 (1 hour 40 minutes)
• San Jose to Panama City – $370 (1 hour 20 minutes)
• Managua to San Jose – $370 (1 hour 15 minutes)
• San Pedro Sula to San Salvador – $80 (50 minutes)

Note: Booking early will save you on fares. Fares also vary depending on the time of year.

use Skyscanner Find cheap flights around the area.

It’s cheaply traveled by car

Having your own car saves time and gives you the flexibility to stop at places that collide with your fantasies along the road. Many people drive around the area. Car rental Or in a car or van they bought elsewhere. With car rental prices dropping in recent years, renting a car and driving in Central America has become much cheaper. If you are traveling with others (this could be a new friend you just made in your hostel), it could be a very affordable way to travel .

Note that this can be a difficult option depending on the country you plan to travel to, as not all car companies allow you to drive across the border. However, renting a car is a great way to explore one country more in depth.

If you plan to explore the area by car, you need to be a confident driver. Roads aren’t always in the best condition, and road rules can be like a loose proposal. Be sure to take it General Safety Precautions Also, leaving your valuables in your car will avoid driving at night if you can avoid that (this will greatly increase the risk of carjacking). (for tips on planned routes).

use Find the car To find the best car rental prices so you can always find a large amount of data from over 8,000 car rental locations.

Cheap boat ride

If you want to visit islands or coastal towns, boats and ferries are options to consider. You can find ferries and booking tickets directferries.com (This is not necessary as we search for thousands of local operators).

in BelizeFerries to the island usually cost between $35-45, with the main operators being Caribbean Sprinters and Ocean Ferry Belizes. You can reach Honduras Bay Island (including Roatan) by ferry. Corn Island.

If you are traveling from Belize GuatemalaThere are water taxis from Punta Gorda to Puerto Barrios. And there are services from Belize (Plasencia or Belize City) Honduras (Puerto Cortez).

Sample ferry duration and fares (USD) are as follows:

• Ambergris Cay (1.5 hours) – $42 (one way), $57 (round trip)
• Keekoker from Belize City (45 minutes) – $36 (one way), $45 (round trip)
• Ambergris Key to Key Coker (30 minutes) – $36 (one way), $45 (round trip)
• La Ceiba to Roatan (1 hour 15 minutes) – $40 (one way), $71 (round trip)

For short trips (such as between the corn islands and the various towns of Lake Atitlan), it is easiest to hire a boat or water taxi to take you. Prices are usually negotiable this way.

Cheap travel by train

Trains are not the method of travel available in Central America. There are several freight trains that travel freight into this region, but no network of passenger trains can be found in any country (Belize is not a train 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?

Avoiding Central America is definitely a bit boring at times. The bus can be late and you don’t have to leave or arrive on time at all times. They often wait until they are full and stop and pick people up on the way or for a break.

But here is a chart of distance and time for you to plan, so you know how long it will take (roughly) to get to a location from a Central American location:

Central America It’s an amazing place, but avoiding the area requires planning and research.

Things don’t always go smoothly. Getting to a place from here can sometimes be a hassle. But with a little preparation and patience, it can be a great experience.

Be flexible with your schedule. Plan ahead of time. Doing that will allow you to enjoy this incredible part of the world!

Plan your trip to Central America like a pro

I’ll send you straight to my best travel tips and my free planning guide and see less areas!