UNITED STATES
Punctual as
never before, my United Company Airplane departs from Milan Malpensa at 10.10 in the direction of
the Newark Liberty International Airport (USA), (multi-route ticket price
including taxes from Malpensa to Panama City and from Mexico City to Malpensa
with a stopover Newark: Euro 669.75).
The plane
is full.
I therefore
arrive at 13.40, with a bearable cold at the Newark Liberty International
Airport (USA). There are 6 hours of time zone, compared to Italy.
In order to
set foot in the United
States of America, I had to complete the
quick online ESTA procedure by paying $ 14 by credit card. Entry into the
country valid for 2 years was approved by the system immediately after the end
of the online procedure which lasted about 1 hour.
The airport
consists of 3 terminals connected to each other by a free train.
The
cheapest way to reach the center of New
York from Newark Liberty International Airport (USA)
is to take the bus. n. 62 or with other numbers (ask the driver), which stop
every 10/15 minutes in front of the 3 arrivals halls of all 3 terminals and
take you making several stops in just 20 minutes to Penn Station in Newark. The
ticket costs 1.5 USD and is paid directly to the driver.
From Penn
Station in Newark, trains run by the NJ Transit
company depart every half hour for New
York's Penn Station. The ticket costs $ 5 one way, $
10 return and does not need to be stamped before boarding the train. The
journey makes only one intermediate stop and lasts less than half an hour.
From Penn
Station in New York, you can take the Subway
to reach any part of New York.
It is open 24 hours a day. The single fare is $ 2.70. If you use it a lot you
can take the rechargeable Metrocard that can also be used on the buses that
allows you to save a little or the Unlimited ride Metrocard that at a cost of $
35 allows you to make all the rides you want for 7 days. Remember that there
are no fare zones in New York.
If you have
little money and little time, keep in mind that you can see the Statue of
Liberty without going through the exhausting queues and checks by taking the
free ferry that leaves every half hour from Governor's Island Ferry Station
(near South Ferry Metro Station) , for Staten Island, passing a few tens of
meters from Liberty Island, thus offering a wonderful view of the Statue of
Liberty.
Back at
Newark Liberty International Airport (USA), I spend the night in the warm
terminal with the same modes of transport as the outward journey.
PANAMA
Punctual as
never before my United Company Airplane leaves from Newark Liberty
International at 08.05 towards the International Airport of Tocumen (Panama),
(price of the multi-route ticket including taxes from Malpensa to Panama City
and from Mexico City to Malpensa with Newark airport: Euro 669.75).
The plane
is full.
I therefore
arrive at 13.30, with impossible heat, at the Tocumen
International Airport
(Panama), located about 35 km north-east of the
center of Panama City.
There are 7 hours of time zone, compared to Italy.
To enter Panama you do
not need a visa and Customs at the Airport is usually cleared without problems,
as happened to me. The mandatory requirement to be in possession of the return
flight ticket necessary to enter the country is almost never requested by
customs personnel.
The
currency of Panama
is the US Dollar.
The
cheapest way to get to Panama City
from the aforementioned airport is to exit the terminal, go right and then walk
towards the state road for about 300 meters. Then cross it until you reach a
shelter where buses run to the Panama City Albrook Bus Terminal every 15
minutes. The cost of the ride, which lasts about 1 hour, costs $ 0.25, but in
theory to get on you must have a rechargeable card that I did not have. I still
managed to puncture it by giving $ 0.25 to a passenger who used his card for
me. The bus stops often and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers.
Once inside
the Albrook Bus Terminal in Panama City, I bought the rechargeable card at a
cost of $ 2 that can be recharged as much as you want and is needed to use the
Urban Buses ($ 0.25), the Metro, for pay the terminal toilets and the $ 0.25
terminal fee required to take the National and International Buses (in a
nutshell to access the terminal gates);
To reach
from the Albrook Bus Terminal in Panama City, Casco Viejo, that is the historic
center, you can either take a taxi at a cost of $ 3 on Sundays and $ 2.5 during
the week or you have to exit the Terminal and take an urban bus x the Bus
Station in Plaza 5 de Mayo and from there take another which, however, leaves
you in the infamous north-west area of Casco Viejo, about 100 meters away. west of
Parque Santa Ana. (Let the driver tell you when to get off). The cost of the
bus for each leg is 0.25 $ payable only with the rechargeable card.
The
historic center of Panama City
called Casco Viejo has been beautifully redeveloped in recent years and appears
safe at least during the day and in the evening and south of Via C11 Este,
where the terrible decay begins. Below this bar it is therefore beautiful to
walk around and there are a myriad of Restaurants, Clubs, Hotels and Hostels
that are sold out almost every day in the high season.
Not having
found accommodation for the night in Casco Viejo, for the aforementioned
reasons, I had to fall back on Hostal Amador, located not far from the historic
center which offers dormitory beds at the price of $ 16.5 for one night. It
includes free internet, kitchen, space for recreation, ect. Very nice and
clean. To reach it I had to take a Sunday taxi for $ 3.
The next
morning I go back to the Albrook Bus Terminal in Panama City, with the same taxi as the
previous evening for $ 2.5.
To reach
Portobelo, located on the Caribbean Sea, whose fortifications have been
declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, you have to take one of the numerous
buses (former American school buses) departing for Colòn, from the Albrook Bus
Terminal in Panama City and get off in Sabanita (3.15 $ - 1 hour scarce). Turn
the corner on the right and wait for another of the frequent buses with the
indication "Portobelo" on the windshield, coming from Colòn which
reaches Portobelo in less than 1 hour for the price of 1.5 $. The clerk passes
by to collect the money after departure. The bus stops often and willingly to
pick up and drop off passengers.
Portobelo,
it turns very well on foot.
From
Portobelo I reach the City of Colòn,
which has dangerous neighborhoods even during the day, with a bus at the price
of 2 $. The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure. The bus stops
often and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers. The journey takes an
abundant hour.
Then from
the Terminal de Transporte Centenario in Colòn, located in a disreputable area
of Colòn, numerous buses leave for the Albrook Bus Terminal in Panama City for the price
of $ 2.90. The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure. The bus
stops often and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers. The trip takes
about 2 hours.
To see the
Panama Canal you need to go to the Miraflores
Visitor Center,
located 12km northwest of downtown Panama
City. To achieve it there are 2 solutions:
1. Take one
of the many buses with the word "Miraflores" on the windshield
outside the Albrook Bus Terminal in Panama
City, which takes you in about 20 minutes in front of
the visitor center. The cost of the bus is $ 0.25 payable only with the
rechargeable card.
2. Inside
the Albrook Bus Terminal in Panama
City, take one of the numerous buses bound for Paraiso
or Gamboa. These buses, which run along the main road along the canal, drop
passengers after less than 20 minutes at the sign with the words
"Miraflores Locks", from which the visitor center is a 15-minute walk
away. The ticket price is $ 0.35. The clerk passes by to collect the money
after departure.
The visitor
center of Miraflores is open every day from 9.00 to 15.00 and the cost of the
ticket for foreigners is 15 $. It offers panoramic terraces with incredible
views of the Panama Canal, its Locks and the
huge Ships and Merchant ships that pass through it every day (about 1 per
hour). There is also a small traveling theater where videos are continuously
shown in Spanish and English explaining the history of the canal and its
functioning.
To reach San Josè, the capital of Costa
Rica, the most convenient solution is to take the direct
bus of the Tica Bus Company departing every day from the Albrook Bus Terminal
in Panama City
at 11.55 pm. The trip costs $ 40.10 and takes approximately 16 hours. (Keep in
mind that Costa Rica is one
hour behind Panama).
The same service is also provided by the Expreso Bus Company, but with
departure at 11.00 pm every day. Tickets must be purchased at the Company Desk
located inside the aforementioned Terminal.
At the Paso
Canoas border on the Panama
side you pay $ 1 before you are stamped out of the country. Then your luggage
is checked in a room. Then you have to walk 300 meters to reach the
Customs of Costa Rica.
COSTA RICA
At the Paso
Canoas Customs Office in Costa
Rica you pay nothing to enter the country.
Before putting the entry stamp on my passport, the clerk asked me if I had a
return or onward flight ticket and I said yes but he didn't want to see it.
For the
currency exchange the Bank opens after 8.00 and also the unofficial money
changers show up after 8.00. If, like me, you arrive before this time, I have
withdrawals with an ATM or credit card or change money in the center of San Josè, at a kiosk open
until 18.00 located in Av. Central at the intersection with Calle 4. Of course
there are also numerous banks, scattered around the center, where you can
change currency or withdraw.
The bus
saddle Compagnia Tica Bus, coming from Panama City
arrives at its terminal located in Av 3 a few squares from the center of San Josè. The area is not
the most recommended but if you arrive during the day and have a small backpack
you shouldn't have any problems walking the scarce km that separates you from
the pedestrian part of Av Centrale.
The center
of San Josè can
be easily explored on foot and at least during the day appears safe.
The
beautiful and well-kept Backpackers Hostel, located in Av Centrale 30 mt. east
of Plaza della Cultura offers a place in a dormitory with shared bathroom for
the price of $ 10 per night or the equivalent in local currency.
To reach Managua or Granada in Nicaragua, from San Josè, there are 3 companies: King
Quality, departing at 3.00 at night, Tica Bus with departures at 6.00, 7.30 and
12.30 and Transnica with departures at 4.00, 5.00, 9.00 and 12.00. I opted for
the latter with departure at 5.00 am since there was no room on Tica Bus. The
cost of the ticket is 20,000 CRC, including the $ 7 tax to be paid to leave Costa Rica. It
is possible or perhaps better to pay in US Dollars. The trip lasts 8 or 9 hours
including a stop of about 1 hour which is divided as follows: once you arrive
at the Costa Rica border, you go down to have your passport stamped. Then you
give it to the bus attendant along with $ 14 for entry into Nicaragua and
go up on the same and arrive at the Nicaragua Customs where you get off and
while the aforementioned clerk has the passports stamped, the police check all
the luggage. Then we get back on the bus where the Nicaraguan Police return our
passports and we leave for Managua.
There are numerous unofficial money changers on the Nicaraguan side.
I paid
1,300 CRC for the night taxi, without a meter, to reach the Trans Nica bus station
in San Josè,
located about 2 km
west of the Plaza della Cultura.
NICARAGUA
The
Trasnica Company Bus from San Josè, the capital of Costa Rica and bound for
Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, also stops in Granada on Calle El Tamarindo,
over 1 km
from Parque Central.
The
beautiful colonial town of Granada
appears full of tourists and exudes a certain sense of security. The center can
be explored on foot even if Lake Nicaragua is
a bit far
To reach Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, you have to go to the
Microbuses station, located in Calle Vega, a few tens of meters south of Parque
Central, where the Microbuses leave as soon as they are full from 5.00 to 19.30
from Monday to Friday, from 5.00 to 19.00 on Saturday and from 5.30 to 18.00 on
Sunday. The journey takes over an hour and the ticket costs 26 NIOs. The clerk
passes by to collect the money after departure. The bus stops often to pick up
and drop off passengers and reaches UCA in Managua, not far from Plaza 19 de Julio.
In Managua I manage to hire
a taxi to visit the city for $ 10, after an exhausting negotiation. Initially
the taxi driver asked me for $ 25.
To reach
the summit of Volcàn Tiscapa and its homonymous lagoon, from which you can
enjoy a wonderful view of the city and Lake Managua, you need to access the
Parque Historico Nacional Loma de Tiscapa by paying 1 $ or 27 NIO. The top can
also be reached by car.
To access
the beautiful Paseo Xolotlàn in Malecòn, where there is a beautiful walk along Lake Managua,
you have to pay 5 NIO.
From
Minivans Station Boer, minivans leave from 5.00 to 19.00, when they are full,
for the Leòn Bus Station. The trip takes about 2 hours. The fare is 51 NIO. The
clerk passes by to collect the money after departure.
From the
Leòn bus station, located about 2
km north - east of the Parque Central, I take a taxi
that takes me in front of the Hostel La Clinica, located in 1st Av SO, 200 meters south of the
Parque Central at the price of 30 NIO, although the correct price during the
day was 20 NIO.
For one night
in a bed in a 4-bed dormitory at the Hostel La Clinica, I paid $ 5.5, but you
can pay the equivalent in local currency. It is not a 5-star hotel, the
bathrooms are shared, but for just over $ 5 you can also be satisfied.
The compact
Leòn turns very well on foot is full of tourists and locals and appears safe
even in the evening at least until 22.00. Its Unesco Heritage Cathedral is the
largest in Central America.
At 4.30 at
night, at the suggestion of the kind owner of the aforementioned hostel, I throw
myself into the street and stop one of the numerous taxis that pass near the
hospital in 3rd Calle SO which takes me to the Leòn bus station for the price
of 30 NIO .
From the
Leòn bus station, located about 2
km north - east of the Parque Central, minivans leave
from 5.00 to 19.00, when they are full, for the Chinandega Bus Station, located
near Mercado Bisne, 1 km
abundant to the south. - east of the center. The trip takes less than 2 hours.
The fare is 25 NIO. The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure.
From the
Chinandega bus station, located near Mercado Bisne, minivans leave from 4.00 to
17.00, when they are full (approximately every 25 minutes), for the Guasaule
bus station (border with Honduras), located less than 1 km from the Nicaraguan
border post. The journey takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The fare is 40 NIO.
The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure. The bus stops often
and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers.
From the
Guasaule bus station, to reach the Nicaraguan border post, you can either walk
for less than 1 km,
or you can take advantage of the many tricycles that are offered at the price
of 20 NIO.
At the Nicaragua border post, you have to pay the $ 2
exit tax or the equivalent in NIO, but you are not stamped as Nicaragua, Honduras,
El Salvador and Guatemala are
part of the Central American Community and therefore there are open borders
like those of the European Community. For currency exchange there are
unofficial money changers on both the Nicaraguan side and the Honduras side.
To reach
the border post of Honduras,
either you walk for less than 1
km, or you can take advantage of the many tricycles that
are offered for the price of 20 NIO.
At the
Gasaule border post in Honduras,
you have to fill out a form and pay an entrance fee of $ 3. You are then given
an entry stamp that allows you to stay 90 days in the country.
HONDURAS
Once the
customs formalities have been completed in Guasaule in Honduras, there
is a minivan for the Choluteca Bus Station, which leaves when it is full from
5.00 to 21.00. The wait in the central hours is minimal. The cost of the ride
which lasts less than an hour is L $ 35. The attendant comes by to collect the
money after departure.
From the
Choluteca Bus Station, direct small buses and ordinary large buses depart quite
frequently. The difference is that direct ones take almost half the time. There
are several companies that offer this service and that are proposing themselves
with a pressing insistence. In the end I choose the bus of the San Benito
Express company that takes me to Tegucigalpa
in 3 hours at the price of 100
L $ 35. The attendant passes by to collect the money
after departure. The bus stops often and willingly to pick up and drop off
passengers.
Eventually
I am dropped off in a suburb of Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, so that I
can immediately board an urban minivan that takes me about 100 meters from Parque
La Merced, for the price of L $ 10. get off. There is also an armed policeman
on this minibus.
The center
of Tegucigalpa,
one of the most dangerous cities in the world, can be explored on foot with
caution. There are a lot of police during the day and therefore you can walk
with relative peace of mind, logically not showing off valuables, cameras, etc.
While at night the danger rate becomes very high.
After
visiting the capital of Honduras,
I take a taxi for the price of L $ 80 which in about 15 minutes takes me to the
Catracos Bus Station, located on the western outskirts of Tegucigalpa. From here buses depart
approximately every hour from 3.00 to 18.00 to Comayagua (2 hours). The ticket
costs L $ 50 and can be purchased at the ticket office before boarding the bus.
The bus stops often and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers. It must
be said that the El Rey de Oro company also carries out this service but leaves
you in the outskirts of Comayagua, while the Catracos Company I took leaves you
practically in the center at the intersection of Calle Manuel Bonilla and 1 °
Av No just 5 squares from the Parque Central that you can walk to during the
day.
If you want
to reach Copàn Ruinas from Comayagua, keep in mind that there are no direct
buses but you have to change in San
Pedro Sula and La Entrada.
Buses to
San Pedro Sula leave from the station located on the corner of 2 ° Calle SO and
2 ° Av SO, just 6 squares from Parque Central which you can walk to during the
day. From there, direct and ordinary buses depart every hour from 5.00 to
16.00, the latter cheaper but slower. If you don't want to wait an hour, you
can take a taxi at a cost of L $ 20. which takes you to the state road where
numerous small buses pass to San Pedro Sula from
the capital Tegucigalpa.
The ticket costs 90 L
$. The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure. The bus stops
often and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers. The trip takes about 3
hours.
The
aforementioned bus arrives at the Metropolitana de Autobuses Terminal, located 5 km south of the center of San Pedro Sula. To reach
Copàn Ruinas from here you can opt for one of the few direct buses or take one
to La Entrada, which leaves about every hour and then change.
There are
several companies that offer this service but I opted for the Cooperativa de
Trasporte S Josè Bus, which takes almost 3 hours to reach the center of La
Entrada. The ticket costs L $ 90 and can be purchased at the ticket office
before boarding the bus. The bus stops often and willingly to pick up and drop
off passengers.
Once in the
center of the Entrada, you have to cross the busy state road to reach the
minivan headed for Copàn Ruinas, which leaves when it is full. In this move,
the client finders of the aforementioned Minivan help you and accompany you in
the right direction. The trip to Copàn Ruinas takes just over 2 hours. The cost
of the ride is L $ 70. The attendant passes by to collect the money after
departure. Keep in mind that before arriving at the Copàn Ruinas bus station,
pass in front of the Copàn Archaeological Site, located 1 km before, and therefore if
you are interested in getting off there you must notify the driver in time.
The Copàn Archaeological
Park is open from Monday
to Sunday from 8.00 to 16.00. For foreigners, the price of the ticket to visit
the Park alone costs 15 $ but can also be paid in Lempira (L $). Additional
prices are due for the visit to the Galleries. For Hondurans and Latin
Americans, the prices are significantly reduced. From the ticket office to the
ticket control (where you can leave your backpack for free) there are about 350 meters to go. walk
in the middle of the forest. Then another 50 meters. and you arrive
at the Gran Plaza from where you can begin the visit
to the site which can last over 4 hours. The colorful birds Guara Roja
accompany you on your journey, with their song. There are also several scales
to tackle if you want to visit the site in its entirety.
To go to
the city of Copàn Ruinas, which is over 1 km from the Archaeological Park, I took advantage of a motor taxi
at the price of L $ 20. I persistently tried to lower the price, but there is
no room for negotiation on this. service.
In Copàn
Ruinas, I slept at Hostal La Manzana Verde at the price of 150 L $, for a bed in the
dormitory. It is located a few tens of meters from the Central Parquet and the
Bus Station. It is very clean, has a billiard room and a small gym as well as a
large kitchen. The staff are competent and friendly.
Copàn
Ruinas, is very quiet and touristy and you can walk alone even in the evening
without problems. You can visit it on foot in a short time.
Keep in
mind that Hostal La Manzana offers you a direct connection (I don't know if
daily) with San Salvador departing at noon from Copàn Ruinas for the price of
50 $, but if you want to save a lot and proceed on your own you have to change
several buses if you want to reach the capital of El Salvador as explained
below.
From the
Bus Station, located at the entrance to the town of Copàn Ruinas, minibuses leave every hour from
4.00 to 17.00 for the Entrada (L $ 70, scarce 2 hours). The clerk passes by to
collect the money after departure. The bus stops often and willingly to pick up
and drop off passengers.
If you are
interested in getting off at the stop for Santa Rosa de Copàn, you need to
notify the driver in time.
From the
Entrada there are minivans that leave every 30 minutes from 6.00 to 19.00 and
take about 1 hour to reach the Santa Rosa de Copàn bus station at a price of 40 L $. The clerk passes by to
collect the money after departure. The bus stops often and willingly to pick up
and drop off passengers.
From the
Santa Rosa de Copàn bus station, located 1 km north of the center, they pass near a
shelter outside the terminal but adjacent to the taxi stand, buses to Nueva
Ocotepeque pass quite frequently (scarce 3 hours, L $ 90). The bus stops often
and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers and leaves you in the center
of the aforementioned town, located just 7 km from El Poy, the border with El Salvador
and only 22 km
from Agua Caliente, the border with Guatemala .
From the
center of Nueva Ocotepeque, minivans leave frequently for El Poy, the border
with El Salvador, located just 7
km (L $ 10, approximately 15 minutes). The clerk passes
by to collect the money after departure.
At the El
Poy border post in Honduras,
no exit tax is payable. Customs operations are quick and easy. For currency
exchange there are unofficial money changers both on the Nicaraguan side and on
the Honduras
side and also in the Banks, where you can both change and withdraw.
EL SALVADOR
El Poy
customs post in El Salvador
is less than 300 meters
from the Honduran one. Here, too, customs operations are quick and easy.
Furthermore, you are not given the entry stamp as Nicaragua,
Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala are part of the Central
American Community and therefore there are open borders like those of the
European Community. Then you have to walk about 400 meters before
reaching a large pitch on the right where buses leave approximately every hour
for the Bus de Oriente Terminal in the capital San Salvador (3h 30 '), at a
price of 1.70 USD. The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure.
The bus stops often and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers.
Arrived at
the Bus de Oriente Terminal of the capital San Salvador, located about 2 km east of the center, I
hire a taxi after a long negotiation for 10 USD, for the visit of the city,
including transport to the Terminal dei Bus de Occidentale, where I take a bus
x Sonsonate (2.75 USD, 2h 00 '), since there are no direct buses to Ataco. It
is Saturday afternoon and the bus is packed. The clerk passes by to collect the
money after departure. The bus stops often and willingly to pick up and drop
off passengers.
Arriving at
the Sonsonate Bus Station I take a bus to Ahuachapán at a price of 0.50 USD,
which in theory should stop in Ataco but instead takes another road and after I
realized I get off after about 40 minutes of travel to Jujutla, where I take a
bus, from the opposite side of the roadway, which in about 30 minutes, at a
price of 0.50 USD, takes me to the southern outskirts of Ataco, less than 1 km from the central park.
You pay the driver when you get on as there is a turnstile.
I arrive in
Ataco on Saturday evening and the weather is very cool as the beautiful
colonial town is located in the middle of the mountains. Not even the shadow of
tourists even though the streets are teeming with people and the hotels are
packed. And in fact, I struggle to find a room in a hotel at the price of 25
USD, per night in a triple room with bathroom (the last one left). Less than
that it is almost impossible to find as there are no hostels in this town.
However, the Hotel is very clean and comfortable even if a little cold to tell
the truth.
Ataco, with
its ancient colonial charm, appears safe even in the evening and can be easily
explored on foot.
From Ataco
I go to the bus stop of the previous day where frequent buses go to nearby
Ahuachapán. The ride takes just under 30 minutes and costs $ 0.40. The clerk
passes by to collect the money after departure.
The bus
leaves you in the center of Ahuachapán, about 400 meters from Parquè
Menèndez where very frequent buses leave for Las Chinamas, the border post with
Guatemala.
The ride takes just under 30 minutes and the fare is $ 0.50. The clerk passes
by to collect the money after departure.
Once in Las
Chinamas, you have to walk for about 200 meters to reach the Customs. I arrived on a
Sunday and found a queue of about 40 minutes. For the rest, customs operations
are quick and easy. You are not given the exit stamp as Nicaragua, Honduras,
El Salvador and Guatemala are
part of the Central American Community and therefore there are open borders
like those of the European Community. You pay nothing to leave El Salvador.
GUATEMALA
After the
Customs of El Salvador you have to cross the bridge over Rio Paz, where a
terrible wind usually blows and then travel 300 meters.
approximately uphill before reaching the Guatemala Customs Office in Valle
Nuevo. Here, too, customs operations are quick and easy. My passport is stamped
upon entry. You pay nothing to enter the country. Unofficial money changers are
present on both sides of the border and offer slightly disadvantageous exchange
rates compared to the money changers you can find in various cities.
Just beyond
the border, the bus to the capital Guatemala
City is stationed and leaves approximately every 30
'and takes 3 hours and 30' to reach it. The fare is 30 GTQ. The clerk passes by
to collect the money after departure. The bus stops often and willingly to pick
up and drop off passengers.
On the bus
I know a boy from Guatemala
who accompanies me to visit Guatemala
City. To begin with, he drops me off in zone 9, one of
the areas not highly recommended, where we walk a few hundred meters to the
Reformador tower, where the Transmetro stop is. The cost of the ride is 1 GTQ,
of coin though, because you have to enter it to get through the turnstile. It
also leaves you in the center where at least during the day there are many
people and therefore you can walk without too much anguish, logically without
having valuables and cameras in sight.
Visited the
center on foot, I take an urban bus in the company of a friend who lives in
Guatemala City (at a cost of 2 GTQ on Sunday, while on weekdays the cost is
halved), which takes me a few hundred meters from the state road to Antigua
where many buses pass for the latter, at the price of 10 GTQ. The clerk passes
by to collect the money after departure. The bus stops often and willingly to
pick up and drop off passengers.
In about 1
hour I arrive at the Antigua bus station,
located less than 1 km
west of Parque central, near the Handicraft Market.
In Antigua there are a myriad of Hostels and Cheap Hotels,
but the most convenient accommodation could be the Hotel Dionisi, located in
the historic center that asks for a night in a dormitory, 65 GTQ. The view from
the terrace is stunning and allows you to see the daily eruption of the
Acatenango Volcano.
The
historic center of Antigua, a World Heritage
Site, is terrifyingly touristy and you can walk around safely both during the
day and in the evening.
To reach
Lago de Atitlàn from Antigua, without resorting to intermediaries and therefore
low cost, there is only one direct daily bus to the city of Panajachel,
departing at 7.00 at a cost of 45 GTQ, but it must be booked at least the day
before , or you can change several buses like I did.
It is
therefore necessary to take one of the frequent buses to Chimaltenango
departing from the Antigua bus station, located less than 1 km south of Parque Central,
adjacent to the Artisan Market, which leaves every 10 minutes from 5.00 to
18.30. The cost of the ticket is 5 GTQ. The journey takes less than an hour.
The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure. The bus stops often
and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers. Remember to ask the driver to
be dropped off on the Panamericana, otherwise you have to walk for about 600 meters from the end
of the bus.
From the
Panamericana in Chimaltenango there are frequent buses, often crowded, coming
from Guatemala City
and heading north - west which also stop in Los Encuentros. The cost of the
ticket for the aforementioned location is 15 GTQ. The journey takes
approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. The clerk passes by to collect the money
after departure. The bus stops often and willingly to pick up and drop off
passengers.
From the
Panamericana in Los Encuentros frequent buses pass directly to the Parque
Central of Sololà. The cost of the ticket for the aforementioned location is 3
GTQ. The journey takes about 30 '. The clerk passes by to collect the money
after departure. The bus stops often and willingly to pick up and drop off
passengers.
From the
Parque Central of Sololà, numerous buses leave for Panajachel, the capital of
the fantastic Lago de Atitlàn, surrounded by volcanoes. The cost of the ticket
for the aforementioned location is 3 GTQ. The journey takes less than half an
hour. The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure. The bus stops
often and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers.
In
Panajachel the bus leaves you in Av Los Arboles, not far from the intersection
with Calle Santander, the tourist street full of shops, clubs and banks, which
you have to walk entirely for about 1 km before reaching Lago de Atitlàn, where many
tourist boats leave for the visit of the aforementioned lake.
I return to
Antigua with the same methods and costs
described above.
In Antigua,
through the intermediary of the Hotel Dionisi, where I stayed the previous
night, I buy a night bus ticket to Flores, at a cost of 250 GTQ, departing at
18.30 from Antigua. By paying this sum, you
are entitled to transport by minibus from the aforementioned Hotel in Antigua
to the Terminal de Autobuses Fuente del Norte in Guatemala City where the bus
to Santa Elena (Flores) leaves at 10.30 pm. Keep in mind that if I had
purchased the aforementioned ticket on my own I would have spent less than 150
GTQ. The bus of the aforementioned company is the cheapest and therefore less
comfortable and safe than the other 2 companies that operate this route. So
much so that there were people traveling standing and also my seat was broken
and therefore not reclining.
I arrive at
the S Elena Bus Terminal (near Flores) at 7.00
am, where there are several Minuibus companies offering transport to the Tikal
Archaeological Site. I took the Company "Tikal Remate" at the price
of 50 GTQ, one way, taking a thrust because the right price is 30 GTQ. The
journey takes about 1 hour.
For entry
into the Tikal Archaeological Park,
a Unesco World Heritage Site, it is necessary to pay 150 GTQ to be paid at the
Desk located 1 km
before the actual entrance. The minibus stops on purpose to let the tourists
get off to get the ticket which are taken to the actual entrance where there is
the ticket control.
To visit
the Archaeological Park of Tikal, you need to have at least half a day,
preferably early in the morning when there are fewer people and less hot. The
site is open every day from Monday to Sunday from 6.00 to 18.00. It is
fantastically nestled in the forest where you can admire howler monkeys. For
the complete visit it is necessary to walk for at least 4 km and face many steps,
especially if you want to climb Temple
n. II and n. IV, which offer wonderful views.
If you are
interested in reaching Belize from Tikal you have to take one of the minivans
to Flores (there is one at 12.15 for example), paying 30 GTQ and asking the
driver to stop, after about half an hour, in Puente Ixlù where frequent
minivans pass, coming from Flores and direct to the bus station of Melchor de
Mencos (1 hour and 15 'approximately, 25 GTQ). The clerk passes by to collect
the money after departure. The bus stops often and willingly to pick up and
drop off passengers. The last 13
km are not asphalted.
At the
Estacio de Autobuses de Melchor de Mencos there is an unofficial money changer
looking for customers who intends to change money. Euros are not accepted. The Belize dollar
is traded at a fixed rate on the dollar of 2 to 1.
From there
you have to cross the Mopan
River thanks to the
Puente Mopan before arriving at the Guatemala Customs Office. In theory, it is
not necessary to pay anything to leave the country even if tourists are asked
for an unofficial rate of 16 GTQ. I was only 10 but they let me pass by putting
the exit stamp on my passport. I got away with a smile.
BELIZE
The Customs
post of Belize is only five
minutes walk from that of Guatemala
and the entry formalities are simple and fast and it is not necessary to pay
any entry tax to enter the country. An entry stamp is placed on your passport
with which you can stay in the country for 90 days. Outside the border post
there is an official money changer offering to change money. Euros are not
accepted. The Belize
dollar is traded at a fixed rate on the dollar of 2 to 1.
From there
you can reach the town of Benque Viejo del Carmen
less than 2 km
from the border with Guatemala,
with a collective taxi at a cost of 3 BZD, which leaves when full. Ask the
driver to get off near the Estacio de Autobuses where buses leave approximately
every hour for Belize City and Belmopan (4 BZD, 1 hour and 30 '). The clerk
passes by to collect the money after departure. The bus stops often and
willingly to pick up and drop off passengers.
Keep in
mind that unlike what happens in other Latin American countries, where the
spoken language is Spanish, in Belize
the first language is English even though almost everyone also speaks excellent
Spanish.
Belmopan, is one of the smallest capitals in
the world and can be toured on foot in no time. There is nothing interesting to
see, but the thrill of being there is great.
From the
tiny Belmopan Bus Station, located in the center, frequent buses leave from
5.00 to 19.00 to Belize City, the former capital
of Belize.
(5 BZD, 1 hour).
Frequent
buses from Belize City to Chetumal, Mexico
(3 BZD, 2 hours including 1 hour time zone) run from the tiny Corozal Town Bus
Station from 5am to 6pm. The bus is waiting for you to complete the Belize customs
formalities where it is necessary to pay 37 BZD to leave the country, even if
in theory they would not be due but the tourists are promptly requested, who in
order not to run into any problems with the border authorities pay them
regularly. Remember that it is necessary to change money here from an unofficial
money changer as on the Mexican side this is no longer possible.
MEXICO
To reach
the Mexican border it is necessary to travel about 2 km with the aforementioned
bus. Then you have to fill in and sign the tourist card (to be returned when
you leave the country) which will be stamped together with the passport by the
Mexican Customs Police. After that your luggage is checked and you can get back
on the bus which will take you to the city of Chetumal in a short time (3 km). Keep in mind that the
bus does not arrive at Estacio de Autobus but leaves you on request on the
state road located about 300
meters from it.
Cross the
aforementioned state road and cross a park to reach the Estacio de Autobuses
where you can withdraw money at the ATM. From here there are frequent buses to
Cancun Center and Cancun Airport that stop at various tourist locations
including Tulum (174 MXN, 3 hours). The cheapest company is Mayab.
The small
Tulum Station is located in the center, which is located several kilometers
from the sea.
There are
several budget accommodations in Tulum but perhaps the cheapest of all is the
Hostel del Sol located about 300
meters away. west of the bus station, asking for 150 MXN
per night for a dorm bed. It has a large kitchen.
From Tulum
there are several buses to Cancun Centro (the first at 8.30 in the morning), Cancun Airport
and Playa del Carmen (the first at 7.00 in the morning, 62 MXN, 1 hour.
The EDO Bus
Station of Playa del Carmen, is located in the center, adjacent to the
pedestrian street Quinta Av, 30
meters away. about from Plaza Mayor and 100 mt. from the
sea. Numerous buses leave from the same for Cancun Airport
and Cancun Centro (60 MXN, 1 hour 30 ').
The Cancun
Bus Station is located in the center, which in turn is located several
kilometers from the sea. First class EDO buses depart from it approximately
every hour to Merida
(364 MXN, 4 hours).
The Came
Bus Terminal Merida is 50
meters from the second class one, in turn located about 1 km from the Plaza Grande.
Merida is great on foot.
From the
second class bus station in Merida, first and
second class buses depart every hour from 5.00 to 19.00 to Campeche, declared a World Heritage Site by
Unesco. The fare starts from a minimum of 158 MXN onwards depending on the
class and time chosen. The trip takes about 3 hours.
This leads
to the Main Bus Station of Campeche, usually called ADO or First Class Bus Station, located 2.5 km south of the walled
historic center which can be reached by taking one of the many buses that pass
from the adjacent state road, at the price of 4 MXN. You pay directly to the
driver. The bus drops you off at the bus stop adjacent to the Baluarte de San Francisco, from which
the Plaza Principal is approximately 1 km away.
The
beautiful Campeche,
declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, is great on foot and is so touristy
that it appears safe even in the evening, where the lights of the colonial
houses make it enchanting.
From
Campeche Main Bus Station, keep in mind that only one bus leaves a day for Palenque and precisely at
9.45 pm (384 MXN, 6 hours).
The bus
arrives at 3.45 am at the small station in the town of Palenque.
Numerous
minivans pass through it and in about 15 minutes take them to the
Archaeological Park of Palenque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for the price of
10 MXN. The clerk passes by to collect the money after departure. The bus stops
often and willingly to pick up and drop off passengers.
The
Archaeological Park of Palenque is open every day from 8.00 to 17.00. The cost
of the ticket costs 64 MXN. It is immersed in the forest and you have to walk a
lot and climb several stairs to fully visit the site.
Back at the
bus station of the town of Palenque, several
buses leave a day for San Cristobal
de las Casas. The last one that leaves in the morning is at 9.30. Then until
2.15pm nothing. However, the one at 9.30 takes 8 hours as it passes through Villahermosa and Tuxtla
Gutierrez. The ticket costs 130 MXN, Cristobal Colon
company.
The OCC Bus
Terminal of San Cristobal de las Casas is located about 1 km from Plaza 31 Marzo, the
beating heart of this beautiful colonial town nestled in the mountains, which
can be easily explored on foot and where tourists are certainly not lacking.
To get
around the center you can take a minivan for the price of 6 MXN.
From the
OCC Bus Terminal in San Cristobal de las Casas,
3 buses leave a day for Oaxaca,
the last of which leaves at 10.45pm. The journey takes approximately 12 hours
and the cost of the ticket is 604 MXN.
The 1st
class bus terminal of Oaxaca is located about 2 km north - east of the
Zocalo but there are several minivans (6 MXN) that pass near the Parque Juàrez,
a few hundred meters from the aforementioned station and that take you close to
the Zocalo and also at the tourist bus stop for Monte Albàn, at the
intersection of Calle Mina and Calle Diaz Ordaz.
From here
minivans of the San Marino Company depart every hour and reach the
Archaeological site of Monte Albàn in about half an hour. Return ticket price:
50 MXN.
On the
Archaeological site of Monta Albàn, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco
(64 MXN), open from 8.00 to 17.00 every day, the sun beats down and the
numerous steps that are not obligatory, however, make the visit somewhat
tiring. From the top you can enjoy a wonderful view of the city of Oaxaca, also declared a
World Heritage Site by Unesco and which can be easily explored on foot.
From Oaxaca 1st Class Bus Terminal, there are no direct buses
to Guadalajara,
Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende but you need to take a direct bus to
Mexico City Norte Station and then change.
For Puebla, however, there
are no buses more or less every hour. The journey through the mountains is very
pleasant and takes about 3 hours. The cost of the ticket with the EDO Company
is 438 MXN.
The Central
Autobuses de Puebla
is located about 4km north of the Zòcalo and there are numerous minivans that
drop you two squares from the Zòcalo. The ride takes about 30 minutes and the
ticket price is 6 MXN. You pay the driver when you get on. The taxi instead
costs no less than 60 MXN.
Puebla, declared a World Heritage Site by
Unesco, is perfect for walking around.
From
Central Autobuses de Puebla, there are number buses connecting Puebla to Norte Station and TAPO in Mexico City. The cost of the ticket varies
depending on the bus company and the time of departure of the same. I paid for
the ride 184 MXN, with the EDO company and the
trip lasted about 2 hours.
The
gigantic Norte Station of Mexico City
is open all night and inside it, as well as the ATMs, there are also paid
internet stations (5 MXN every half hour).
If you want
to reach Guadalajara
keep in mind that there are many companies that offer this service from early
morning until late at night with different prices. One of the cheapest
companies is Omnibus de Mexico, whose ticket price is around 617 MXN. The ride
takes over 6 hours.
The
gigantic Nueva Central Camionera of Guadalajara composed of 7 modules, is very
far from the center, about 9 km
southeast of the center and the numerous buses take almost an hour to reach the
Giardini de Aranzazù 5 squares south from the Plaza de La Constituciòn , where
there is the Cathedral Basilica de La Asuncion de Maria. The ticket price is 6
MXN and is paid directly to the driver before getting off or when getting on.
Guadalajara, is the second largest city in Mexico but its historic center can
be explored on foot and at least during the day it seems safe.
From Guadalajara's gigantic
Nueva Central Camionera, only the first-class company ETN offers the service to
Guanajuato using the route to San Miguel de Allende. Before boarding the bus,
you are even offered a sandwich and a drink. Of course, there is a bathroom on
the bus. The cost of the ride is 400 MXN and the journey takes about 4 hours.
The bus also stops 10 minutes in Leon.
From the
small bus station of Guanajuato, located about 5 km south - west of the city,
frequent city buses leave for Mercado Hidalgo
in the historic center. When the bus passes under a tunnel and everyone gets
off you have to get off and take the stairs that lead to Mercado Hidalgo. The ticket
price is 6 MXN and is paid directly to the driver when you board.
The
splendid Guanajuato, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, is nestled in
the middle of the mountains and is full of uphill streets. It is great on foot
but to see a fantastic view of the city it is advisable to take the Funicular
in Calle San Antonio, which operates from Monday to Friday from 08.00 to 21.50,
on Saturday from 09.00 to 21.50 and on Sunday from 09.00 to 21.00 and in a few
minutes reaches Pablo Bazar and the Monument to El Pipila. The fare is MXN 18
one way, MXN 36 round trip.
From the
small bus station of Guanajuato, frequent buses leave for San Miguel de
Allende. The cost of the ride with the Primero Plus Company is 126 MXN. The
ride takes about 1 and a half hours. There is another company for this route at
more or less the same price but with different times.
From the
small bus station of San Miguel de Allende, located about 3 km west of the historic
center, frequent city buses leave from 7.00 to 21.00 for the eastern end of
Calle Insurgentes, not far from Plaza Civica. The ticket price is 5 MXN and is
paid directly to the driver when boarding.
San Miguel
de Allende, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, is perfect for walking
around and looks safe even in the evening.
From the
small bus station of San Miguel de Allende, frequent buses leave for the
Estacio Norte in Mexico City.
The last race is at 1 am. The cost of the ride with the Pegasso Company is 293 MXN.
The ride takes about 4 hours.
From the
gigantic Norte Station of Mexico City, buses run by the Autobuses Mèxico - San
Juan - Teotihuacan company (penultimate counter to the left of the atrium)
depart every hour from 6.00 to 18.00, in the direction of San Martin de Las
Pirámides at a price of 80 MXN round trip. Keep in mind that the bus stops at
entrance n. 2 and at entrance no. 3 of the Archaeological Site of Teotihuacan.
At entrance n. 2, near the Pyramid of the Sun, keep in mind that the gates open
every day, including holidays, at 7.00 while at 3, near the Pyramid of the
Moon, at 8.00 / 8.30. This bus does not stop at entrance no. 1 open from 7.00
onwards. The closing of the site is at 17.00
The cost to
enter the Teotihuacan Archaeological site is 64 MXN. Since there is very little
shade and there is a lot to walk including many stairs, especially if you want
to reach the top of the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, it is advisable to
visit the site early in the morning when the temperatures are ideal and there
is it is few people.
Back at Mexico City's Norte
Station, I take the metro located just outside the main entrance. Keep in mind
that it has many stairs and few escalators and elevators. To change lines at La
Raza Station, passing from line 5 to line 3, you have to walk for about 10
minutes. The cost of a ride is 5 MXN. You are given a token that is inserted to
allow you to pass the turnstile and get off the tracks.
To reach
Xochimilco, whose system of canals has been declared a World Heritage Site by
Unesco, can be reached by going to the last stop of line 2 of the metro called
Tasquena. From there follow the signs for the ligero train until you reach the
station on foot where it is mandatory to make a rechargeable magnetic card to
access the platforms. It can be purchased at the automatic machines at a cost
of 10 MXN, in addition to the cost of recharging MXN for each ride.
From there
you have to get to the last stop called Xochimilco after about half an hour and
then continue on foot for about 1
km following the signs for the landing stage, not far
from the parish church. However, there is no risk of getting lost because the
customer finders are already waiting for tourists at the light metro station
and accompany you by following you by bike to the landing stage.
At the
landing stage there are dozens of colorful boats that ask for about 300 MXN,
for a 1 hour boat ride in the canals: if there are 20 passengers or 1 passenger
on the boat, they still ask for 300 MXN per passenger and it is very difficult
to negotiate. I tried but they got really nervous even though in the end I
found 2 young guys who allowed me to take a half hour ride for the price of 100
MXN.
Back in Mexico City, I walk
around the historic center declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The same
looks pretty safe in the daytime.
Mexico City
City Buses cost 5.5 MXN to put in the box when boarding, bearing in mind that
you don't get change.
To go to
the Juàrez International Airport,
you must take the yellow metro line 5 and get off at the airport stop. This
leads to the gigantic Terminal 1, where most of the International and National
Flights depart.
I sleep at
the aforementioned airport, on the ground, because there are no suitable chairs
for this purpose. There is an impossible cold.
There is no
border at the Juàrez International Airport for those leaving the country as
with the stamp or entry you can stay in the pass for 90 days and then the
tourist card must be shown at check in and then delivered to the flight
attendant before embarking. The mandatory exit tax of 210 pesos is usually
already included in the air ticket.
Punctual as
never before my United Company Airplane leaves Mexico City at 09.30 in the direction of
the Newark Liberty International Airport (USA), (multi-route ticket price
including taxes from Malpensa to Panama City and from Mexico City to Malpensa
Newark: Euro 669.75).
The plane
is almost empty.
I therefore
arrive at 13.40, with a temperature of -20 ° at the Newark Liberty
International Airport (USA). There are 6 hours of time zone, compared to Italy.
In the United States,
even if you do not leave the airport and continue to the Transit area, you must
still undergo Customs control (after completing the appropriate form), the
collection of baggage and the subsequent control of the same and therefore
there always calculate at least 1 hour and a half between flights.
Punctual as
never before, my United Company Airplane leaves from Newark Liberty
International at 6.30 pm in the direction of Malpensa International Airport
(Italy), (multi-route ticket price including taxes from Malpensa to Panama City
and from Mexico City to Malpensa with Newark airport: Euro 669.75).
The plane is full.
I therefore
arrive at Malpensa at 8.00, thus closing the incredible journey.
Total cost
of the all-inclusive trip (means of transport, food, accommodation, relaxation,
ect): 1,400 Euros.
My complete travel report
with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:
http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2016/04/traversata-del-centro-america-da-panama.htm