A complete guide to budget travel in Central America as a 5-week route, with real costs.

Route and costs:

Guatemala (10 days): fly into Guatemala City, immediately take shuttle to Antigua ($10). Antigua for 4 days (colonial architecture, volcano hikes, excellent Spanish school opportunities). Lake Atitlán for 3 days (indigenous Maya villages, $20/night guesthouse in San Pedro La Laguna). Chichicastenango market day trip. Daily average: $35.

Belize (3 days): bus from Guatemala City to Belize City ($20). Caye Caulker for 3 days — car-free island, beautiful waters, expensive for Central America but worth 3 days. Daily average: $65 (accommodation is pricier here).

Honduras (4 days): Copán ruins are world-class Mayan archaeology. The site is $15 entry and the town of Copán Ruinas is affordable ($15/night guesthouses). Daily average: $35.

Nicaragua (7 days): Granada (colonial city, $20/night), León (second colonial city, cheaper, better street art), the Corn Islands (Caribbean coast, more expensive, worth a few days for the reef). Daily average: $30.

Costa Rica (10 days): the most expensive of the route. National park entry fees ($15-18/day), accommodation ($25-40/night), and transport all cost more. The wildlife and biodiversity are extraordinary. Daily average: $60.

Flights (round trip NYC to Guatemala City, one-way from San José to NYC): $500-650.

Total for 34 days: approximately $1,600-1,800 including flights. Daily average $47/day all-in.