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Busy street scene featuring the iconic Santa Catalina Arch in Antigua, Guatemala.

Backpacker route · 5–7 weeks

The Central America Gringo Trail: Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and Nicaragua

A five-to-seven-week overland route from Antigua and Lake Atitlán through Guatemala, Belize and Honduras to León, Granada and San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua. Each hostel is booked separately.

Photo: Rodrigo Mutal / Pexels

The so-called Gringo Trail is a loose well-trodden route rather than a single path, and this version links the classic Guatemalan highlands to the Caribbean coast of Belize, the Maya ruins at Copán in Honduras and the colonial cities of Nicaragua. It is a long trip with several border crossings, so it suits people with time and a flexible plan.

Borders are part of the experience and a source of delay. Before each crossing, check the current entry rules and travel advice for both countries, and cross in daylight where possible. The Belize leg means a loop back through Guatemala, so some travellers skip it. UK government advice reports a state of emergency in parts of Belize City, Belize District and Cayo District at the time of checking, and advises against all but essential travel to some border areas of Guatemala; read the latest advice for every country before you go. Each hostel on the route is booked separately.

Each hostel on this route is booked separately with Hostelworld. There is no combined package, and transport is booked with each operator. Duration basis: Estimated by adding the suggested nights at each stop (roughly 28–38 nights) to the border and travel days, including four international crossings. Skipping Belize or Honduras shortens the trip by around a week.

  1. To Lake Atitlán: Tourist shuttle to Panajachel, typically around 2½–3½ hours, then a boat to other lake villages.

  2. To Flores: A long journey, usually split over two days by shuttle or bus via Guatemala City, or a flight from Guatemala City (GUA) to Flores (FRS). Overland typically takes 10–12 hours or more.

  3. To San Ignacio: Shuttle across the Guatemala–Belize border at Melchor de Mencos, typically around 2–3 hours including border formalities. Check entry rules before you cross.

  4. To Copán Ruinas: No direct connection that we could confirm. Most travellers return to Guatemala and continue east by road, a full day or more, or fly via Belize City (BZE) or a regional hub. Check current options before committing.

  5. To León: Shuttle or bus across Honduras to the Nicaraguan border (Guasaule or El Espino), then on to León. Typically a long day or two, depending on connections and queues.

  6. To Granada: Shuttle or chicken bus via Managua, typically around 3–4 hours.

  7. To San Juan del Sur: Shuttle, typically around 1.5–2 hours, with onward buses to the Costa Rican border at Peñas Blancas.

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Route tips

  • Ometepe, the twin-volcano island in Lake Nicaragua, is a popular add-on from Granada by ferry.
  • The Belize section is expensive in time rather than distance; drop it if you are short of time and add the Honduran Bay Islands instead.
  • Read the FCDO pages for every country before you set out, especially for border areas and regions where advice differs.
  • Keep some US dollars for border fees and small shuttles; check the local currency and any card limits in each country.
  • Each hostel is booked separately, so keep a note of check-in times and confirm late arrivals after border days.

Sources and review

Reviewed by the HostelConnect editorial team on 8 November 2026. Check entry rules, transport and conditions with official sources before you travel.