Mexico

Dressing up in Chihuahua.

Across the border from Belize and back into Spanish-speaking territory. It would have been a fairly easy crossing were it not for the fact that our bus, which was supposed to pick us up again after the border, had gone on without us to Chetumal, presumably because us foreigners took a few more minutes than the driver could cope with. We were stranded at the border with no money and no cash machine for 10km, and taxis waiting eagerly to rip us off.

Belize

A local with an improvised hat on Caye Caulker.

We crossed the border from Guatemala and were immediately confronted with a stark difference: the border guards spoke English! My first non-Spanish speaking country in some seven months.

Guatemala

Sunset over Lago Atitlán.

It may be another of the C-4 countries, but just like the others, it has a personality of its own, where ancient Mayan temples meet modern cities and stunning scenery.

El Salvador

Inside El Rosario church, San Salvador.

Many travellers avoid El Salvador due to suggestions that it’s dangerous, which is strange since it is apparently ‘The Saviour’. I can’t report that I was saved during my time there, but I certainly didn’t find it particularly perilous either.

Honduras

Tuk-tuks on the beach of Isla del Tigre.

The second of the ‘CA-4’, which also includes Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala, was just a short stop on the way up the continent but, through some interesting encounters, provided an insight into the lives of the people there. It also showed just how friendly Hondurans are, if our experiences with just a few people are anything to go by.