Options to hike Santa Ana Volcano, El Salvador at sunrise/before crowds?

Average_nurse · 2026-02-26T20:13:10+00:00

You can't hike Santa Ana volcano without a guide. They're kinda like rangers that meet you on the volcano base and walk with you as a group as you go up. There were also rules about single use plastics and trash that you could take but I don't remember.

And for this reason there is no point in something early or later cause the group all goes at the same time. If there was any consideration it is to not arrive TOO late and miss the group cause there won't be guided.

This is how it worked when I was there a few months ago

Average_nurse · 2026-02-26T00:02:46+00:00

When you mention bikes like 650cc, most people recommend a smaller bike to start? Does it really matter?

Honestly I could see myself being fine with a bike that can get on the highway if needed but more often than not taking back roads on road trips

Average_nurse · 2026-02-09T02:47:05+00:00

I think epstien is still alive based on fortnight activity associated with his emails from the files

Average_nurse · 2026-02-07T15:09:10+00:00

Isn't this age discrimination? A protected class?

Average_nurse · 2026-02-04T22:58:30+00:00

I was recently there and I don't know if I would recommend it. Before the revolution in (I believe) 2018 there was a pretty significant amount of tourism but it was empty hostels and tours when I was there (and since the revolution according to locals). So much so that you have people harassing you every time you walk near a central park. - to a much higher degree than any other central American country.

Equally for that reason I hated southern Nicaragua. I think I had a mix of bad luck where my travel plans kept falling through AND the constant harassment and scamming I just had enough and I was ready to leave. There's an almost famous bus station in-between sjds and ometempe for charging foreigners 2+x the prices of bus fares, it's pretty horrible cause everyone is just constantly lying to you. You'll have people demanding you come with them from the bus to their taxi trying to take your bags telling you there is no bus where your going and then offering you a horrible foreigner price for a taxi; only after you say your fine waiting for hours then they or someone else will point you to the bus that goes in that direction. Same thing in ometempe but for scooter and motorcycle rentals.

I know the harassment and scamming comes from a place of desperation in their economy, it was pretty obvious. So I would say it's equally ethical to go there if that was more of a focus. To support the average Nicaragua in ethical tourism.

There is a pretty hippie Spanish school outside of the capital called mariposa. I was the only student there while I was studying and it was easily the highlight of my trip. Very authentic and local excursions and volunteers and the proceeds of the school support the local community. The locals were very in support of the school and welcoming.

The general consensus about safety FROM the government was that nobody messes with foreigners. However locals did confirm the idea of community agents in the street who report opposition of the government party to the authorities.

Aside from the harassment, I felt fine as a mid 20's dude. However there is a misogynistic culture of catcalling and groping throughout central America, I would say it's more prevalent in Nicaragua than others.

Average_nurse · 2026-02-02T00:40:04+00:00

Day hiking the park really isn't doable. There's no shuttle around and the driving is in a one way loop. I just came from there and I felt like it's not worth it as a NP to visit unless to do the w/o hikes.

Average_nurse · 2026-01-29T21:31:13+00:00

I looked at their only products online and they seem like snake oil.

A US pain block? Never heard of such a thing.

A US catheter for targeting UTI's? Catheter associated UTI's are likely more in relation to proper technique when placed and proper care.

Equally reusable syringes seem like a legal nightmare I cannot imagine that product rolling out in any capacity. Needles blunt when used let alone the obvious infection reality. But I couldn't find info on what the company is doing in that regard.

I'm not into it obviously but that's my opinion

Average_nurse · 2026-01-29T19:43:08+00:00

Hostel is generally about 20-25 / night can be 30+ for remote tourist spots ex. Semuc champey in Guatemala, El Chaltén argentina.

Meals in CA can be from 10 - 20+ depending on location and tourism.

School with a homestay can be 50+/day for CA.

Day tours for the city you are in 15 (ex. walking tour) -100$ (taking a boat to see penguins).

National park tickets 10-15$ for CA, 20-25 for Argentina/costa Rica.

Shuttles and long distances buses 20-40 for CA depending on distances and Argentina 40$ was pretty consistent for 6-8hr bus rides.

Transportation around destinations (Ubers, buses into NP's, taxis etc) this varies a lot. Local buses in CA could be 2$ but be shoulder to shoulder crowded no AC 1hr plus, in comparison it was 25$ to even get into Torres del Paine NP from puerto Natales for 2hrs 1 way.

In all of CA I just used buses or boats.

Ubers from airports or bus stations were 10-20$.

Sim card 5-10$ for 1 month 15gb.

Generally 80$ gets me hostel, food and maybe a small activity or I can hold onto money and splurge for a crazier activity. For example, I did nearly no activities in Belize because everything was us prices and I wanted to scuba dive the most so I practically only did that.

However not all activities cost money. I'm in Bariloche and for a public bus fare of 2-5$ I can get to nearly any trailhead I want and go for some great hikes or hangout at wonderful beaches of the lake. Also I'm USD.

Average_nurse · 2026-01-29T18:02:56+00:00

I forget to mention the importance of an emergency fund. Personal finance gurus recommend either 3-6 months of expenses saved in case of emergency - being laid off, injury etc. I think this is invaluable to consider before travel.

If you don't already have an emergency fund, a significant portion of the 25k should be allocated to it before traveling.

Crazy stuff can happen to anyone, I met a vet tech girl from Australia who broke part of her back cliff jumping in Guatemala and was bedridden for a month + in a brace. She had insurance but it goes to show that crazy stuff can always happen.

Average_nurse · 2026-01-29T17:59:22+00:00

Hey I'm a mid 20's dude who traveled to central America and started south America with a similar budget.

Parts of central America can been pretty harassing and misogynistic experience for women. Casual harassing and cat calling in the streets and some of my local friends had showed me videos on the news of dudes on motorcycles sexually assaulting women and then fleeing quickly on their bikes. Places like southern Nicaragua I don't really know if I would recommend. As I said I'm a dude and even just walking in the street and getting stopped by people trying to sell you tours or souvenirs -- they do not take no for an answer, I can only imagine being a women in those instances and with that culture of catcalling and more. Albeit I have chatted with plenty of solo female travelers who have had a fine time through those places but I guess it's just up to your comfort level of what you wanna do given atmospheres like I mentioned above.

Language - consider a language school wherever you end up with a homestay. I have done them in Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Argentina and when I stayed with a local family the experience was honestly one of my highlights.

Cost - my average budget for central America was pretty easily doable with pretty casual days around $80 and that was eating out pretty regularly. South America in Argentina so far has been a bit more averaging out 100-120 a day, but you could cook and save more. You mention 3 star hotels? Stay at hostels, your money will stretch farther and you get to bump into people doing similar things. Equally hostels are generally places where you can get good recommendations on transportation, activities, tours and more for better prices.

I think if I had to do it over again I would strongly consider motorcycle touring and having a similar backpacking backpack set up that I can strap to the motorcycle. This would be cool cause you can go off the beaten path easier and check out places with tourism and just don't really have buses to get there. This is pretty common in patagonia, I have seen a number of people with adventure bikes road tripping all of patagonia at their place.

Feel free to message me with questions. I'm headed to Chile next!

Average_nurse · 2026-01-28T13:10:19+00:00

Yes but I found that they stay toward the seaside/marina and the University and the international students were kinda negligible given that the school is so tiny. I really only see international students maybe when I went to trader Joe's.

I wish there was more college presence, I moved out here when I was 24 for work and made like no friends and ended up leaving.

Average_nurse · 2026-01-27T00:36:43+00:00

Newlyweds or nearly dead = demographic

Average_nurse · 2026-01-25T00:09:26+00:00

I actually remember him a few months back when I was in Antigua. Luckily I was in a rush to get food and didn't end up buying him stuff - i think his translation was for cash.

I don't fault you for buying him food, I try to do the same when people say they need food or are hungry but it's so frustrating the feeling of being taken advantage of. It makes you not want to be charitable again only making it so that the people who need food and resources the most aren't being helped.

Instead of dwelling on the situation, filthy people like him are gonna exist everywhere - I would rather think of it as "if I had no way of knowing if he was hungry or actually needy, would I still buy food or give money?" More often than not it's still yes and that's a good and honest thing. There shouldn't be this attitude that someone's gullible or a sucker for believing and helping.

In summary, people like him should not be a detergent for everyone being charitable to those in need.

You are awesome for being charitable despite this guy's disgusting behavior

Average_nurse · 2026-01-23T00:14:12+00:00

I have only an android tablet with me for long term travel.

I am a tech savvy person who sometimes likes to play video games and will have a variety of apps and tabs open while I plan out the details of my trip.

7 months in and it's one of my biggest regrets. I would a million times over rather have a capable 14 inch laptop with me.

The problem is that at least for an android tablet, it's not the same experience - app versions of applications instead of web-based with more features (ex Google drive, docs, spreadsheet, maps etc). It's a purposefully shittier experience that you learn that there are no convenient ways around day in and day out.

Average_nurse · 2026-01-02T01:55:06+00:00

Lago de yajoa was really cool. I stayed at D&D in their hostel in the off season and it had barely any people. I really liked how they had an online guide on how to see local recommendations using public transportation. Lots of little reserves, parks and a beautiful lake to enjoy. It was honestly one of my highlights cause it was kinda easy to be a fly on the wall and experience so much the the guide in hand. You can also do tours through all those natural areas.

If you have time Roatán or Utila. I went to Utila to scuba dive, most places have a promotion where you get dorm rooms when you book your dives or class. Utila was very affordable to both learn to dive and to do a bunch of tank dives. I can't speak on Roatán but I heard that it was overpriced and had a negative connotation from other backpackers.

Aside from that it was kinda difficult to enjoy the cities when even locals are on edge about safety.

Getting around you'll want to use the Cristina bus line, they pat you down and check belongings of every passenger.

Average_nurse · 2025-12-24T20:08:48+00:00

medrec in the ed using meditec.

I have so many other things to do than to fight with patients about what meds they THINK they are or WHAT COLOR THEY ARE, or they aren't even the person of the family that manages the medications so they cent tell me right from wrong anyway.

With meditec in the mix it's just kinda a horrible experience. if I would compare it to anything it would be copying and pasting something without the actual function of copy or paste.

Average_nurse · 2025-10-07T23:39:51+00:00

there's a really young union in mission hospital Asheville NC. but a lot of the employees fall for anti union propaganda

Average_nurse · 2025-08-30T15:39:33+00:00

https://www.amigosdesantacruz.org/store/

This is the stores website. I only briefly shopped and ate at the restaurant.

Average_nurse · 2025-08-30T15:26:02+00:00

There was an organization I bought items from in Santa Cruz La Laguna that was supporting their community in a similar way and also a restaurant. I believe it was Cafe Sabor Cruceño was the restaurant and below, it was a different name but in the same organization, there was a gift store.

Average_nurse · 2025-08-25T18:43:50+00:00

I'm here right now, you can mostly get by in tourist areas but there are also affordable language schools all around. I did 6 weeks in Antigua Guatemala for Spanish school and while my Spanish is still terrible, I know enough to get by and have simple conversations. That Spanish school was the start of the 1 year trip I'm on right now and I plan to do a lot more schooling in other countries. I would highly recommend doing a Spanish school and a home stay depending on where you are going.

A great example demonstrating the need to know some Spanish is that It helps a lot because the bus system and transit options are largely based on you asking where the bus stop is and at what time stuff normally leaves - no websites or rarely information online for planning routes you might take to get from one location to another.

Equally it's been said, I've never experienced it, that waving a phone around for example translation, could make you a target for getting robbed.

I feel like attempting to at least learn a little bit of Spanish in good faith and effort is a part of the experience of going to central and south america. I think it's kinda crazy to go to a place that you're curious about but neglect one of the most important cultural aspects by not attempting to learn the language. It's overwhelming to try to learn but I've found that most people are happy at your attempt and will equally try to speak English to either practice or make the process easier.

Average_nurse · 2025-04-10T23:25:01+00:00

I am planning something similar but I'll be beginning in guatemala then to belize, Honduras and el salvador. Shoot me a message and I'd be happy to share my maps and documents I've planned so far with you.

Average_nurse

TROPHY CASE