Feb 16, 2015

 

*Note: This post is approximately three months late. Oops!

 

For our friends and family back home in Rochester, this should sound quite familiar: A poll on your favorite aspects of [for you: Rochester, for us: Central America]. I was inspired to find out just what everyone’s favorite parts of Central America were when it came time to vote for Rochester’s Best of Awards. For the Best of Central America, we voted on things like favorite country, best coffee, best hostel, worst local beer, etc. It was a fun way to reminisce and capture everything we love (and hate!) about Central America. So without further ado, here are the results of the THIR Best of Central America!

 

 Best Country

 

#1 Choice – Nicaragua

 

2. Costa Rica

3. Panama

4. Guatemala

 

Best City/Town

 

#1 Choice – Boquete, Panama & Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

Boquete, Panama	Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

 

2. Monteverde, Costa Rica

3. Leon, Nicaragua

4. Flores, Guatemala

 

Honorable Mention: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua & Panama City, Panama

 

Best Hostel

 

#1 Choice – Mamallena Boquete - Boquete, Panama

 

2. Hotel Tucan - Uvita, Costa Rica

3. Chaltunha Hostel – San Miguel, Flores, Guatemala

4. Oasis Hostel – Grenada, Nicaragua

 

Honorable Mention: Poste Rojo – Grenada, Nicaragua & Casa Oro – San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

 

Best Activity

 

#1 Choice – Volcano Boarding – Leon, Nicaragua

 

2. (Very close second!) Scuba Diving – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

3. Scooter Rental – Boquete, Panama

4. Uvita Waterfalls & hike – Uvita, Costa Rica

 

Honorable Mention: Cenotes – Tulum, Mexico; Lost Waterfall Hike – Boquete, Panama; Manuel Antonio National Park – Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica; Mini Canyon – Boquete, Panama; Casco Viejo – Panama City, Panama

 

Best Restaurant

 

#1 Choice – Skid Row Bar – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

 

2. Carwash – San Pedro Sula, Honduras

3. Syd’s Restaurant, Caye Caulker, Belize

4. Mango Inn Bar & Grill – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

 

Honorable Mention: Pan y Paz – Leon, Nicaragua; A-Banda – Panama City, Panama; Foo King Wok – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras; Jungle Café – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras; Paradiso Café – Caye Caulker, Belize; Driftwood Café Bar & Grill – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

 

Best Cheap Eats

 

#1 Choice – Street Food in Tulum, Mexico

2. Mama Rosa’s – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras 

3. Taco Taco – Monteverde, Costa Rica

4. Taco Stop – San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

 

Honorable Mention: Sugar & Spice – Boquete, Panama; Street Food in Flores, Guatemala; Skid Row Bar – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras; Will’s Tacos – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

 

Best Coffee Shop to Hang Out

 

#1 Choice – Pan y Paz – Leon, Nicaragua

 

2. Rio Coco – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

3. Casa Sucre – Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama

4. Cool Beans – Flores, Guatemala

 

Honorable Mention: Babel – Tulum, Mexico

 

Best Coffee

 

#1 Choice – Rio Coco – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

 

2. Pan y Paz – Leon, Nicaragua

3. Babel  - Tulum, Mexico

4. Café Orchid Coffee Shop – Monteverde, Costa Rica

 

Honorable Mention: Cool Beans – Flores, Guatemala; Ice ‘n’ Beans – Caye Caulker, Belize; Underwater Vision – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

 

Best National Beer

 

#1 Choice – Salva Vida – Honduras

2. Balboa - Panama

3. Toña – Nicaragua

4. Imperial – Costa Rica

 

Honorable Mention: Belikin – Belize; Victoria – Nicaragua; Sol – Mexico; Gallo - Guatemala; Leon - Mexico

 

Best Craft/Specialty Beer

 

#1 Choice – Nut Brown – Monteverde Beer House – Monteverde, Costa Rica

 

2. La Rana Porter – La Rana Dorada – Panama City, Panama

3. La Rana Blanche – La Rana Dorada – Panama City, Panama

4. Stout – Monteverde Beer House – Monteverde, Costa Rica

 

Best Bar to Hang Out

 

#1 Choice – Skid Row Bar – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

 

2. Rehab Bar – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

3. Lazy Lizard – Caye Caulker, Belize

4. Trudy’s at Underwater Vision – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

 

Honorable Mention: Relic – Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama; Treetanic – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

 

Best Cheap Drinks

 

#1 Choice – Skid Row Bar – Utila, Bay Islands, Honsuras

 

2. Rehab Bar – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

3. Bigfoot Hostel Bar – Leon, Nicaragua

4. Romero – Boquete, Panama

 

Best Travel Product (so far)

 

#1 Choice – Packing Cubes

 

Eagle Creek Packing Cubes	eBags Packing Cubes

2. ExOfficio Underwear

3. Osprey Farpoint 40

4. Clothesline

 

Honorable Mention: Goal Zero; Reef Flip Flops; Travel Nemo Fillo Pillow; Universal Outlet Adaptor; Folding Scissors

 

Worst Hostel

 

#1 Choice – Backyard Hostel – Grenada, Nicaragua & Miami Mike’s – Chitre, Panama

 

2. Hostel Sheck – Tulum, Mexico

3. Underwater Vision – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

4. Hostel Siriri – Panama City, Panama

 

Worst National Beer

 

#1 Choice – Brava – Guatemala

 

2. Dorada Ice – Guatemala

3. Pilsen – Costa Rica

4. Barena - Honduras

 

 

Written by Jen Hays Jen is a marketer with a passion for the digital world and an insatiable desire to travel and explore all that the physical world has to offer; marrying the two to share her experiences with and inspire all who join her along the way. Find her on Google  | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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