Travel: 7 Ways to Celebrate Your Engagement in Central America

We often talk about what happens after you are engaged, the amount of organisation that  goes into planning your big day! BUT what about what happens when you have just got engaged? For a few weeks there is that excitement, that buzz about your good news. You may feel a bit giddy, well that is the time to really celebrate your engagement and have fun with your amazing news. Some people like to throw an engagement party, while others might want to jet off somewhere special to celebrate. Today we are looking at the many locations of Central America, all of which are perfect for celebrating your engagement, or even places to pop the question!

Central America, not to be confused with the Central United States, includes a set of countries bordered by Mexico to the north and Colombia to the south. Although this area is often left unexplored by couples, you should definitely celebrate your engagement in Central America.

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Don’t Forget the Engagement Ring!

If you plan to pop the question in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, or Panama, make sure you pack the ring. If your spouse-to-be already asked you for your hand in marriage, don’t leave your ring at home, no matter how weird it may feel to wear it.

You may want to ensure your ring or get it inspected for loose gems before traveling. It would be a shame to lose your new ring with rectangular sapphires right after you got it!

Never wear your ring in the pool or ocean and lock it in the hotel safe when it isn’t on your finger. Finally, keep your ring on, inside your pocket, or in your closed travel bag at the airport. Your jewellery shouldn’t set off any alarms, and there’s a higher possibility it’ll get stolen.

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How to Celebrate Your Engagement in Central America – There’s a good chance you’ll never run out of things to do in the 7 countries that comprise Central America. Here are a few ways you can celebrate your engagement in each country.

1. Catch a Yearly Belizean Festival

Central America is home to several incredible festivals, so you should try to catch one in Belize. From the Belize Carnival to the Placencia Sidewalk Arts Festival and the John Canoe Dance Contest, you’ll have a lot to choose from. You’ll even get to enjoy a chocolate/cacao festival.

But the biggest festival of all belongs to Belizean Independence day, which happens on September 21st. In Belize City, you’ll get to enjoy food, dancing, music, and poems on this day.

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2. Explore the Costa Rican Beaches

Costa Rica is a nature lover’s paradise and is known the world over for its incredible beaches. You could relax all day on the Nicoya Peninsula’s 80-mile shoreline and still come back for more, but if you want a varied experience, you can always take a trip to the Gold Coast.

On the beach, you can try your hand at surfing, snorkelling, canoeing, kayaking, boating, and plenty of other water-based activities. Don’t forget to stay hydrated under the hot sun!

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3. Take a Mayan Tour in El Salvador

If you love history, you’ll enjoy touring the Mayan ruins of El Salvador. You shouldn’t miss the Joya de Ceren Archaeological Park tour, which includes a pre-Columbian farming village once buried under a volcanic eruption in 600 A.D. But, that isn’t the only Mayan site you can explore.

Most travel sites will let you purchase a combo tour package, which includes sites like Tazumal, San Andres, Lunch View Lake, Chalchuapa, Surf City, and nearby volcanoes and lakes.

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4. Hike Up the Guatemalan Volcanoes

Speaking of volcanoes, Guatemala has plenty. If you love to hike, you can visit one of the country’s 37 volcanoes, but if you’re brave, you can get up close and personal with 3 active volcanoes, Fuego, Pacaya, and Santiaguito. You may even see one erupt from a distance!

If you’re up for a 2-hour hike, you can roast marshmallows over Volcan Pacaya or spend the night next to Volcan Acatenango. At least at Acatenango, you won’t be swimming in lava!

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5. See the Museums and Parks in Honduras

Honduras is another great Central American country for people who love history. If you want a dose of Honduras culture, check out the Museum of National Identity in Tegucigalpa. You’ll get to see a collection of Honduran and international art in the beautiful National Heritage building.

If nature is more your thing, look up the Cusuco National Park and it’s over 260 species of birds, including the Quetzal. If you also love plant life, visit the Carambola Botanical Gardens.

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6. Go Cathedral Sightseeing in Nicaragua

Central America really knows how to build cathedrals, so if you’re a fan of old buildings and city landmarks, we recommend going sightseeing in Nicaragua. You’ll be able to see incredible churches, such as the Iglesia de La Merced, Catedral de Granada, and Santiago of Managua.

However, the most impressive of all is the iconic Catedral de la Asunción or León Cathedral. A World Heritage Site, this 18th-century cathedral is the largest church in Central America.

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7. Drink, Eat, and Be Merry in Panama

Sometimes you just want to go to a country and enjoy the food. In Panama, you’ll get to experience the best that Panamanian cuisine has to offer, including carimañola, sancocho, ceviche, and of course, empanadas. Don’t forget to try some local beer like Balboa or Atlas!

Out of all the restaurants in Panama City, we’d recommend El Trapiche for their sandwiches, Casco Viejo for an American twist to Panamanian food, and Oro Moreno for the chocolate cake.

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