I spent 12 days backpacking through Central America. My trip could've been even better if I'd done these 5 things.

There are five things I wish I knew before traveling to Central America.

Russia Boles

• Last summer, my partner and I backpacked through Central America for 12 days.
• Although I loved the trip, I wish we'd visited Lake Atitlán during our stay in Guatemala.
• Next time, I'd also choose to stay in hostels more frequently to save money.

Last August, my partner and I spent 12 days traveling through Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.

The trip was filled with amazing new experiences ...