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Thanksgiving in Central America

Where to Celebrate Thanksgiving in Central America

A list of restaurants, hotels, and other places putting on a Thanksgiving spread this week. If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving in Central America but don’t know where to go, we hope this quick guide will help you. 

Welcome to our fifth annual Thanksgiving directory! This week every year, we try to make it easier for people looking for a Thanksgiving dinner by putting some options out there.

So if you’re from the States, down here in Central America, and feeling like the full turkey dinner followed by some NFL on the tube, where do you go?

After all, Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated all the way down south is it? Does anyone care about Thanksgiving in Central America?

Well, to answer the last question first, people do care about Thanksgiving in Central America. You know who? Gringos care.

Especially that flavor of gringos who come from the United States.

And, to answer the first question last, although Thanksgiving isn’t an official holiday in this part of the world (any more than, say, Americans celebrate Guanacaste Annexation Day or Garifuna Settlement Day), people will be celebrating. In fact, in Costa Rica, Thanksgiving became a “day” last year. Not a holiday in any way, but a recognized day, regardless… something to, basically, attract tourists.

Shops, banks, restaurants, etc. will be open like a regular Thursday. Because, down here, it is a regular Thursday. But you’ll find a place to celebrate, for sure. We’ve scoured the internet and social media looking for Thanksgiving recommendations throughout Central America so you don’t have to.

Belize

Celebrating Thanksgiving in Belize? Here are some places to check out:

Guatemala

If you need a place to do Thanksgiving in Guatemala, look right here:

Honduras

Thanksgiving in Honduras needn’t be difficult to celebrate if you know where to go:

El Salvador

If you’re looking for a place to celebrate Thanksgiving with a feast in El Salvador, it helps if you’re in the capital:

Nicaragua

If you’re in Nicaragua this Thanksgiving, here’s where to get your turkey-flavored treats:

Costa Rica

There are tons of places celebrating Thanksgiving in Costa Rica – as we mentioned above, Thanksgiving is a “day” in the Land of Pura Vida. Here a few to check out:

Panama

Finding a Thanksgiving dinner in Panama is a little challenging this year – ongoing protests and blockades have disrupted the supply chain somewhat. But there are still some places around to get your turkey on:

We hope this gives you some idea of where to enjoy Thanksgiving in Central America, wherever you are

And if you’re in doubt, pretty much any hotel will probably have something happening. Wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing tomorrow, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

James Dyde

James Dyde

James Dyde is a British immigrant to Costa Rica and the editor of this website. He has lived in Central America since 2000 and retains a deep love for the region. He lives in Escazu, Costa Rica.