why did the Spanish conquer Central America from the west coast and not the east?
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: It was easier to recruit soldiers, especially when they knew they would get R&R in Acapulco. (Cancun was too crowded with college kids.) In fact, the issue was more north-south than east-west, as the Spanish entered Central America from both Mexico and Panama. That far down you had fewer severe storms on the west coast. It also depends with where you want to start your conquest timeline; perhaps with Columbus first arriving in in Central America in Honduras–from the east.