Shortly after his acquittal, Muybridge leaves San Francisco for Central America, avoiding public scrutiny and likely seeking a fresh start. The travel is possibly suggested, or even facilitated by Leland Stanford, to avoid embarrassment and scandal.

Muybridge documents various aspects of Central American life, including landscapes, architecture, and people. He captures images of Guatemala, Panama, and other regions, creating a valuable visual record of the area during this period.

Muybridge returns to San Francisco, bringing with him a collection of photographs from his Central American expedition. He resumes his photographic work and prepares to continue his research on animal locomotion.