It is hard to know, at this point in the narrative, what the phrase "many days" (2 Nephi 5:7) means. Nephi has used the phrase "many days" to describe trips of only a few hundred miles or trips as long as an ocean voyage (1 Nephi 16:15, 16:33, 18:23). A key to the answer, according to John Sorenson, might be the fact that on this occasion Nephi traveled "many days," ending up at a site where they named their settlement for their leader, Nephi. If we combine this information in 2 Nephi 5:7-8 and the information concerning the Lamanite "land of first inheritance" mentioned in Alma 22:27-34 as "on the west in the land if Nephi," we might presume that the original place of Nephi which the group first fled to was not very far from the coast. We can reason in this manner because if Nephi's group would have traveled "many days" directly inland, they would have ended up far from the sea. And thus, in Alma 22 the Lamanite "land of first inheritance" would probably not be listed within the land of Nephi. [John Sorenson, An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon, p. 139]
“We Did Journey in the Wilderness”
When Nephi's group of followers fled into the wilderness to escape the danger imposed by Laman and Lemuel, their ultimate destination would be the land of Nephi (2 Nephi 5:8). In the subsequent text, the "land of Nephi" is always referred to as being "up." Assuming a Mesoamerican setting, there are mountains which border the entire Pacific coast. At multiple points, the coastal route can climb up into the mountain wilderness. Most all the coastal routes and mountain routes eventually connect with the capital city of Guatemala, a location many scholars believe correlates with the Book of Mormon "city of Nephi." [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]
2 Nephi 5:7 We did journey in the wilderness for the space of many days ([Illustration]): From any part of the strip of wilderness near the Pacific coast . . . in southern Guatemala, the mountains are visible, beckoning with a promise of cooler climate. [John L. Sorenson, Images of Ancient America, p. 194]
2 Nephi 5:7 We . . . did journey in the wilderness ([Illustration]): The route from Tapachula Mexico (near the ruins of Izapa--a proposed location for the landing area of Lehi) to Guatemala City (the site of the ruins of Kaminaljuyu--a proposed location for the city of Nephi). This is an enhanced photo of the giant Relief Map of Guatemala located in Guatemala City. [Cliff Cross, Central America Travel Guide, p. 15]
2 Nephi 5:7 We . . . did journey in the wilderness ([Illustration]): Another perspective of three main routes from Tapachula (near the ruins of Izapa--a proposed location for the landing area of Lehi) to Guatemala City (the site of the ruins of Kaminaljuyu--a proposed location for the city of Nephi): (Route #1) proceeding along the Pacific coast to Esquintla, then upwards past Lake Amatitlan; (Route #2) proceeding part way along the Pacific coast, the climbing upwards to Quetzaltenango and then passing by Lake Atitlan; (Route #3) going a little northward and then ascending upwards to Quetzaltenango and then passing by Lake Atitlan. This is an enhanced photo of the giant Relief Map of Guatemala located in Guatemala City. [Cliff Cross, Central America Travel Guide, p. 31]
2 Nephi 5:7 We . . . did journey in the wilderness ([Illustration]): Another perspective of the routes from Tapachula (near the ruins of Izapa--a proposed location for the landing area of Lehi) to Guatemala City (the site of the ruins of Kaminaljuyu--a proposed location for the city of Nephi). As shown, the coastal route proceeds from Izapa (to the left out of the picture) along the coast to Esquintla, then upwards past Lake Amatitlan to Guatemala City. The other connecting route (the route of the Inter-American Highway) comes from beyond Quetzaltenango passing by Lake Atitlan. This is an enhanced photo of the giant Relief Map of Guatemala located in Guatemala City. [Cliff Cross, Central America Travel Guide, p. 27 ]