Comfort
Explorer
Best of Mexico & Costa Rica
24 days • 5
5
Excellent
1 reviews
24 days
Start
Mexico City, Mexico
Finish
San Jose, Costa Rica
Trip Code
QBKPC
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
22 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Plane, Shared boat
Accommodation
Hotel (21 nights), Lodge (2 nights)
From £5,443(24 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Hike through the scenic landscapes of Manuel Antonio National Park with a local naturalist guide and learn all the hidden secrets of the rainforest, looking out for local wildlife like sloths and iguanas.
Discover the colourful, fantastical world of alebrijes – folk art sculptures of mythical creatures – during a visit to a women-run workshop outside Oaxaca. The artists will share their process and stories of how they came to specialise in these artworks.
Visit a local indigenous community and meet the Terraba people – a matriarchal community who have lived along the Terraba River for the last 500 years – and learn how to make a traditional wooden mask.
Get a taste of Maya culture during a homecooked Pibil lunch with a local family, sampling this traditional method of cooking which involves barbecuing food underground.
Is this trip right for you?
Some included activities, such as guided tours of archaeological sites can involve a lot of walking. Please ensure you bring sturdy walking shoes and comfortable clothes. To make the most of the trip, it's best if you have at least a moderate level of fitness.
This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. It's all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. There are a few long days of travel, as you'll be covering a lot of ground. You will, however, make stops at interesting locations to break up the longer drives. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
Costa Rica can be an expensive destination in many ways, with so many fun optional activities to choose from and meals costing more than in other Central American countries. Your leader will be able to advise on how to have the best value holiday in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is generally hot and humid year-round, and from May to October can be wet too. At nighttime and in locations at higher elevations it can get chilly. Protect yourself from the sun, bring light clothing you can layer and a waterproof jacket, and stay hydrated. Please carefully consider which time of the year you'll feel most comfortable travelling.
Itinerary
Ancient cultures, incredible food, jungle trails and sloth spotting
Raise a glass of mezcal to the diversity of Mexico, then embrace ‘pura vida’ (the simple life) in the rainforests and on the beaches of Costa Rica. Discover history in the ruins of Chichen Itza, then visit a contemporary Maya village to see how ancient Mesoamerican traditions have evolved. Savour simple fare during lunch with a Zapotec family and sip smoky mezcal at a distillery in Oaxaca. See the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, visit an organic family-owned farm producing some of the best coffee in the world and learn from a local naturalist guide on a hike through lush landscapes. Explore sloth country (AKA Manuel Antonio National Park) and match their leisurely pace as you relax among natural splendour of Costa Rica. Ancient cultures, incredible food, wildlife and wilderness – this 24-day trip has it all.
Inclusions
Meals
22 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Plane, Shared boat
Accommodation
Hotel (21 nights), Lodge (2 nights)
Included activities
Complimentary Arrival Transfer
Mexico City - Diego Rivera Murals in the Mural Museum (Entrance Fee)
Mexico City - Metropolitan Cathedral (entrance fee)
Mexico City - Leader-led orientation walk
Mexico City - National Museum of Anthropology (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays)
Puebla - Leader-led orientation walk
Teotihuacan - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
Cholula - leader led orientation walk
Oaxaca - Leader-led orientation walk
San Martín Tilcajete - Alebrijes workshop visit
Oaxaca - Zapotecan home-cooked lunch
Mitla - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
Oaxaca - Mezcaleria visit
Oaxaca - Tule Tree
Sumidero Canyon - Boat Excursion (entrance and transport)
San Cristobal de las Casas - Leader-led orientation walk
San Juan Chamula - Maya Church (entrance fee)
Zinacantan - Maya Church (entrance fee)
Palenque - Archaeological site (Guide, Transport & Entrance fee)
Merida - Leader-led orientation walk
Chichen Itza - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
Chichen Itza - Home-cooked pibil lunch
La Fortuna - Tortilla making
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Reserve Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park - Tour with a Naturalist Guide (entrance fee, guide and transport)
Térraba River - Mask Painting Lesson
Térraba River - Indigenous Community Visit & Lunch
Los Santos - Tierra Amiga Coffee Experience including lunch
San Jose - Leader-led orientation walk
Optional activities
Mexico City - Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays) - MXN95
Mexico City - Frida Kahlo Museum (entrance fee) - MXN320
Mexico City - Leon Trotsky Museum (entrance fee) - MXN75
Mexico City - Boat ride through Floating Gardens of Xochimilco (Approx. per boat per hour) - MXN700
Cholula – Cholula Pyramid (entrance fee, closed Mondays and Tuesdays) - MXN100
Oaxaca - Folkloric ballet (Fridays only) - MXN130
Oaxaca - Cooking class - MXN1500
Oaxaca - Monte Alban archaeological site (entrance fee) - MXN100
Oaxaca - Santo Domingo Cultural Centre (entrance fee) - MXN100
San Cristobal de Las Casas - Bicycle rental (per hour) - MXN400
San Cristobal de las Casas - Na Bolom Museum - MXN75
San Cristobal de las Casas - Jade Museum - MXN65
Merida - Celestun Bird Sanctuary (entrance and transport) - MXN1800
Merida - Uxmal Ruins tour (inc. shared transport and guide) - MXN2200
Merida - Fernando Garcia Ponce-Macay Contemporary Art Museum (entrance fee) - Free
La Fortuna - Ecotermales Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD49
La Fortuna - Arenal Volcano Base Hike - USD97
La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour - USD94
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Night Walk - USD45
Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD22
Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD55
Manuel Antonio - Boogie board rental - USD69
Manuel Antonio - Mangrove Kayak Activity (with lunch) - USD75
Manuel Antonio – Cruise (Inc transport, guide, lunch and drinks onboard) - USD95
San Jose - Jade Archaeological Museum (Entrance fee) - USD16
San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum (Entrance fee) - USD17
San Jose - San Jose By Night: Food and Culture - Urban Adventures - USD74
San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) (Closed Sunday & Monday) - USD11
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
3. Full passport details (including any middle names listed on your passport) are required at the time of booking for entrance tickets to Manuel Antonio National Park and for booking the flights included on this trip. Delays in providing this information may result in changes to your itinerary, and we will not be able to guarantee entry to the park. Flights wise, fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
4. Take care when booking flights from San Jose; make sure you fly out of Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO]. Please do not book flights from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport [SJC] as this is located in California, United States.
Reviews (1)
5 stars
1
Kathryn
Apr 14, 2024
A great trip. We had fun learned a lot and saw all the important things. Our guides and specialist guides were excellent.
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