Original
Explorer
Central American Adventure
33 days • 4.8
5
Excellent
16 reviews
33 days
Start
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Finish
San Jose, Costa Rica
Trip Code
QVRXC
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
12 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Local bus, Taxi, Private boat, Ferry
Accommodation
Hotel (29 nights), Lodge (2 nights), Homestay (1 night)
From £2,790(33 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Get to know contemporary Maya life during a homestay in San Juan La Laguna, a lakeside village where you can share meals and conversation with a local family.
Spend three days in the dreamy Caribbean Caye Caulker. Munch barbecue lobster? Snorkel in coral reef? Nap under a palm tree? It’s up to you.
Cruise up the Rio Dulce to your waterfront jungle lodge, then maybe grab a beer and relax while the sounds of nature fill the air.
Explore Suchitoto’s flower-studded balconies, galleries housed in 19th-century buildings and a lake teeming with thousands of local birds.
Hike, cycle or zip-line through the steamy cloud forests of Monteverde – there’s so many ways to experience the lush canopies and unique Central American wildlife.
Is this trip right for you?
This trip uses a mix of private and public transport. You’ll get an authentic look at daily life, but keep in mind that local transport between certain locations on this trip can be basic.
With so much to see and do, Costa Rica can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would in other Central American countries for a lot of things.
Central America is generally hot and humid year-round. 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. Air conditioning may not always be available in your rooms. Occasionally, properties may require an additional charge for air conditioning.
The homestay is a wonderful opportunity to witness everyday local life. Conditions are simple and multi-share but comfortable. A hearty homecooked dinner will be served during your stay, which can be a lot more basic than what you're used to.
There will be times when you have to walk with your luggage, and for this reason, we recommend packing light and using a backpack or something easy to carry.
If you are traveling with a UK passport, a visa is now required to enter Honduras. Please ensure you check the Important Notes and Essential Trip Information for more details.
Itinerary
Take a rollicking seven country adventure in the tropics
Explore colourful worlds – both on land and underwater – on a vibrant adventure from the sunny beaches of Mexico through jungle and Caribbean coastline to the volcanic mountains of Costa Rica. This 33-day adventure hits Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, snaking through all the best spots and introducing you to local haunts as well as traveller hotspots. Discover a diverse marine playground in Caye Caulker, walk through the steamy cloud forests in Monteverde and visit the famous Tikal pyramids, arguably the most stunning of Guatemala’s ruins. Learn ancient Maya secrets and pass through jaw-dropping scenery on this Central American adventure.
Inclusions
Meals
12 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Local bus, Taxi, Private boat, Ferry
Accommodation
Hotel (29 nights), Lodge (2 nights), Homestay (1 night)
Included activities
Playa del Carmen - Cenote Azul visit
Bacalar - Beach club entry
Caye Caulker - Leader-led orientation walk
Caye Caulker - Cooking Class
San Ignacio - Leader-led orientation walk
Tikal National Park - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
Rio Dulce - Guided jungle nature walk
Chichicastenango - Market Visit
Chichicastenango - Shaman Visit
Panajachel - Leader-led orientation walk
San Juan La Laguna - Traditional Maya Homestay
Antigua - Leader-led orientation walk
Santa Apolonia - Traditional Pottery Demonstration
Copan - Guided visit to Archaeological site
Suchitoto - Salvadoran Pupusa cooking demonstration
Suchitoto - Leader led orientation walk
Suchitoto - Indigo Dyeing Demonstration
Leon - Leader led orientation walk
Masaya - Town & Market Visit
Granada - La Laguna de Apoyo Viewpoint
Granada - Breakfast at El Cafe de las Sonrisas
Monteverde - Leader-led orientation walk
Monteverde - Hands-on breakfast in a local home
La Fortuna - Leader led orientation walk
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Reserve with a local guide
San Jose - Leader-led orientation walk
La Fortuna - Cooking Class
Optional activities
Playa del Carmen - Bicycle Rental (per day) - MXN260
Playa del Carmen - Ferry to Cozumel (Round-trip Ticket) - MXN600
Playa del Carmen - Half-day tour of Tulum Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport) - MXN1400
Bacalar - Lagoon of 7 Colours Boat Tour - MXN700
Caye Caulker - Stand-up paddleboard hire (per hour) - BZD55
Caye Caulker - Manatee boat tour (Incl. transport & guide) - BZD254
Caye Caulker - Sunset Sailing - BZD126
Caye Caulker - Full day Catamaran snorkeling tour in Hol Chan Marine Reserve-(gear, guide and transport included) - USD120
Caye Caulker - Full day speed boat - (gear, guide and transport included) - USD120
Caye Caulker - Bicycle Rental (per day) - USD12
San Ignacio - Butterfly Farm (incl. transport) - BZD175
San Ignacio - Iguana Conservation Project (entrance fee) - BZD24
San Ignacio - Xunantunich Ruins entry - BZD20
San Ignacio - Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves (Incl. entry, guide, transport & lunch) - USD135
San Ignacio - Cave tubing (incl. entrance, guide & transport) - USD100
Rio Dulce - Natural Hot Springs (entrance fee and transport) - GTQ210
Rio Dulce - Quirigua Ruins (entrance fee) - GTQ90
Rio Dulce - San Felipe Fort (entrance fee) - GTQ85
Rio Dulce - Boat trip to Livingston (Price dependent on boat available & passengers) - GTQ263
San Juan La Laguna - Water taxi to Santiago (Return) - GTQ60
Antigua - Salsa-dance Lesson (per hour) - GTQ150
Antigua - Half Day local towns, coffee and craft beer tour - USD95
Antigua - Half Day Pacaya Volcano with lunch - USD115
Antigua - Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hike & Camp - USD170
Antigua - City Tour with lunch - USD70
Antigua - Chocolate-making workshop at ChocoMuseo - USD30
Copan - Natural Hot Springs & Dinner - USD50
Suchitoto - Town tour (requires a minimum of 4 travellers to operate) - USD35
Suchitoto - War historic hike (Moderate hike - 2km) at Cinquera Forest (requires a minimum of 3 travellers to operate) - USD55
Suchitoto - Sunrise Kayaking on Lake Suchitlan (requires a minimum of 4 travelers to operate) - USD50
Leon - Volcano Sand Boarding (requires a minimum of 3 travellers to operate) - USD55
Leon - Leon Art Center - USD4
Granada - Mombacho Volcano hike (requires a minimum of 4 travellers to operate) - USD60
Granada - Granada islets boat tour (requires a minimum of 3 travellers to operate) - USD25
Granada - Laguna Apoyo swimming and kayaking tour (requires a minimum of 3 travellers to operate) - USD40
Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD55
Monteverde - Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport) - USD101
Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD47
Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD22
Monteverde - Frog pond - USD20
Monteverde - Orchid gardens - USD18
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Night Walk - USD45
Monteverde - Children's Forest - USD25
La Fortuna - Arenal hanging bridges (inc entrance fee, guide and shared transport) - USD75
La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only) - USD25
La Fortuna - Arenal Volcano Base Hike - USD97
La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour - USD94
La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board - USD75
La Fortuna - Baldi Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD66
San Jose - San Jose By Night: Food and Culture - Urban Adventures - USD74
San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) (Closed Sunday & Monday) - USD11
San Jose - San Jose Bites and Sights Tour - Urban Adventures - USD49
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Important notes
1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1 in Playa del Carmen. There are no activities planned for the final day so you may depart at any time.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 14 (San Juan La Laguna homestay) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Please be careful when booking flights from San Jose; make sure you fly out of Juan Santamaría 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.
4.As per updated Nicaragua entry requirements, customers are currently required to supply a copy of their passport front page to their booking agent no later than 15 days prior to departure.
5. Should you have any questions or need assistance with the Honduras pre-registration, your leader will be able to assist on Day 1 of your tour. For more information, visit the ‘Passports, visas and entry requirements’ section of the ‘Essential Trip Information.
6. IMPORTANT FOR UK PASSPORT HOLDERS: You must obtain a multiple entry visa to Honduras before traveling on this trip. Due to reported delays in securing embassy appointments, we recommend checking appointment availability with the Honduran Embassy before confirming your travel plans. See the Passports, visas and entry requirements section in your Essential Trip Information for details.
7. Under Honduran law, travelers under age 21 who are traveling unaccompanied or with only one parent must have written, notarized permission to travel (in Spanish) from the non-traveling parent(s) or guardian(s). Please check with your local embassy or consulate for specific requirements.
Reviews (16)
5 stars
13
4 stars
3
David
Apr 12, 2025
This is an excellent trip which provides a taster for all the countries in this region. I would highly recommend it!
Amanda
Oct 27, 2024
The Central America Trip exceeded my expectations! I had such an incredible time exploring new countries and all the adventure activities that were available.
Hannah
Aug 28, 2024
I have just finished an amazing 5 weeks in Central America. What a trip! The people, the activities, the locations - it was all fantastic. The leaders we had were fantastic and I learnt so much about this beautiful part of the world. Thank you Intrepid!
Matthew
Aug 28, 2024
Great trip and great tour leaders. Would highly recommend to anyone looking to travel around Central America.
Rebecca
Jul 07, 2024
The tour was awesome, we thoroughly enjoyed the places we visited, the tour guides and the like-minded travellers of all ages. We felt very safe in Central America, the locals are all so welcoming and friendly. We recommend intrepid to everyone!
Neil
Dec 11, 2023
Great roller coaster of a trip . To visit 7 diverse countries in such a short space of time was incredible from lost Mayan cities in Honduras to swimming with sharks in Belize this trip offers variety and vistas
Aisling
Oct 26, 2023
If you want to see an expansive view of what Central America has to offer without having to worry about organising your itinerary or cross borders etc, don't hesitate to book! Super impressed with my first intrepid experience and it won't be the last. Loved my guide, loved the locations and had an absolute blast.
Hollie
Oct 26, 2023
Highly recommend this trip . Great tour guide and a fantastic part of the world . Very safe and organised .
Ellen
Aug 10, 2023
Really enjoyed this tour, our guide Leo was incredible and really made the trip. The itinerary is great, although very fast paced! It is mostly transport and accomodation, so be prepared to pay for additional activities. Otherwise, it’s a great way to explore Central America, I wish I went on to Panama!
Jade
Feb 25, 2023
Amazing trip! Rony and Ben were amazing trip leaders, the trip was really fun and would 10/10 recommend
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