Basix
18 to 35s
Epic Central America
45 days • 4
4
Very Good
2 reviews
45 days
Start
Mexico City, Mexico
Finish
San Jose, Costa Rica
Trip Code
QBYZC
Min Age
18
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 6 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Public bus, Local bus, Taxi, Shared boat, Ferry
Accommodation
Hotel (35 nights), Overnight public bus (1 night), Multishare lodge (2 nights), Multishare Hotel (2 nights), Multishare Hostel (2 nights), Camping (2 nights)
From £3,386(45 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Have breakfast at Cafe de las Sonrisas – a local café run entirely by deaf people. The café's owner is aiming to bridge the gap and inspire other business owners to employ local people living with disabilities.
Tour the historic site of Chichen Itza – one of the new Seven Wonders of the World – and learn why these ancient Maya ruins are the most important in all of Mexico.
Visit the colourful markets of Chichicastenango, nicknamed Chichi, where you can explore the local handmade wares like jade jewellery, pottery and traditional huipils – the traditional dress worn by Maya women.
Enjoy traditional Guatemalan hospitality with a homecooked lunch in a local home in San Juan La Laguna, after visiting a local midwife, walking through medicinal gardens and experiencing a weaving and dying workshop.
Take a cooking class in Los Ramos – an Indigenous community in the middle of Ometepe Island’s volcanos – and learn traditional techniques used to make Nicaraguan dishes like nacatamales.
Is this trip right for you?
This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle and public bus with your group, including an overnight bus journey. Space can be tight, but it’s all part of the adventure and is a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
You’ll be crossing the borders between several countries on this trip. While it's usually straightforward, you may need to be patient. Make sure you’ve got your best car game ready if there are any delays!
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.
There are many opportunities to get active on this adventure. Some of the optional activities, especially the volcano hikes, require a moderate level of fitness and sturdy walking shoes.
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.
This trip visits places that are at high altitude, and as a result some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the Medical and health information section of the Essential Trip Information for more detail.
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 on a grand-e adventure through Central America
It doesn’t get much bigger than this – take on a 45-day adventure enjoying everything Central America has to offer, from Mexico to Costa Rica and all the cool spots in between. Whether you're hitting the waves in El Salvador, trekking the steamy cloud forests in Costa Rica, snorkelling the pristine underwater worlds in Belize or washing down your tacos with mezcal in Mexico, there's no shortage of unforgettable experiences on this trip. You’ll cover six countries, stopping at dozens of towns and beaches and sipping many (many) cervezas. Oh Maya, this is huge.
Inclusions
Meals
5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 6 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Public bus, Local bus, Taxi, Shared boat, Ferry
Accommodation
Hotel (35 nights), Overnight public bus (1 night), Multishare lodge (2 nights), Multishare Hotel (2 nights), Multishare Hostel (2 nights), Camping (2 nights)
Included activities
Mexico City - Leader-led Taco Crawl
Mexico City - Leader-led orientation walk
Mexico City - Gastromotiva (The Tuuur Foundation partner) visit
Oaxaca - Leader-led orientation walk
San Cristobal de Las Casas - Leader-led Orientation Walk
San Cristobal - Santo Domingo Market Visit
Zinacantan - Maya Church (entrance fee)
Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
Palenque - Archaeological site (Entrance fee & Transport)
Misol-Ha - Waterfall Visit
Merida – Marquesitas Snack
Merida - Leader-led orientation walk
Playa del Carmen - Leader-led Orientation Walk
Chichen Itza - Archaeological site
Yokdzonot Cenote – Visit and Swim
Piste - Home-cooked Lunch
Tulum - Leader-led orientation walk
Caye Caulker - Leader-led orientation walk
San Ignacio - Leader-led orientation walk
Tikal National Park - Archaeological Site Tour (Entrance fee & Transport)
Chichicastenango - Market Visit
San Juan La Laguna - Weaving & Dyeing experience
San Juan La Laguna - Midwife home visit
San Juan La Laguna - Medicinal Garden
Antigua - Leader-led orientation walk
Cerro Verde - Salvadoran Pupusa cooking demonstration
Leon - Leader-led orientation walk
Granada - Breakfast at El Cafe de las Sonrisas
Los Ramos Community - Cooking Class
Monteverde - Leader-led orientation walk
La Fortuna - Leader-led orientation walk
San Jose - Leader-led orientation walk
Optional activities
Mexico City - Diego Rivera Murals in the Mural Museum (Entrance Fee) - MXN50
Mexico City - Boat ride through Floating Gardens of Xochimilco (Approx. per boat per hour) - MXN700
Mexico City - Chapultepec National History Museum - MXN100
Mexico City - National Museum of Anthropology (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays) - MXN100
Mexico City - Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays) - MXN95
Mexico City - Frida Kahlo Museum (entrance fee) - MXN320
Oaxaca - Monte Alban archaeological site (entrance fee) - MXN100
Oaxaca - Santo Domingo Cultural Centre (entrance fee) - MXN100
Mitla - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport) - MXN1200
Oaxaca - Tule Tree, Hierve el Agua visit, mescal distillery - MXN950
Oaxaca - Cooking class - MXN1500
San Cristobal de las Casas - Jade Museum - MXN65
Sumidero Canyon - Boat Excursion (entrance and transport) - MXN900
San Cristobal de Las Casas - Bicycle rental (per hour) - MXN400
Merida - Celestun Bird Sanctuary (entrance and transport) - MXN1800
Merida - Uxmal Ruins tour (inc. shared transport and guide) - MXN2200
Playa del Carmen - Bicycle Rental (per day) - MXN260
Tulum - Archaeological Site (incl. entrance & national park fee - no guide) - MXN451
Tulum- Bike rental - MXN250
Tulum - Jungle Adventure - USD149
Tulum - Jungle Bike tour (two centotes) - USD125
Tulum - Maya Inland Expedition - USD164
Tulum - Sian Ka'an Adventure - USD150
Tulum - World Wonder Discovery - USD174
Tulum - Sian Ka'an Muyil - USD194
Tulum - Cenote Adventure - MXN1500
Caye Caulker - Sunset Sailing - BZD126
Caye Caulker - Full-day Guided Snorkelling Trip (gear, guide and transport included) - BZD230
Caye Caulker - Full-day Guided Snorkelling Trip (gear, guide and transport included) USD - USD120
Caye Caulker - Stand-up paddleboard hire (per hour) - BZD55
San Ignacio - Butterfly Farm (incl. transport) - BZD175
San Ignacio - Cahal Pech Ruins entry - BZD20
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
Tikal National Park - Guide for Ruins (per person, min 5 participants) - GTQ100
Rio Dulce - Boat trip to Livingston (Price dependent on boat available & passengers) - GTQ263
Rio Dulce - Natural Hot Springs (entrance fee and transport) - GTQ210
Rio Dulce - San Felipe Fort (entrance fee) - GTQ85
Rio Dulce - Quirigua Ruins (entrance fee) - GTQ90
Panajachel - Bicycle rental (per day) - USD25
Antigua - Half Day Pacaya Volcano with lunch - USD115
Antigua - Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hike & Camp - USD170
Antigua - City Tour with lunch - USD70
Antigua - Half Day local towns, coffee and craft beer tour - USD95
Antigua - Chocolate-making workshop at ChocoMuseo - USD30
Cerro Verde- Coatepeque Lake – (transportation, entrance fee, hotsprings, guide) - USD50
Cerro Verde National Park - Santa Ana volcano hike - USD50
Leon - Volcano Sand Boarding (requires a minimum of 3 travellers to operate) - USD55
Granada - Laguna Apoyo swimming and kayaking tour (requires a minimum of 3 travellers to operate) - USD40
Granada - Kayak rental (per day) - NIO913
Granada - Masaya Volcano at night (Viewpoint for the Lava Lake at Santiago Crater) - USD65
Ometepe - Ojo de Agua natural spring (entrance fee) - USD25
Ometepe - Petroglyphs - USD25
San Juan del Sur - La Flor Beach Reserve - USD6
Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD55
Monteverde - Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport) - USD101
Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD47
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Night Walk - USD45
Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD22
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance - USD26
La Fortuna - Ecotermales Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD49
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
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 excludes Day 5 (Overnight bus), Days 23 & 24 (Rio Dulce), Days 26 & 27 (Lake Atitlan), and Days 38 & 39 (San Juan del Sur) where you will be in shared accommodation. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This tour includes accommodation in multi-share rooms (triple and quad). This means travelers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to single gender allocation.
3. Please be careful 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.
4. IMPORTANT FOR UK PASSPORT HOLDERS: You must obtain a single 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.
5. 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 (2)
4 stars
2
Alexandra
Jan 05, 2025
Fantastic trip - the first 2 weeks in Mexico and Nicaragua were the highlights! The middle stretch is very chill with not a lot to do. Be ready for some long travel days and great food!
Constance
Mar 27, 2024
The Epic Central America trip was an incredible way to see so much of these countries in an action-packed 6 and a bit weeks! Definite highlights were Mexico, Caye Caulker in Belize and Cerro Verde in El Salvador. It’s very fast-paced but an experience I’ll remember.
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