Basix
18 to 35s
Epic Mexico to Costa Rica
32 Days | Beaches, ruins, jungles and (quite often) a combination of all three
5
Excellent
6 reviews
32 days
Start
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Finish
San Jose, Costa Rica
Trip Code
QBYXC
Min Age
18
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Public bus, Local bus, Taxi, Shared boat, Ferry
Accommodation
Hotel (23 nights), Multishare lodge (2 nights), Multishare Hotel (2 nights), Multishare Hostel (2 nights), Camping (2 nights)
From £2,448(32 days)
Trip Informations
From cloud forests and volcanic peaks to sun-drenched island beaches and lost temples, Central America is bursting with natural wonders and converging cultures. On this 32-day adventure, you’ll kick off in Mexico’s Playa del Carmen and snake through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Relax by colourful architecture in San Miguel, trek to the jungle ruins of Tikal, brush up on your Espanol over an icy cerveza and stay in villages dwarfed by volcanoes. Whether you’re haggling in the markets of Chichicastenango, chilling in a Caribbean town on the Rio Dulce or wandering cobblestone streets in Antigua, this tour gives you a taste of Central America’s myriad of flavours. From ancient Maya ruins to modern nightlife, you’ll explore the sights and sounds of Latin life and dive into the wilds of seldom-seen hotspots.
Why you’ll love this trip
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. 
Head to Tikal National Park within the dense Maya forest to explore ancient Maya ruins at the archaeological site – you might like to opt to swing through the canopy on the optional zipline experience! 
Hike, cycle or zip-line through the steamy cloud forests of Monteverde in Costa Rica and commune with nature in one of the world’s most incredible landscapes. 
Island life doesn’t get much better than Ometepe in Nicaragua and Caye Caulker in Belize – volcanoes, wildlife-rich rainforests, stunning beaches, ancient rock carvings, laidback vibes, palm tree forests and a massive lake are all at your disposal. 
Get a taste of six different countries in Central America on an epic Latin adventure that takes in the sights and offers a whole heap of optional activities too! You’ll have loads of free time to choose your own hike, snorkel, kayak, swimming or dancing adventure.  
Is this trip right for you?
This trip involves some long days of travel by private and local transport. While this can be tiring, it's also a fantastic way to rub shoulders with the locals. 
You’ll be crossing the borders between several countries on this trip and while it is usually straightforward, you may need to be patient. Ensure 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.
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.
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. Want to take it easy? There are plenty of other things you can do instead.
This trip is part of a longer itinerary. You might be joining travellers who have already spent some time together. If you have more time to explore, you might like to check out Epic Central America.
Itinerary
Inclusions
Meals
3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Public bus, Local bus, Taxi, Shared boat, Ferry
Accommodation
Hotel (23 nights), Multishare lodge (2 nights), Multishare Hotel (2 nights), Multishare Hostel (2 nights), Camping (2 nights)
Activities
Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
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
Add on activities
Playa del Carmen - Bicycle Rental (per day) - MXN273
Tulum - Archaeological Site (incl. entrance & national park fee - no guide) - MXN142
Tulum- Bike rental - MXN263
Tulum - Cenote Adventure - USD135
Tulum - Jungle Adventure - USD135
Tulum - Jungle Bike tour - USD125
Tulum - Maya Inland Expedition - USD159
Tulum - Sian Ka'an Adventure - USD150
Tulum - World Wonder Discovery - USD160
Tulum - Sian Ka'an Muyil - USD180
Caye Caulker - Sunset Sailing - BZD126
Caye Caulker - Full-day Guided Snorkelling Trip (gear, guide and transport included) - BZD230
Caye Caulker - Stand-up paddleboard hire (per hour) - BZD44
San Ignacio - Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves (Incl. entry, guide, transport & lunch) - BZD263
San Ignacio - Cave tubing (incl. entrance, guide & transport) - BZD200
San Ignacio - Butterfly Farm (incl. transport) - BZD158
San Ignacio - Cahal Pech Ruins entry - BZD10
San Ignacio - Iguana Conservation Project (entrance fee) - BZD24
San Ignacio - Xunantunich Ruins entry - BZD11
Tikal National Park - Guide for Ruins (per person, min 5 participants) - GTQ105
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) - GTQ89
Rio Dulce - Quirigua Ruins (entrance fee) - GTQ95
Panajachel - Bicycle rental (per day) - GTQ50
Antigua - Chocolate-making workshop at ChocoMuseo - GTQ236
Antigua - Half Day local towns, coffee and craft beer tour - USD95
Antigua - City Tour with lunch - USD70
Antigua - Acatenango Volcano Overnight Adventure - USD170
Antigua - Half Day Pacaya Volcano with lunch - USD115
Cerro Verde- Coatepeque Lake – (transportation, entrance fee, hotsprings, guide) - USD50
Cerro Verde- Santa Ana Volcano Crater – (Entrance fee, guide, lunch) - USD30
Leon - Volcano Sand Boarding - USD53
Granada - Laguna Apoyo kayaking tour - USD30
Granada - Kayak rental (per day) - NIO913
Granada - Masaya Volcano at night (Viewpoint for the Lava Lake at Santiago Crater) - NIO1600
Ometepe - Maderas Volcano hike - USD45
Ometepe - Ojo de Agua natural spring (entrance fee) - USD25
Ometepe - Petroglyphs - USD25
San Juan del Sur - La Flor Beach Reserve - USD6
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance - USD26
Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD58
Monteverde - Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport) - USD65
Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD47
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Night Walk - USD45
Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD22
La Fortuna - Ecotermales Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD49
La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only) - USD21
La Fortuna - Arenal Volcano Base Hike - USD97
La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour - USD84
La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board - USD79
San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) - USD12
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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 9 (Tikal), Days 10 & 11 (Rio Dulce), Days 13 & 14 (Lake Atitlan) and Days 25 & 26 (San Juan del Sur) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. 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. 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.
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