Basix
18 to 35s
Real Central America
16 Days | Traverse the lakes, volcanos and jungles of Central American adventure
4.9
Excellent
69 reviews
16 days
Start
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Finish
Antigua, Guatemala
Trip Code
QBYA
Min Age
18
Trip Size
1 - null
Physical Rating
Meals
2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Local bus, Public bus, Taxi, Shared Boat, Ferry
Accommodation
Hotel (11 nights), Multishare lodge (2 nights), Multishare hotel (2 nights)
From £1,183(16 days)
Trip Informations
On this 16-day Central American adventure, you’ll explore the vast lakes, steaming volcanos and thick jungles of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. Starting in Playa de Carmen, you’ll explore hotspot Tulum, where you can visit the Temple of Frescoes and dance the night away after a few margaritas. Hit island paradise in Caye Caulker, where you have a couple of days to snorkel, swim and laze on the beach. Explore San Ignacio, a place of waterfalls and Maya ruins, at your own pace before hitting Tikal National Park. Take scenic boat rides in Rio Dulce, trek through the jungle in your spare time and then head to the gorgeous Lake Atitlan, where you’ll visit the famous Chichi market and make the trip to San Juan La Laguna to immerse yourself in Maya village life. End it all in UNESCO World Heritage-listed Antigua, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes.
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!
Soak up extended time in the paradise of Caye Caulker and unique Antigua, offering the perfect opportunity for some laidback island vibes and buzzing city life. Swim among tropical fish and then hit the salsa lessons.
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.
See some of the best of Central America in one trip travelling through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. Enjoy loads of free time where you can rent bikes and explore on wheels, go snorkelling and kayaking or rent a paddleboard and explore the landscape from the water.
Is this trip right for you?
You’ll be crossing the borders between three countries on this trip and while it is usually straightforward, you may need to be patient.
Is it hot in here? Well, you’re in tropical Central America, so it can get really hot and humid. Carry plenty of water as hydration is key, especially when walking a lot.
It’s a good idea to try and brush up on as many Spanish words as possible. While locals are friendly, they’re also shy, so knowing some local lingo is a great way to break the ice and show you care.
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.
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 Mexico, Belize & Guatemala or Epic Mexico to Costa Rica.
Itinerary
Inclusions
Meals
2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Local bus, Public bus, Taxi, Shared Boat, Ferry
Accommodation
Hotel (11 nights), Multishare lodge (2 nights), Multishare hotel (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
Optional 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
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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 Days 2 & 3 (Tulum), Days 10 & 11 (Rio Dulce) and Days 13 & 14 (Lake Atitlan) 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 Antigua; make sure you fly out of Guatemala City Airport [GUA]. Guatemala City Airport is the closest airport to Antigua. Please do not book flights from Antigua & Barbuda Airport [ANU] as this is an island in the Caribbean.
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