Basix
18 to 35s
Real Central America
16 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
80 reviews
16 days
Start
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Finish
Antigua, Guatemala
Trip Code
QBYA
Min Age
18
Trip Size
1 - 16
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
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 with loads of free time where you can rent bikes and explore on wheels, go snorkelling and kayaking or rent a paddleboard and take in the landscape from the water.
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 three countries on this trip and while it is usually straightforward, you may need to be patient.
Central America 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 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
Traverse the lakes, volcanoes and jungles on this Central American adventure
On this 16-day Central American adventure, you’ll explore the vast lakes, steaming volcanos and thick jungles of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, making memories with new lifelong friends. 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.
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)
Included 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) - 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
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 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 some nights 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.
Reviews (77)
5 stars
68
4 stars
8
3 stars
1
Nico
May 07, 2025
Mikayla
Mar 19, 2025
My Real Central America trip was incredible! Suzy was the best guide I’ve ever had—her knowledge, energy, and kindness made the experience unforgettable. I learned so much about the region and felt completely supported the whole way. Highly recommend this trip to anyone seeking adventure, culture, and amazing memories!
Nieve
Mar 07, 2025
I LOVE Gil best tour leader ever made the trip unforgettable !!! XXXX
Emily
Feb 21, 2025
Had an incredible time doing this intrepid tour and would fully recommend to others! The itinerary had a great range of locations and options for different activities. The tour guide Gilberto provided lots of recommendations and was very approachable and made me feel safe throughout! The group was also great fun too and overall the trip was amazing.
Rebecca
Feb 02, 2025
A brilliant two weeks exploring one of the most surprising and fascinating parts of the world. Our guide, Gil, is an absolute gem and made the experience unforgettable and so fun. I would definitely recommend this tour for anyone intrigued about this part of Central America- you won’t be let down
Gabriela
Jan 30, 2025
If you’re thinking about taking this trip, do it! it’s brilliant from start to finish, and special shout out to Gil who is an absolute dream of a tour leader - I feel so lucky to have had him! the trip ran flawlessly and was so fun from start to finish, and you’ll meet the most amazing people!
Emma
Jan 28, 2025
This trip was incredible! The locations blew my mind!
Rosie
Oct 24, 2024
Informative, adventurous and fun. Grateful for our excellent knowledgeable and friendly guide RC. Only recommendation is to brush up on your Spanish beforehand!
Isobel
Sep 12, 2024
A wonderful tour filled with so many options for activities. Our guide Fito made this tour so much more enjoyable - he had so much local knowledge and so much enthusiasm for the land we were travelling through. We travelled with an amazing group as well. Really recommend this tour for nature and animal lovers, Tikal and Caye Caulker were the special highlights.
Matteo
Sep 04, 2024
Great trip. Well organized and very flexible. You really get the chance to safely travel in a group whilst being free of doing the activities of your interest.
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