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Central American Explorer

5.0Based on
25 days
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25 daysDuration
Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants
16 peopleMaximum group size
16 - 99 yearsAge range for participants
EnglishGuide language
Moderate
Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.
Select Date
Best price guaranteedNo credit card or booking fees.Carbon neutral tours.
3 other people are considering this tour right now.

Highlights

Paradisal beaches - Unwind on the beautiful island of Bocas del Toro, snorkelling in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. Ancient sites - Discover the ancient Maya at impeccable UNESCO World Heritage sites and beyond. Wildlife - Search for the elusive quetzal in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica.

Itinerary

Venture beyond the ordinary on the "Central American Explorer"—a 25-day odyssey stretching from Panama City to Antigua. Tailored for seasoned adventurers, this trip takes you through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, weaving together lush rainforests, volcanic vistas, and paradise beaches. Along the way, you’ll visit destinations like Isla De Ometepe, Bocas Del Toro, and Granada, with active exploration at the heart of the journey.

Unwind on Bocas del Toro’s idyllic Caribbean sands, snorkel crystalline waters, and witness the elusive quetzal in Costa Rica’s Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Delve into the mysteries of the ancient Maya at UNESCO World Heritage sites in Copan, and stroll through the cobbled streets of Antigua, a city famed for its colonial charm and panoramic volcano views.

This moderate activity tour package offers more than sightseeing; it’s a comprehensive immersion into Central America’s natural and cultural diversity. With small group guidance, inclusive accommodation, transport, and meals, you can focus on discovering both celebrated highlights and hidden treasures. The trip’s unique selling point lies in its unparalleled breadth—six countries’ worth of adventure, history, and wildlife, brought together in one unforgettable journey.

day 1Join tour in Panama City (Panama)

Our trip starts today in Panama City, Panama's eclectic capital with its curious mixture of old colonial Spanish architecture and modern American city buildings. Built on the back of the trade and plunder from the Spanish colonies in South America, Panama City was a key trade route as gold and silver were transported by mule through the rainforest of the Darien region, up to the Caribbean. Due to the number of evening flights into Panama City, our tour leader plans to do the welcome meeting on the morning of day two and will leave a message in our hotel reception with details on timings and everything else that you'll need for the day. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Panama City at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Tocumen International Airport (PTY), approximately a 45-minute drive away from our hotel.

Accommodation
Urban Riande Granada

day 2Panama Canal visit; afternoon free to explore the city

day 3Drive to David then head to Boquete

day 4Drive and boat to the Bocas del Toro Archipelago

day 5In Bocas del Toro, optional snorkel trip

day 6Journey to Sarapiqui (Costa Rica)

day 7Travel to Arenal; optional evening bathe in hot springs

day 8Drive to Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve via Arenal Volcano

day 9Guided reserve walk; optional canopy tour and night walk

day 10Transfer to Rincon de la Vieja and free afternoon for optional hiking

day 11Visit the Rincon de la Vieja National park

day 12Travel to Ometepe (Nicaragua); optional walks

day 13Free day to discover Ometepe Island

day 14Journey to the mainland and head to Granada

day 15Morning hiking the Mombacho crater; afternoon free to explore

day 16Drive to Leon; city tour and optional Cerro Negro Volcano hike

day 17Journey to El Salvador via the Gulf of Fonseca

day 18Visit to San Salvador city and Joya de Ceren Archaeological site; drive to Suchitoto

day 19Free day in Suchitoto; Optional boat trip on Lake Suchitlan or Indigo workshop

day 20Transfer to Copan, Honduras

day 21Visit the UNESCO Site of Copan, free afternoon

day 22Drive to Antigua (Guatemala); walking tour of the town

day 23Free day to explore Antigua or optional trip to Chichicastenango Market

day 24Free day to spend in Antigua or choose to visit Lake Atitlan

day 25Tour ends Antigua

What's Included

Accommodation
Urban Riande Granada (2 nights)Hotel Oasis (1 night)Hotel Bocas Town (2 nights)Sarapiquí Rainforest Lodge (1 night)Destinos Arenal (1 night)Jardines de Monteverde (2 nights)Cañon de la Vieja (2 nights)Hotel Villa Paraiso (2 nights)Hotel Patio del Malinche (2 nights)Hotel Austria (1 night)Comfort Inn La Union (1 night)La Posada De Suchitlan (2 nights)Hotel Plaza Copan (2 nights)Villa Colonial (3 nights)
Meals
24 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch
Transport
Driver(s)BusBoatFerry
Guide
Local Guide(s)Explore Tour LeaderBoat Crew

Customer Reviews

5.0

based on 9 reviews
9
S
Sue S.Verified Traveler
5.0 | Excellent

Sorry did do this week's ago but lost it while trying to post a photo with it. So here goes, Loved everything about the tour, with a fantastic tour leader, Tommy taking care of us, and ensuring each of us had the best trip ever. We all really appreciated meeting Tommy's wife, and eating with them, while understanding better about life in Guatemala. 10 of us on the tour - 4 couples and two singles. Everyone got on really well together. The surprise for my husband and I was to reconnect with a couple who we had last met 23 years ago on another Explore trip along the Silk Route. We all had a great time seeing so many different birds, and a highlight of my trip was visiting the sloth sanctuary, along with walking around the Cerro *****, the bird watching boat trip on Lake Suchitlan, Suchitoto, horse riding at Rincon de la Viega, kayaking at Bocas del Toro, the pre-Easter celebrations in Antigua, visiting the island of Ometepe - the list just keeps on going. The only minor criticism is that you have to keep paying out for all the optional tours - would much rather have paid for them in one lump sum. Not sure how you get round this one though, but these add ons really make the trip, with most I would suggest as being g essential.....

A
AnonymousVerified Traveler
5.0 | Excellent

Wonderful taste of Central America. Copan serene, Tikal majestic, Volcano sooo.. beautiful. Each country was facinating. Carlos Morales ( Tomos) negotiated all our interests .

R
RoyVerified Traveler
5.0 | Excellent

Brilliant trip, taking in the highlights of 6 Central American countries. Lots of wildlife-spotting, history (ancient & modern), and capped by visits to the Maya sites of Copan and Tikal.

A
AdrienneVerified Traveler
5.0 | Excellent

A great taster trip of Central America with a huge variety of activities and experiences. Carlos Tomas is an amazingly good guide: very experienced, knowledgeable, resourceful and fun to travel with. My second time in Central America and this trip definitely makes me want to return soon. Hotels are all comfortable and well-located with local flair. Single-room supplement is a bit steep however.

F
FionaVerified Traveler
5.0 | Excellent

Amazing trip really five holidays in one. Tommy was an incredible tour guide, making our trip smooth with great recommendations for food and options for free time. If you have the time to go would strongly recommend this trip have done many tours and this trip will stand out for its amounts of incredible experiences. The accommodation was high quality. Buses comfy for our group of 12. And the trip a good pace. Very hard to pick out highlights as there were so many.

Do you need help from our trip consultants?

If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Our travel experts are ready to help.
Jane Andersen
Sine
Rasmus Juul Olsen

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1 month ago

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