Highlights
Volcanoes - Discover the active and dormant volcanoes that pepper this region, including those overlooking the picturesque city of Antigua, Guatemala. Land of the Maya - Take in the sights and smells of the Indigenous market at Chichicastenango and the villages around Lake Atitlan, where the modern-day Maya culture still thrives. Suchitoto - Enjoy the charms of this pretty colonial town beside the shores of Lake Suchitlan, and take the opportunity to learn about El Salvador's fascinating history.
Itinerary
From the vibrant capital of San Jose to the shores of Lake Nicaragua and the mesmerizing highlands of Guatemala, this 16-day "Central American Highlights" tour is crafted for experienced travelers who crave authentic discovery. Traverse five distinct countries—Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala—each brimming with natural wonders and captivating history. Adventure unfolds at every turn: spot wildlife in Costa Rica's lush reserves, immerse yourself in the ancient Maya culture at Copan, and experience local life around Lake Atitlan, where modern Maya traditions flourish.
Throughout this moderate activity trip, you'll journey past active and dormant volcanoes, including the dramatic peaks that surround Antigua, Guatemala. The itinerary is designed to balance action and insight, offering time to savor the scent of spices at Chichicastenango's indigenous market and to wander the cobblestone streets of charming Suchitoto on the edge of Lake Suchitlan. Here, you'll try your hand at making pupusas, a delicious Salvadoran staple, guided by local experts.
The unique selling point of this tour package lies in its seamless blend of outdoor adventure and deep cultural immersion—ensuring you tick off Central America's must-see highlights while uncovering hidden gems rarely visited by casual tourists. Accommodations, transport, meals, and guided experiences are thoughtfully included, so you can focus on connecting with each destination and its people. This is an enriching journey for those who want to explore Central America beyond the surface, discovering both its iconic sights and its living traditions.
day 1Join tour in San Jose (Costa Rica)
Our tour starts today in San Jose. The cosmopolitan Costa Rican capital lies in a fertile valley at an altitude of 1,150 metres. Coffee and sugar cane are big industries here and coffee is even planted between new buildings and along the roadside on the outskirts of the city. Due to the number of evening flights into the international airport, 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 other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in San Jose at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) which is around 30 minutes from our hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, our tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to head out to explore the city which is easy to navigate with a grid pattern of avenues and streets with a good choice of local eateries, which you may choose to sample this evening. The National Museum (Museo Nacional De Costa Rica) is also well worth a visit.
day 2Travel to Monteverde. Night walk in search of wildlife
day 3Guided reserve walk; afternoon for optional activities
day 4Boat trip on the Bebedero River. Continue to Granada, Nicaragua
day 5Morning hiking the Mombacho crater; afternoon city tour and free time to explore
day 6Travel to Leon. City tour on arrival
day 7Free Day; optional hike to Cerro Negro Volcano
day 8Journey to El Salvador via the Gulf of Fonseca
day 9Travel to Suchitoto; free afternoon for optional activities
day 10Visit the ex-guerrilla community of Cinquera; free afternoon in Suchitoto
day 11Drive to Copan (Honduras)
day 12Visit the UNESCO Site of Copan, drive to Guatemala City
day 13Travel to Panajachel on the shores of Lake Atitlan; boat trip to lakeside villages
day 14Drive to Antigua via Chichicastenango Market
day 15Walking tour of Antigua, free afternoon to explore
day 16Tour ends Antigua (Guatemala)
What's Included
Customer Reviews
some days were too long. overall good trip
We covered a lot of ground in 18 days and it was amazing. Miquel was an attentive and knowledgeable guide. Our experience was a bit unique as it was just my husband and I. We loved the mix of cultural, food, wildlife and adventure activities. We took advantage of many of the optional activities because - well why not - we were there to see things! I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to explore the 5 sister countries of Central America.
Great tour. Miguel was a pleasure to meet. So positive, organised and knowledgeable.
Amazing tour made perfect by a fabulously knowledgeable and attentive tour guide (Miguel Vasquez). Great itinerary and even tho we did the ‘reverse’ think it was the best way round. Antigua at the end was the icing on the cake. Great mixture of adventure, nature, history and local culture. Food and drink good too. Accommodation is good some exceeded my expectations but not enough to warrant ‘excellent’. ..
Miguel was an excellent tour guide during our full-on five country tour of Central America. It’s not a tour for everyone as there is little free time but I loved it. Volcanoes, wildlife, Mayan ruins, local culture and yet more volcanoes - what’s not to like! We did the Costa Rica to Guatemala route and felt this flowed better than the alternative would have - particularly finishing up in a lovely hotel in Antigua.
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