Download a detailed PDF brochure and unlock an exclusive discount for this tour
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.
Why Book with Bookmundi
in travelcreditsYou will earn USD 0 in travel credits when you complete this tour. Credits are automatically added to your account on your tour start date and can be used towards any future Bookmundi booking.
Best price guaranteed.
No credit card or booking fees.
100% financial protection.Bookmundi is a member of the Danish Travel Fund which guarantees for any payment made via us. Our guarantee covers all travelers, irrespective of nationality.
Carbon neutral tours.Algorithms and machine learning enables Bookmundi to calculate the carbon footprint for each tour. We then subsequently offset carbon emissions for all tour bookings on Bookmundi via investments in carbon reduction projects to help combat climate change.
25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.
“
Positives- travel times were short and smooth.
Accomodation was good overall.
The rest -Our TM wasn't attentive to the group as a whole and picked favorites. He went first through most lines, border crossings, planes etc and didn't always wait for the last people in the group to get through.
Nightclubs were the only recommended evening activities in each place. Our TM didn't care if girls got home safely from nightlife, he told us he wasn't responsible for any of us. There was a push to be involved by the TM in nightlife and for everyone to be paying for open bar at every place. We weren't given the option to do entry only. Our TM got irritated at people asking to do entry fee only, made us feel like we were rude for asking for more information.
Poor communication from the TM and a disjointed trip with late supply of day sheets that weren't clear.
Our TM shared minimal/incorrect/no information on regions culture, background, history of places we went to. We ended up just googling things overselves.
It felt like we had really short turn around at historic sites, like Chitcehnza we had a brief guided tour then were given 20min free time to explore the rest of Chitcehnza including the 10min walk back to the meeting point. (although that did mean we had longer at the cenote, which was good). A similar experience at Teotihuacan.
The places we were taken for included dinners were terrible. The optional dinners were expensive for the regions and terrible food also. Places I found myself by googling outside of the recommendations were 1000x better and cheaper al it is possible do to better.
The only good food places were on Caye caulker. But they were expensive compared to other places on the island and breakfasts that were meant to be included were not fully, I had to pay extra myself to cover the 10% service fee for our included breakfast for 3 mornings.
We weren't told to budget for the Ubers/taxis that we needed multiple times a day to get around for included activities and dinners.
Anonymous | Traveled in August
3 - Average
Carbon neutral
CO2 emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
Ultimate Central America
BM-22446Share this tour link.
2.3Based on
18 days
What are customers saying about Bookmundi
4.67/5
Excellent based on 846 customer reviews from
Anonymous
Guillia put a great self-drive tour together for us and Susana looked after us as we travelled.
(Even when we got lost)
The car and accommodation was good and the guides patient and informative.
Only issue we had was parking in small villages, garages, and cities.
Apart from the parking we had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday, thank you.
1 week ago
18 daysDuration
Group TourJoin a group of travelers
48 peopleMaximum group size
18 - 35 yearsAge range for participants
EnglishGuide language
Moderate
Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.
Puerto Vallarta: Grab your new buddies and a Paloma cocktail. It’s time to feast on Mexican food and watch the sunset over the sea.
Tequila: Discover how Mexico’s famous liquor is made. And knock back a cheeky shot or two.
Guadalajara: This work of architectural art was originally built as a place to care for disadvantaged people. Nowadays, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Guadalajara: Stroll around the official birthplace of tequila and mariachi music.
Guanajuato: Narrow cobbled streets. Colourful colonial architecture. Manicured gardens. You’ll see why this place is labelled ‘most beautiful city in Mexico’.
Mexico City: The candy-coloured buildings and antiquated streets make this one of Mexico’s most photogenic cities. And the perfect backdrop for an Insta shoot.
Mexico City: Admire the ‘City of Gods’: one of the first great cities of the Western Hemisphere. Although no one really knows who built it.
Mexico City: Heads up culture vultures! Visit Coyoacan to walk in the footsteps of the famous artist. And check out the museum in her honour. Plus, you can go inside the museum at your own cost if you purchase a ticket in advance.
Mexico City: Craving some authentic tacos, pambazo or barbacoa? It’s time to galvanise your tastebuds.
Mexico City: Get set for a barrage of beaches, jungles, ancient Mayan sites and epic nightlife.
Chichen Itza: Take a guided tour of this ancient Mayan city. Soak up the history and hear the myths and legends.
Chichen Itza: It’s time to live your best life, as you cool off in the emerald waters of this sinkhole. Don’t forget your camera!
Cancun: Get the party started with a Margarita and dinner with the gang. Gaze over the bay and bask in those mellow vibes.
Caye Caulker: Drift across the Caribbean Sea and watch the sun go down over Caye Caulker. This is how we roll.
Tikal: Spend the night in the rainforest. Your chance to walk in the footsteps of the ancient Mayans. And meet monkeys and toucans.
Tikal: Explore this epic Mayan ‘lost city’ in the heart of the jungle. And hear historic tales from a local expert. #bucketlist moment.
Tikal: Ah, Guatemala! A rainbow-coloured fiesta of Insta ops and the official 'birthplace of chocolate’. Heaven on earth.
Antigua Guatemala: Antigua is a ‘tale of two cities’. Here we’ll tour the ancient part (originally built by Spanish colonists) with a native guide.
Antigua Guatemala: Fill up on tostadas, enchiladas and all the other spiced dishes of your foodie dreams.
Mexico City: The candy-coloured buildings and antiquated streets make this one of Mexico’s most photogenic cities. And the perfect backdrop for an Insta shoot.
Mexico City: Admire the ‘City of Gods’: one of the first great cities of the Western Hemisphere. Although no one really knows who built it.
Mexico City: Heads up culture vultures! Visit Coyoacan to walk in the footsteps of the famous artist. And check out the museum in her honour. Plus, you can go inside the museum at your own cost if you purchase a ticket in advance.
Mexico City: Craving some authentic tacos, pambazo or barbacoa? It’s time to galvanise your tastebuds.
Mexico City: Get set for a barrage of beaches, jungles, ancient Mayan sites and epic nightlife.
Chichen Itza: Take a guided tour of this ancient Mayan city. Soak up the history and hear the myths and legends.
Chichen Itza: It’s time to live your best life, as you cool off in the emerald waters of this sinkhole. Don’t forget your camera!
Cancun: Get the party started with a Margarita and dinner with the gang. Gaze over the bay and bask in those mellow vibes.
Caye Caulker: Drift across the Caribbean Sea and watch the sun go down over Caye Caulker. This is how we roll.
Tikal: Spend the night in the rainforest. Your chance to walk in the footsteps of the ancient Mayans. And meet monkeys and toucans.
Tikal: Explore this epic Mayan ‘lost city’ in the heart of the jungle. And hear historic tales from a local expert. #bucketlist moment.
Tikal: Ah, Guatemala! A rainbow-coloured fiesta of Insta ops and the official 'birthplace of chocolate’. Heaven on earth.
Antigua Guatemala: Antigua is a ‘tale of two cities’. Here we’ll tour the ancient part (originally built by Spanish colonists) with a native guide.
Antigua Guatemala: Fill up on tostadas, enchiladas and all the other spiced dishes of your foodie dreams.
Customer Reviews
2.3
based on 3 reviews
0
0
1
2
0
What's Included
Accommodation
Holiday Inn Express Puerto Vallarta (or similar) HotelHotel de Mendoza Guadalajara (or similar)Hotel Gran Plaza Guanajuato (or similar)Hotel Royal Reforma (or similar)Ocean View Arenas Cancun (or similar) HotelWyndham Garden Playa del Carmen (or similar) HotelTropical Paradise Hotel (or similar)Hotel Tikal Inn (or similar)Hotel Casa de las Fuentes (or similar)
Meals
Dinner (x8)Breakfast (x17)Lunch
Transport
Travel by coach
Guide
Experienced Driver Guide
What's Excluded
3 other people are considering this tour right now.
Itinerary
Ready to discover the ultimate blend of culture and adventure? The Ultimate Central America tour invites young explorers on an 18-day escapade from Puerto Vallarta to Antigua, weaving through the best of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. This trip is far more than beaches—though you’ll have your share of surfing and snorkelling under palm trees. Taste tequila at the source, wander ancient ruins, and feast on flavors that will 'guac' your world. Expert guides, group camaraderie, and seamless transport make every day effortless. The USP of this tour package is its multifaceted approach: combining cultural immersion, adventure, and relaxation, ensuring an unforgettable journey for those who want to experience the very heart of Central America.
day 1Puerto Vallarta
Welcome to one of the most popular beach towns in Mexico, also known as the 'Mexican Riviera'. Spa, pool, relax, repeat are all high on the agenda today or you can take a day trip to remote beaches on a sailing trip and that's before we top it all off with a beachfront dinner, with the water and twinkling lights setting an unforgettable scene.
Meals
Dinner
Location Visited
Puerto Vallarta
Accommodation
Holiday Inn Express Puerto Vallarta (or similar)
day 2Puerto Vallarta
day 3Puerto Vallarta to Guadalajara
day 4Guadalajara to Guanajuato
day 5Guanajuato to Mexico City via San Miguel de Allende
I was very disappointed in this trip, I’ve done many contiki trips before so knowing what it could be like stung a lot considering how much it cost. This trip needs a lot of changes. Some of the cities visited really didn’t make sense and had little to see and do. Some of the optionals were poor and some we were actively discouraged from signing up for because they weren’t good.
The hotels were basic but some had significant issues like brown water from the tap or a pool that wasn’t maintained showing bacterial growth (which was only found after we jumped in).
The trip manager was the worst I’ve had and made me consider cancelling my upcoming contiki trip. If it was my first contiki I would never return, because of him.
What isn’t mentioned is the hidden cost of using Uber to get around as a group, including to meals/things that are included with the tour. This added up a lot and I hadn’t budgeted for it. Other travellers were very frustrated by this too.
There were many issues with this trip I haven’t mentioned but basically I regret doing it. If you want to travel contiki pick a Europe or Asia tour.
A
AnonymousVerified Traveler
3.0 | Average
Positives- travel times were short and smooth.
Accomodation was good overall.
The rest -Our TM wasn't attentive to the group as a whole and picked favorites. He went first through most lines, border crossings, planes etc and didn't always wait for the last people in the group to get through.
Nightclubs were the only recommended evening activities in each place. Our TM didn't care if girls got home safely from nightlife, he told us he wasn't responsible for any of us. There was a push to be involved by the TM in nightlife and for everyone to be paying for open bar at every place. We weren't given the option to do entry only. Our TM got irritated at people asking to do entry fee only, made us feel like we were rude for asking for more information.
Poor communication from the TM and a disjointed trip with late supply of day sheets that weren't clear.
Our TM shared minimal/incorrect/no information on regions culture, background, history of places we went to. We ended up just googling things overselves.
It felt like we had really short turn around at historic sites, like Chitcehnza we had a brief guided tour then were given 20min free time to explore the rest of Chitcehnza including the 10min walk back to the meeting point. (although that did mean we had longer at the cenote, which was good). A similar experience at Teotihuacan.
The places we were taken for included dinners were terrible. The optional dinners were expensive for the regions and terrible food also. Places I found myself by googling outside of the recommendations were 1000x better and cheaper al it is possible do to better.
The only good food places were on Caye caulker. But they were expensive compared to other places on the island and breakfasts that were meant to be included were not fully, I had to pay extra myself to cover the 10% service fee for our included breakfast for 3 mornings.
We weren't told to budget for the Ubers/taxis that we needed multiple times a day to get around for included activities and dinners.
A
AnonymousVerified Traveler
2.0 | Poor
I thought the zip lining in Puerto Vallarta was a lot of fun. You get to do a mix of things with the ATV's, the zip lining was great, and the indoor skydiving was really fun to try. The snorkeling there was fun and the crew put on a good show on the way back too. I thought the hot air ballon over Teotihuacan was really nice. It was an amazing view and nice experience. I thought the whale sharks was cool experience, but sort of expensive for what it was. Coco Bongo in Cancun was a really cool place as well. The show they put on is great. I think the best included meal was in Belize, and I did appreciate that the breakfast there was at a local restaurant and you could order what you wanted instead of just the continental breakfast of a hotel.
One of my biggest disappointments on the trip was in regards to food. Other trips I have done with Contiki have done some kind of food tour or we at least went to multiple places to try new or different things. A lot of the restaurants we would go to felt more touristy, were expensive for where we were at, and lacked flavor. We didn't really get to try much of the local food, or much that I would say is unique. It honestly felt like we would go to locations where our trip manager knew the people there and might have just gotten a kickback for bringing people. One of the restaurants we went to, a few people complained they did not like the food, or that it was not very good and our trip manager was visibly angry with the people on the trip. When we said we wanted to try the food markets or more local food, our trip manager said to avoid anyone getting sick we would really be going to more approved restaurants. We stopped at a food market I think the last day when we were in Mexico City, but it was for about 20 minutes or 30 minutes, so by the time you looked around, it was pretty much time to leave. We did a walking tour in Mexico City, but it felt very quick, and more of a jump off the bus, walk over here and jump back on the bus just to say that we did it. It was called out that one of the biggest forms of transportation in Mexico city is the subway. I think it would have been interesting to have actually taken it somewhere to explore the city if it is the main form of transportation there.
I would say most of the hotels we stayed at were alright. There was one hotel we stayed at though with a water slide, but the water was pretty gross. There was a lot of chunky stuff floating in the pool, and a dead bird had been in there for quite a while. My only complaint with the hotel in Cancun was that the majority of the elevators did not work.
It very much felt as though the trip manager payed much more attention and talked to the girls on the trip than the guys. More than once it seemed like he was flirting with or hitting on the girls on the trip. I feel like it also started off in a negative way when the trip manager says do not ask me to translate, do not ask me for recommendations or directions. That's what google is for. I heard from multiple people that our trip manager would talk negatively about people on the trip to other people on the trip.
Other things that stood out were the walking tour we did in Guanajuato. We got to one point and then our trip manager just said hey FYI it is this much money now to take the lift up to where we are meeting. It wasn't a lot, but it's the fact there was no other option of if you want, you can walk there as well. It was just more of a surprise cost. I think the other thing that did bug some people on our trip was the pushing to tip every person we come across. I think multiple people had said just make the trip cost a little more and have the trip manager tip for everyone if that is the expectation.
In comparison, and after having done two other trips with Contiki, I would recommend the Southeast Asia trip. I just felt like that one was so well done, that I would recommend that one over the Central America trip.
