Central American Adventure

About this trip

Exactly what you do each day, where you sleep, and how it flows — written by us, from the real itinerary.

1. 1
   Day 1 · Playa del CarmenPlaya del Carmen

   You arrive in Playa del Carmen for a 6 pm welcome meeting. If you get in early, there's time to snorkel in cenotes, dive on Cozumel, or walk the white-sand beaches. After the meeting, grab tacos and cocktails with your new group.

2. 2
   Day 2 · Playa del CarmenPlaya del Carmen

   Take a local bus to Cenote Azul for swimming, diving or snorkelling in the natural open-air pool. Back in Playa del Carmen, your afternoon is free—explore underwater reefs for rays and turtles, or catch a bus to Tulum's Maya ruins an hour south.

3. 3
   Day 3 · Playa del CarmenChetumal

   Morning beach stroll or café time in Playa del Carmen, then travel to Bacalar (first settlement of the Itza tribe) with included lunch. Visit the Lake of Seven Colours and take an optional boat tour, then continue to Chetumal near the Belize border.

4. 4
   Day 4 · Caye CaulkerCaye Caulker

   

   Cross into Belize early. After border formalities and Belize City, take a water taxi to Caye Caulker island. Your leader gives a guided orientation walk. Be cautious of crocodiles in the split separating north and south of the island.

5. 5
   Day 5 · Caye CaulkerCaye Caulker

   The day is yours to relax or explore. Snorkel the nearby coral reef, visit Hol Chan Marine Reserve (home to the world's second-longest reef), spot manatees, or simply find a palm tree and nap on the beach.

6. 6
   Day 6 · Caye CaulkerCaye Caulker

   Free morning, then join a local family for a cooking class making Belizean chicken, rice and beans. Afternoon beach swim or bike ride, then hunt for super-fresh seafood at open-air beach restaurants. Lobsters are available June to February at local prices.

7. 7
   Day 7 · Caye CaulkerSan Ignacio

   Ferry to Belize City, then bus inland to San Ignacio. Your leader walks you through San Ignacio and its twin Santa Elena, showing the vibrant Garifuna and Maya communities. Evening search for traditional cochinita pibil (slow-roasted citrus pork).

8. 8
   Day 8 · San IgnacioSan Ignacio

   

   Free day in San Ignacio, surrounded by rivers, waterfalls and Maya ruins. Optional day trips include Xunantunich ceremonial site (reached by hand-cranked ferry) or Actun Tunichil Muknal cave—wade through cool waters to find 1400-year-old ceramic pots and crystallised skeletons.

9. 9
   Day 9 · TikalTikal National Park

   Cross into Guatemala for Tikal National Park. A local guide takes you through the archaeological site where five granite temples tower above the jungle. Climb to the top for canopy views and chances to spot toucans and macaws among smaller structures.

10. 10
    Day 10 · FloresRio Dulce

    Travel to Flores for breakfast and an orientation walk, then private minivan to Rio Dulce and hotel transfer by boat. Return to town by water or 40-minute jungle walk. Optional informal Spanish lesson with your leader; the hotel offers reasonably priced meals.

11. 11
    Day 11 · LivingstonRio Dulce

    Boat ride down the river to Livingston, an Afro-Caribbean town 30 km away, passing water lilies, tropical forests and river birds through a deep canyon. Orientation walk, then join locals for a morning dance class before free time for lunch and exploring.

12. 12
    Day 12 · Río DulceAntigua

    

    Private minibus to Antigua via Guatemala City. The road is busy with frequent works and slow trucks—bring patience and entertainment. Evening group dinner optional.

13. 13
    Day 13 · AntiguaAntigua

    Free day exploring photogenic Antigua until a 6 pm meeting for new arrivals. Visit ChocoMuseo to learn about chocolate's history in Mayan culture, or relax with coffee at central park.

14. 14
    Day 14 · San Andres ItzapaSan Andres Itzapa / Quetzaltenango

    Travel to San Andres Itzapa in Chimaltenango to witness Mayan culture blended with Catholicism. Attend a shamanic ceremony at the Temple of San Simon (Maximon), leave a rum or tobacco offering, then continue to Quetzaltenango (Xela) for an orientation walk.

15. 15
    Day 15 · AlmolongaQuetzaltenango

    Early morning chicken bus—a distinctly Guatemalan local transport experience. Heading to Almolonga.

16. 16
    Day 16 · ChichicastenangoChichicastenango Market / Panajachel

    
17. 17
    Day 17 · PanajachelPanajachel
18. 18
    Day 18 · PanajachelAntigua
19. 19
    Day 19 · AntiguaAntigua
20. 20
    Day 20 · AntiguaCopan, Honduras
21. 21
    Day 21 · Copan RuinasCopan, Honduras
22. 22
    Day 22 · Copan RuinasCopan to Suchitoto via Guatemala
23. 23
    Day 23 · SuchitotoSuchitoto
24. 24
    Day 24Pacific Coast
25. 25
    Day 25 · LeonLeon
26. 26
    Day 26 · LeonLeon
27. 27
    Day 27 · MasayaGranada

    
28. 28
    Day 28 · GranadaGranada
29. 29
    Day 29 · MonteverdeMonteverde

    
30. 30
    Day 30 · MonteverdeMonteverde
31. 31
    Day 31 · MonteverdeLa Fortuna
32. 32
    Day 32 · La FortunaLa Fortuna
33. 33
    Day 33 · La FortunaSan Jose

    
34. 34
    Day 34 · San JoseSan Jose

What's included

• Guide: All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
• Meals: 18 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner
• Activities: Playa del Carmen - Cenote Azul visit Bacalar - Beach club entry Caye Caulker - Leader-led orientation walk Caye Caulker - Cooking Class San Ignacio - Leader-led orientation walk Tikal National Park - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport) Livingston - River boat trip to Garifuna town Livingston - Garifuna dance class San Andres Itzapa - San Simon shamanic ceremonies Western Highlands - Almolonga vegetable market Quetzaltenango - Chicken Bus Experience Chichicastenango market visit Lake Atitlan - Boat to Santiago Atitlan Santiago Atitlan - Shamanic Keepers of the Shrine of Maximon Antigua - Leader-led Orientation Walk Copan - Guided visit to Archaeological site Suchitoto - Salvadoran Pupusa cooking demonstration Suchitoto - Leader led orientation walk Suchitoto - Indigo Dyeing Demonstration Leon - Leader led orientation walk Masaya - Town & Market Visit Granada - La Laguna de Apoyo Viewpoint Granada - Breakfast at El Cafe de las Sonrisas Monteverde - Leader-led orientation walk Monteverde - Breakfast at women's cooperative cafe La Fortuna - Leader led orientation walk Monteverde - Cloud Forest Reserve With a Local Guide San Jose - Leader-Led Orientation Walk La Fortuna - Tortilla Making Class and lunch
• Transport: Private vehicle, Local bus, Taxi, Private boat, Ferry, Chicken bus
• Accommodation: The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. Hotel (31 nights), Lodge (2 nights)

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