Experience Overview
Escape the resorts and discover something extraordinary in Central America. Visit seven countries on this adventure and experience mighty ruins, clear Caribbean waters, Pacific waves, rainforests, and breathtaking scenery along the way. Explore indigenous Mayan villages and meet locals for an immersive experience that few travellers get to know. While you're free to choose your own adventure, your accommodation and transportation are included. Our expert CEOs will help you make the most of your time. Take a trip that's packed with all the things you need and nothing you don't – 32 days of maximum adventure at minimum cost.
Highlights
- Relax on white-sand beaches
- Explore the Mayan ruins of Copán and Tikal
- Bargain at the local markets of colourful colonial Antigua
- Meet some local friends at a local homestay in Guatemala
- Visit seven countries in a month.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2474
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Local bus, ferry, boat, private vehicle, taxi, walking.
Guide Language: English
Supplier Code: JCS
Starts: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Finishes: San José, Costa Rica
Duration: 32 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating: Light
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: San Antonio Women's Pottery Cooperative and Local Lunch, San Ignacio Your G for Good Moment: Caribbean Gastronomic Experience "El Manglar", Lívingston Your G for Good Moment: Posadas Mayas Homestay, San Juan La Laguna Your G for Good Moment: Puesta del Sol Community Guesthouse Stay, Isla de Ometepe Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends Your Discover Moment: Playa del Carmen Your Discover Moment: Caye Caulker Your Discover Moment: Antigua Guatemala Your Big Night Out Moment: Antigua Guatemala Your Big Night Out Moment: Granada Your Discover Moment: Granada Your Discover Moment: Monteverde Your Discover Moment: La Fortuna
- Guided tour of Tikal
- Orientation walks in Antigua, León, and Granada
- Beach time in Caye Caulker and El Tunco
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Simple hotels/hostels (28 nts, most multi-share), homestay (3 nts).
- 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
- Local bus, ferry, boat, private vehicle, taxi, walking.
Group Leader
- Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) $2,899 ($91 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Playa del Carmen
Arrive at any time. Head out tonight with your fellow travellers to 12th Street, where there's tons of bars and clubs to choose from. Say cheers to new adventures with new friends!
Check into our hotel and enjoy the city.
Day 2: Playa del Carmen
Enjoy free time to explore the Mayan ruins of Tulúm or take a ferry to nearby Cozumel. Or just play in the waves and enjoy the beach.
Start your holiday off with some hardcore relaxation. Enjoy a full day of free time to fill as you wish. Get your ruin on with a visit to Tulum perched atop the sea, explore the fish- and coral-filled seas around Cozumel on a scuba dive, go swimming in a cenote or at the beach, and save some energy for a night out on the town.
Day 3: Playa del Carmen/Caye Caulker
Opt to snorkel with stingrays and nurse sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, go diving or just chill out, Belizean style.
Mention Belize and you may conjure up visions of unbelievably clear blue waters, diving and snorkelling along the barrier reef and remarkable marine life. Belize also boasts huge swaths of jungle, ancient Mayan ruins, and above all, friendly, easygoing people. Belize is all this and much more!
Day 4-5: Caye Caulker
Opt to snorkel with stingrays and nurse sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, go diving or just chill out, Belizean style.
Day 6: Caye Caulker/San Ignacio
Travel by boat and bus from Caye Caulker to San Ignacio. Enjoy an included pottery demonstration and local lunch at a G Adventures-supported women's pottery cooperative.
From the town of San Ignacio, opportunities abound for exploring Belize's little known inland scenic beauty. With free time here, choose to explore the area by foot, canoe or horse, take a caving trip, or visit the Mountain Pine Ridge Area and swim in its inviting pools and rivers.
Day 7: San Ignacio
Opt to visit the sacred Mayan cave Actun Tunichil Muknal or check out the seldom-visited Mayan ruins of Xunantunich.
Day 8: San Ignacio/Flores
Learn about Mayan culture and history on a guided tour of the ruins of Tikal.
Cross the border into Guatemala and you immediately notice the difference in culture, with its heavy Mayan influence and Spanish language. Here we have entered Guatemala's northeast jungle Petén region. The descendants of the Maya of Chichén Itzá migrated to the Petén area several centuries after the collapse of the great Mayan cities in the Yucatán.
En route to Flores, stop for a guided tour of the ancient city of Tikal. Arrive in Flores, the capital of the department of Petén, a small island located on the second largest lake of Guatemala, Lake Petén Itzá.
Day 9: Flores/Rio Dulce
Travel across the country towards the coast to Rio Dulce, on the shores of Lake Izabal.
A travel day from Flores to Rio Dulce which is located in the department of Izabal, home of the largest lake in Guatemala, Lake Izabal was one of the most important water ways of the Spanish crown during colonial times.
We take the road past areas of dense jungle and arrive at Río Dulce, a small town on Lake Izabal and a port stop for boaters around the globe, on their way to/from Livingston and the Caribbean coast.
Day 10: Rio Dulce
Travel to the Caribbean town of Livingston by scenic boat ride from Rio Dulce. Enjoy a visit to the G Adventures–supported El Manglar Restaurant for an explanation of the women-led community initiative project here. Then, walk around the grounds before a sit-down lunch of delicious local flavours.
Day 11: Rio Dulce/Antigua Guatemala
Enjoy an orientation walk of Antigua's cobblestone streets, then opt to take a salsa lesson and practice new moves out at night.
Today is a travel day from Rio Dulce to Antigua, followed by an orientation walk once you arrive. Plan your activities for the next day and enjoy some of the nightlife this beautiful colonial city has to offer.
Day 12: Antigua Guatemala
Enjoy a free day in Antigua. Opt to relax with a massage, climb a volcano, soak up the culture in one of the city's many cafés, or explore the nearby hills and towns by bike.
Get adventurous and pre-book the Pacaya Volcano Hike on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Day 13: Antigua Guatemala/Panajachel
Travel to beautiful Lake Atitlán and enjoy the views.
Travel through the hills and fertile fields of the Guatemalan highlands to the shores of Lake Atitlán, one of the most beautiful spots in Guatemala. Twelve native villages, blue/grey mountains and three volcanoes line the shores of this lake resulting in a wonderful combination of unusual natural beauty and traditional culture.
The area is also ideal for outdoor pursuits like swimming, fishing, wind surfing, hiking, bird watching, kayaking, and horseback riding.
Day 14: Panajachel/San Juan La Laguna
Embark on a boat ride across the lake before participating in a G Adventures-supported homestay with a local family. This area is known for stunning scenery and great shopping for Mayan handicrafts. Opt to bargain for colourful textiles and paintings at the lake's markets.
Day 15: San Juan La Laguna/Antigua Guatemala
Return to Antigua, and enjoy a Big Night Out with the group.
We return to Antigua to spend more time to explore the city, shop, and check out optional activities in the area.
Optional activities include visiting a macadamia nut farm, checking out a coffee plantation, biking around Antigua's surrounding hills or taking a salsa lesson.
Day 16: Antigua Guatemala
Enjoy free time to relax with a massage, explore the nearby hills by bicycle, or visit a local macadamia nut farm.
Get adventurous and pre-book the Pacaya Volcano Hike on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Day 17: Antigua Guatemala/Copán
Set off today on a full day of travel from Antigua across the border to neighboring Honduras, arriving to the town of Copán Ruinas in the evening.
The colonial highland town of Copán Ruinas is a charming and relaxing place, set along a river in the coffee growing region close to the Guatemalan border.
The Mayan ruins of Copán are fascinating, beautiful and unique among Mayan cities. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980, Copán contains some of the most important Mayan ruins found to date, and many unusual artistic features, including some of the most detailed carving in the Mayan world.
Day 18: Copán
Free time in Copán. Opt to visit the ruins of Copán or soak in hot springs.
Free time in Copan. Opt to visit the impressive Copan ruins and check out some lesser known Mayan sites along the way. Knowledgable local guides can interpret the many Mayan carvings left here over 1,000 years ago. You can also journey through the countryside to some hidden jungle hot springs for a relaxing soak.
Day 19: Copán/Suchitoto
Cross the border into El Salvador and stay in the colonial town of Suchitoto. Don't forget to try the delicious pupusas, a local Salvadorian specialty.
Day 20: Suchitoto/La Libertad Region
Enjoy a free morning in Suchitoto before heading to the coast in the La Libertad region. The sunsets in these small surfing towns are stunning. Grab a cold drink and enjoy!
Day 21: La Libertad Region
Enjoy a free day in the laidback beach towns of the area to take a surf lesson, eat fresh ceviche at the fish market in nearby La Libertad, visit the Tamanique waterfalls, or chill out with a beer in hand.
Day 22: La Libertad Region/León
Set off early for a full day of travel by land and sea to Nicaragua, finishing up in colonial León with a brief orientation walk.
Day 23: León/Granada
Journey to Granada and see its colourful colonial buildings on an orientation walk. Enjoy a Big Night Out with the group.
Granada's colonial charm is complemented by the active volcanoes and lakes that surround it, and there are many fun easy day trips available. Hike, cruise, or just explore the city's markets and museums.
Walking is probably the easiest way to see all the sights of Granada.
Day 24: Granada
Free time to explore beautiful Granada's markets, buildings and museums. Opt to kayak in Lake Nicaragua or swim in Laguna de Apoyo.
Free time to explore beautiful Granada's busy markets, colonial buildings and museums on foot or take a horse and carriage ride around town. Enjoy a meal on the "calzada", a pedestrian street that extends from the center of town down to Lake Nicaragua.
There are many optional activities to do just outside of town as well. Walk in the forest at the top of Mombacho Volcano, kayak around the isletas in Lake Nicaragua or swim in Laguna de Apoyo.
Day 25: Granada/Isla de Ometepe
Get to know local friends during a 2-night G Adventures-supported community homestay on Ometepe. Try the local cuisine and test out some language skills.
From the town of San Jorge, we cross Lake Nicaragua by ferry to arrive at Ometepe Island, formed from two volcanoes, one active and one dormant that rise out of the middle of the lake. The limited development and traditional communities create a welcoming relaxed atmosphere.
The group will be split up amongst different local families who will host you in their homes for two nights in a small community on the island. Breakfast and dinner will be provided in the home. This experience give you a chance to see how rural Nicaraguans live.
Day 26: Isla de Ometepe
Enjoy free time to explore Ometepe. Opt to climb Volcano Concepción or Volcano Maderas, take a cultural tour, visit the beach at Santo Domingo, or visit el Ojo de Agua for a refreshing swim and lunch. You can also view pre-Columbian petroglyphs or the small museum of indigenous artifacts in Altagracia.
Today is a free day in Ometepe. We get to spend more time with the local host families and see more of the island. Opt to climb either of the two volcanoes on the island, view petroglyphs left by the island's original inhabitants, walk or kayak in Charco Verde reserve, swim in clear spring water at Ojo de Agua, lay on the beach or explore the island on bicycle.
Day 27: Isla de Ometepe/Monteverde
Take a ferry back to the mainland and cross the border into Costa Rica, finishing up in the cloudforest air of Monteverde.
At 1,400 meters above sea level, Monteverde is literally in the clouds. The Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserves are home to diverse and unique flora and fauna. Sloths, monkeys, kinkajous, tapirs and large cats inhabit the area. There are more species of orchids here than anywhere else in the world.
Day 28: Monteverde
Free day in Monteverde. Opt to visit a cloud forest reserve, fly through the jungle canopy via zipline, or tour a coffee plantation.
The day is free to choose from many optional activities. Fly hundreds of meters above the trees on a zip-lining tour, hike through one of the cloud forest reserves, ride a horse in the mountains, visit a coffee/sugar cane farm, tour the cheese factory or check out the orchid garden, serpentarium, or frog pond in town.
Day 29: Monteverde/La Fortuna
Transfer to La Fortuna along bumpy roads, then break up the journey with a peaceful boat ride on Lake Arenal before a short ride to the town.
The trip from Monteverde to La Fortuna takes us down from the cloud forest and across Costa Rica's largest lake The town of La Fortuna lies at the base of the Arenal Volcano, which dominates the landscape rising to 1670 meters high. The town has become famous as the adventure sports capital of Costa Rica.
Choose your adventure! Canyoning, white water rafting, hiking, caving, rafting, horseback riding, paddlebording, kayaking, visiting a wildlife refuge, and even more activities are all possible options for you to choose from while we're here.
Day 30: La Fortuna
Free time to enjoy the La Fortuna and Arenal area.
Choose your adventure! Canyoneering, hiking, caving, rafting, horseback riding, paddleboarding, kayaking, visiting a wildlife refuge, and even more activities are all possible options for you to choose from while we're here.
Day 31: La Fortuna/San José
Journey through the mountains to the capital for a final night out.
Return to San José for our final night out.
San José has beautiful parks, museums and theatres. Enjoy the view of the surrounding lush mountains from the downtown streets.
Day 32: San José
Depart at any time.
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Annika L. - Traveled, November 2023
I loved the trip, everything was well organized and our guides were fantastic. I had the best time! I have nothing to complain about. 10/10 experince! Looking forward to my next trip with G Adventures, and will for sure book more trips via you in the future.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/26/2023
Isabella K. - Traveled, November 2023
Great way to meet people and was perfect if you go to plenty of countries it was a perfect way of getting across the borders
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Connor S. - Traveled, November 2023
Organised, safe and a great way to meet lots of great people
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Cameron S. - Traveled, November 2023
The tour itself was really jam packed with adventure and fun! Great people and guides! However, I understand this tour may not be to everyones taste
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Maria D. - Traveled, November 2023
I have traveled with G Adventures quite a few times before and the experience has been amazing each time. There have been hindrances with the booking and administration side that I will bring up later in the survey if prompted, but as far as the guides and the actual tour experience is concerned, this has been incredible.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Nicole P. - Traveled, November 2023
it's an organized tour, so transport and accommodation are hassle free. Yet, it leaves enough freedom to customize the tour with optional activities.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Eleanor R. - Traveled, November 2022
The overall experience and the way that G Adventures operate with a focus on the local people and good moments is very good for travellers. Improvements can be made in the office where the communication is often slow, we had a bad experience where transfers were not arranged even though were booked for several months in advance and often the office do not have a good understanding or other information or guidance on the trips themselves, other than asking you to refer to the online itinerary.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Yelah M. - Traveled, November 2023
get to see so much with less hassle, everything taken care of
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Patrick B. - Traveled, November 2023
depending on the way of traveling
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/19/2023
Friso E. - Traveled, November 2023
I just thought that it was an overal great tour. Just might not be it for everyone due to the short amount of time you spent at each place together with a lot of traveling
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/19/2023
Hannah S. - Traveled, November 2023
Because my experience was pretty much perfect
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2023
Gitte S. - Traveled, November 2023
transport, accommodations and activities were well planned.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2023
Rico L. - Traveled, November 2023
I really enjoyed the experience, only downside I would always mention if somebody asks me about traveling with G Adventures is, that the time spent on the bus can be quite a lot and they need to be mindful of that.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2023
Joana H. - Traveled, November 2023
Nice itinerary, support of the locals, everything is organized for you
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2023
Divisha P. - Traveled, November 2023
I loved meeting new people and having the accommodation and travel arrangements completed for me, however some of the accommodation was not up to standard, lacking decent Wi-Fi and hot water. Also the helpfulness of the first CEO, Roger, could have been improved.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/12/2023
Thomas R. - Traveled, November 2023
The ease of taking transport and moving between places was great
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/12/2023
Zahra W. - Traveled, November 2023
The quality of accommodation is terrible compared to other tour companies, even relative to the price. Also A LOT is not included in this tour compared to others.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/12/2023
Alison M., - Traveled, November 2023
it's a fun and super easy way to travel and G Adventures is a budget friendly way to do it
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/12/2023
Reanne V. - Traveled, November 2023
the accommodation could have been better. the second half of the tour wasn't worth it at all so it makes me curious about whether other trip itineraries are the same. I'm likely to recommend, but not highly likely.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/12/2023
Sarah L. - Traveled, November 2023
I thought that the tour was organised incredibly well and G Adventures are a very trustworthy company.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/12/2023
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