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Central American Journey: Rainforests & Ruins

32 days, Playa del Carmen to San José

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.

32 days

Playa del Carmen to San José

From$2174USD
was $2899
Valid on Jun 11 2024
Trip Code: JCS

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

Special Offers

Expires on May 01, 2024 03:59 UTC
Promo Code G24SDQ010CAM04

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.

Is this tour for me?

Travel Style: 18-to-Thirtysomethings

Fast, fresh, and fun adventures that never slow down, made for young, budget-minded travellers.

Service Level: Basic

Simple and clean hotels and hostels; affordable public and private transport; lots of optional activities.

Physical Rating: 2 - Light

Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 18, avg 16.

Age requirement: 18-39

Check Your Visa Requirements

Before booking, use our handy entry requirements tool so you know which documents you need to enter and travel through the countries on your trip.

View our Entry Requirements tool

32 days

Playa del Carmen to San José

From$2174USD
was $2899
Valid on Jun 11 2024
Trip Code: JCS

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

Special Offers

Expires on May 01, 2024 03:59 UTC
Promo Code G24SDQ010CAM04

See how your trip uplifts communities

In a number of impactful ways, your adventure directly benefits the local people and places we visit.

Trees for Days

Help us spread love around the world — with trees! Together with Planeterra, we'll plant one tree in your name for every travel day.

Trees planted for this trip: 32

Ripple Score

Want to create ripples that change lives? The higher the Ripple Score percentage, the more money stays in the local communities you visit.

Ripple Score for this trip: 100

Itinerary

Day 1Playa 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!

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Welcome Moment Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group| Your First Night Out Moment Connect With New Friends

Day 2Playa 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.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Day 3Playa 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.

Days 4–5Caye Caulker

Opt to snorkel with stingrays and nurse sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, go diving or just chill out, Belizean style.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Day 6Caye 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.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your G for Good Moment San Antonio Women's Pottery Cooperative and Local Lunch

Meals included:

Lunch

Day 7San Ignacio

Opt to visit the sacred Mayan cave Actun Tunichil Muknal or check out the seldom-visited Mayan ruins of Xunantunich.

Day 8San Ignacio/Flores

Learn about Mayan culture and history on a guided tour of the ruins of Tikal.

Day 9Flores/Rio Dulce

Travel across the country towards the coast to Rio Dulce, on the shores of Lake Izabal.

Day 10Rio 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.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your G for Good Moment Caribbean Gastronomic Experience "El Manglar"

Meals included:

Lunch

Day 11Rio 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.

Day 12Antigua 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.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Day 13Antigua Guatemala/Panajachel

Travel to beautiful Lake Atitlán and enjoy the views.

Day 14Panajachel/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.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your G for Good Moment Posadas Mayas Homestay

Meals included:

Dinner

Day 15San Juan La Laguna/Antigua Guatemala

Return to Antigua, and enjoy a Big Night Out with the group.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Big Night Out Moment

Day 16Antigua Guatemala

Enjoy free time to relax with a massage, explore the nearby hills by bicycle, or visit a local macadamia nut farm.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Day 17Antigua 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.

Day 18Copán

Free time in Copán. Opt to visit the ruins of Copán or soak in hot springs.

Day 19Copán/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 20Suchitoto/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 21La 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 22La 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 23León/Granada

Journey to Granada and see its colourful colonial buildings on an orientation walk. Enjoy a Big Night Out with the group.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Big Night Out Moment

Day 24Granada

Free time to explore beautiful Granada's markets, buildings and museums. Opt to kayak in Lake Nicaragua or swim in Laguna de Apoyo.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Day 25Granada/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.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your G for Good Moment Puesta del Sol Community Guesthouse Stay

Meals included:

Dinner

Day 26Isla 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.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your G for Good Moment Puesta del Sol Community Guesthouse Stay

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 27Isla 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.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 28Monteverde

Free day in Monteverde. Opt to visit a cloud forest reserve, fly through the jungle canopy via zipline, or tour a coffee plantation.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Day 29Monteverde/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.

Day 30La Fortuna

Free time to enjoy the La Fortuna and Arenal area.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Day 31La Fortuna/San José

Journey through the mountains to the capital for a final night out.

Day 32San José

Depart at any time.

View full itinerary

What's Included

  • 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

Accommodations

Simple hotels/hostels (28 nts, most multi-share), homestay (3 nts).

Meals

2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
Allow USD795-1035 for meals not included.

Transportation

Local bus, ferry, boat, private vehicle, taxi, walking.

Staff & experts

Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.

Available extras (Add these to your tour when you book)

Costa Rica Adrenaline Bundle - From $149.00

CANYONING (Half-day Arenal) Rappel, down-climb, river-trace, and descend huge waterfalls in the rugged mountains and lush rainforests around Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano. ZIPLINING (Half-day Monteverde) Get a true bird’s-eye view of the rainforest canopy as you soar through the trees on a Tarzan swing, a giant rappel, and a 137-meter-high (450-foot) zipline. Please note the prices listed does not include the IVA Tax. Please note that passengers must weigh between 45-100kg (100 – 220 lbs) and be at least 130cm (4'3 ft) tall to participate in these activities.

Guided Cloud Forest Night Walk - From $30.00

Join a naturalist guide for a 1.5-2 hour tour in the cloud forest after dark. Learn more about the habits of the area's nocturnal wildlife including mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and amphibians, and keep your eyes and ears open on this slow-paced walk. You never know what you might see – it depends on the day and your luck!

Pacaya Volcano Hike - From $59.00

Sarapiqui River Rafting - From $99.00

Duck, dodge, and paddle your way down the Sarapiqui River on this class 3 rafting trip. We like to call this section of the river ""The Jungle Run"" - don't miss the monkeys, iguanas and other amazing Costa Rican wildlife while you fly down the rolling rapids. Try and keep up while your guide directs the rafts and calls out directions... "Paddle Hard!" "Right Paddle!" "Back Paddle!" "Get Down!".

Make it a private tour

Book this tour as a private departure, with your own CEO and all the benefits of a G Adventures group tour.

Central American Journey: Rainforests & Ruins

| 32 days - Playa del Carmen to San José - from $2174 USD