Ultimate Central America






















From AUD $14155
Small Group
Light
Rating
(3 reviews)

Ultimate Central America
59 days
Small Group
Moderate
Light
English
Experience Overview
Embark on an in-depth, 59-day Central American adventure from Mexico’s capital to the home of the Panama Canal.
Embark on an in-depth, 59-day Central American adventure from Mexico’s capital to the home of the Panama Canal. Pass through Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama on a small-group journey through remote villages, historic cities, ancient Maya and Aztec ruins, verdant cloud forests and pure Caribbean beaches. Get acquainted with the local cultures, spectacular landscapes and fascinating histories of Central America as you explore the wealth of tradition, spot the range of unusual wildlife, dive into unique underwater worlds and spend time travelling with like-minded people. Did you hear that? Central America is calling – you better Belize it.
Highlights
- The stars of this trip are the dramatic and varied landscapes of lush Central America. Active volcanoes, ancient ruins, idyllic beaches and emerald jungles – this trip has got you covered.
- Escape the Mexican heat in the highlands of San Cristobal de las Casas. This old-world town is surrounded by indigenous villages that have retained their traditional customs and roots.
- Visit San Andres Itzapa and see the shamanic ceremonies devoted to San Simon, a popular chain-smoking saint that has stolen the hearts of the Maya people.
- Clear sea perfect for swimming, shacks serving cold cerveza and sandy shores covered in starfish are waiting in Panama's Bocas del Toro, where you spend three nights on Isla Colon.
- Hike, cycle or zip-line through the steamy cloud forests of Monteverde in Costa Rica – there’s so many ways to experience the lush canopies and unique Central American wildlife.
Trip Details
59 days
Private vehicle,Local bus,Taxi,Shared boat,Ferry
Small Group
English
Mexico City, Belize
Panama City, Belize
Moderate
Explorer
Light
Itinerary
Optional Activities:
- Mexico City - Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays) (95 MXN)
- Mexico City - National Museum of Anthropology (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays) (100 MXN)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Mexico City - Leader-led Taco Crawl
- Mexico City - Leader-led orientation walk
- Mexico City - Gastromotiva (The Intrepid Foundation partner) visit (weekdays only)
Optional Activities:
- Mexico City - Frida Kahlo Museum (entrance fee) (320 MXN)
- Mexico City - Metropolitan Cathedral (entrance fee) - Free
- Mexico City - Torre Latino 360° Lookout (entrance fee) (200 MXN)
- Mexico City - Diego Rivera Murals in the Mural Museum (Entrance Fee) (50 MXN)
- Mexico City - Teotihuacan Pyramids Urban Adventure (125 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Puebla - Leader-led orientation walk
- Puebla - Visit to La Pasita Bar
- Tlahuac - Community Visit
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Optional Activities:
- Puebla - Santo Domingo Church and Rosary Chapel (No entrance during mass) - Free
- Puebla - San Pedro Art Museum (entrance fee) (50 MXN)
- Puebla - Cholula archaeological site (Entrance fee) (100 MXN)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Oaxaca - Leader-led walking tour
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Optional Activities:
- Oaxaca - Monte Alban archaeological site (entrance fee) (100 MXN)
- Oaxaca - Santo Domingo Cultural Centre (entrance fee) (100 MXN)
- Oaxaca - Cooking class (1500 MXN)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Oaxaca - Tule Tree, Hierve el Agua visit, mescal distillery
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- San Cristobal de Las Casas - Leader-led Orientation Walk
Optional Activities:
- San Cristobal de Las Casas - Amber Museum (entrance fee) (55 MXN)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- San Juan Chamula - Maya Church (entrance fee)
Optional Activities:
- Sumidero Canyon - Boat Excursion (entrance and transport) (900 MXN)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Palenque - Archaeological site (Guide, Transport & Entrance fee)
- Misol-Ha - Waterfall Visit
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Merida - Leader-led orientation walk
- Campeche - Leader-led Orientation Walk
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Optional Activities:
- Merida - Uxmal Ruins tour (inc. shared transport and guide) (2200 MXN)
- Merida - Las Coloradas Flamingo Tour (inc. shared transport and guide) (1700 MXN)
- Merida - Fernando Garcia Ponce-Macay Contemporary Art Museum (entrance fee) - Free
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Playa del Carmen - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Chichen Itza - Archaeological site with local guide
- Piste - Traditional Maya Family Lunch
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Optional Activities:
- Playa del Carmen - Bicycle Rental (per day) (260 MXN)
- Playa del Carmen - Ferry to Cozumel (Round-trip Ticket) (600 MXN)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Playa del Carmen - Cenote Azul visit
Optional Activities:
- Playa del Carmen - Half-day tour of Tulum Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport) (1400 MXN)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Bacalar - Beach club entry
Optional Activities:
- Bacalar - Lagoon of 7 Colours Boat Tour (700 MXN)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Caye Caulker - Leader-led orientation walk
Optional Activities:
- Caye Caulker - Stand-up paddleboard hire (per hour) (55 BZD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Optional Activities:
- Caye Caulker - Manatee boat tour (Incl. transport & guide) (254 BZD)
- Caye Caulker - Stand-up paddleboard hire (per hour) (55 BZD)
- Caye Caulker - Sunset Sailing (126 BZD)
- Caye Caulker - Full day Catamaran snorkeling tour in Hol Chan Marine Reserve-(gear, guide and transport included) (120 USD)
- Caye Caulker - Full day speed boat - (gear, guide and transport included) (120 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Caye Caulker - Cooking Class
Optional Activities:
- Caye Caulker - Bicycle Rental (per day) (12 USD)
- Caye Caulker - Stand-up paddleboard hire (per hour) (55 BZD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- San Ignacio - Leader-led orientation walk
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Optional Activities:
- San Ignacio - Butterfly Farm (incl. transport) (175 BZD)
- San Ignacio - Iguana Conservation Project (entrance fee) (24 BZD)
- San Ignacio - Xunantunich Ruins entry (20 BZD)
- San Ignacio - Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves (Incl. entry, guide, transport & lunch) (135 USD)
- San Ignacio - Cave tubing (incl. entrance, guide & transport) (100 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Tikal National Park - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Accommodation:
- Lodge (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Livingston - River boat trip to Garifuna town
- Livingston - Garirfuna dance class
Optional Activities:
- Rio Dulce - Natural Hot Springs (entrance fee and transport) (210 GTQ)
- Rio Dulce - Quirigua Ruins (entrance fee) (90 GTQ)
- Rio Dulce - San Felipe Fort (entrance fee) (85 GTQ)
Accommodation:
- Lodge (Number of Nights: 1)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- San Andres Itzapa - San Simon shamanic ceremonies
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Western Highlands - Almolonga vegetable market
- Quetzaltenango - Chicken Bus Experience
Optional Activities:
- Quetzaltenango - Chocolate Museum - Free
- Quetzaltenango - Mayan Cooking Class (55 USD)
- Xela - Las Fuentes Georginas Hotsprings (25 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Chichicastenango market visit
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Lake Atitlan - Boat to Santiago Atitlan
- Santiago Atitlan - Shamanic Keepers of the Shrine of Maximon
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Antigua - Leader-led Orientation Walk
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Optional Activities:
- Antigua - Salsa-dance Lesson (per hour) (150 GTQ)
- Antigua - Chocolate-making workshop at ChocoMuseo (30 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Copan - Guided visit to Archaeological site
Optional Activities:
- Copan - Natural Hot Springs & Dinner (50 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Suchitoto - Salvadoran Pupusa cooking demonstration
- Suchitoto - Leader led orientation walk
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Suchitoto - Indigo Dyeing Demonstration
Optional Activities:
- Suchitoto - Town tour (requires a minimum of 4 travellers to operate) (35 USD)
- Suchitoto - War historic hike (Moderate hike - 2km) at Cinquera Forest (requires a minimum of 5 travellers to operate) (55 USD)
- Suchitoto - Sunrise Kayaking on Lake Suchitlan (requires a minimum of 4 travelers to operate) (50 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Leon - Leader led orientation walk
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Optional Activities:
- Leon - Volcano Sand Boarding (requires a minimum of 3 travellers to operate) (55 USD)
- Leon - Leon Art Center (4 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Masaya - Town & Market Visit
- Granada - La Laguna de Apoyo Viewpoint
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Granada - Breakfast at El Cafe de las Sonrisas
Optional Activities:
- Granada - Mombacho Volcano hike (requires a minimum of 4 travellers to operate) (60 USD)
- Granada - Granada islets boat tour (requires a minimum of 3 travellers to operate) (25 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Monteverde - Leader-led orientation walk
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Monteverde - Hands-on breakfast
Optional Activities:
- Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour (55 USD)
- Monteverde - Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport) (101 USD)
- Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour (47 USD)
- Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) (22 USD)
- Monteverde - Frog pond (20 USD)
- Monteverde - Orchid gardens (18 USD)
- Monteverde - Cloud Forest Night Walk (45 USD)
- Monteverde - Children's Forest (25 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- La Fortuna - Leader led orientation walk
- Monteverde - Cloud Forest Reserve with a local guide
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Optional Activities:
- La Fortuna - Arenal hanging bridges (inc entrance fee, guide and shared transport) (75 USD)
- La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only) (25 USD)
- La Fortuna - Arenal Volcano Base Hike (97 USD)
- La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour (94 USD)
- La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board (75 USD)
- La Fortuna - Baldi Hot Springs (entrance fee) (66 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- San Jose - Leader-led orientation walk
- La Fortuna - Cooking Class
Optional Activities:
- San Jose - San Jose By Night: Food and Culture - Urban Adventures (74 USD)
- San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) (Closed Sunday & Monday) (11 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Optional Activities:
- San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum (Entrance fee) (17 USD)
- San Jose - San Jose Bites and Sights Tour - Urban Adventures (49 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Sarapiqui – Jungle Walk
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Leader-led orientation walk
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Puerto Viejo - Hands-on dinner in local home
Optional Activities:
- Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Surf lesson (1 hour) (60 USD)
- Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Cahuita National Park (entrance fee) (5 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Optional Activities:
- Bocas del Toro - Jungle Cacao Tour (guide and transport included) (42 USD)
- Bocas del Toro - Full-day Tour including Bastimentos island, Jungle hike & Lunch with Ngobe Community (guide and transport included) (63 USD)
- Bocas del Toro - Bio-luminescence Boat Tour (seasonal - guide and transport included) (35 USD)
- Bocas del Toro - Colon Expedition including starfish beach & bird island (45 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Ngäbe-Buglé Indigenous Community Visit
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Boquete - Leader-led orientation walk
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Optional Activities:
- Boquete - Guided Bicycle Tour - 2 hours (guide and bike hire included) (55 USD)
- Boquete - Guided Tour of Hidden Waterfalls (entrance fee, transport and guide included) (53 USD)
- Boquete - Zipline (guide and transport included) (75 USD)
- Boquete - Mini Canyons Tour (entrance fee, transport and guide included) (37 USD)
- Boquete - Calderas Hot Springs (entrance fee and transport included, no guide) (37 USD)
- Boquete - Coffee Plantation Tour (guide and transport included) (37 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Chitre - Traditional mask workshop
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Included Activities:
- Panama City - Miraflores Locks (Panama Canal)
- Panama City - Leader-led walk in Casco Viejo
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
- Flights to and from origin and destinations
- Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
- Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
- Recommended gratuities/tipping
- Optional activities/tours
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.
You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.
Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.
This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.
Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.
If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).
If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.
Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.
- It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
- Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
- Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
Duration: 59 days
Trip Type: Small Group
Activity Level: Light
Embark on an in-depth, 59-day Central American adventure from Mexico’s capital to the home of the Panama Canal.
Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 02 Jan 2027
Customer Reviews
06/03/2023
An excellent tour and a fantastic way to see Central America! Prepare to be surprised at every turn - rich colours, dramatic landscapes, delicious food, wonderful people, and exciting activities. Highly recommended!
05/03/2023
One of the most amazing trips ever. If you like culture, wildlife, history, adventure, food this is for you. So many incredible activities every day I didn't want to go home.
Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
06/03/2023
An excellent tour and a fantastic way to see Central America! Prepare to be surprised at every turn - rich colours, dramatic landscapes, delicious food, wonderful people, and exciting activities. Highly recommended!
05/03/2023
One of the most amazing trips ever. If you like culture, wildlife, history, adventure, food this is for you. So many incredible activities every day I didn't want to go home.
01/06/2023
The ultimate Central America 59day tour is an Absolutely fantastic trip!! A fantastic way of seeing each country from coast to coast. Really lovely accommodation though out, never felt unsafe, great local tour guides. Perfect trio

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