Central America Tours
- Ometepe Island (Nicaragua)
- Bay Islands (Honduras)
- Antigua (Guatemala)
- Bocas del Toro (Panama)
- Lake Atitlan/Panajachel (Guatemala)
- Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (Belize)
- Havana (Cuba)
- Tikal (Guatemala)
- Palenque (Mexico)
- Playa Hermosa (Costa Rica)
Diversity. The word sums up Central America travel. So geographically close to the frenzy of North America, yet a million miles away in culture and lifestyle, this small area changes colours as quickly as a chameleon. Each country is so different that a simple border crossing will bring a whole new mix of surprises and cultural experiences. If beach life and water activities are your thing then a Central America tour is perfect for you. Snorkeling, sailing, SCUBA diving, surfing, parasailing, swimming and windsurfing are all possible in virtually any Central American country. For history and culture buffs the archaeological ruins of Tikal in Guatemala or Copan in Honduras are fascinating reminders of the ancient Mayan civilization. Whether you have just a week or a full month to travel, Central America has something for you.
Costa Rica Pass - Route 2 Self Drive (TCR2DN)
See two sides of Costa Rica's incredible natural playground: get your fill of outdoor adventure around active Arenal Volcano, famous for everything from world-class rafting to rivers of volcano-heated hot springs. Next point your rental car down the Pacific coast to Manuel Antonio Park, the country's most popular. With pristine, protected beaches, wildlife that practically dances for you (monkeys!) and some of the best nightlife in the country, it's easy to see why.
Highlights: San José, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano, Manuel Antonio/Quepos Area
Costa Rica Pass - Route 3 Self Drive (TCR3DN)
Drive from the clouds to the sand! Spend two days in the world-famous Monteverde cloud forest looking for the beautiful but elusive quetzal, before driving your rental car south to the sun and sea around Manuel Antonio Park, the country's most popular. See scores of monkeys or sloth, swim or hike along pristine beaches, or dance the night away--the local nightlife is some of the best around.
Highlights: San José, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Manuel Antonio/Quepos Area
Costa Rica Pass - Route 4 Self Drive (TCR4DN)
Drive around three great western highlights: from volcanoes to cloud forests to beaches and monkeys. Start with the area near active Arenal Volcano, known for rafting and hot springs, then head to the hills and the unique ecosystem of Monteverde's cloud forests. Finish it all with some beach time in Manuel Antonio Park, blessed with wildlife, fantastic beaches, and the best nightlife on the Pacific coast.
Highlights: San José, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Manuel Antonio/Quepos Area
Costa Rica Pass - Route 5 Self Drive (TCR5DN)
Drive from coast to coast, from the Caribbean-flavoured beaches of Costa Rica's Atlantic to the Latin rhythms of Guanacaste, known for its miles of beaches, killer surf and consistently sunny weather. In between, make a stop on the country's volcanic backbone at active Arenal Volcano, a wonderland of rafting, hiking, waterfalls and hot springs.
Highlights: San José, Cahuita or Puerto Viejo, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano, Guanacaste.
Costa Rica Pass - Route 6 Self Drive (TCR6DN)
Our most comprehensive Costa Rican driving adventure! Start with the mangroves, jungles and canals of Tortuguero, nesting ground for giant sea turtles. Next, try rafting or relax in hot springs around active Arenal Volcano before driving up into the cool hills of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Soak in dramatic volcanic scenery in remote Rincon de la Vieja before topping it all off with some beach time--and monkeys--in Manuel Antonio Park, famous for its beaches, bars and wildlife.
Highlights: San José, Tortuguero, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Rincon de la Vieja, Manuel Antonio/Quepos Area
Costa Rica Quest (CRQ)
Nature called you to Costa Rica—now here you are, suspended in the jungle canopy, locking eyes with a curious monkey. This action-packed tour of Costa Rica’s highlights is perfect for the adventurer with limited time who wants to explore the region’s diversity. Get your adrenaline pumping, follow a trail to the base of a waterfall, melt away in thermal springs or bliss out on a beach—our CEOs will help you find the secluded spots only the locals know.
Highlights: Soaking in the thermal hot springs of Arenal Volcano, searching for the elusive quetzal bird in the cloud forest, watching the sunset over the Pacific.
Costa Rica Volcanoes & Surf (CRVS)
Mountain bike along Lake Arenal with breathtaking volcanic views and catch a wave on this action-packed 9-day tour of Costa Rica. Get your adrenaline pumping with optional extreme sports like whitewater rafting, rappelling and ziplining through the lush jungle canopy. Learn to surf the famous Pacific breaks at Playa Hermosa and enjoy plenty of time to relax on tropical beaches. Throw in the opportunity to see incredible rainforest wildlife and you've got a unique adventure you'll be talking about for years.
Highlights: Surfing the waves of one of the best breaks in the country, Catching views of Arenal Volcano from a lakeside mountain bike ride, Searching for the elusive quetzal bird in the cloud forest, Watching the sunset over the Pacific.
- Trip Style:
- Classic
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Standard
- Physical Grading:
- 3
Cycle Central America (CNGP)
Stretching almost 50,000km from Alaska to Patagonia, the Pan-American Highway is a triumph of international cooperation. To hardy cyclists, it presents both a challenge and an opportunity to take the ultimate, seemingly endless ride. This trip gives you a piece of that magic; aboard your bike, you’ll pedal through the lush countryside of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, past gleaming lakes, enormous volcanoes, colonial towns and sunny beachfronts across the Caribbean. The ride of your life is waiting to begin. All that’s missing is you.
Highlights: Cycling from Nicaragua to Panama, enjoying downhill cycling on Volcano Irazu, rafting through the lands of the Cabecar indigenous tribe, chilling on Caribbean isles, cycling through mountain tracks
Guanacaste Beach Break (TCRGBN)
Ankles sore from too many bungee jumps and volcano treks? Maybe it’s time to stop and smell the Frangipani. Costa Rica specializes in adventure but this beach break is all about relaxing and recharging in style. Let us take care of transportation and the hotel, you just focus on taking it easy. Guanacaste is an eternity away from crowded trails or city streets, so melt into that deck chair poolside, grab a drink from the bar and maybe—but only if you’re up to it—contemplate the sun melting into the sea.
Highlights: Marvelling at breathtaking sunsets over the Pacific Ocean, Strolling along the beach and taking time to relax.
Local Living Costa Rica: Caribbean Coast (CRCL)
Break out of the ordinary and spend a week on the truly magnificent Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Your house in Punta Uva, which you’ll share with a small group of other like-minded travellers, connects to a white sand beach and is in a pristine wilderness region teeming with exotic animals and the nesting grounds of sea turtles. With a CEO there offering local tips, you're free to craft a dream trip. A week is enough time to get settled—the danger is you may never want to leave.
Highlights: Sharing a rental property with optional day trips and activities, making new friends in your gorgeous Caribbean home, searching for wildlife in Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, grabbing an included bicycle and cruising into town, chilling on picturesque beaches, sampling Caribbean food, dancing to reggae beats.
- Trip Style:
- Local Living
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Standard
- Physical Grading:
- 2
Panama Experience (CRSP)
From San José, hit the beach and mountain retreats on your way to the locks of the world-famous Panama Canal at the centre of the Americas. Visit gorgeous islands and chill to reggae beats on Caribbean beaches. Search for the quetzal bird in cloud forests and shake your tailfeather in the clubs of Panama City. With your hotel and transport arranged by our CEOs, you can concentrate on choosing your own adventure.
Highlights: Listening to the reggae rhythms wafting through the Caribbean air, staring out at the crystal blue ocean, walking through lush greenery of the highlands, kicking back in a hammock on the Pacific, opportunity to watch ships pass through the Panama Canal.
The Best of Costa Rica (TCRBCC)
Can't decide between the jungle, volcanoes or the beach? Do all three on this 10-day journey around all that makes Costa Rica world-renowned for its natural beauty. Start by cruising the remote rainforests of Tortuguero (no roads here!) before heading to volcano country. Stay at the foot of Arenal Volcano and explore the rivers, trails and hot springs of the area before chasing sun and sea in Guanacaste, known for its miles of beaches, killer surf and great weather.
Highlights: Spotting monkeys and other wildlife, relaxing on the beach, getting active in the Arenal region, soaking in relaxing hot springs after a hard day of play.
Trek Hidden Costa Rica (CRAC)
Think you know Costa Rica? Trade in the same old settings for the real deal. Trek into the heart of the jungle, live with three families in a remote village and embrace your inner Tarzan while bunking down behind a massive waterfall in a hidden cave. You'll learn about the medicinal plants native to these parts and how to make sugar cane candy. This is a spectacular country with opportunities for waterfall rappelling, surfing and whitewater rafting. Discover the emerald core of a diverse land. This is what adventure is all about.
Highlights: Trekking into a remote community to live with the locals, Sleeping in a cave behind twin 26m waterfalls, Making your own sugar cane candy, Experiencing a traditional sauna and learning about medicinal plants, Rappelling down hidden waterfalls, Whitewater rafting on the Savegre River
Turtles and Tortuguero (TCRT3C)
Short on time but need more of Costa Rica? Tortuguero National Park, home to the Caribbean’s most important breeding ground for endangered green sea turtles, is the place for you. Travel from San Jose through banana plantations to the Caribbean Coast where you'll catch a boat to Tortuguero. Spend three days exploring the canals, beaches and jungles of this pristine nature reserve in search of turtles, birds, caiman and if you are lucky the famous 'Jesus Lizard'.
Highlights: Cruising the Tortuguero Canals in search of wildlife, Hiking through the pristine environment of Tortuguero National Park, Searching for sea turtles in season.
Turtles & Tortuguero (TCRTTC)
Spend three days at a comfortable lodge in and around Tortuguero National Park, home to the Caribbean’s most important breeding ground for endangered green sea turtles. The park is a land of canals and waterways lined by steamy jungle and mangroves teeming with wildlife. A sleepy Caribbean town, Tortuguero has no roads—access is only by boat or small plane. If you're looking for unspoiled rainforest and more animals than you can shake a camera at, this is the place.
Highlights: Exploring lush Tortuguero National Park, Searching for sea turtles during nesting season.
Volcano Adventure- San José to Antigua (CRSA)
From the lush cloud forests of Costa Rica to the evocative cobblestone streets of Antigua, get off the tourist track and discover the colour and spirit of Central America. Discover ancient Mayan ruins at Copán and visit small villages for insight into the region's vibrant culture. Explore the volcanoes and jungle surrounding Ometepe Island and unwind on the white sand beaches of Roatán. With its combination of included activities and countless thrilling options, this trip offers you the chance to personalize your adventure into something special.
Highlights: Hiking through the mist of a cloud forest, exploring Mayan ruins of Copán, dining with a local family in their home in Nicaragua, peering over the crater of Masaya Volcano, chilling on a Caribbean beach.
Volcano, Hot Springs & Cloudforest (TCRVHC)
Head for the hills! Costa Rica's backbone of mountains and volcanoes hold some of its greatest treasures. The area around Arenal Volcano has adrenaline sports galore; enjoy the luxury of volcano-heated hot springs once the day's over. Join a guided tour of the Caño Negro wetlands, heading the next day for the cool hills of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Explore this unique ecosystem, world-famous for its biodiversity and spot quetzal and hummingbirds in a thick forest studded with tiny orchids.
Highlights: Spotting wildlife around the waters of the Caño Negro wetlands, hiking through the misty cloud forest air, soaking in the blissful thermal hot springs of Arenal.
Volcano Trail (JGS)
From the crystal-blue ocean teeming with marine life to tropical rainforests alive with jungle melodies, take the road less travelled on this trip through Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica with other travellers your own age. This is one of our most exciting trips, filled with breathtaking scenery and a chance to experience local culture with a 2-night homestay on the island of Ometepe. Enjoy a blend of public and private transportation, which not only keeps costs down but also gives you a chance to really meet the locals.
Highlights: Connecting with your hosts in an Ometepe homestay experience, relaxing seaside in the Bay Islands, laughing with the locals during a journey on a chicken bus, opportunities to go whitewater rafting, exploring Mayan ruins and hiking through a cloud forest
- Trip Style:
- Yolo
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Basic
- Physical Grading:
- 3
Volunteer Costa Rica (CRPJ)
From pristine cloud forests to the Pacific coast’s famous surf, experience some of the world's most incredible scenery and exotic wildlife—and make a lasting impact while you're there. Spend five days volunteering with a sea turtle project to help ensure these endearing creatures are around for future generations to admire. Then hike through misty cloud forests and get your heart racing on optional activities in the lush wilderness. Give some of your time to this beautiful country and a worthy cause, and you'll be rewarded with an experience you can really treasure. Gain a real sense of accomplishment and take home more than photographs.
Highlights: Patrolling for sea turtles laying their eggs, chilling out on the beach and watching the waves lap at the coast, searching for the elusive quetzal bird, taking the opportunity to go whitewater rafting.
| Trip | Length | Style | Service Level | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica Pass - Route 2 Self Drive (TCR2DN) | 8 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$749
USD
|
| Costa Rica Pass - Route 3 Self Drive (TCR3DN) | 8 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$749
USD
|
| Costa Rica Pass - Route 4 Self Drive (TCR4DN) | 11 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$1029
USD
|
| Costa Rica Pass - Route 5 Self Drive (TCR5DN) | 11 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$1049
USD
|
| Costa Rica Pass - Route 6 Self Drive (TCR6DN) | 15 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$1649
USD
|
| Costa Rica Quest (CRQ) | 9 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$999
USD
|
| Costa Rica Volcanoes & Surf (CRVS) | 9 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$1215
USD
Promotions Available!
Was
$1349
|
| Cycle Central America (CNGP) | 16 days | Active | Standard |
From
$2499
USD
|
| Guanacaste Beach Break (TCRGBN) | 4 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$449
USD
|
| Local Living Costa Rica: Caribbean Coast (CRCL) | 8 days | Local Living | Standard |
From
$799
USD
|
| Panama Experience (CRSP) | 14 days | Yolo | Basic |
From
$1249
USD
|
| The Best of Costa Rica (TCRBCC) | 10 days | G-Plus | Comfort |
From
$1149
USD
|
| Trek Hidden Costa Rica (CRAC) | 12 days | Active | Basic |
From
$1199
USD
|
| Turtles and Tortuguero (TCRT3C) | 3 days | G-Plus | Comfort |
From
$299
USD
|
| Turtles & Tortuguero (TCRTTC) | 4 days | G-Plus | Comfort |
From
$399
USD
|
| Volcano Adventure- San José to Antigua (CRSA) | 21 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$2299
USD
|
| Volcano, Hot Springs & Cloudforest (TCRVHC) | 5 days | G-Plus | Comfort |
From
$849
USD
|
| Volcano Trail (JGS) | 17 days | Yolo | Basic |
From
$1232
USD
Promotions Available!
Was
$1449
|
| Volunteer Costa Rica (CRPJ) | 15 days | Classic | Basic |
From
$1049
USD
|
