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.
Mayan Adventure (CAM)
Leave the resorts of Cancún behind and explore the authentic Yucatán. From sunny beaches and lush jungles to the highlands of Chiapas, journey through Belize, Guatemala and southern Mexico on this incredible 22-day adventure. Explore the amazing ruins of Chichén Itzá, Palenque and Tikal and walk the cobblestone streets of colonial San Cristóbal de las Casas and Antigua. Snorkel with stingrays or just get into the reggae pace of life on sunny Caribbean beaches. Experience a journey that introduces you to local culture and offers insight into the history of the Mayan heartland.
Highlights: Exploring incredible Mayan sites and colourful local markets, blissing out on the world-class Mayan Riviera beaches, caving in a Mayan sacred site, snorkelling on Belize's world-famous barrier reef.
Cuba Colonial (CCC)
The melody of horns floating through the air, classic cars parked in colonial squares and revolutionary statues—get over the resort wall and discover the real Cuba! Travel east to Santiago de Cuba and Baracoa and encounter the birthplace of Cuban rhythms and revolutionary fervour. Soak in Spanish heritage while exploring churches, forts and cobblestone streets. Overnight in homestays for an immersive Cuban experience few travellers get to experience. Don't just walk down the road less travelled—dance down it. Viva la Revolución!
Highlights: Dancing salsa with the locals, walking in Che Guevara's footsteps, bonding with your host family in a homestay, exploring breathtaking beaches.
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.
- Trip Style:
- Classic
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Standard
- Physical Grading:
- 2
Cuba Libre (CCL)
Walking through the pincushion hills, wandering amongst orchids and lush mountain coffee plantations—see another side of the island on this week-long tour through the ‘Garden Province’ of Cuba. Tour a tobacco plantation, snorkel crystal clear waters full of colourful coral and search for the pirates of lore along the Guanahacabibes Peninsula. Soak up local culture in a homestay for an immersive experience that travellers rarely get to know. Let our experienced CEO lead you off the beaten path and discover the cultural treasures of Cuba.
Highlights: Blissing out on the beautiful beaches, Experiencing Cuban hospitality during a homestay overnight, visiting a factory that produces world famous Cuban cigars.
Mayan Encounter (CGME)
Trek though jungles to Mayan ruins and relax on white-sand beaches. Get an authentic taste of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala with an adventure that combines the mystery of the ancient ruins with the crystalline waters of the Caribbean. Shop for treasures along colonial Antigua's cobblestone streets and get to know the locals from communities where life sometimes moves at a reggae pace. Explore the lost ruins of Tikal, snorkel with stingrays and finish in the colourful beach town of Playa del Carmen. With accommodation and transport arranged by a CEO, this trip offers great value and is the perfect way to discover this region’s unique vibe.
Highlights: Listening to the howler monkeys from the top of Temple IV at Tikal, Revelling in Caye Caulker sunsets, Swaying to reggae beats wafting through the Belizean air, Blissing out on world-class Mayan Riviera beaches.
Mayan Sun—Southbound (CMCA)
Find your paradise somewhere between the blazing Yucatán sun and the cool Guatemalan highlands on this 16-day odyssey. Wander Antigua’s cobblestone streets and its local markets before experiencing the diverse beauty of Lake Atitlán and its indigenous villages. Geared to the adventurer wanting to capture some of Central America's finest highlights, this trip will ensure that you really pack some punch into those postcards home.
Highlights: Relaxing on white-sand beaches, luxuriating in Caye Caulker sunsets and reggae music, experiencing a local homestay, exploring gorgeous colonial Antigua and its colourful markets.
Costa Rica Adventure (CRA)
If you’re looking for a taste of Costa Rica’s world-class highlights but want to keep things spicy with a sampling of hidden treasures, this action-packed adventure tops the menu. In spite of its small size, Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world—explore its volcanoes, wildlife, rainforests and beaches. This adventure offers a great balance of guided excursions and free time. Optional activities abound—choose to get your adrenaline pumping or take it easy with a stroll through a butterfly garden.
Highlights: Spotting wildlife while cruising through canals, searching for the elusive quetzal bird, hiking through jungles, chilling on the gorgeous Pacific coast, Searching for dolphins on a sunset sail or going whitewater rafting.
- Trip Style:
- Classic
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Standard
- Physical Grading:
- 3
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
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.
Belize & Tikal Adventure (BHH)
Follow in the footsteps of Mayan warriors to lost cities cloaked in jungle mists. This adventure offers an intriguing mix of ruins, beaches, wildlife and the rich cultures of Belize and Guatemala. A perfect blend of activity and relaxation—spend three days canoeing deep in the jungle and snorkelling the crystal-clear turquoise-blue waters before easing into the laidback Belizean lifestyle while sipping on a rum cocktail. As pioneers of canoeing in the region, we are pleased to offer this classic trip—one you won’t find anywhere else.
Highlights: River canoeing in central Belize, spotting tropical sea life while snorkelling the barrier reef, exploring the jungle-set ruins of Tikal, listening to reggae music as you walk down Caye Caulker's sandy main street.
Kayak Belize (BKS)
From swaying palms to desert islands surrounded by sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, experience the ultimate kayaking holiday in Belize. Enjoy a week of island-hopping off the coast and explore the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Paddle Belize’s turquoise waters for between two and four hours a day, soaking up the sun and exploring the cayes just off the mainland. There's plenty of downtime to relax and a chance to take up other activities, such as snorkelling. Get paddling!
Highlights: Placencia nightlife, camping on small sandy Belizean cayes, sea life spotted while snorkelling, local food specialties, flight over southern Belize.
Cycle Cuba (CCB)
Leave the resorts of Varadero behind and discover the real Cuba on this 8-day active adventure. Get your blood pumping cycling the hills of the Guaniguanico and El Rosario mountain ranges and marvel at scenic vistas that will take your breath away. Tour a tobacco plantation for a taste of iconic Cuban culture. With its lush scenery, vibrant culture and incredible beaches, this active cycling adventure will have you exploring a side of this island few rarely get to know.
Highlights: Cycling through pincushion hills, sampling Cuban rum at the distillery, hearing Cuban salsa music float through the streets of Havana, walking across one of Cuba's famed white-sand beaches, gazing out across the crystal-blue Caribbean.
- Trip Style:
- Active
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Standard
- Physical Grading:
- 3
Central Cuba Adventure (CCCA)
Enjoy the sights and sounds of central Cuba on this week-long adventure to some of the famous sites that have drawn outsiders to this magical island over the last several decades. Journey through history-infused Havana and the cobblestone streets of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then head to Cienfuegos for some relaxing at the beach and a tour of its impressive bay. Visit monuments to the icons of the revolution and experience a side of Cuba few rarely get to see by foregoing your hotel a few nights for a local homestay.
Highlights: Experiencing life as a local in a homestay, cruising along the Bay of Cienfuegos, dancing salsa and enjoying live music, exploring colonial Havana's alleyways.
Cuba Explorer (CCCE)
Explore a side of Cuba that few rarely get to experience on this 9-day adventure. Cruise Havana’s history-infused streets in a classic car and stroll along Trinidad’s cobblestone avenues to the rhythms of music floating from open windows. Tour a tobacco plantation for a taste of iconic Cuban culture and luxuriate in the view of the island’s rolling western hills. Travel by private air-conditioned van is well-paced, so you're refreshed and ready to explore the island’s vibrant culture and incredible Caribbean beaches.
Highlights: Cruising through Havana in a vintage automobile, watching the making of the famous Cuban cigar at a local factory, blissing out on a beautiful beach overlooking the blue Caribbean.
Mayan Sun—Northbound (CGAC)
Trek though jungle backdrops to Mayan ruins and chill out on white sand under the Caribbean sun. Check out Mexico, Belize and Guatemala and experience the region’s diversity. Wander colonial Antigua’s cobblestone streets and shop for treasures before experiencing the natural beauty of Lake Atitlan, its indigenous Mayan villages and striking volcanoes. Snap a picture and impress the folks. One of our most popular trips, this adventure offers natural wonders, excitement and culture with enough time to socialize and do your own thing.
Highlights: Pounding the cobblestones of gorgeous colonial Antigua, overnighting in a local homestay, seeing the vibrant colours of markets, experiencing Caye Caulker sunsets and reggae music, blissing out on white-sand beaches, exploring Mayan sites
Mayan Trail (CMTM)
Leave the resorts of Cancún behind and embark on an authentic adventure that will take you from spectacular Mayan ruins, over the cobblestone streets of colonial towns and deep into the jungle of Mexico. Explore the ancient ruins at Chichén Itzá and Palenque and meet the descendants of those who built them in the vibrant streets and colourful markets of picturesque Mayan towns. Get your camera out—you're going to need it!
Highlights: Exploring the ruins of Chichén Itzá and Palenque, getting lost wandering colonial San Cristobal de las Casas and Antigua, marvelling at Agua Azul and Misol-Ha waterfalls, bargaining at colourful local markets.
- Trip Style:
- Classic
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Standard
- Physical Grading:
- 2
Best of Central America (CRBO)
From ancient ruins to active volcanoes, get off the beaten track and discover extraordinary Central America—on a shoestring. Make sure your passport has space because this exciting 32-day trip hits most of Central America as it covers tropical rainforests, volcanoes, colonial cities and all the breathtaking scenery in between. Explore indigenous Mayan villages and soak in the region's incredible culture. Our CEOs will ensure your accommodation and transportation are covered—so you can choose the activities and sights that interest you—the adventure is yours to choose!
Highlights: Bargaining at local markets, exploring a misty cloud forest in Monteverde, taking in breathtaking Ometepe Island, blissing out on a stretch of remote Nicaraguan beach, walking the colonial streets of colourful Granada and Antigua, snorkelling coral reefs, spending the night at Guatemalan and Nicaraguan homestays, exploring Mayan ruins of Copán and Tikal.
- Trip Style:
- Yolo
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Basic
- Physical Grading:
- 3
Backroads of Central America (CRBR)
Take the road less travelled through Central America with other travellers your own age—so you can be sure to get down with other adventurers that’ll keep up. This is one of our most exciting trips, filled with breathtaking scenery—from tropical rainforests alive with jungle melodies to colonial cities bouncing to a decidedly more human beat. You'll blaze your own path as you discover a region of volcanoes, craters, beaches and lush forests. Sticking to budget accommodation and public transport will keep costs down and you rooted in local life.
Highlights: Connecting with your hosts in an Ometepe homestay experience, laughing with the locals during a journey on a chicken bus, blissing out on a stretch of remote Nicaraguan beach, strolling through Antigua's colonial streets, exploring Mayan ruins, hiking through a cloud forest, sampling local cuisine.
Costa Rica Active Adventure (CRSM)
Trekking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, ziplining… Costa Rica really is the 'Adventure Capital of the Americas'. Thrill-seekers will find more than enough to keep themselves busy over this trip’s 13 action-packed days. After landing in San José, you’ll raft down the mighty Pacuare river before crossing over to our remote rainforest lodge, surrounded on all sides by the thick, enveloping jungle. From there, you’ll embark on four days of cycling and hiking around Monteverde and the Arenal Volcano, before heading down to the beach at Manuel Antonio National Park. Phew! Tired yet? No? Time to book!
Highlights: Traversing streams and jungle hiking in Sarapiquí Rainforest, paddling through world-class rapids, mountain biking along breathtaking Arenal Lake, chilling to the sounds of crashing Pacific waves.
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.
| Trip | Length | Style | Service Level | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayan Adventure (CAM) | 22 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$2249
USD
|
| Cuba Colonial (CCC) | 15 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$1599
USD
|
| Costa Rica Quest (CRQ) | 9 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$850
USD
Promotions Available!
Was
$999
|
| Cuba Libre (CCL) | 8 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$899
USD
|
| Mayan Encounter (CGME) | 11 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$1199
USD
|
| Mayan Sun—Southbound (CMCA) | 16 days | Yolo | Basic |
From
$1249
USD
|
| Costa Rica Adventure (CRA) | 16 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$1232
USD
Promotions Available!
Was
$1449
|
| Volcano Trail (JGS) | 17 days | Yolo | Basic |
From
$1449
USD
|
| Guanacaste Beach Break (TCRGBN) | 4 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$449
USD
|
| Belize & Tikal Adventure (BHH) | 15 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$1649
USD
|
| Kayak Belize (BKS) | 8 days | Active | Standard |
From
$1649
USD
|
| Cycle Cuba (CCB) | 8 days | Active | Standard |
From
$1170
USD
Promotions Available!
Was
$1299
|
| Central Cuba Adventure (CCCA) | 8 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$899
USD
|
| Cuba Explorer (CCCE) | 9 days | G-Plus | Comfort |
From
$1699
USD
|
| Mayan Sun—Northbound (CGAC) | 16 days | Yolo | Basic |
From
$1249
USD
|
| Mayan Trail (CMTM) | 12 days | Classic | Standard |
From
$1105
USD
Promotions Available!
Was
$1299
|
| Best of Central America (CRBO) | 32 days | Yolo | Basic |
From
$2210
USD
Promotions Available!
Was
$2599
|
| Backroads of Central America (CRBR) | 17 days | Yolo | Basic |
From
$1449
USD
|
| Costa Rica Active Adventure (CRSM) | 13 days | Active | Standard |
From
$1299
USD
|
| Panama Experience (CRSP) | 14 days | Yolo | Basic |
From
$1249
USD
|
