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Basic Central America: Guatemala to Costa Rica

17 days, Antigua Guatemala to San José

17 days

Antigua Guatemala to San José

From$1319USD
was $1649
Valid on Oct 17 2025
Trip Code: CGGS

Need a flight? We can help.

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

Special Offers

Expires on Oct 01, 2025 03:59 UTC
Promo Code G26SDQ025DES02
Expires on Oct 01, 2025 03:59 UTC
Promo Code G26SDQ010DES02

Is this tour for me?

Travel Style: Classic

All of the highlights, culture, access, and I-can’t-believe-we-did-that moments, all at a great price.

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 16, avg 14.

Age requirement: 12+

All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

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.

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Alternative Trips

17 days

Antigua Guatemala to San José

From$1319USD
was $1649
Valid on Oct 17 2025
Trip Code: CGGS

Need a flight? We can help.

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

Special Offers

Expires on Oct 01, 2025 03:59 UTC
Promo Code G26SDQ025DES02
Expires on Oct 01, 2025 03:59 UTC
Promo Code G26SDQ010DES02

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 for Days. Together with Planeterra, we'll plant one tree in your name for every travel day.

Trees planted for this trip: 17

Ripple Score

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 Notes

Please note this is a basic level trip, using a mix of multi-share accommodations like hostels, and basic hotels, as well as public transportation throughout. We have an 18-30’s version of this trip, please see here for more details.

Itinerary

Day 1Antigua Guatemala

Arrive at any time. After the welcome meeting choose to join your fellow group members for an optional evening out.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Welcome Moment Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

Day 2Antigua Guatemala/Copán

Cross the border today between Guatemala and Honduras as the group travels to the town of Copán Ruinas. Arrive in the colonial highland town in the evening and soak up this gorgeous location set along a river in the coffee growing region.

Day 3Copán

Enjoy a full free day to explore Copán on your own. Choose to visit the nearby ruins and see some lesser known Mayan sites along the way. You can also choose to visit the countryside where you’ll find hidden jungle hot springs to soak in.

Day 4Copán/Suchitoto

The journey today, while long, will also be a good way to catch up on some rest. Drive from Honduras back into Guatemala briefly before crossing the border to El Salvador where the group will stay in the colonial town of Suchitoto. Choose to try pupusas tonight, a local Salvadorian specialty and a great treat after a long day of travel.

Day 5Suchitoto/La Libertad Region

Spend the morning at leisure in Suchitoto and then it’s off to the coast and the La Libertad region. Catch a stunning sunset in a small surf town and opt to grab a cold drink after a day’s journey complete.

Day 6La Libertad Region

This full free day is perfect for optional beach activities in the area. Opt to book a surf lesson, try fresh ceviche at the fish market, visit the Tamanique waterfalls, or relax on the beach.

Day 7La Libertad Region/León

Leave El Salvador and transfer by land and sea to Nicaragua. The group will arrive to colonial León for a short orientation walk in the evening.

Day 8León/Granada

Continue on towards Granada today, where you’ll see the city’s colourful colonial buildings during an orientation walk. Surrounded by active volcanoes and lakes, this place is perfect for hiking and outdoor activities. Get to know the town and opt to go out with the group.

Day 9Granada

Get out and explore the charms of Granada during your full free day. Visit the local markets and museums. Choose to try kayaking in Lake Nicaragua or go for a swim in Laguna de Apoyo. You could also go for a walk in the forest at the top of Mombacho Volcano.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Day 10Granada/Isla de Ometepe

Cross Lake Nicaragua by ferry to arrive at Ometepe Island, formed from two volcanoes in the middle of the lake. Here, take part in a 2-night G Adventures-supported community homestay among different local families. This experience will give you a chance to experience how rural Nicaraguans live.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your G for Good Moment Puesta del Sol Community Guesthouse Stay

Meals included:

Dinner

Day 11Isla de Ometepe

Explore Ometepe on your own. Choose to climb Volcano Concepción or Volcano Maderas, spend time with the local host families, or view petroglyphs left by the island's original inhabitants. You can also choose to walk or kayak in Charco Verde reserve, travel the island by bicycle, or lounge out on the beach.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your G for Good Moment Puesta del Sol Community Guesthouse Stay

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 12Isla de Ometepe/Monteverde

Travel by ferry back to the mainland and drive across the border into Costa Rica. The final destination today is the cloud forest environment of Monteverde. Sitting 1,400 meters above sea level, Monteverde is literally in the clouds and home to unique and diverse flora and fauna.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 13Monteverde

The day is free for any optional activities in the area. Options include a visit to a cloud forest reserve, ziplining through the jungle canopy, or visiting a coffee plantation. There’s also horseback riding in the mountains or hiking along local trails.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Day 14Monteverde/La Fortuna

Leave the cloud forest behind and travel down towards sea level and across Costa Rica’s largest lake to the town of La Fortuna at the base of the Arenal Volcano. Once here, choose your activities; canyoning, white water rafting, hiking, caving, horseback riding, paddle boarding, kayaking, and visiting a wildlife refuge are just some of the fun options you could try.

Day 15La Fortuna

Partake in any of the activities you didn’t get to try yesterday. From canyoning to rafting, the possibilities feel endless.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Day 16La Fortuna/San José

Travel through the mountains to San José and spend a free night out in the capital. From beautiful parks to museums and theatres there’s plenty to see.

Day 17San José

Depart at any time.

View full itinerary

What's Included

  • 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 Discover Moment: Granada
  • Your Discover Moment: Monteverde
  • Your Discover Moment: La Fortuna
  • Beach time in El Tunco
  • Orientation walk around León and Granada
  • Free time in Granada, Ometepe, Monteverde, and La Fortuna
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodations

Simple hotels (12 nts), hostel (2 nts, multi-share), homestay (2 nts).

Meals

2 breakfasts, 2 dinners
Allow USD420-550 for meals not included.

Transportation

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

Staff & experts

Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout.

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.

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.

Basic Central America: Guatemala to Costa Rica

| 17 days - Antigua Guatemala to San José - from $1319 USD