Arriving in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose puts us in prime position to explore one of the country's largest and most abundant national parks - the nearby Braulio Carillo National Park - and learn about the importance of an industry that helped shape the face of the country on a visit to a working banana plantation. Boarding a riverboat, we sail down a series of natural canals and man-made thoroughfares, past verdant jungle alive with the chattering of monkeys and chirping of exotic birds, in order to explore areas otherwise inaccessible to travelers. Through sugar cane fields and amid rolling hills, we travel to the geothermal rivers and gurgling hotsprings near the spectacular Arenal Volcano and we wander the trails in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, where blankets of mist lingering over the lush trees bring an almost supernatural feel to our experience.
Before heading into Guatemala, we head into Honduras to explore the capital, Copan, and to learn about the ancient ways of life of one of the most significant and influential ancient peoples in the Americas; the Maya. The Copan area is brimming with Mayan ruins and remnants from ages past and though our time here is short, it is well-spent. Crossing into Guatemala, we experience colourful local markets and in Chichicastanengo, we have the chance to meet a people who are said to be the purest descendants of the ancient Maya, the Maya Quiche Indians. We discover the hidden beauty of Lake Atitlan and mingle with friendly villagers whose traditional dress and ways of life have remained unchanged for generations.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in San Jose. Today we arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica. Overnight in San Jose. Hotel Balmoral or similar. Dinner if required.
Day 2: San Jose - Tortuguero. This morning we travel by bus from San Jose through Braulio Carillo National Park, one of Costa Rica's largest. Later we visit a working banana plantation and pass through a region known for its cocoa production. We then board our riverboat and spend the afternoon journeying through myriad interconnecting rivers and canals that take us finally to the Caribbean coast and Tortuguero Park. Overnight in Tortuguero. Laguna Lodge or similar. All meals.
Day 3: Tortuguero Forest Walk & Village. Tortuguero Park is a fascinating place to explore. An early morning boat ride offers an opportunity to observe an awakening coastal rain forest full of lush vegetation and unique bird life. Overnight in Tortuguero. Laguna Lodge or similar. All meals.
Day 4: Tortuguero - Baldi Hotsprings - Arenal Volcano. After an early breakfast we travel by boat 1½-hour from Tortuguero to the Cano Blanco dock. From there we continue by road (+/- 5 hours) to the la Fortuna / Arenal area. We travel through rolling hills covered with sugar cane fields to overnight near Arenal Volcano. Overnight at Arenal. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 5: Arenal - Monteverde Cloud Forest. We travel today through a rustic rural countryside to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve area (+/- 4 hours). Covered in a mantle of moss, ferns and orchids, this private reserve is home to over 400 species of birds and a great number of animals. Overnight at Monteverde. Heliconia Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 6: Monteverde Cloud Forest. We have a full morning exploring the cloud forest reserve with the help of a local naturalist guide. There is more to the forest than the trees and lesser plants. You should be prepared for varied conditions. Overnight at Monteverde. Heliconia Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 7: Monteverde - San Jose. Today we return by road to San Jose. Time permitting, we recommend a visit to the Gold Museum in downtown San Jose (optional), easily the country's best with thousands of different examples of Pre-Colombian gold artifacts (the museum closes at 16:30). Overnight in San Jose. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 8: San Jose, Costa Rica - San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Today we fly from San Jose to San Pedro Sula and transfer to our hotel. Honduras is an agricultural country of succulent tropical forests with much to offer the visitor. As a nation situated in a region of turbulent political and economic history, Honduras is known by many as one of the participants in the so-called Football War of 1969 when disagreements between fans of El Salvador and Honduras football teams escalated into a full-scale if short-lived war. Today the country is peaceful and beginning to develop a tourist infrastructure partly based on eco-tourism. Overnight in San Pedro Sula. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 9: San Pedro Sula - Copan. Today we travel by road from San Pedro Sula to Copan. During our time in Copan we will visit the World Bank funded Children's Museum in the town center. Small but informative, it displays a Mayan rubber ball used in the famous ball games and a video presentation offers visitors the opportunity to see a re-enactment of the game. Overnight in Copan. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 10: Copan Site Tour. Copan is a superb site and the highlight if any visit to Honduras. The Copan Maya created a ceremonial center that is unparalleled in its architectural beauty. Overnight in Copan. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 11: Copan, Honduras - Guatemala City, Guatemala. Today we travel by road from Copan to Guatemala City. Overnight in Guatemala City. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 12: Guatemala City - Chichicastanengo. This morning we travel to Chichicastanengo where we visit the famous market. This is one of Guatemala's largest local markets with an impressive array of beautiful hand-woven textiles and crafts for sale. It is also possible to see the 400 year-old Cathedral of Santo Tomas where Catholic and pagan beliefs mingle as one. Overnight in Chichicastanengo. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 13: Chichicastanengo - San Catarina Palopo & San Antonio Palopo - Panajachel. Departing Chichi, we drive to Lake Atitlan and visit San Catarina Palopo and San Antonio Palopo, two traditional Kaqchikel villages on the south shores of the lake. Before the road was completed in 1980, access was only by boat or by footpaths. Overnight in Panajachel. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 14: Panajachel Lake Atitlan. Our journey today takes us across the shimmering waters of Lake Atitlan, nestled beneath the three volcanoes of San Pedro, Atitlan and Toliman. Overnight in Panajachel. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 15: Panajachel - Iximche - Antigua. This morning we travel to Antigua. We travel by bus through the spectacular volcanic landscape of Guatemala's western highlands to visit Iximche en route, an excellent Maya site which became a model of civic planning. Overnight Antigua. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 16: Antigua Free Day. Today you are free to explore Antigua. Sit and relax in the Plaza de Armas, the central square, and enjoy the view of the Palace of the Captains General, the old City Hall and the remains of the Cathedral and Archbishop's Palace, excellent examples of Spanish colonial architecture. Overnight Antigua. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 17: Antigua - Guatemala City - Flores - Tikal Site Tour. Today we transfer to Guatemala City for our flight to Flores. On arrival we embark on a guided tour to experience the mystiques of Tikal, possibly the most magnificent of all Mayan sites. Here we discover ancient temples, pyramids and stone structures dating from 500 BC. The five great pyramids of Tikal give this ceremonial center a majestic grandeur unique among Maya cities. Overnight near Tikal. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 18: Flores - Guatemala City. Today we fly back to Guatemala City. Overnight in Guatemala City. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 19: Departure. Departure from Guatemala City. Breakfast. Buen Viaje!
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Breakfast and dinner daily (hotels and local restaurants)
- All transport, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary
- Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, hotel porters (if available)
- Airport transfers for land / air customers arriving / departing on tour dates.
Price Excludes:
- Tour Leader gratuity, lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), departure taxes, domestic and international air taxes (if applicable)
- Airport transfers for early / late arrivals / departures or Land Only customers
- Optional trip cancellation insurance
- Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on not included meal costs, shopping, and locally paid departure taxes.
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Ecotourism
Cultural Journey
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