Tour overview

This 22-day journey travels overland through five countries of Central America, from the Maya highlands of Guatemala to the cloud forests and volcanoes of Costa Rica. A local leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than sixteen. You stay twenty-one nights in hotels, with breakfast on many days.

In Guatemala you witness a Maya ceremony at San Andrés Itzapa, ride a chicken bus to the Almolonga market, browse Chichicastenango and cross Lake Atitlán by boat. After a free day in Antigua you visit the Maya ruins of Copán in Honduras, then the colonial town of Suchitoto and the Pacific coast of El Salvador.

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In Nicaragua you explore the colonial cities of León and Granada, then cross into Costa Rica for the cloud forest of Monteverde and La Fortuna, below the Arenal volcano, before ending in San José.

The physical rating is medium. This trip suits travellers who want to see the whole of Central America overland.

Trip highlights

  • Lake Atitlán (Day 5)
  • The Copán ruins (Day 9)
  • Suchitoto (Days 10–11)
  • León and Granada (Days 13–16)
  • Monteverde cloud forest (Day 18)
  • La Fortuna and Arenal (Days 19–20)

Your route

16 stops from Antigua to San Jose

22-day route: Antigua – Quetzaltenango – Lake Atitlán – Copán – Suchitoto – León – Granada – Monteverde – La Fortuna – San José
  1. Antigua Day 1
  2. San Andrés Itzapa Day 2
  3. Quetzaltenango Days 2–3
  4. Chichicastenango Day 4
  5. Panajachel Days 4–5
  6. Santiago Atitlán Day 5
  7. Antigua Days 6–7
  8. Copan Days 8–9
  9. Suchitoto Days 10–11
  10. La Libertad Day 12
  11. Leon Days 13–14
  12. Masaya Day 15
  13. Granada Days 15–16
  14. Monteverde Days 17–18
  15. La Fortuna Days 19–20
  16. San Jose Days 21–22

Why choose this tour

Five countries overland in three weeks. Great value with a local leader.

Best suited to

  • Adventurous travellers
  • Culture and nature lovers
  • Solo travellers
  • Travellers on a budget
Women in traditional dress in the Guatemalan highlands

Day-by-day itinerary

22 days from Antigua, Guatemala to San José, Costa Rica

  1. Day 1 · Antigua Antigua

    A welcome meeting.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · San Andrés Itzapa, Quetzaltenango Quetzaltenango

    A Maya ceremony.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  3. Day 3 · Almolonga Quetzaltenango

    A chicken-bus ride.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Chichicastenango, Panajachel Panajachel

    A great market.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Santiago Atitlán Lake Atitlán

    Across the lake.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Antigua Antigua

    Back to Antigua.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Antigua Antigua

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Copán Copán

    Into Honduras.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  9. Day 9 · Copán ruins Copán

    A Maya city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Suchitoto Suchitoto

    Into El Salvador.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Suchitoto Suchitoto

    Indigo dyeing.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · La Libertad La Libertad

    The Pacific coast.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Gulf of Fonseca, León León

    Into Nicaragua.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  14. Day 14 · León León

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  15. Day 15 · Masaya, Granada Granada

    A colonial city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  16. Day 16 · Granada Granada

    Breakfast at a social café.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  17. Day 17 · Monteverde Monteverde

    Into Costa Rica.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  18. Day 18 · Monteverde Monteverde

    A women’s cooperative.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  19. Day 19 · Monteverde Cloud Forest, La Fortuna La Fortuna

    Cloud forest and volcano.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  20. Day 20 · La Fortuna La Fortuna

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  21. Day 21 · La Fortuna, San José San José

    A chocolate lesson.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Lunch
  22. Day 22 · San José San José

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A scarlet macaw in the forest at Copán Ruinas, Honduras

Where you stay

  • Antigua (1 night) Hotel
  • Quetzaltenango (2 nights) Hotel
  • Panajachel (2 nights) Hotel
  • Antigua (2 nights) Hotel
  • Copán (2 nights) Hotel
  • Suchitoto (2 nights) Hotel
  • La Libertad (1 night) Hotel
  • León (2 nights) Hotel
  • Granada (2 nights) Hotel
  • Monteverde (2 nights) Hotel
  • La Fortuna (2 nights) Hotel
  • San José (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 21 nights in hotels
  • Meals 13 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner
  • Private and local transport, chicken bus and boats
  • Maya ceremony and highland markets
  • Copán ruins with a local guide
  • Monteverde cloud forest reserve
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 8 breakfasts, 18 lunches and 20 dinners
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Telica Volcano near León at sunset

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want luxury hotels
  • You want most meals included
  • You dislike long drives
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–7, 9–12, 16, 18 and 22 · Lunch: Days 2 and 21 · Dinner: Day 10
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Costa Rica · UK FCDO travel advice for El Salvador · UK FCDO travel advice for Guatemala · UK FCDO travel advice for Honduras · UK FCDO travel advice for Nicaragua
Suchitoto and its lake

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,500 per person, twin share, tour only. 124 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need visas?

UK citizens don’t need visas for these Central American countries for tourist stays, though small entry fees apply at some borders.

Are border crossings included?

Yes, your leader helps at each crossing.

How do you travel?

By private vehicle, local buses and boats.

Is there free time?

Yes, in Antigua, León and La Fortuna.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement is available on request.

How many people travel together?

No more than sixteen travellers, with a local leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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