Intrepid Travel

Central America Explorer

Central America Explorer

Dive into Central America on this 47-day adventure, bookended by two chaotic capitals and filled with fun, adventure and culture. Journey through Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica on an epic adventure through the tantalising highlights of the region. Get acquainted with Central American cultures, spectacular landscapes and fascinating histories as you explore the wealth of ancient ruins, spot the range of unusual wildlife and relax on idyllic Caribbean shores. This is one of our longest adventures through Central America – a trip that zig-zags from the top of the continent to the bottom and delivers you with stories to tell and a tan to show off.

Activities

  • Mexico City – Leader-led Taco Crawl
  • Mexico City – Leader-led orientation walk
  • Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
  • Puebla – Leader-led orientation walk
  • Puebla – Visit to La Pasita Bar
  • Tlahuac – Community Visit
  • Oaxaca – Leader-led orientation walk
  • San Cristobal de Las Casas – Leader-led Orientation Walk
  • Zinacatan Church – Visit
  • San Juan Chamula – Maya Church (entrance fee)
  • Agua Azul – Waterfall Visit
  • Palenque – Palenque Ruins (entrance fee)
  • Merida – Leader-led orientation walk
  • Chichen Itza – Archaeological site (entrance fee, no guide)
  • Playa del Carmen – Leader-led Orientation Walk
  • Caye Caulker – Leader-led orientation walk
  • San Ignacio – Leader-led orientation walk
  • Tikal National Park – Tikal archaeological site (entrance fee, no guide)
  • Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
  • Chichicastenango – Market Visit
  • Chichicastenango – Shaman Visit
  • San Jorge La Laguna – Traditional Maya Homestay
  • Panajachel – Leader-led orientation walk
  • Antigua – Leader-led orientation walk
  • San Miguel – Salvadoran Pupusa cooking demonstration
  • Copan Ruins – Visit
  • Suchitoto – Leader led orientation walk
  • Leon – Leader led orientation walk
  • Granada – Breakfast at El Cafe de las Sonrisas
  • Monteverde – Leader-led orientation walk
  • La Fortuna – Leader led orientation walk
  • San Jose – Orientation Walk

Highlights

  • This is one of our most extensive trips in Central America, hitting more than 20 destinations and introducing you to the cities, villages and myriad cultures of seven countries.
  • Your local craft fair just won’t feel the same after you’ve experienced Chichicastenango, a colourful Guatemalan market that draws thousands of vendors from the surrounding mountain villages.
  • Chichen Itza is one the New Seven Wonders of the World – find out why. Strolling around the ancient Maya ruins feels pretty wondrous.
  • A few days on Caye Caulker provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy Belizean island vibes, beachside beers and optional snorkelling, the perfect (almost) hallway point for this epic adventure.
  • Discover the jungle Costa Rica is famous for during a stay in Monteverde, a misty rainforest area home to sloths, hummingbirds, white-faced monkeys and tapirs among hundreds more animal species.

07/02/2023 through 11/23/2024
07/02/2023 through 11/26/2024

Day 1 Mexico City
Day 2 Mexico City
Day 3 Puebla
Day 4 Puebla
Day 5 Oaxaca
Day 6 Oaxaca
Day 7 Oaxaca / Overnight Bus
Day 8 San Cristobal de las Casas
Day 9 San Cristobal de las Casas
Day 10 Palenque
Day 11 Palenque Ruins / Merida
Day 12 Merida
Day 13 Merida
Day 14 Chichen Itza / Playa del Carmen
Day 15 Playa del Carmen
Day 16 Playa del Carmen
Day 17 Chetumal
Day 18 Caye Caulker
Day 19 Caye Caulker
Day 20 Caye Caulker
Day 21 San Ignacio
Day 22 San Ignacio
Day 23 Tikal National Park
Day 24 Rio Dulce
Day 25 Rio Dulce
Day 26 Antigua
Day 27 San Jorge La Laguna
Day 28 Panajachel
Day 29 Antigua
Day 30 Antigua
Day 31 Antigua
Day 32 Copan
Day 33 Suchitoto
Day 34 Suchitoto
Day 35 El Cuco
Day 36 El Cuco
Day 37 Leon
Day 38 Granada
Day 39 Granada
Day 40 Ometepe Island
Day 41 Ometepe Island
Day 42 Monteverde
Day 43 Monteverde
Day 44 La Fortuna
Day 45 La Fortuna
Day 46 San Jose
Day 47 San Jose

Antigua

Antigua and Barbuda are located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean. Antigua, the largest of the British Leeward Islands, is about 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, encompassing 108 square miles. Barbuda, a flat coral island with an area of only 68 square miles, lies approximately 30 miles to the north. The population is approximately 68,000 and its capital is St. John’s on Antigua.

The largest of the British Leeward Islands, Antigua has warm, steady winds, a complex coastline of safe harbors, and a protective, nearly unbroken wall of coral reef. These unique characteristics have made Antigua and Barbuda in one of the Caribbean’s premier tourist destinations.

The expansive, winding coastline that made Antigua difficult for sailors to navigate is where today’s trekkers encounter a tremendous wealth of secluded, powdery soft beaches. The coral reefs attract snorkelers and scuba divers from all over the world. And the fascinating little island of Barbuda — once a scavenger’s paradise because so many ships wrecked on its reefs — is now home to one of the region’s most significant bird sanctuaries.

Chetumal

Located in the southern Yucatan, this capital of Quintana Roo, is on the border with Belize and is known for its fine hardwoods and agricultural products.

Chichen Itza

Located on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Chichen Itza is the site a well preserved Mayan ruins, including several large pyramid structures and more.

Leon

León, central Mexico, in Guanajuato State, in a fertile river valley, at an altitude of about 6000 ft. León is the industrial, commercial, and transportation center for a rich agricultural region and is a shoe-manufacturing center. Founded in 1576, León was a Spanish colonial administrative center.

09/16/23 - 11/01/23

Starting At $5,920

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10/03/23 - 11/18/23

Starting At $6,320

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11/04/23 - 12/20/23

Starting At $6,840

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11/11/23 - 12/27/23

Starting At $6,115

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11/14/23 - 11/18/23

Starting At $6,395

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11/21/23 - 01/06/24

Starting At $6,225

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12/09/23 - 01/24/24

Starting At $5,652

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12/12/23 - 01/27/24

Starting At $5,950

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12/23/23 - 02/07/24

Starting At $6,395

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12/30/23 - 02/14/24

Starting At $6,670

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01/06/24 - 02/21/24

Starting At $6,645

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01/13/24 - 01/20/24

Starting At $6,365

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01/27/24 - 03/13/24

Starting At $6,475

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02/03/24 - 02/10/24

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02/17/24 - 05/04/24

Starting At $6,130

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05/11/24 - 06/01/24

Starting At $5,895

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06/15/24 - 07/31/24

Starting At $5,535

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06/22/24 - 09/14/24

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09/28/24 - 10/12/24

Starting At $6,130

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11/09/24 - 11/26/24

Starting At $6,365

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