Tour · 15 nights · with Explore Worldwide
Central American Highlights
A fast-paced escorted tour by Explore Worldwide, covering wildlife in Costa Rica, volcanic landscapes in Nicaragua, and Mayan culture in Guatemala and Honduras over 15 nights.
- Duration
- 15 nights
- Departures
- 9 dates
- Choose a month below
- Countries
- Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador
- Operator
- Explore Worldwide
- From
- £2,920
- per person
Highlights
What makes this one worth it
Night walk in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Boat trip on Bebedero River in Palo Verde National Park
Hike around Mombacho Volcano near Granada
Visit to Mayan ruins at Copan, Honduras
Boat trip and visits to Mayan villages around Lake Atitlan
About the trip
This small-group tour by Explore Worldwide winds through five Central American countries in just over two weeks, beginning in San Jose. It moves on to Monteverde’s cloud forest with its elusive quetzal before a long boat trip along the Bebedero River and a hike around Mombacho Volcano near Granada, Nicaragua.
After two nights in León, the itinerary crosses to El Salvador’s Gulf of Fonseca, where you might need a splash of wading to board a boat between islands. The route continues to Suchitoto, the former guerrilla village of Cinquera and then crosses two borders to reach the Mayan ruins of Copan in Honduras. Guatemala hosts the final days, with a boat trip on Lake Atitlan and visits to the market of Chichicastenango and colonial Antigua, where jade and Mayan hot chocolate feature.
The tour keeps a brisk pace and includes some challenging hikes, paired with moments to watch local life and history, from coffee plantations to post-war villages. The welcome meeting is on day two, leaving the arrival day free, though San Jose’s grid-like avenues and the National Museum are handy distractions. The trip finishes in Antigua, where hotel luggage storage makes a late departure less fraught.
- 1 San Jose
- 2 Monteverde
- 3 Granada
- 4 León
- 5 La Unión
- 6 Suchitoto
- 7 Copán
- 8 Guatemala City
- 9 Panajachel
- 10 Chichicastenango
- 11 Antigua
Itinerary
The route
San Jose
Monteverde
Granada
León
La Unión
Suchitoto
Copán
Guatemala City
Panajachel
Chichicastenango
Antigua
These are the places the trip visits, in order. Explore Worldwide publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.
When to go
Departures and prices
Lowest price each month, per person.
Explore Worldwide confirms exact dates, availability and prices when you book.
Need to know
Before you book
- Price based on
- Per personThe operator confirms the exact basis when you book.
- Travelling alone
- Check with Explore Worldwide
- Flights
- Not included: you book your own to the start
- What’s included
- Check with Explore Worldwide
- Accessibility
- Check with Explore Worldwide
For full details of what’s included, check with Explore Worldwide. See the full details on their site
Questions people ask
- How long is Central American Highlights?
- Central American Highlights is a 15 nights tour holiday.
- Who operates Central American Highlights?
- Central American Highlights is operated by Explore Worldwide.
- How much does Central American Highlights cost?
- Prices for Central American Highlights start from £2,920, subject to availability.
The operator
Explore Worldwide
Small-group adventures, walking and wildlife
Small groups with local leaders, and a fondness for the places at the end of the road. Trips are graded so you know how active they are.
You book with Explore Worldwide directly. They confirm your place, take payment, and look after you from the moment you leave home; Atlas & Passage’s part ends when you click through.
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