After arrival at “La Aurora” International Airport in Guatemala City transfer to your city hotel.

Overnight stay: Hotel Holiday Inn ****, Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: none

The destination on our Central America vacation today is Chichicastenango, one of the most important Mayan communities in the country. The visit to “Chichi” on its market day is an unforgettable experience full of color, sounds, and religious syncretism. Visit the famous open-air market, where native handicrafts are traded and enter the 400-year-old “Church of Santo Tomás”, where Catholic and Mayan rites take place in a mystical atmosphere. After this interesting visit drive to the town of Panajachel located on the shores of beautiful Lake Atitlán.

Overnight stay: Porta Hotel del Lago ****, Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast

Enjoy a boat excursion across the lake to Santiago Atitlán, located among three magnificent volcanoes. Walk through the streets and visit the different art galleries of the primitive painters and enter the “Church of Santiago Apostol”, built in 1547 in honour of St. James. Then, watch the curious Mayan rites of “Maximón”, a native deity, at the local “Cofradía”. Around midday, return by boat to Panajachel for a further land transfer to Antigua Guatemala.

Overnight stay: Hotel Las Farolas ***, Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast

Antigua was founded in 1543 and partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1773. The city is the former colonial capital of Central America. In 1979, UNESCO declared it World Heritage Site as it is considered one of the finest examples of urban planning in Latin America.
The streets in Antigua are lined with the workshops of artists and craftsmen. Churches, convents, and mansions recapture the glory of a city that was the capital of a Spanish colony for over 200 years. The designs are a reflection of tastes prevalent at the time. Around the Plaza Mayor or Main Square the principal church and state was erected: The Cathedral, The Palacio de Los Capitanes Generales, and the City Hall. During your city tour, you will see the most important buildings and ruins of this colonial city and pay a visit to a local coffee finca before returning to your hotel.

Overnight stay: Hotel Las Farolas ***, Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast

In the morning you get to know the metropole of Guatemala City. Upon arrival from Antigua start your city tour at the Relief Map. Admire the engineering achievement in stucco of this giant one-acre map built with surprising accuracy despite the limited technology at the turn of the last century.
Transfer to “Plaza de la Constitución” (former Central Plaza) and visit the National Palace of Culture, the Cathedral, and the “Portal del Comercio”. Continue further south through the Civic Center, “Avenida Reforma” and “Avenida de las Americas” to the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology exhibiting a precious collection of prehispanic art in stone and ceramics found in the Maya World. In the afternoon continue your journey towards the next country on your Central America vacation: Honduras. After immigration formalities in El Florido, drive onwards to your hotel in the town of Copán Ruinas, Honduras.

Overnight stay: Hotel Marina Copán ****, Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast

The ancient city of Copán was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980 and is one of the most outstanding Mayan achievements, ranking with Tikal, Chichén Itzá and Uxmal in splendour. Until today, 3.450 structures have been found in a 24 km2 area, most of them within about half a kilometre of the principle group. Admire the most important monuments and constructions of this site: a large ball court, pyramids, and altars. Imagine the city in its glorious times while learning about its wonderful hieroglyphic stairway and its beautiful portrait stelae! After the tour through the site visit the “Rosa Lila Sculpture Museum” with a precious collection of local findings. Return to your hotel for accommodation.

Overnight stay: Hotel Marina Copán ****, Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast

Departure from your hotel to the border station with El Salvador, the next destination on your Central America vacation. After immigration formalities, continue to Santa Ana, the second-largest city in the country. The city centre is dominated by its cathedral, a mixture of neo-gothic and Byzantine architecture, built in 1905. During your visit to the historical centre, you will also admire the theatre and the city hall. Continue to the archaeological site of “Joya del Cerén”. The site was discovered by chance in 1975 and declared part of the UNESCO world heritage in 1993. Despite its relatively small dimension, it is one of the most important archaeological sites of Central America, since, in contrast to the other Maya ruins in the region, it shows the everyday life of the common people. It is also called “The Pompeii of the Americas”, as one of its pre-Columbian Maya villages was surprisingly well preserved under huge layers of volcano ashes. After this exciting insight into the daily routine of the ancient Mayas, we continue to the colonial town of Suchitoto, where we will spend the following two nights. On our way, we pass by the capital San Salvador, the economic hub of the country.

Overnight stay: Hotel El Tejado ***, Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast

“Ciudad Pajaro Flor” is the name of Suchitoto in Nahuatl indigenous language and it means City of Bird and Flower. Suchitoto is full of traditions and culture nestled in beautiful natural surroundings.
This small town keeps precious monuments and picturesque houses with antique balconies and the streets are all cobblestoned. The Spaniards founded the first San Salvador here in 1528 and used it as a headquarters for expeditions to conquer the rest of the country until the capital was relocated in 1545.
Located on the shores of Lake Suchitlán, the city has been reborn since the civil war ended in 1992. Its whitewashed walls, cobbled streets and tiled roofs give it a tranquil colonial atmosphere. During the city walk, you will visit its colonial church, which dates back to the 17th century and an indigo workshop, as indigo was El Salvador´s principal colonial export destined for the European textile industry where it was prized for the deep blue colour it yielded. In the afternoon enjoy a boat excursion on beautiful Lake Suchitlán to “Isla de Pájaros” (Birds Island), where you can observe a wide variety of birds.

Overnight stay: Hotel El Tejado ***, Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast

Today we continue on the Panamerican Highway from Suchitoto towards the South. We pass the two border stations ¨El Amatillo¨ (border between El Salvador and Honduras) and ¨El Guasaule¨(border between Honduras and Nicaragua). After completing the border formalities, a private transfer takes you to the historic university town of León. This beautiful colonial city will surely be one of the highlights on your Central America vacation. After check-in at the hotel, you may have the opportunity to get to know parts of the colonial city center (depending on the time of arrival in León).

Overnight stay: Hotel Austria **(*), Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast

In the morning you will learn about the ancient capital of Nicaragua during a city tour. You visit, among others, the famous cathedral, from whose roof you have a magnificent view of the city and the surrounding volcanoes. León also offers a variety of great museums. Depending on your interest, you may visit (optionally) e.g. the museum of the famous poet Rubén Darío. Then you head south to the capital, Managua, where you will stop at the Loma de Tiscapa, the former location of the Presidential Palace. Afterwards, you continue to the Volcano Masaya National Park, where you have the unique opportunity to look into the crater of an active volcano. Despite the sulphurous fumes that rise here, many birds have chosen the crater as their home. Then, the journey continues to the charming colonial city of Granada.

Overnight stay: Hotel Patio del Malinche ***, Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast

After breakfast, you start with a visit to Granada, the oldest Spanish settlement in Central America. You visit the most important sights like the Convento & Museo San Francisco with statues of the island of Zapatera, the Church of Merced with a great view of the city and the Casa de Los Tres Mundos, the present cultural building of the city. In the afternoon, you take a horse-drawn carriage to the largest lake in Nicaragua and Central America, where you enjoy a relaxing boat trip along the impressive “Las Isletas”. The islets of volcanic origin are covered with tropical vegetation and you have time to observe nature. After the boat trip, return to Granada. The rest of the day is at your leisure to enjoy one of the many restaurants of the city centre with Latin music and atmosphere.

Overnight stay: Hotel Patio del Malinche ***, Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast

In the early morning, you leave Granada and drive along the Lake of Nicaragua to San Carlos. Enjoy the varied scenery of Chontales and learn more about this part of Nicaragua from your tour guide. From San Carlos, it is not far to Las Tablillas, where you will soon be back in Costa Rica, crossing the bridge over the Rio San Juan around 2 pm. Your driver will already be waiting for you. Another drive of about 1.5 hours takes you to your first destination in Costa Rica, La Fortuna, located at the Arenal Volcano, where your rooms are reserved. In the evening, you may enjoy the hot springs of the hotel.

Overnight stay: Hotel Arenal Paraíso ***(*), Superior Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast, dinner

Today you will enjoy a lot of different activities. We’ll start with a short drive to Arenal Volcano National Park. There you will stroll along the park during a healthy and pleasant 1 ½ hour walk. We’ll start at an ash trail, and shortly you’ll be stepping on an old lava flow surrounded by a sober rocky path. Until a few years ago, there were frequent small eruptions, but even without them, the volcano is truly impressive. You will also get to enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Arenal and its surrounding gentle hills. We’ll then continue our journey by way of Muelle and Aguas Zarcas until reaching an organic coffee plantation close to San Miguel where you will learn about the process of coffee production and taste this world famous drink during the tour “Mi Cafecito”. The plantation is located about 750m above sea level in a very pleasant climate. After the tour, you will continue to your hotel in Sarapiquí where you have the opportunity to plant your own tree.

Overnight stay: Hotel La Quinta de Sarapiquí ***, Superior Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast

Today you will visit the Gómez family at their Finca Surá in Chilamate de Sarapiquí. After enjoying a fresh fruit drink, Don Rodolfo will proudly guide you to his citrus and manioc plants, the sugarcane and the pineapple plantations. Many other kinds of plants, producing fruits in different seasons of the year, are growing here, you can even get to know the pepper and cinnamon shrubs. Everything is cultivated in the most natural way possible in order to protect the animals living inside the property, such as colourful butterflies and frogs; a family philosophy, which the owner, Don Rodolfo himself will explain to you… You will also put on hands and plant some pineapple seedlings yourselves before enjoying a typical lunch.
In the afternoon, we will continue our journey to Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve, where you’ll first enjoy a short walk through a forest of opulent vegetation. With a bit of luck, expect to catch a glimpse of the lively monkeys, sloths, coatis and of the numerous species of birds. After that, you are to learn everything about chocolate. The cacao tree is native to the deeps forests of South and Central America. A local guide will fully explain the process by which the cacao bean becomes delicious chocolate- and of course, you will get to taste it.

Unexpected changes in weather conditions or any other operational reason will force the tour guide to adjust the order of this itinerary.

Overnight stay: Hotel La Quinta de Sarapiquí ***, Superior Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast, lunch

Before breakfast, we will continue our journey via Horquetas to Guápiles, where we’ll reach the main road which connects San José and Limón. Here, you will enjoy a typical Costa Rican breakfast. We’ll then head to La Pavona or Caño Blanco. This is an important banana production area and you will be able to see huge plantations there. Your guide will tell you about all of the advantages and disadvantages of the yellow fruit. We will then continue by boat and you will cruise on rivers and channels along the beautiful natural aisles in our way to Tortuguero. Check-in at a comfortable lodge and late lunch. You can spend the afternoon at your leisure and explore on your own the surroundings of this lovely place. You will also have the opportunity to go on a hike to the village of Tortuguero where you may visit the turtle museum at a 2 US$ fee (not included). These endangered animals are now protected by the locals who currently make their living thanks to tourism revenues. After dinner and only from July to September, you’ll have the possibility to book an optional night tour to the beach of Tortuguero, where the endangered Green Sea Turtles lay their eggs in the sand. Costs for direct bookings: approx. 30 USD per person.

Info 1: The luggage is limited to 12 kg per person. We recommend to pack the things you need for days 15 to 17 into a smaller bag and send the main luggage with the driver to San José. It will be stored in your hotel in San José for you.
Info 2: Together with our group, there are also other participants on the Tortuguero Tour on days 15, 16 and 17. Even on private operation basis, the transfer to Tortuguero is shared. This can not be changed.

Overnight stay: Mawamba Lodge ***, Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Early in the morning, you go on an exciting boat trip through the canals of the Tortuguero National Park where you can watch the awakening of the local fauna and listen to the sounds of nature. If you are lucky, you will be able to see crocodiles, monkeys, turtles, sloths, bats, iguanas and of course many different kinds of birds. You will then enjoy breakfast at the lodge before taking a relaxing walk along the lodge’s trails during which you will discover frogs, butterflies and many other species of insects in their natural habitat together with your guide. Lunch is served at the lodge. After a short break, we invite you to take part in another boat tour on the canals. The rest of the afternoon until dinner is at your leisure.

Overnight stay: Mawamba Lodge ***, Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast, lunch, dinner

We’ll start our journey back to San José right after breakfast. Again, you will have the possibility to take pleasure in the flora and fauna on our boat trip back to La Pavona/Caño Blanco. Continuation by bus to Guápiles, where we’ll enjoy lunch, and then onward and upward to San José. The estimated arrival time is 5 pm.
Info: Even on private operation basis, the transfer to San José is shared.

Overnight stay: Palma Real Hotel & Casino ***(*), Standard Room (or similar) – Meals included today: breakfast, lunch

Transfer to Juan Santamaría Airport, check-in, and end of our services. You can also book an extension program.

Beach extension: Guests who need the transfer out San José city hotel – SJO airport after their beach extension instead of on Day 18 will receive without additional cost.

Meals included today: breakfast