Central American Highlights

Arrive in San Jose. The cosmopolitan Costa Rican capital lies in a fertile valley at an altitude of 1150 metres. Coffee and sugar cane are big industries here and coffee is even planted between new buildings and along the roadside on the outskirts of the city.



Due to the number of evening flights into the international airport, your Leader plans to do the welcome meeting on the morning of day two, and will leave a message in reception with details on timings and everything else that you'll need for the day. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in San Jose at any time. If you would like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport (airport code SJO) which is 18km, around thirty minutes from our hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.



If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose head out to explore the city which is easy to navigate with a grid pattern of avenues and streets with a good choice of local eateries, which you may choose to sample this evening. The National museum (Museo Nacional De Costa Rica) is also well worth a visit.

Leave the capital for a 5-hour drive to Rincon de la Vieja where we will stay for the next two nights. Our accommodation is surrounded by nature and is the perfect place for wildlife spotting. When darkness falls, we will embark on a night walk around the paths of the lodge in search of wildlife.

This morning we will head into the Rincon de la Vieja National Park for a two-hour walk. The National Park has room for two volcanoes, of which one is still active, surrounded by a lush area of lagoons and craters, punctuated with steaming vents and pools of boiling mud. The changing elevation ranges of the park have resulted in an area of diverse habitats that house a variety of vegetation and wildlife. We'll have the opportunity to spot wildlife in the forest, from a variety of bird species (toucans, blue-crowned motmots and flycatchers among many others), as well as spider monkeys, coatis or sloths if we're lucky.



This afternoon is left free for optional activities.

Today we take a two-hour drive to the coastal haven of Bahia Salinas, close to the Nicaraguan border. We have the afternoon free to enjoy the beautiful beach and coastline.

Today we wave goodbye to Costa Rica and travel across the border into Nicaragua and onto the colonial city of Granada. The driving time today will be approximately 3-hours. Atmospheric Granada is situated at the foot of Mombacho Volcano on the north-west shore of Lake Nicaragua. It was the first colonial city in Nicaragua, founded in 1524 by the conquistador Hernandez de Cordoba. Its magnificent setting, set off by baroque and renaissance buildings, is a visual delight and a superb location for our next two nights' accommodation.



On arrival, our city tour will take in highlights such as the Parque Central, the monument to the War of Independence, the plaza and the San Francisco Convent. We also aim to visit the Casa des Tres Mundos and the neoclassical Bishop's Palace. The afternoon is at your leisure. Choose to walk down to the central plaza, marvel at the striking yellow cathedral and relax in one of the many restaurants or cafes.

This morning is left free. A recommended optional activity is a boat trip through Las Isletas on Lake Nicaragua. This is a great way to explore Lake Cocibolca, also known as Lake Nicaragua. Situated at the foot of the impressive Mombacho Volcano, the area we visit consists of around 360 small volcanic islands which were formed when the Mombacho Volcano erupted about 20,000 years ago. These small islands are inhabited by families who make their living from fishing, while other islands are host to extravagant villas owned by Nicaragua's rich and famous. Along the way, the tour guide will explain a lot about the many birds that can be seen here as well as recalling the history of the area.



This afternoon we will head to Masaya's famous and diverse artisan market, where we can find many products quite unique to Nicaragua. From there, we continue to one of Nicaragua's most stunning natural highlights, the Masaya Volcano National Park, which was the country's first national reserve and is home to two volcanoes and five craters. All being well, we will view the simply astounding geothermal activity at the Santiago Crater.

Today we head for Nicaragua's former capital, León where we spend the next two nights. As the country's capital for 200 years, Leon is still considered the intellectual centre of Nicaragua, and was at the heart of the revolutionary years of 1978 to 1989. Lying in the shadow of seven volcanoes, its old buildings and massive cathedral contribute to the elegant atmosphere of a city that seems almost to have been trapped in time. On arrival we will embark on a city tour.

Today has been left free to explore this colonial gem at your own pace. Alternatively, you may choose to enjoy one of the optional excursions available in the area. One option is a hike on the nearby Cerro Negro Volcano - one of the most active volcanoes in Nicaragua. The hike takes approximately 1.5hrs at a moderate pace, and there are stunning views across to the Pacific ocean as well as the surrounding countryside. The fun is in bouncing down the volcano, as we run/jump/walk down through the scree. For something less exertive, Las Penitas Beach is a great place to relax for the day, whilst a visit to San Juan Venado Mangrove Reserve provides the opportunity to spot wildlife including crocodiles, caiman and iguanas.

This morning, we wave goodbye to Nicaragua and head to the smallest country in Central America- El Salvador. Don't let its size fool you; the country is teeming with towering volcanoes, a spectacular coastline, and beautiful colonial towns and villages.



We start our day by driving to the coastal town of Potosí, before hopping on the ferry across the Gulf of Fonseca. On the journey, you can see the islands of three countries: El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. We expect the ferry to take around 2 hours. Our destination is the port town of La Unión. On arrival, we will head out to Conchagua town for a walk and an optional group dinner. The country's national dish is pupusas\emdash these delicious circles of corn dough are stuffed with a mixture of black beans, vegetables, cheese, and meats.



We estimate our journey time today will be around 7 hours. Please be patient; crossing borders can be quite a slow process, so ensure you have a book and snacks with you to keep you going.

This morning, we have a 3.5-hour drive to the peaceful lakeside town of Suchitoto. The town itself seems timeless, with cobbled streets, whitewashed buildings, and an impressive colonial church in a leafy plaza. It was once at the heart of the country's indigo trade.



The afternoon is free for you to spend as you wish. You may choose to take a boat trip on the lake, where over 200 bird species have been recorded, including hawks and falcons. Alternatively, you might want to visit the nearby Cascada Los Tercios- a 30-metre-high waterfall that flows over an impressive cliff of tightly packed hexagonal basalt rocks.

Today, we pass into Guatemala, traveling along La Ruta de las Flores- one of the most beautiful regions in El Salvador. Located in the western highlands, this scenic route is known for its breathtaking landscapes.



The road winds through rolling green hills and coffee plantations, connecting the vibrant, picturesque towns that dot the countryside. In spring, the route is lined with a kaleidoscope of blooming flowers, giving La Ruta de las Flores its name. Volcanoes loom in the distance, adding a dramatic backdrop to the journey.



Along the way, we'll visit the mountain town of Concepción de Ataco, famous for its colourful streets, and stop in Apaneca, a historic town known for its local markets and mountainous surroundings.



We plan to reach Guatemala City by early evening.



Please note- crossing borders can be quite a slow process, so ensure you have a book and snacks with you to keep you going.

We will leave Guatemala city behind this morning for Lake Atitlan. Our first stop on route is the fascinating archaeological site of Iximche. We will stop here for a two-hour guided tour, where we will learn all about the history of this site which dates back to the 15th century.



Our final stop of the day is Santa Catarina Palopo, a small village on the shores of Lake Atitlan where we will be staying for the next two nights. There are magnificent views of the impressive volcanic peaks of Atitlan (3537m), San Pedro (3020m) and Toliman (3158m) towering over the lakeside, and the lake's fertile shores are sprinkled with small communities of farmers and fishermen who still uphold the traditions of their Maya ancestors.

This morning, we head out by boat to explore two of the many Mayan villages surrounding the lake. Santiago Atitlan lies at the base of the volcanic peaks of Toliman and Atitlan, and is home to the Tzutujil Maya people. The Tzutujil can trace their ancestry back to the post-classic period of the Maya (around 900-1500 AD). They still wear a traditional form of dress, with the women in particular sporting colourful blouses with embroidered geometric and bird designs. This is a busy village with lots of visitors and locals going about their business. Our second stop, on our return to Panajachel, is to the quieter island of San Antonio and the textile and ceramic co-operatives found there.

This morning we will head to the bustling town of Chichicastenango, the 'sacred town' of the indigenous Quiche. Steeped in Maya culture, the town is famed for its market, where you can buy everything, from chickens and copal, to pigs and pottery. The best way to enjoy the market is to throw yourself into the melee and haggle with the traders, or escape to the beautifully colourful cemetery located just a short walk from the market. It is also the perfect place to pick up souvenirs of your visit.



We will continue our journey making another stop at the colourful local market of Solola where we can get a sense of Guatemalan daily life, as well as Pascual Abaj shrine- where traditional Maya shamans regularly perform ceremonies.



We aim to arrive into Antigua in the late afternoon.

This morning's walking tour takes us to some of the spectacular colonial churches for which the city is famed, including those of San Francisco, Santa Clara, La Merced and Las Capuchinas. Some of the churches have museums and ruins attached which you can choose to enter later in the afternoon. The city is also famous for its jade, not only green but the rarer black and lilac, and we will visit a museum explaining more about this industry.



This afternoon has been left free for you to continue exploring at your own pace. You may choose to do a short hike up Cerro de la Cruz for panoramic views of the city, or enjoy a bit of bargain hunting in what is regarded as one of the best cities for shopping in Central America. There is everything here, from high-end jewellery to street vendors selling locally-produced crafts and textiles. Alternatively, try the choco-museum for a Mayan hot chocolate, which comes with pure chocolate, hot milk, honey and chili powder to mix to your personal taste.

The trip ends this morning at our hotel in Antigua Guatemala.



There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from La Aurora International Airport (airport code: GUA). The drive between the airport and our hotel is only 40km but can take between 1.5 and 4 hours depending on the traffic and the time of day.