Itinerary
- Day 1
Granada
You'll arrive in Granada and check into your hotel on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. There's a welcome meeting at 6 pm to get oriented, and if you're interested, an optional group dinner is happening this evening. The city itself sits surrounded by active volcanoes, so you might want to get your bearings and grab some rest after traveling.
Optional Activities
- Group dinner with fellow travellers
Landmarks/POIs Granada Lake Nicaragua 
- Day 2
Granada to León
A private minibus takes you toward León. Along the way, you'll visit Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve where a 4x4 vehicle brings you up to the summit, then you'll hike to one of the craters with a local guide. After that, head to Monimbo artist village to watch a traditional mask maker at work. Lunch includes local specialties at the village market, and you'll arrive in León by evening with free time to settle in.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local specialties at Monimbo market)
Included Activities
- Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve visit with local guide
- 4x4 ride to volcano summit
- Hike to crater
- Cloud forest education
- Monimbo artist village visit
- Traditional mask-making demonstration with local artisan
- Monimbo market visit
- Included lunch of local specialties at Monimbo market
Landmarks/POIs Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve Monimbo León - Day 3
León
Start with a leader-led walking tour through León's mural-covered streets. From there, the day is yours to explore at your pace. Try Nica tacos from street vendors near the Lady of Grace Cathedral, or if you want something more active, you can kayak at Juan Venado Island Nature Reserve or try volcano sandboarding. It's your call how to spend the afternoon and evening.
Included Activities
- Leader-led walking tour of León
Optional Activities
- Juan Venado Island Nature Reserve kayaking tour
- Volcano sandboarding adventure
Landmarks/POIs Lady of Grace Cathedral Juan Venado Island Nature Reserve - Day 4
León to El Salvador
This is a long driving day crossing from Nicaragua into Honduras and then El Salvador. Your leader will engage the group in conversations about modern Central American life and the challenges people face in the region. Plan for significant time in the vehicle, so settle in and use the journey to learn about the places you're passing through.
Included Activities
- Leader discussion on Central American life and culture
- Day 5
San Salvador to Suchitoto
Travel to Suchitoto with a stop in San Salvador along the way. You'll go on a leader-led walk and visit the UNESCO-listed El Rosario Church, which has a striking brutalist design. In the evening, participate in a hands-on pupusa cooking workshop where you'll learn to make El Salvador's national dish alongside your group members.
- Meals
- Dinner (Pupusas (national dish) - hands-on cooking workshop)
Included Activities
- Leader-led walk in San Salvador
- El Rosario Church visit
- Evening pupusa cooking workshop and dinner
Landmarks/POIs El Rosario Church San Salvador Suchitoto - Day 6
Suchitoto
Head out to Cinquera Forest bordering Suchitoto. You'll meet with a former guerrilla fighter who shares perspectives on the forest's role during the Salvadoran Civil War. Tour the old camps and a small mountain community, then return to Suchitoto in the afternoon for a leader-led walking tour of this well-preserved cultural hub of El Salvador.
Included Activities
- Cinquera Forest visit
- Guided tour with former guerrilla fighter
- Civil War history tour
- Small mountain community visit
- Leader-led orientation walk of Suchitoto
Landmarks/POIs Cinquera Forest - Day 7
Suchitoto to Copán
A private transfer takes you across the border into Guatemala and then Honduras to reach Copán. You'll arrive early afternoon and have time to wander the cobblestone streets. Check out the Central Plaza or visit the Macaw Mountain Bird Park if you're interested in local wildlife. This evening, rejoin the group for a traditional Honduran dinner featuring Baleadas.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional Honduran Baleadas)
Included Activities
- Traditional Honduran dinner of Baleadas
Optional Activities
- Macaw Mountain Bird Park visit
Landmarks/POIs Copán Macaw Mountain Bird Park 
- Day 8
Copán
Head out early for a guided tour of the Copán archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with significant Mayan ruins. Spend hours exploring this important cultural location. The afternoon is free, so you can visit the bird park if you missed it yesterday or just relax. If you're keen, there's an optional evening trip to natural hot springs with mud baths and pools in a jungle setting, plus dinner is included.
Included Activities
- Copán archaeological site guided tour
Optional Activities
- Macaw Mountain Bird Park visit
- Natural hot springs tour with dinner
Landmarks/POIs Copán Archaeological Site - Day 9
Copán to Antigua
Travel by private vehicle across the border into Guatemala, arriving in Antigua in the afternoon. After checking in to your hotel, your leader takes you on an orientation walk through the historic center. An optional group dinner is available this evening if you'd like to dine with fellow travelers.
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk of Antigua historic center
Optional Activities
- Group dinner with fellow travellers
Landmarks/POIs Antigua - Day 10
Antigua
The day is completely free to explore Antigua at your own pace. Wander the cobblestone streets, grab roasted beans from a street vendor, or visit the 18th-century ruins of the Monastery of Santa Clara if history interests you. Later today, there's a welcome meeting for any new travelers joining at this point in the tour.
Optional Activities
- Monastery of Santa Clara ruins visit
Landmarks/POIs Monastery of Santa Clara - Day 11
Antigua to Quetzaltenango
After breakfast, travel to San Andres Itzapa to experience a shamanic ceremony at the Temple of San Simon (also called Maximon). You'll leave an offering of rum or tobacco as part of the tradition. Then continue on to Quetzaltenango, stopping for group lunch along the way. An orientation walk through the city happens before you have a free evening to settle in.
- Meals
- Lunch (Group lunch en route)
Included Activities
- San Simon shamanic ceremony at Temple of San Simon
- Group lunch
- Leader-led orientation walk of Quetzaltenango
Landmarks/POIs Temple of San Simon Quetzaltenango 
- Day 12
Quetzaltenango
Early morning chicken bus ride takes you to Almolonga, a famous local market known for its giant vegetables and vibrant traditional dress. You'll experience the lively negotiations with locals and feel like an insider. In the afternoon, there's an optional trip to Fuentes Georginas Hotsprings where you walk through a cloud forest to pools of different temperatures with beautiful forest views. Return for the evening.
Included Activities
- Chicken bus experience to Almolonga market
- Almolonga vegetable market visit
Optional Activities
- Fuentes Georginas Hotsprings visit with cloud forest walk
Landmarks/POIs Almolonga Market Fuentes Georginas Hotsprings - Day 13
Quetzaltenango to Panajachel
After breakfast, head to Chichicastenango market, one of Latin America's largest outdoor markets and Guatemala's most historic. With an expert local leader, you'll explore thousands of stalls selling textiles, wooden handicrafts, jade jewelry, traditional huipils, handmade pieces, pottery, and ceremonial masks. Later, travel to Panajachel on Lake Atitlan's shores for a free evening.
Included Activities
- Chichicastenango market visit with expert local leader
Landmarks/POIs Chichicastenango Market Lake Atitlan Panajachel 
- Day 14
Panajachel to Santiago Atitlan
Board a traditional lancha boat on Lake Atitlan for a scenic ride to Santiago Atitlan, the largest town on the lake but with far fewer tourists than other spots. You'll get a special invitation into a local home to visit the shrine of Maximon, where your leader explains its cultural significance. Return to Antigua by minibus this evening.
Included Activities
- Lancha boat ride on Lake Atitlan
- Santiago Atitlan visit
- Local home visit with Maximon shrine
Landmarks/POIs Santiago Atitlan - Day 15
Antigua
Another free day in Antigua to explore this charming historical city. Consider a chocolate-making workshop at ChocoMuseo or trying a salsa dance lesson if you want something hands-on. At 6 pm, meet in the hotel lobby for a welcome meeting for new travelers, followed by an optional group dinner.
Optional Activities
- ChocoMuseo chocolate-making workshop
- Salsa dance lesson
- Optional group dinner
Landmarks/POIs ChocoMuseo - Day 16
Antigua
Begin with a leader-led walk through Antigua's quiet cobblestone streets, visiting fascinating markets and museums. Learn about the city's history as the colonial government seat and its destruction by earthquake in 1773. The afternoon is yours to explore and relax, maybe grabbing coffee on the main plaza. Try local dishes like tamales and pepian while you're wandering.
Included Activities
- Leader-led walking tour of Antigua
- Day 17
Antigua to Río Dulce
A long travel day by private vehicle gets you to Río Dulce. Your leader conducts an informal Spanish lesson during the journey to help pass the time. You'll arrive mid-afternoon at Río Dulce, which sits as the gateway between Lake Izabal and the Caribbean Sea. The rest of the day is yours, so do a jungle walk, kayak, or simply relax in a hammock.
Included Activities
- Informal Spanish lesson with leader during travel
Optional Activities
- Jungle walk
- Kayak rental
Landmarks/POIs Río Dulce Lake Izabal - Day 18
Río Dulce to Livingston
Join the group on a boat ride down the river to Livingston, a laid-back Afro-Caribbean town about 30 kilometers away. The boat journey winds through water lilies, tropical forests, and a deep canyon with river birds along the route. You'll experience Garifuna culture, the descendants of people forcibly removed from the Caribbean by the British in the late 18th century. An included lunch features local specialties like tapou, a creamy fish soup.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local Garifuna specialties including tapou (creamy fish soup))
Included Activities
- Boat ride from Río Dulce to Livingston
- Livingston Garifuna town visit
- Included lunch of local Garifuna specialties
Landmarks/POIs Livingston - Day 19
Livingston to Flores
Travel to Flores on Lago Peten Itza, stopping at Nuevo Horizonte along the way. This is a ranch where 130 demobilized families settled after Guatemala's 1998 Peace Accords. You'll tour their nature reserve, enjoy lunch on the ranch, and hear local stories about the community's cooperative development. Continue to Flores for an orientation walk through this charming island town with ancient Itza history. The afternoon is free to explore or shop for handicrafts, and street food vendors appear around 4 pm.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on Nuevo Horizonte ranch)
Included Activities
- Nuevo Horizonte ranch and nature reserve visit
- Lunch on ranch
- Leader-led orientation walk of Flores
Landmarks/POIs Nuevo Horizonte Flores Lago Petén Itzá - Day 20
Flores to Belize
Get up early for a guided exploration of Tikal National Park, home to some of the most significant Mayan ruins hidden deep in the jungle. You'll see towering limestone temples, spot local wildlife like coatis and howler monkeys, and think about the mystery of the ancient city's decline. A tortilla-making workshop and lunch happen together as a group. Then you'll cross the border into Belize, the only English-speaking country in Central America.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch after tortilla-making workshop)
Included Activities
- Tikal National Park archaeological site visit with guide
- Tortilla-making workshop
- Lunch
Landmarks/POIs Tikal National Park 
- Day 21
San Ignacio
This morning, choose whether to relax in San Ignacio or join optional activities. For those wanting adventure, explore Actun Tunichil Muknal caves, a living museum with ceramic pots and crystallized skeletons preserved for over 1400 years, involving hiking and river wading. If you prefer staying closer to town, there are ground-based ruins like Cahal Pech or the Green Iguana Conservation Project to visit instead.
Optional Activities
- Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) caves visit with hiking and river wading
- Cahal Pech ruins visit
- Green Iguana Conservation Project visit
Landmarks/POIs Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves Cahal Pech Green Iguana Conservation Project - Day 22
San Ignacio to Caye Caulker
Travel to the island of Caye Caulker with its white sand, clear waters, and palm trees. A scenic boat ride and golf cart transfer get you to your hotel. Your leader takes you on an orientation walk around this small, walkable island known for its 'go slow' motto. You can bike around palm-lined streets or try stand-up paddleboarding. An optional sunset catamaran cruise is available this evening.
Included Activities
- Scenic boat ride to Caye Caulker
- Leader-led orientation walk
Optional Activities
- Bicycle rental
- Standup paddleboarding
- Sunset catamaran cruise
Landmarks/POIs Caye Caulker 
- Day 23
Caye Caulker
Another day on Caye Caulker following the island's 'go slow' philosophy. Do as much or as little as you want. For snorkeling fans, take a full-day boat tour (sunscreen is highly recommended). After swimming and lounging, try Belize's famous barbecue. Caye Caulker is known for lobster from June through February, or you can get grilled shrimp with local rum and coke.
Optional Activities
- Full-day snorkelling boat tour
- Day 24
Caye Caulker
Your final day with no planned activities. You can leave your accommodation at any time after checking out. If you want to stay longer on Caye Caulker, additional accommodation can be arranged depending on availability.
