From
NZ $2,920

The Lure of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua)

13 days
From Antigua to Managua
3.5
8 traveler reviews
The Lure of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua) - Penguin Travel
From
NZ $2,920
Find this price
+ $379 Local payment 2025
Save and compare this adventure
Payment plan $990 now + easy payments of $462 Learn More

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Plan your adventure:
In-depth Cultural
Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Guided in English
Group Size 4 - 16
Age range 18 to 80
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Explore Antigua's Spanish Colonial architecture
  • Discover the ancient Maya ruins of Copan
  • Enjoy a boat trip on Lake Atitlan
  • Visit the cultural town of Suchitoto
  • Witness lava at Masaya Volcano

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Arrival in Antigua (Guatemala)
  2. Day 2 Antigua
  3. Day 3 Antigua - Iximche - Atitlan Lake
  4. Day 4 Atitlan Lake
  5. Day 5 Atitlan Lake - Copan (Honduras)
  6. Day 6 Copan
  7. Day 7 Copan - Suchitoto (El Salvador)
  8. Day 8 Suchitoto - Gulf of Fonseca
  9. Day 9 Gulf of Fonseca - Leon (Nicaragua)
  10. Day 10 Leon, Nicaragua - Ometepe Island
  11. Day 11 Ometepe Island - Granada
  12. Day 12 Granada
  13. Day 13 Granada - Managua. Departure
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Additional Services

Customer Photos

Operated by

Penguin Travel

Number of tours

41

Age Range

18 to 80 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

96%

Established in 1989 in the heart of Copenhagen (Denmark), Penguin Travel rose...

Read more

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Good
    3.5
  • Itinerary
    Excellent
    4.2
  • Guide
    Average
    3.0
  • Transport
    Good
    4.0
  • Accommodation
    Average
    2.8
  • Food
    Good
    3.8
  • 4.4
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • The Lure of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua) reviewer 1
    · April 29th, 2024
    There were only three of us on this trip. One guide handled Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador; the second guide met us in Nicaragua. The first guide was quite good--a guide who also drove. The second was not as good--a driver who also guided. We had local guides throughout, and they handled the details, especially in Nicaragua. I understand that this is a low-to-moderate trip, but still our introduction to Nicaragua came as a surprise. We made a "beach landing," wading in from about eight inches of water. In general, I got what I paid for.
    Show more
    The Lure of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua) customer review photo 1
    Trip date: March 2024
  • The Lure of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua) reviewer 2
    · November 27th, 2023
    We have just returned from the Central America tour run by Penguin Tours. This was a 13-day tour, although since the first & last day were just pickup/return to airport, there were actually 11 days touring across 4 countries. Although the sites visited were excellent and well worth visiting, the guides, transport & hotels were definitely lacking. SITES: The cultural tour included a number of Mayan ruins (Iximche & Copan), several walking city tours (Antigua, Suchitoto, Leon, Granada) and several boat tours, nature visits etc. Unfortunately, parts of the tour were changed without the group having been notified in advance, and in fact even when this was pointed out to the guides, they were unresponsive. HOTELS: The hotels that are provided in the tour description are NOT the hotels where we stayed. A revised list of hotels was provided a few days before we left. They were almost all further away from the centre, and in some cases (such as Omotepe Island), far away from available restaurants etc (lunches & dinners were not included on the tour). Facilities were inconsistent (some rooms had AC, some only fans, some nothing). In some cases, drinking water was provided, sometimes not. In some cases, the reservations (number of people per room, etc) did not match what was required. TRANSPORT: We were 10 on the tour, and had a minibus provided for most of the time. In some cases, the transfers were not ideal: having to take our suitcases off the minibus to take a ferry & reload the suitcases on another minibus on the other side for example. However, the biggest problem with the transport was the lack of organization: we regularly left on VERY long drives after noon, stopping for needlessly long lunches (because nothing was pre-ordered and we had to wait 30-40 minutes for service), arriving after dark too many times at the hotels. This was a lack of organization on the guides’ part, and we were never given detailed info to know what to expect. GUIDES: We had 2 guides for 10 people: 1 guide from Penguin travel, the other a local Guatemalan guide. The guide from Penguin was responsible for our check-in at the hotels. The local guide provided info on Guatemala for the first few days, but for the rest of the sites in the other 3 countries, local guides from Honduras, El Salvador & Nicaragua provided local walking tours. Other than that, our 2 guides were busy talking (Spanish) with the driver and having beer at every rest stop & lunch. Many times, we weren’t told in advance where/when we were stopping for lunch, and they did not provide guidance/suggestions for dinner or free time. Fortunately, most of the group were seasoned travellers, and could adapt. This was very disappointing, since we had heard excellent reviews about Penguin Travel for other (European) tours. WE WOULD 100% RECOMMEND A TOUR OF CENTRAL AMERICA, BUT NOT WITH PENGUIN TOURS.
    Show more
    Penguin Travel commented on this review
    Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear you were not completely satisfied with our services. We will consider all your comments and will make sure we do better in the future. Best regards, Penguin Travel Team
    Trip date: October 2023
  • KM
    · November 18th, 2023
    Very UNORGANIZED and SUBSTANDARD accommodations. EVERY single hotel listed was changed to a lower class/cost place. Itinerary was changed from what was advertised. Tour leader and tour guide (two people) for a group of 10 was overkill and we never knew who was actually leading our group. Our tour guide always stayed at a different location than us and we all wondered why. Why did our Guatemalan guide accompany us during the entire trip when we had local guides in the other countries? We had to collectively ask for the boat tour on Lake Suchitlan as advertised and then were expected to thank our tour leader!
    Show more
    Penguin Travel commented on this review
    Hello Kelly, we appreciate your feedback. We’re very sorry to hear that this experience did not meet your expectations. We will look into the issues you mentioned and will make sure we do better in the future. We wish you safe and happy travels. Best... Show more
    Trip date: October 2023
  • The Lure of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua) reviewer 4
    · November 13th, 2023
    We have just returned from the Central America tour run by Penguin Tours. This was a 13-day tour, although since the first & last day were just pickup/return to airport, there were actually 11 days touring across 4 countries. Although the sites visited were excellent (5 on 5) and well worth visiting, the guides, transport & hotels were definitely lacking (2 on 5). SITES: The cultural tour included a number of Mayan ruins (Iximche & Copan), several walking city tours (Antigua, Suchitoto, Leon, Granada) and several boat tours, nature visits etc. Unfortunately, parts of the tour were changed without the group having been notified in advance, and in fact even when this was pointed out to the guides, they were unresponsive. HOTELS: The hotels that are provided in the tour description are NOT the hotels where we stayed. A revised list of hotels was provided a few days before we left. They were almost all further away from the centre, and in some cases (such as Omotepe Island), far away from available restaurants etc (lunches & dinners were not included on the tour). Facilities were inconsistent (some rooms had AC, some only fans, some nothing). In some cases, drinking water was provided, sometimes not. In some cases, the reservations (number of people per room, etc) did not match what was required. TRANSPORT: We were 10 on the tour, and had a minibus provided for most of the time. In some cases, the transfers were not ideal: having to take our suitcases off the minibus to take a ferry & reload the suitcases on another minibus on the other side for example. However, the biggest problem with the transport was the lack of organization: we regularly left on VERY long drives after noon, stopping for needlessly long lunches (because nothing was pre-ordered and we had to wait 30-40 minutes for service), arriving after dark too many times at the hotels. This was a lack of organization on the guides’ part, and we were never given detailed info to know what to expect. GUIDES: We had 2 guides for 10 people: 1 guide from Penguin travel, the other a local Guatemalan guide. The guide from Penguin was responsible for our check-in at the hotels. The local guide provided info on Guatemala for the first few days, but for the rest of the sites in the other 3 countries, local guides from Honduras, El Salvador & Nicaragua provided local walking tours. Other than that, our 2 guides were busy talking (Spanish) with the driver and having beer at every rest stop & lunch. Many times, we weren’t told in advance where/when we were stopping for lunch, and they did not provide guidance/suggestions for dinner or free time. Fortunately, most of the group were seasoned travellers, and could adapt. This was very disappointing, since we had heard excellent reviews about Penguin Travel for other (European) tours. WE WOULD 100% RECOMMEND A TOUR OF CENTRAL AMERICA, BUT NOT WITH PENGUIN TOURS.
    Show more
    Penguin Travel commented on this review
    Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear you were not completely satisfied with our services. We will consider all your comments and will make sure we do better in the future. Best regards, Penguin Travel Team
    Trip date: October 2023
  • The Lure of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua) reviewer 5
    · March 16th, 2023
    It's adventure travel
    Penguin Travel commented on this review
    Thank you for your feedback, Eve. We are looking forward to having you on another trip with Penguin Travel in the future.
    Trip date: March 2023
  • The Lure of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua) reviewer 6
    · March 15th, 2023
    Central America is a third world location with...
    Show more
    Penguin Travel commented on this review
    Hello Jeanne, thank you for your feedback. We hope you enjoyed the trip overall and the issue mentioned did not ruin the overall experience for you. We wish you safe and happy travels and look forward to having you on another one of our trips in the... Show more
    Trip date: February 2023
  • A
    · March 13th, 2023
    very well organized with enough space for own...
    Show more
    Penguin Travel commented on this review
    Thank you for your feedback. We are looking forward to having you on another trip with Penguin Travel in the future.
    Trip date: February 2023
  • CS
    · March 9th, 2023
    Diverse and well traveled group. Some of the...
    Show more
    Penguin Travel commented on this review
    Hello Cathy, we are happy to hear you enjoyed your trip with Penguin Travel. We appreciate your feedback and suggestions. We are looking forward to having you on another tour of ours in the future.
    Trip date: February 2023

Dates & Availability

13 days
The Lure of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua)
From Antigua to Managua

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  • October 2025
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  • From Saturday
    25 Oct, 2025
    To Thursday
    6 Nov, 2025
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    From:
    $2,919
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    $379
From
NZ $2,920
Find this price
+ $379 Local payment 2025
Save and compare this adventure
Payment plan $990 now + easy payments of $462 Learn More

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
All questions
  • A

    Ahmed

    Asked on March 2nd, 2025

    Do you have a guaranteed departure for the tour?

    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten March 2025

      Yes, we have guaranteed departures. Please check with us for specific dates.

  • A

    Abdessamad

    Asked on January 21st, 2025

    What should I pack for this trip?

    Other
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten January 2025

      You should bring clothing suitable for warm weather, a rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and a reusable water bottle.

  • J

    Jacques

    Asked on January 10th, 2025

    Do I need vaccinations for this tour?

    Travel Support
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten January 2025

      No vaccinations are required, but some are highly recommended. Please consult your healthcare provider.

  • M

    Marlene

    Asked on December 16th, 2024

    Can I join the tour after the start date?

    Tour Details
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten December 2024

      Yes, it's possible to join the tour later. An extra transfer fee will be required if joining after the start date.

  • K

    Karien

    Asked on October 18th, 2024

    Can you accommodate dietary restrictions on this tour?

    Meals
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten October 2024

      Yes, dietary restrictions can be accommodated. Please provide specific details in advance.

  • J

    Jasmine

    Asked on September 14th, 2024

    Can you upgrade accommodations (i.e. 4-5 star hotels). If so, what is the additional cost? How many people on such a tour. We are in our 70's and healthy. What is the group's age range?

    Accommodation
    Age Range
    Group size
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten September 2024

      Unfortunately, on this tour, we can not offer an upgrade. Because of the logistics, the whole group needs to be accommodated in the same hotel and usually we use local 3-4* hotels. We do not have any age restrictions on the tour, most people are usually 40-60 years old.

  • S

    Sophie-Anne

    Asked on September 13th, 2024

    What is the approximate group size for the tour?

    Group size
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten September 2024

      The expected group size is approximately 12 people.

  • M

    Michael

    Asked on August 29th, 2024

    How do I obtain the 4 visas for these 4 countries?

    Visa
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten September 2024

      The visa requirements are different for different nationals. Most people can obtain visa for these countries either online or on arrival. However, we will be able to give you more information when we know what passports you will use.

  • A

    Alvin

    Asked on June 27th, 2024

    What are the visa requirements for this tour?

    Visa
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten June 2024

      You can reach out to us via the Ask a Question button for specific visa instructions based on your nationality.

  • E

    Emma

    Asked on June 5th, 2024

    What is the LOCAL FEE AND WHY?

    Payments
    Tour Details
    • Penguin TravelOperatorWritten June 2024

      What is a Local Payment? The local payment is a predetermined amount (usually 100 or 200 EUR per person) which is mandatory on some of our tours to be paid cash to the tour leader upon arrival. The local payment is part of the total cost of the tour, it is NOT an additional fee. This exact amount is deducted from your initial invoice that you pay pre-departure. Having a small part of the cost paid cash as a local payment is a standard practice in the tourism industry. During some of our tours in specific parts of the world, there are a lot of cash expenses that we as an agency need to cover (which are included in your travel package). That's why to make it safer and easier for our tour leader, they will collect a small amount in cash directly from you during the tour. Having a Local Payment also allows us to keep the cost of our tours competitive and save on operational and administrative costs, so we can pass the savings on to you. Please note that the local payment doesn't cover tips for the local guides, entry fees or other personal expenses.

Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Penguin Travel with your enquiry, they usually respond within 1 day.

Good to Know

Tour ID: 93928

  • Currencies
    SVC
    El Salvador Colon
    El Salvador
    Q
    Quetzal
    Guatemala
    L
    Lempira
    Honduras
    C$
    Cordoba Oro
    Nicaragua
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from New Zealand you will need an adaptor for types A, B, G.

    Type A
    El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua
    Type B
    El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua
    Type G
    Guatemala
    Type I
    Guatemala
  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Typhoid - Recommended for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis A - Recommended for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis B - Recommended for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Ideally 2 months before travel.
    • Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Ideally 10 days before travel.
    • Tuberculosis - Recommended for Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Ideally 3 months before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before August 7th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after August 7th, 2025, a minimum payment of 30% is required to confirm your booking with Penguin Travel. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Penguin Travel will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Penguin Travel" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.