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Epic Central America

46 Days | This is definitely a grand-e adventure through Central America.

18 to 29s
From
EUR €3,245
View dates and book
This trip is for the 18 to 29 year olds

It doesn’t get much bigger than this. A 46-day adventure enjoying everything Central America has to offer, from Mexico through to Costa Rica with all the places in between – you better Belize it. Whether you're hitting the waves in El Salvador, trekking the steamy cloud forests in Costa Rica, snorkelling the pristine underwater worlds in Belize or washing down your tacos with mezcal in Mexico, there's no shortage of unforgettable experiences on this trip. You’ll cover six countries, stopping at dozens of towns and beaches and sipping many (many) cervezas. Oh Maya, this is huge.

Trip overview

Map of Epic Central America including Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Nicaragua
Start
Mexico City, Mexico
Finish
San Jose, Costa Rica
Theme
18 to 29s
Destinations
Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Basix
Ages
Min 18 - Max 29
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
QBYZC
This trip generates 28.87 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.
Bucket list destinations

Tick off all the popular spots and enjoy unique local experiences

Great value

Affordable trips with the freedom to choose how you spend your time

Responsible travel

You book, we donate to help support local communities


Why you'll love this trip
  • Escape the Mexican heat in the culturally-rich highlands of Chiapas. San Cristobal de las Casas has an old-world town vibe, surrounded by ancient tribal villages.
  • Head deep into the jungle and experience the lush wilderness and cultural significance of Palenque and Lacanja – a real Indiana Jones moment.
  • Visit the historic site of Chichen Itza to understand why these ancient Maya ruins are one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
  • There's nothing quite like eating with a local family to really experience a place. At lunch you'll be experiencing traditional Guatemalan hospitality while improving your Spanish with the locals. 
  • Cerro Verde is waiting to be explored. Enjoy a full day at leisure in one of El Salvador’s most beautiful national parks – climb a volcano crater or take the plunge in the pristine lake. The choice is yours!
  • Island life doesn’t get much better than Ometepe in Nicaragua – volcanoes, wildlife-rich rainforest, stunning beaches, ancient rock carvings, and a massive lake are all on your plate.
  • Central America likes to keep you on your toes – hike, cycle or zip-line through the steamy cloud forests of Monteverde in Costa Rica and get up close to nature in one of the world’s most incredible landscapes.
  • Costa Rica's famous Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna is unbe-lava-ble. Go with the flow and let off some stream with hikes, waterfalls, watersports, and hot springs in the shadow of this giant.

Is this trip right for you?
  • Who doesn’t love a challenge? We definitely do here at Intrepid, and while travelling between some locations on local transport on this trip can be hard, it’s super rewarding and a great way to meet the locals.
  • You’ll be crossing the borders between several countries on this trip and, while it is usually straightforward, you may need to be patient. Make sure you’ve got your best car game ready if there are any delays!
  • Central America is tropical, so expect a hot and humid climate. Make sure you protect yourself from the sun, wear comfortable, light clothing and stay hydrated – especially when out on walking tours. Air conditioning may not always be available in your rooms. Occasionally, properties may require an additional charge for the use of air conditioning.
  • It’s a good idea to try and brush up on as many Spanish words as you can. While locals are really friendly, they’re also shy, so knowing some local lingo is a great way to break the ice and show you care.
  • This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle and public bus with your group, including an overnight bus journey. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. It’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates. 
  • There are many opportunities to get active on this adventure. Some of the optional activities, especially the volcano hikes, require a moderate level of fitness and sturdy walking shoes. Want to take it easy? There are plenty of other things you can do instead.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Map of Epic Central America including Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Nicaragua

Inclusions

Meals

4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Public bus, Local bus, Taxi, Shared boat, Ferry

Accommodation

Hotel (31 nights), Overnight public bus (1 night), Cabin (2 nights), Multishare lodge (2 nights), Multishare Hotel (5 nights), Multishare Hostel (2 nights), Camping (2 nights)

Activities
  • Mexico City - Leader-led Taco Crawl
  • Mexico City - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Oaxaca - Leader-led orientation walk
  • San Cristobal de Las Casas - Leader-led Orientation Walk
  • Zinacantan - Maya Church (entrance fee)
  • San Juan Chamula - Maya Church (entrance fee)
  • Agua Azul - Waterfall Visit
  • Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
  • Palenque - Archaeological site (Entrance fee & Transport)
  • Merida – leader led orientation walk
  • Playa del Carmen - Leader-led Orientation Walk
  • Playa del Carmen - Paleteria visit (Mexican Ice-cream store)
  • Izamal - Convento de San Antonio de Padua (Entrance)
  • Izamal - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Chichen Itza - Archaeological site
  • Tulum - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Caye Caulker - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Tikal National Park - Archaeological Site Tour (Entrance fee & Transport)
  • Chichicastenango - Market Visit
  • San Juan La Laguna - Weaving & Dyeing experience
  • San Juan La Laguna - Midwife home visit
  • San Juan La Laguna - Medicinal Garden
  • Antigua - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Cerro Verde - Salvadoran Pupusa cooking demonstration
  • Leon - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Granada - Breakfast at El Cafe de las Sonrisas
  • Los Ramos Community - Cooking Class
  • Monteverde - Leader-led orientation walk
  • La Fortuna - Leader-led orientation walk
  • San Jose - Leader-led orientation walk
Add on activities
  • Mexico City - Diego Rivera Murals in the Mural Museum (Entrance Fee) - MXN35
  • Mexico City - Boat ride through Floating Gardens of Xochimilco (Approx. per boat per hour) - MXN600
  • Mexico City - National Museum of Anthropology (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays) - MXN90
  • Mexico City - Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays) - MXN80
  • Mexico City - Frida Kahlo Museum (entrance fee) - MXN250
  • Oaxaca - Monte Alban archaeological site (entrance fee) - MXN90
  • Oaxaca - Santo Domingo Cultural Centre (entrance fee) - MXN85
  • Mitla - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport) - MXN900
  • Oaxaca - Tule Tree, Teotitlan weaving town, mescal distillery - USD27
  • Oaxaca - Cooking class - MXN1300
  • San Cristobal de las Casas - Jade Museum - MXN65
  • Sumidero Canyon - Boat Excursion (entrance and transport) - MXN565
  • Lacanja - Half-day Rafting, Waterfalls & Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport) (Minimum 4 people) - MXN800
  • Merida - Celestun Bird Sanctuary (entrance and transport) - MXN1035
  • Merida - Uxmal Ruins tour (inc. shared transport and guide) - MXN1400
  • Playa del Carmen - Bicycle Rental (per day) - MXN260
  • Tulum - Archaeological Site (incl. entrance & national park fee - no guide) - MXN142
  • Tulum- Bike rental - MXN250
  • Tulum - Cenote Adventure - USD135
  • Tulum - Jungle Adventure - USD135
  • Tulum - Jungle Bike tour - USD125
  • Tulum - Maya Inland Expedition - USD159
  • Tulum - Sian Ka'an Adventure - USD150
  • Tulum - World Wonder Discovery - USD160
  • Tulum - Sian Ka'an Muyil - USD180
  • Caye Caulker - Stand-up paddleboard hire (per hour) - BZD42
  • Caye Caulker - Sunset Sailing - BZD100
  • Caye Caulker - Manatee boat tour - BZD240
  • Caye Caulker - Full-day Guided Snorkelling Trip (gear, guide and transport included) - BZD230
  • Caye Caulker - Manatee boat tour (Incl. transport & guide) - BZD242
  • San Ignacio - Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves (Incl. entry, guide, transport & lunch) - BZD250
  • San Ignacio - Cave tubing (incl. entrance, guide & transport) - BZD190
  • San Ignacio - Butterfly Farm (incl. transport) - BZD150
  • San Ignacio - Cahal Pech Ruins entry - BZD10
  • San Ignacio - Iguana Conservation Project (entrance fee) - BZD23
  • San Ignacio - Xunantunich Ruins entry - BZD10
  • Tikal National Park - Guide for Ruins (per group) - GTQ750
  • Rio Dulce - Boat trip to Livingston (Price dependent on boat available & passengers) - GTQ210
  • Rio Dulce - Natural Hot Springs (entrance fee and transport) - GTQ200
  • Rio Dulce - San Felipe Fort (entrance fee) - GTQ85
  • Rio Dulce - Quirigua Ruins (entrance fee) - GTQ90
  • Panajachel - Kayak rental (per hour) - GTQ100
  • Panajachel - Bicycle rental (per day) - GTQ50
  • Panajachel - Zipline - GTQ375
  • Antigua - Chocolate-making workshop at ChocoMuseo - GTQ225
  • Cerro Verde- Coatepeque Lake – (transportation, entrance fee, hotsprings, guide) - USD50
  • Cerro Verde- Santa Ana Volcano Crater – (Entrance fee, guide, lunch) - USD30
  • Leon - Volcano Sand Boarding - USD45
  • Granada - Laguna Apoyo kayaking tour - USD30
  • Granada - Kayak rental (per day) - NIO913
  • Granada - Masaya Volcano at night (Viewpoint for the Lava Lake at Santiago Crater) - NIO1600
  • Ometepe - Concepcion Volcano hike - USD45
  • Ometepe - Maderas Volcano hike - USD45
  • Ometepe - Ojo de Agua natural spring (entrance fee) - USD25
  • Ometepe - Petroglyphs - USD25
  • San Juan del Sur - Surf Board Hire - USD20
  • San Juan del Sur - La Flor Beach Reserve - USD6
  • Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance - USD25
  • Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD50
  • Monteverde - Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport) - USD62
  • Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD45
  • Monteverde - Cloud Forest Night Walk - USD35
  • Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD21
  • La Fortuna - Ecotermales Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD45
  • La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only) - USD18
  • La Fortuna - Arenal Volcano Hike - USD88
  • La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour - USD80
  • La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board - USD75
  • San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) - USD11

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. This is an 18-29s departure.
2. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1. There are no activities planned for the final day so you may depart at any time.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 5 (Overnight bus), Days 8 & 9 (Cabin), Days 24 & 25 (Rio Dulce), Days 27 & 28 (Lake Atitlan), Days 37 & 38 (Ometepe Island), and Days 39 & 40 (San Juan del Sur) where you will be in shared accommodation. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. Multishare typically includes triple and quad rooms. You may be required to share with group members of the opposite sex and couples, and people travelling together may occasionally be separated due to rooming configurations.
5. To save you money and the hassle of booking multiple trips, this journey is a combination of some of our most popular adventures. Your leader and the composition of your group may change with the start of each adventure.
6. Please be careful when booking flights from San Jose; make sure you fly out of Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO]. Please do not book flights from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport [SJC] as this is located in California, United States

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

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Epic Central America
From
EUR €3,245