Best of Mexico & Costa Rica

Bienvenidos, welcome to Mexico City! On arrival, take a complimentary transfer from the airport to your hotel. If you have time, perhaps take a stroll to get a feel for this vibrant and rapidly growing capital where the ancient and modern collide. You'll meet your leader and other members of your group this evening for a welcome meeting at 6pm – until then, the day is yours. After the welcome meeting you may like to head out with your leader for an optional group dinner, an opportunity to get stuck straight into the many local culinary delights!

Get to know Mexico City during a guided tour with your leader. Visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest and one of the oldest cathedrals in Latin America. You’ll also explore Zocalo, the city’s main square, and the remains of Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the Aztec empire. Check out famous Mexican painter Diego Rivera’s Mural Museum at the Alameda Central. Your tour also includes a visit to the Museum of Anthropology, home to an impressive collection of 600,000 pieces of Mexican art and artifacts. After the tour, the day is yours to spend as you please. The Leon Trotsky and Frida Kahlo (La Casa Azul) museums are two popular sights worth checking out as an optional activity. Trotsky, having come off second-best to Stalin in the race to the helm during the Soviet era, was expelled and found refuge in Mexico City where he was eventually murdered, while Frida Kahlo is perhaps the most renowned Mexican artist in history. Otherwise, just outside of the city, a visit to the colourful floating gardens of Xochimilco makes for an enjoyable afternoon.

Depart Mexico City this morning and visit the ancient Teotihuacan ruins, once one of the biggest cities in the world. Meet with a local guide and discover the amazing ruins known as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon which dominate the skyline. Stroll down ‘The Avenue of the Dead’ and see the clues to what life was like here nearly 2000 years ago. Continue to the city of Puebla, joining your leader for an orientation walk to get your bearings and explore the beautifully preserved city centre. Puebla is known for its delicious food scene and your leader will have tips on the best places to dine on local specialties this evening.

Say adios to Puebla and hola to Cholula. One of the oldest inhabited places on earth, Cholula is home to the fascinating Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de los Remedios, a church that sits atop a pyramid inside a hill. You’ll have a few hours of free time to roam the streets lined with colourful buildings, visit the church, and capture incredible volcano views in clear weather. Travel onwards to Oaxaca, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening. This beautiful city is known for its colonial architecture, cuisine and lively art scene, but it's also a great place to browse for traditional Mexican handicrafts, with descendants of the Zapotec and Mixtec selling an array of bright woven blankets and shawls. Your leader is certain to have some brilliant recommendations for dinner this evening.

A traditional craft experience awaits you this morning, with a visit to a women-run alebrijes workshop. Alebrijes are hand-painted folk art sculptures of mythical creatures. During your visit you will learn from the artists about the materials, process, and stories of the artists and the sculptures. They can tell you what your alebrije and nahual (spirit animal) are by sharing your birth date. Back in the centre of Oaxaca, your leader will take you on an orientation walk before a free afternoon. Oaxaca is known for its incredible food so you're sure to enjoy dinner with your fellow travellers at a local restaurant, perhaps enjoying regional specialties like tlayudas or mole.

Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Oaxaca has much to offer travellers so make the most of your free day in this vibrant city. You may like to dig into Oaxaca’s celebrated cuisine during a hands-on cooking class. Or perhaps pay a visit to the archaeological site of Monte Alban. The Zapotec civilisation began construction of this city around 200 BC, and Olmecs and Mixtecs have inhabited it at different times. Have your camera ready to go, because up here you can get an amazing view across the three legs of the valley of Oaxaca. Otherwise, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the streets and take the opportunity to feast on some regional delicacies. Season depending, a folkloric ballet performance is also a great optional activity. The Santo Domingo Cultural Centre is also well worth a visit.

Spend the day exploring Oaxaca’s surrounds, before travelling to Salina Cruz for the night. Set off with your leader this morning, first stopping at the famous Tule Tree, a 1500-year-old Montezuma cypress with a 36-metre circumference, making it one of the widest in the world. Travel onwards to the Mitla archaeological ruins, once the religious centre for the Zapotec people. Lunch today will be at the home of a local Zapotecan family where you’ll have the chance to try traditional dishes and learn about the culture of the indigenous Zapotec people. Visit a woman-owned mezcal farm and tour the cacti plantation. A little sampling of the different mezcals rounds out your day of exploration. Relax on the bus as you travel to Salina Cruz for the night.

Your journey continues as you drive to the Sumidero Canyon, a gigantic natural canyon with walls reaching as high as 1,000 metres. Here you’ll hop aboard a boat for an up close and personal tour of this remarkable landscape. Be sure to keep an eye (or an ear) out for howler monkeys along the way! After your boat tour, drive to the charming city of San Cristobal de las Casas. Once in 'San Cris', as it's known, take a walk and soak up the strong old-world atmosphere of this town, which is due in no small part to the grand Spanish colonial architecture, prominent indigenous cultures and winding cobblestone streets. Your leader will help orientate you with a walk around the town centre, then you are free to venture wherever your heart desires!

This morning, your leader will take you on a walking tour of the city, passing impressive churches, green plazas and countless museums. Next, head to the nearby Maya village of San Juan Chamula. Nestled in the highlands, this village serves as a marketplace and religious ceremonial centre for the indigenous communities who live in the surrounding hills. The local people have retained their traditional way of life and can often be seen wearing their own distinctive, colourful clothes. Make the short drive to the next town of Zincantan. As you explore with your leader, you'll learn more about these mostly Maya communities. Later, during free time back in San Cris, perhaps rent a bike to explore the town further.

Say goodbye to San Cristobal de Las Casas as you head for Palenque and its surrounding jungle. It will be an early start to minimise the chance of hitting road closures common in the area. There will be a stop or two to stretch your legs, before arriving at the low and wide Agua Azul Waterfalls, which flow slowly over limestone rocks. There's time for lunch and a quick dip, so remember to pack your swimsuit! Otherwise, enjoy a scenic stroll around the beautiful surroundings, before continuing to Palenque.

Set out this morning to the archaeological site of Palenque. Located on a hilltop in an area of hot jungle, these are some of the most astounding Maya ruins in the region, dating back as far as AD600. Some of the ruins remain unexcavated and are hidden in the surrounding forest. Enjoy a guided tour of the site and listen out for the calls of howler monkeys as you explore this lost city. After your tour, head back to your hotel in the more modern city of Palenque and perhaps spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool.

Settle in for another driving day as you travel from Palenque to the historic city of Merida. Your drive will be broken up with short stops and an included lunch stop. Lunch will be a moreish selection of local seafood, with alternatives available. Founded in 1542, Merida is the capital of the Yucatan state and has retained much of its old-world charm. After the drive, stretch your legs with an orientation walk with your leader where you’ll have the chance to check out the city’s colonial buildings and learn about its Maya heritage.

Today is a free day to explore the many sights of Merida. Perhaps visit some of the museums, including the impressive Regional Anthropology Museum of the Yucatan, and stroll the city streets which are alive with art and culture. Hang out in the green and shady Plaza Grande, with the 16th-century cathedral on one side and City Hall, State Government Palace and Casa Montejo on the other. The outdoor market is another essential visit, with an array of hammocks and Mayan replicas for sale, plus a selection of enticing local cuisine, including the dish cochinita pibil ('little pig') or the incredibly spicy El Yucateco hot sauce. If you can't visit enough Maya sites, you may want to head for the ancient ruins of Uxmal. Here you'll visit the amazing Palace of the Governors, considered by many to be the best example of classic Maya architecture. You may choose to travel west out to the coast to take a boat ride and visit the Celestun Bird Sanctuary and Biosphere Reserve. Here, near extensive beaches lined with coconut trees, you'll see a variety of coastal birds. Depending on the season (usually November to March), you may be able to witness the magnificent sight of thousands of flamingos painting a pink streak across the landscape.

Your first stop today is Chichen Itza, possibly the most famous Maya site in Mexico. You'll see the marvellous Temple of Kukulkan standing over the ruins and not far from the temple is the ‘ball court’, where many disputes are known to have been settled by way of a ball game that employed only the elbows, hips and wrists. Stone carvings depicting violence suggest it was not such a casual sport. Following a guided tour of the site, enjoy a special lunch with a local family in the town of Piste. Tuck into a traditional Pibil feast, a Maya style of cooking that involves barbecuing underground, which the family have perfected over generations. Finally, continue to the popular seaside town of Playa del Carmen, where you may like to join your group for a final dinner together.

You will be transferred back to the airport, where you will say goodbye to Mexico and fly to San Jose, Costa Rica. You will be unescorted on this flight. Upon arrival you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to your hotel in San Jose. As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group will change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary and you're welcome to attend, as this is a great chance to meet your new fellow travellers and your Costa Rican tour leader. After the meeting, you have the option to head out with your group to look for your first taste of Costa Rican cuisine in the surrounding streets.

Head out this morning, bound for La Fortuna – a leafy small town known as the gateway to Arenal Volcano National Park. When you arrive, you’ll learn how to cook traditional Costa Rican tortillas from a local woman who knows all the secret tips. Dona Chela will help you to prepare the dishes with ingredients from her garden, which you can also wander around before and after you cook. You'll make your tortillas in the traditional, old-school way by using the wood-fired stove in the kitchen. Sit down to a lunch of Costa Rican favourites, accompanied by your own handmade tortillas and get to know the family. After, check in to your hotel and enjoy a free afternoon in the lush surroundings. Maybe visit the nearby hot springs for a soak, fed by the thermal Tabacon River.

Today is a free day in La Fortuna. Maybe get active and head to the famed national park, hiking the Arenal Volcano for some gorgeous views. Maybe just wander the rainforest and take one of the trails leading to La Fortuna Waterfall. You can also book a Cano Negro boat tour – this full-day activity will see you visiting the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, a wetland system home to varied wildlife like sloths, monkeys, caimans and tropical birds. Look out for the critters as you cruise along the river – you can even hop in a canoe or kayak!

Today's journey to Monteverde is as much about the journey as it is about the destination. You’ll take a boat across Lake Arenal, then take a scenic drive to this major eco-tourism destination. When you arrive, you’ll have a free afternoon to choose your own adventure. Get out and explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve on your own, or head to the nearby butterfly garden. Visit the suspension bridges for some leafy views over the area or take on a forest night walk, looking out for local wildlife.

Begin the day with a tour of the spectacular Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve – host to more than 100 different species of mammals and 400 species of birds. Your leader will share information on the fascinating biodiversity of the region and lend their expert eye to spotting some wonderful wildlife. Look out for the resplendent quetzal and its quirky hairdo and listen for the sounds of howler monkeys and the unmistakable call of the three-wattled bellbird. With nearly 500 unique species of orchids, the reserve holds the world’s highest diversity of this famed flower. After a morning with your head in the clouds, drive on to Manuel Antonio in the afternoon. When you arrive in this gorgeously lush national park, you’ll have the option to go on a scenic sunset cruise.

Take the day to experience the lush national park surrounding Manuel Antonio. Your park entrance fee is included and joining you will be a naturalist guide with all the insider knowledge that you need. Spend some time discovering the park and learning about the beauty of the jungle, keeping an eye out for sloths and iguanas. Wander into the depths of the rainforest and be aware of where your naturalist guide is telling you to look – they know exactly where to find the weird and wonderful that call this place home! Tonight, you’re free to find the best spot to watch the sun go down or to ask your leader for the best local bars and dinner spots.

Today is a free day to explore this lush region however you wish. You could book yourself a kayak tour of the waterways and mangrove habitat, seeing the park from the water. Maybe head to one of Manuel Antonio's famed beaches, rent a surfboard and spend some time catching waves in the water, or chase the rays on the sand and kick back with a good book.

Drive to a small indigenous community this morning, saying your goodbyes to Manuel Antonio. The Terraba, or Teribe, are an indigenous group with a rich cultural heritage. Located on approximately 34.7 square miles (9000 hectares) along the Terraba River, they have survived off the land for more than 500 years. The community consider themselves matriarchal, and women are the teachers, responsible for passing information down through the generations. Here, you’ll learn how to carve your own wooden mask, before sharing a local home-cooked lunch with the villagers. This afternoon, travel to Copey de Dota in a private vehicle, where you’ll spend the night.

An extra special morning beverage awaits you today! Visit an ecological family-owned farm, where everything is produced organically. Here, you’ll learn how the coffee bean makes its way from cherry to cup. Learn the full process, from planting to harvesting, roasting and grinding, and then prepare your own cup of coffee. Have lunch with the family to reward your hands-on efforts. After, drive back to San Jose where your leader will take you for a stroll to stretch your legs and get a feel for this lively city. You might like to head out for an optional farewell dinner and toast to a trip well-travelled.

With no further activities planned after breakfast, you’re free to leave any time after check out. If you’d like to extend your stay in Costa Rica, just reach out to your booking agent.