Epic Mexico to Costa Rica

32 Days | Beaches, ruins, jungles and (quite often) a combination of all three

5 out of 5 based on 6 reviews submitted.
18 to 35s
From
EUR 2.426 €
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This trip is for 18 to 35 year olds

From cloud forests and volcanic peaks to sun-drenched island beaches and lost temples, Central America is bursting with natural wonders and converging cultures. On this 32-day adventure, you’ll kick off in Mexico’s Playa del Carmen and snake through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Relax by colourful architecture in San Miguel, trek to the jungle ruins of Tikal, brush up on your Espanol over an icy cerveza and stay in villages dwarfed by volcanoes. Whether you’re haggling in the markets of Chichicastenango, chilling in a Caribbean town on the Rio Dulce or wandering cobblestone streets in Antigua, this tour gives you a taste of Central America’s myriad of flavours. From ancient Maya ruins to modern nightlife, you’ll explore the sights and sounds of Latin life and dive into the wilds of seldom-seen hotspots.

Trip overview

Map of Epic Mexico To Costa Rica including Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Nicaragua
Start
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Finish
San Jose, Costa Rica
Theme
18 to 35s
Destinations
Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Belize, Mexico
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 35
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
QBYXC
This trip generates 23 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

Meaningful experiences

Connect to the places you go and the communities at the heart of every Intrepid experience


Why you'll love this trip
  • Enjoy traditional Guatemalan hospitality with a homecooked lunch in a local home in San Juan La Laguna, after visiting a local midwife, walking through medicinal gardens and experiencing a weaving and dying workshop. 
  • Head to Tikal National Park within the dense Maya forest to explore ancient Maya ruins at the archaeological site – you might like to opt to swing through the canopy on the optional zipline experience! 
  • Have breakfast at Cafe de las Sonrisas – a local café run entirely by deaf people. The café's owner is aiming to bridge the gap and inspire other business owners to employ local people living with disabilities.
  • Island life doesn’t get much better than Ometepe in Nicaragua and Caye Caulker in Belize – volcanoes, wildlife-rich rainforests, stunning beaches, ancient rock carvings, laidback vibes, palm tree forests and a massive lake are all at your disposal. 
  • Get a taste of six different countries in Central America on an epic Latin adventure that takes in the sights and offers a whole heap of optional activities too! You’ll have loads of free time to choose your own hike, snorkel, kayak, swimming or dancing adventure.  

Is this trip right for you?
  • This trip involves some long days of travel by private and local transport. While this can be tiring, it's also a fantastic way to rub shoulders with 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. Ensure you’ve got your best car game ready if there are any delays!
  • Central America is hot and humid year-round. At night and in locations at higher elevations, it can get chilly. Protect yourself from the sun, bring light clothing you can layer and a waterproof jacket, and stay hydrated. Air conditioning may not always be available in your rooms. Occasionally, properties may require an additional charge for air conditioning.
  • With so much to see and do, Costa Rica can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would in other Central American countries.
  • 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 2025 to 31 December 2025.

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

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

Inclusions

Meals

3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners

Transport

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

Accommodation

Hotel (23 nights), Multishare lodge (2 nights), Multishare Hotel (2 nights), Multishare Hostel (2 nights), Camping (2 nights)

Activities
  • Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
  • Tulum - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Caye Caulker - Leader-led orientation walk
  • San Ignacio - 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
  • Playa del Carmen - Bicycle Rental (per day) - MXN273
  • Tulum - Archaeological Site (incl. entrance & national park fee - no guide) - MXN142
  • Tulum- Bike rental - MXN263
  • 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 - Sunset Sailing - BZD126
  • Caye Caulker - Full-day Guided Snorkelling Trip (gear, guide and transport included) - BZD230
  • Caye Caulker - Stand-up paddleboard hire (per hour) - BZD44
  • San Ignacio - Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves (Incl. entry, guide, transport & lunch) - BZD263
  • San Ignacio - Cave tubing (incl. entrance, guide & transport) - BZD200
  • San Ignacio - Butterfly Farm (incl. transport) - BZD158
  • San Ignacio - Cahal Pech Ruins entry - BZD10
  • San Ignacio - Iguana Conservation Project (entrance fee) - BZD24
  • San Ignacio - Xunantunich Ruins entry - BZD11
  • Tikal National Park - Guide for Ruins (per person, min 5 participants) - GTQ105
  • Rio Dulce - Boat trip to Livingston (Price dependent on boat available & passengers) - GTQ263
  • Rio Dulce - Natural Hot Springs (entrance fee and transport) - GTQ210
  • Rio Dulce - San Felipe Fort (entrance fee) - GTQ89
  • Rio Dulce - Quirigua Ruins (entrance fee) - GTQ95
  • Panajachel - Bicycle rental (per day) - GTQ50
  • Antigua - Chocolate-making workshop at ChocoMuseo - GTQ236
  • Antigua - Half Day Pacaya Volcano with lunch - USD115
  • Antigua - Acatenango Volcano Overnight Adventure - USD170
  • Antigua - City Tour with lunch - USD70
  • Antigua - Half Day local towns, coffee and craft beer tour - USD95
  • 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 - USD53
  • 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 - Ojo de Agua natural spring (entrance fee) - USD25
  • Ometepe - Petroglyphs - USD25
  • San Juan del Sur - La Flor Beach Reserve - USD6
  • Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance - USD26
  • Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD58
  • Monteverde - Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport) - USD65
  • Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD47
  • Monteverde - Cloud Forest Night Walk - USD45
  • Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD22
  • La Fortuna - Ecotermales Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD49
  • La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only) - USD21
  • La Fortuna - Arenal Volcano Base Hike - USD97
  • La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour - USD84
  • La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board - USD79
  • San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) - USD12

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1.  A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 9 (Tikal), Days 10 & 11 (Rio Dulce), Days 13 & 14 (Lake Atitlan) and Days 25 & 26 (San Juan del Sur) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This tour includes accommodation in multi-share rooms (triple and quad). This means travelers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to single gender allocation.
3. 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.
4. As per updated Nicaragua entry requirements, customers are currently required to supply a copy of their passport front page to their booking agent no later than 15 days prior to departure.

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

Reviews

5 out of 5 based on 6 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Therese · Traveled November 2023
Fantastic, fast-paced trip that allows you to explore the beautiful nature and culture of Central America. Would 100% recommend
Review submitted 09 Dec 2023

Imogen · Traveled April 2023
This was definitely a trip of a lifetime. Choko our guide was absolutely incredible - knowledgeable, friendly and funny! Felt safe and had a great time at every destination - will definitely be recommending to my friends
Review submitted 22 May 2023

Ella · Traveled November 2022
This tour is long and some days can be difficult but it is an experience of a life time, with the right tour leader and group it will be the best time of your life!
Review submitted 25 Jan 2023

Loren · Traveled November 2022
I have traveled quite a lot and this is the best tour I’ve ever done. The destinations are truly amazing! Exploring Mayan caves, drinking cocktails on the beach, zip lining through the jungle; the list goes on. There is a great balance between inclusions and free time. I cannot express how amazing my tour leader Guillermo was; he went above and beyond for our group so many times and was a huge attributing factor to my enjoyment on this trip.
Review submitted 25 Jan 2023

Scott · Traveled November 2022
The Mexico to Costa Rica trip was incredible and Guillermo was the perfect tour leader
Review submitted 17 Jan 2023
Epic Mexico to Costa Rica
From
EUR 2.426 €