Central America Tours & Travel | Intrepid Travel IL

First, take the bone-white beaches of South-East Asia, the terracotta charm of colonial Europe and South America’s crumbling ruins. Shake well and add a dash of world-class diving, island hopping by catamaran and two plates of tangy jerked chicken. You now have the magical cocktail that is Central America (either that or a really crowded kitchen). With the chilled vibes of the Caribbean on one side and the rolling swells of the Pacific on the other, you can’t really go wrong. Just grab a compass, point yourself due paradise and let us handle the rest. Siesta anyone?

Our tours in Central America

Map of Classic Costa Rica including Costa Rica

Classic Costa Rica

15 Days From $1,640

Travel to Costa Rica and discover a tropical playground of immense natural beauty....

Map of Guatemala to Mexico including Belize, Guatemala and Mexico

Guatemala to Mexico

13 Days From $1,479

Travel from the cobblestone streets of Antigua, along the waters of the Rio Dulce,...

Map of Mexico Unplugged including Mexico

Mexico Unplugged

15 Days From $1,185

Adventure through Central America's vivacious Mexico on an enthralling journey from the...

Map of Best of El Salvador including El Salvador

Best of El Salvador

8 Days From $1,058

Get an invigorating taste of El Salvador’s sultry, vibrant culture – explore ancient...

Map of Central American Journey including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras

Central American Journey

17 Days From $1,487

Discover tropical paradise and ancient wonders on this tour of Central America,...

Map of Mexico Real Food Adventure including Mexico

Mexico Real Food Adventure

9 Days From $1,480

Take a culinary journey through Mexico, tasting the flavours of Oaxaca, Puebla, Mexico...

Map of Real Central America including Belize, Guatemala and Mexico

Real Central America

16 Days From $1,164

Mexico, Belize and Guatemala – meet these three amigos on this Central American...

Map of Real Mexico including Mexico

Real Mexico

15 Days From $1,164

Mexico is everything you dreamed of and more, and you'll live out that dream on this...

Map of Maya Encounter including Belize, Guatemala and Mexico

Maya Encounter

17 Days From $1,313

Take a chilled-out journey Mexico, Belize and the Guatemalan highlands. Explore the...

Map of Mexico Sailing & Whale Watching Expedition including Mexico

Mexico Sailing & Whale Watching Expedition

7 Days From $1,498

Join this whale-watching expedition through the islands of the Gulf of California....

Map of Guatemala & Beyond including El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua

Guatemala & Beyond

9 Days From $909

Discover tropical paradise and ancient wonders on a tour of Central America, featuring...

Map of Costa Rica & Panama Discovery including Costa Rica and Panama

Costa Rica & Panama Discovery

13 Days From $1,147

From the mountains to the sea, this Costa Rica and Panama tour is a real adventure from...

Map of Costa Rica Experience including Costa Rica

Costa Rica Experience

9 Days From $1,145

Encounter the natural beauty of Costa Rica, from La Fortuna’s volcano to Monteverde’s...

Map of Land of Belize including Belize and Guatemala

Land of Belize

8 Days From $1,021

Escape to Belize on an adventure to San Ignacio and Tikal. Visit breathtaking Mayan...

Map of Central American Adventure including Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras

Central American Adventure

33 Days From $2,847

Ruins, volcanoes and beachside playgrounds await on this awesome Central American...

Map of Mexico & Guatemala Highlights including Guatemala and Mexico

Mexico & Guatemala Highlights

11 Days From $1,392

From the sandy playground of Mexico's Caribbean Coast to charismatic Antigua, this tour...

Map of Best of Costa Rica including Costa Rica

Best of Costa Rica

9 Days From $2,160

A Costa Rican adventure starting and finishing in San Jose via Savegre, Manuel Antonio...

Map of Costa Rica Family Holiday including Costa Rica

Costa Rica Family Holiday

15 Days From $2,835

This family trip to Costa Rica has been crafted to balance organised activities and...

Map of Costa Rica Family Holiday for solo parents including Costa Rica

Costa Rica Family Holiday for solo parents

15 Days From $2,835

This family trip to Costa Rica has been crafted to balance organised activities and...

Map of Nicaragua & Costa Rica including Costa Rica and Nicaragua

Nicaragua & Costa Rica

10 Days From $830

Discover the best of Nicaragua and Costa Rica on an all-encompassing adventure,...

Map of Discover Mexico & Cuba including Cuba and Mexico

Discover Mexico & Cuba

22 Days From $2,103

Adventure through Central America's vivacious Mexico on an enthralling journey from the...

Map of Amazing Central America including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama

Amazing Central America

29 Days From $2,720

Head from the forest to the beach on this amazing Central America tour visiting...

Map of Best of Mexico including Mexico

Best of Mexico

15 Days From $3,663

Marketplaces, waterfalls, Maya ruins – there's a wealth of excitement and beauty to be...

Map of Costa Rica Family Holiday with Teenagers including Costa Rica

Costa Rica Family Holiday with Teenagers

9 Days From $2,120

Discover the pristine beaches, beautiful mountains and dramatic volcanoes of Costa Rica...

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

Epic Mexico to Costa Rica

32 Days From $2,508

Life's a beach in Central America on this awesome adventure through Mexico, Belize,...

Map of Real Guatemala to Costa Rica including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua

Real Guatemala to Costa Rica

17 Days From $1,695

Oh Mayan, Central America, what a land. A palace of mysterious ruins, active volcanoes,...

Map of Playa del Carmen to Mexico City including Mexico

Playa del Carmen to Mexico City

9 Days From $1,383

Glittering coasts of Playa del Carmen kick-off this 9-day journey into the heart of...

Map of Costa Rica to Panama including Costa Rica and Panama

Costa Rica to Panama

8 Days From $1,685

Get active in the picturesque mountain towns of San Gerardo de Dota and Boquete, spot...

Map of Yucatan Peninsula Adventure including Mexico

Yucatan Peninsula Adventure

8 Days From $1,510

A Mexican adventure covering the Yucatan Peninsula with stops in Merida, Playa del...

Map of Best of Nicaragua including Nicaragua

Best of Nicaragua

9 Days From $1,315

An overlooked gem in Central America, Nicaragua offers some enticing contrasts. Find...

Map of Guatemala Experience including Guatemala

Guatemala Experience

9 Days From $1,912

Experience Guatemala over nine days and visit Antigua, Livingston, Flores, Tikal,...

Map of Maya Adventure including Belize, Guatemala and Mexico

Maya Adventure

23 Days From $3,069

Discover the wonders of the Maya ruins on a dramatic tour through Guatemala; see the...

Map of Costa Rica: Raft, Surf, Kayak & Hike including Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Raft, Surf, Kayak & Hike

18 Days From $4,560

Be captivated by Costa Rica on an adventure that combines thrill-seeking with the...

Map of Best of Central America including Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras

Best of Central America

45 Days From $4,016

Have the ultimate Central American adventure on this classic tour from Mexico to Panama...

Map of Best of Mexico & Cuba including Cuba and Mexico

Best of Mexico & Cuba

22 Days From $5,435

Embark on an adventure through Mexico and Cuba that spends time in Mexico City, Oaxaca,...

Map of Bahamas Sailing Adventure including Bahamas

Bahamas Sailing Adventure

7 Days From $2,260

Set sail on amazing sailing expedition to one of the world’s best cruising destinations...

Map of Epic Mexico & Cuba including Cuba and Mexico

Epic Mexico & Cuba

22 Days From $2,057

This epic adventure through Mexico and Cuba will give you all the food, churches,

Map of Mexican Heartlands including Mexico

Mexican Heartlands

15 Days From $1,914

Learn of the incredible history and culture of Mexico on this stunning trip starting...

Map of Ultimate Central America including Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras

Ultimate Central America

59 Days From $5,565

This captivating adventure through Central America travels through Mexico, Belize,...

Map of Cycle Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama 2019 including Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama

Cycle Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama 2019

15 Days From $3,260

Ride across the many and varied landscapes of Central America on a cycling tour of...

Map of Costa Rica: Hike, Raft & Canyon including Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Hike, Raft & Canyon

11 Days From $2,066

Discover why Costa Rica is made for adventure seekers with a trip that journeys through...

Map of Best of Jamaica including Jamaica

Best of Jamaica

8 Days From $1,822

This eight-day exploration of Jamaican culture, food and language will take you to the...

Map of Mexico City: Day of the Dead Comfort including Mexico

Mexico City: Day of the Dead Comfort

5 Days From $1,285

Become a part of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City. Join a street party,...

Map of Costa Rica: Raft, Surf & Kayak including Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Raft, Surf & Kayak

8 Days From $1,894

Be captivated by Costa Rica on an adventure that combines thrill-seeking with the...

Map of Mexico City: Day of the Dead Original including Mexico

Mexico City: Day of the Dead Original

5 Days From $1,090

Become a part of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City. Join a street party,...

Map of Best of Mexico & Guatemala including Guatemala and Mexico

Best of Mexico & Guatemala

23 Days From $5,915

Bounce from Mexico City through the culinary paradise of Oaxaca, colonial towns like...

Map of Cycle Nicaragua & Costa Rica including Costa Rica and Nicaragua

Cycle Nicaragua & Costa Rica

8 Days From $1,539

Ride across the many and varied landscapes of Central America on a cycling tour of...

Map of Cycle Costa Rica & Panama including Costa Rica and Panama

Cycle Costa Rica & Panama

8 Days From $1,657

Ride across the many and varied landscapes of Central America on a cycling tour of...

Map of Cuba & Costa Rica including Costa Rica and Cuba

Cuba & Costa Rica

16 Days From $4,045

Explore Cuba and Costa Rica taking in Havana, Trinidad, Bay of Pigs, Vinales, San Jose,...

Map of Costa Rica & Panama Experience including Costa Rica and Panama

Costa Rica & Panama Experience

16 Days From $2,745

Journey from San Jose to Panama, stopping to explore the wildlife packed forest of...

Map of Mexico Family Holiday including Mexico

Mexico Family Holiday

8 Days From $1,915

Travel from Playa del Carmen through to Merida, Valladolid and Tulum on a Yucatan...

Map of Belize & Guatemala Family Holiday including Belize and Guatemala

Belize & Guatemala Family Holiday

8 Days From $2,230

Starting in Belize City, this holiday visits San Ignacio, the Tikal Ruins in Guatemala...

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

Epic Central America

46 Days From $3,901

Oh Mayan, let's get epic in Central America all the way from Mexico City to San Jose....

Map of Central America Encompassed including Belize, Guatemala and Mexico

Central America Encompassed

31 Days From $2,469

An adventure tour through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala reveals the captivating history...

Map of Epic Mexico, Belize & Guatemala including Belize, Guatemala and Mexico

Epic Mexico, Belize & Guatemala

30 Days From $2,375

Take a pretty epic trip. Mexico, Belize and Guatemala… ie Maya ruins, tacos, Mexican...

Map of Central America Explorer including Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras

Central America Explorer

47 Days From $4,355

Escape on a Central American odyssey through Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El...

Map of Real Day of the Dead Oaxaca including Mexico

Real Day of the Dead Oaxaca

9 Days From $1,555

Get into the spirit of Mexico’s famous Day of the Dead fiesta, winding a course from...

Map of Costa Rica Beginner Surfing including Costa Rica

Costa Rica Beginner Surfing

4 Days From $492

Surf Costa Rica during this four-day surf stopover in Santa Teresa.

Map of San Jose Stopover including Costa Rica

San Jose Stopover

4 Days From $500

Discover modern Costa Rican life on a mini San Jose adventure, visiting the Central...

Map of Mexico City Stopover including Mexico

Mexico City Stopover

4 Days From $530

Explore culture, history, arts and sights on this short stint in Mexico City. Visit...

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Highlights of Central America

Chichen Itza in Mexico.

Meet Mayan history at Chichen Itza

If you like your Mayan ruins with a touch of disco, then you’ve come to the right place. Set on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, this ancient city comes alive at sunset with a (slightly kitsch but entirely unmissable) sound and light show. The site is dominated by El Castillo, a massive pyramid with 91 steps running along each of its four sides.

White-water rafting in Costa Rica.

Go white-water rafting in Costa Rica

If you’re going to try white-water rafting anywhere, Pacuare River in Costa Rica is the place. Set among cascading waterfalls and lush rainforest, the warm water is ideal for first-timers. During the calmer moments keep your eyes peeled for jaguars, toucans, ocelots and monkeys.

Antigua in Guatemala.

Explore the tumbledown ruins of Antigua

Coffee all day, salsa all night and a never-ending supply of chocolate in between. This small Guatemalan city is super chilled and an extended stay is the best way to soak it all in. While there are plenty of ruins to be found, the city is famous for its colourful convents, arches and buildings in colourful hues of blue, pink, and yellow.

Classic cars and colourful buildings in Cuba.

Havana blast in Cuba

There’s so much to do here, it’ll leave your head spinning. Join the fun with a twirl around the dance floor in a salsa class, check out a baseball game, swing past the mansion-turned-perfume-laboratory at Habana 1791, or grab a guava pastry from one of the vendors along the Malecon. Close out the day with a cigar and a glass of good ol’ fashioned Cuba Libre.

Reviews

What to see in 7-10 days in Central America

With so much packed into such a small part of the globe, it’s incredible the number of things you can experience with even just a short stay in Central America. You could start off sampling coffee in Guatemala, make your way through the Mayan ruins of Honduras and El Salvador, and finish up in the colonial charm of Granada.

If you’re looking to dive a little deeper, you could also focus on one or two countries – exploring the island beaches of Jamaica, sailing through the Canarreos Archipelago or snorkelling off the coast of Costa Rica. If you have less than 10 days, the laidback paradise of Belize is a quintessential Central American experience, while it only takes a week to cycle across Cuba from Havana to Vinales and back, seeing everything in between.

Map of Cycle Cuba: West including Cuba

Cycle Cuba: West

7 Days From $1,460

Explore laidback Cuba on a two-wheeled round-trip adventure from Havana. Cycle along...

Map of Cuba Sailing Adventure including Cuba

Cuba Sailing Adventure

9 Days From $1,371

Set sail across the Caribbean Sea to visit the untouched and idyllic islands of Cuba. A...

Map of Guatemala & Beyond including El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua

Guatemala & Beyond

9 Days From $909

Discover tropical paradise and ancient wonders on a tour of Central America, featuring...

Map of Bahamas Sailing Adventure including Bahamas

Bahamas Sailing Adventure

7 Days From $2,260

Set sail on amazing sailing expedition to one of the world’s best cruising destinations...

Map of Best of Jamaica including Jamaica

Best of Jamaica

8 Days From $1,822

This eight-day exploration of Jamaican culture, food and language will take you to the...

Map of Costa Rica: Raft, Surf & Kayak including Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Raft, Surf & Kayak

8 Days From $1,894

Be captivated by Costa Rica on an adventure that combines thrill-seeking with the...

What to see in 3 weeks in Central America

The ruins of ancient Maya are one of the region’s biggest drawcards and the more time you can set aside for exploring these jungle cities, the better. Over three weeks, traverse the impressive archaeological sites at Tulum, Tikal, Xunantunich and Mexico's most famous site, Chichen Itza, one of the seven wonders of the world.

This is also your chance to get immersed in the modern cities and cultures of Central America. You can easily spend three weeks in Cuba, walking through the historical streets of Havana, visiting Che Guevara’s mausoleum in Santa Clara, and cha-chaing the night away in Trinidad to Cuba’s famous rhythms.

If it’s a fast-paced adventure you want, look at travelling from Antigua to San Jose. It’s the best way to knock a few countries off the bucket-list as you crisscross your way through Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, fitting in as many cities, jungles, ruins, villages, volcanoes and beaches as you can along the way.

Map of Best of Cuba including Cuba

Best of Cuba

15 Days From $1,916

Escape to Cuba on an exotic getaway through the sizzling streets of sultry Havana, soak...

Map of Central American Journey including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras

Central American Journey

17 Days From $1,487

Discover tropical paradise and ancient wonders on this tour of Central America,...

Map of Maya Encounter including Belize, Guatemala and Mexico

Maya Encounter

17 Days From $1,313

Take a chilled-out journey Mexico, Belize and the Guatemalan highlands. Explore the...

Map of Mexico & Guatemala Highlights including Guatemala and Mexico

Mexico & Guatemala Highlights

11 Days From $1,392

From the sandy playground of Mexico's Caribbean Coast to charismatic Antigua, this tour...

Map of Costa Rica: Raft, Surf, Kayak & Hike including Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Raft, Surf, Kayak & Hike

18 Days From $4,560

Be captivated by Costa Rica on an adventure that combines thrill-seeking with the...

What to see in 6 weeks in Central America

With six weeks to fill, everything from Mexico City to the Panama Canal is your playground. It’s impossible to experience everything a region has to offer, but this is your chance to come pretty close.

You can choose to focus more on Mexico, Guatemala and Belize in the north-west, while Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua might tempt you to the south-west. You could keep the central in Central America and explore Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Or you might head out to the islands with Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas beckoning with their perfect beaches and laidback siestas.

If you just want to limit yourself to just Cuba or Mexico, there’s no shortage of experiences for an extended stay too. But with this much time, you can explore a variety of countries and cultures and still have time to relax on a Caribbean beach.

Map of Discover Mexico & Cuba including Cuba and Mexico

Discover Mexico & Cuba

22 Days From $2,103

Adventure through Central America's vivacious Mexico on an enthralling journey from the...

Map of Amazing Central America including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama

Amazing Central America

29 Days From $2,720

Head from the forest to the beach on this amazing Central America tour visiting...

Map of Best of Central America including Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras

Best of Central America

45 Days From $4,016

Have the ultimate Central American adventure on this classic tour from Mexico to Panama...

Map of Central America Explorer including Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras

Central America Explorer

47 Days From $4,355

Escape on a Central American odyssey through Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El...

Read more about Central America

Jan 20, 2019

Why Guatemala is my favourite Central American...

If Guatemala is on your ‘must-see’ list, here are a few things you’ll undoubtedly...

Jan 14, 2019

Your go-to guide to Guatemala’s Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan - and its surrounding towns - is an exceptional spot to visit on your...

Dec 12, 2018

I thought I hated Mexican food. Then I went on...

"I was keen for a local to show me a new side of a cuisine I thought I wasn’t keen...