From cloud-shrouded volcanic peaks to sun-splashed beaches, lost temples to charming colonial towns, Central America is replete with natural wonders and converging cultures.
This narrow isthmus is home to some of the greatest biodiversity in the world, the happiest people on earth and a mix of cultures than can be traced back thousands of years. Stay in historic haciendas in Mexico, marvel at Maya ruins in Guatemala, spot monkeys amidst misty canopies in Costa Rica and salsa to sultry beats in Cuba. It’s a haven for outdoor adventurers and those that want to immerse themselves in the local culture, and it’s like nowhere else on earth.
Our tours in Central America
9 Days
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1175
Encounter the natural beauty of Costa Rica, from La Fortuna’s volcano and Monteverde’s...
8 Days
From
1605
A Mexican adventure covering the Yucatan Peninsula with stops in Merida, Playa del...
9 Days
From
1570
Take a culinary journey through Mexico, tasting the flavours of Oaxaca, Puebla, Mexico...
15 Days
From
1670
Travel to Costa Rica and discover a tropical playground of immense natural beauty....
12 Days
From
1670
Travel from the cobblestone streets of Antigua, along the waters of the Rio Dulce,...
Tailor-Made trips
Take two or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary
15 Days
From
1565
The cultures and colours of Mexico await on this 15-day Lonely Planet Experience...
17 Days
From
1700
See Central America on a 17-day Lonely Planet Experience of Guatemala, Honduras, El...
17 Days
From
1575
Find authentic adventure on a 17-day Lonely Planet Experience through Mexico, Belize...
13 Days
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1285
Highlands, coast and islands – this 13-day Costa Rica and Panama Lonely Planet...
8 Days
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1155
Escape to Belize on an adventure to San Ignacio and Crooked Tree. Visit breathtaking...
22 Days
From
2705
Adventure with Intrepid Travel through Mexico and Cuba on a 22-day Lonely Planet...
16 Days
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1670
Mexico, Belize and Guatemala – meet these three amigos on this Central American...
33 Days
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3180
Tour jungle ruins and Caribbean coastline on a 33-day Lonely Planet Experience to...
9 Days
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1050
Discover the tropics and ancient wonder of Central America on a nine-day Lonely Planet...
15 Days
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3870
Marketplaces, waterfalls, Maya ruins – there's a wealth of excitement and beauty to be...
15 Days
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1553
Mexico is everything you dreamed of and more, and you'll live out that dream on this...
45 Days
From
4445
Tour Central America on an epic 45-day Lonely Planet Experience from Mexico to Panama,...
11 Days
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1680
Spend 11 days exploring Mexico and Guatemala in Playa del Carmen, Chichen Itza, Merida,...
22 Days
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6370
Take a 22-day journey through Mexico and Costa Rica, soaking up sun, surf and culture...
22 Days
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5455
Embark on an adventure through Mexico and Cuba that spends time in Mexico City, Oaxaca,...
9 Days
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2140
Discover the pristine beaches, beautiful mountains and dramatic volcanoes of Costa Rica...
29 Days
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2900
Spend 29 days visiting Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and...
32 Days
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3200
Spend 32 days exploring the beaches, ruins, jungles and jungle ruins of Belize, Costa...
5 Days
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1070
Be a part of the Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) celebrations in Mexico City,...
8 Days
From
1935
Be captivated by Costa Rica on an adventure through Pacuare River, Manzanillo beach,...
7 Days
From
1885
This seven-day exploration of Jamaican culture, food and language will take you to the...
31 Days
From
3000
Say hola to an adventure through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, revealing the history of...
5 Days
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1110
Be a part of the Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) celebrations in Mexico City,...
8 Days
From
2565
A Costa Rican adventure starting and finishing in San Jose via Copey District, Manuel...
22 Days
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2651
This epic adventure through Mexico and Cuba will give you all the food, churches, and...
59 Days
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5940
This 59-day Central American Lonely Planet Experience heads from Mexico City to Panama...
17 Days
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1548
Take a small-group tour through Central America. A place of incredible wildlife, active...
47 Days
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4540
Head on this epic 47-day Central American Lonely Planet Experience through Mexico,...
10 Days
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2040
This family-style trip through Costa Rica begins and ends in San Jose, taking in the...
8 Days
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6285
Join Peregrine and experience the best Central American small ship adventure cruise...
4 Days
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525
Explore culture, history, arts and sights on this short break adventure in Mexico City....
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Highlights of Central America
Meet Maya 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.
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.
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.
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.
7 Days
From
1230
Explore laidback Cuba on a two-wheeled round-trip adventure from Havana. Cycle along...
9 Days
From
1050
Discover the tropics and ancient wonder of Central America on a nine-day Lonely Planet...
Tailor-Made trips
Take two or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary
8 Days
From
1935
Be captivated by Costa Rica on an adventure through Pacuare River, Manzanillo beach,...
7 Days
From
1885
This seven-day exploration of Jamaican culture, food and language will take you to 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.
15 Days
From
2160
Escape to Cuba on an exotic getaway through the sizzling streets of sultry Havana, soak...
17 Days
From
1700
See Central America on a 17-day Lonely Planet Experience of Guatemala, Honduras, El...
Tailor-Made trips
Take two or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary
17 Days
From
1575
Find authentic adventure on a 17-day Lonely Planet Experience through Mexico, Belize...
11 Days
From
1680
Spend 11 days exploring Mexico and Guatemala in Playa del Carmen, Chichen Itza, Merida,...
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.
22 Days
From
2705
Adventure with Intrepid Travel through Mexico and Cuba on a 22-day Lonely Planet...
45 Days
From
4445
Tour Central America on an epic 45-day Lonely Planet Experience from Mexico to Panama,...
Tailor-Made trips
Take two or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary
29 Days
From
2900
Spend 29 days visiting Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and...
47 Days
From
4540
Head on this epic 47-day Central American Lonely Planet Experience through Mexico,...
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Dec 08, 2017
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