Real Guatemala to Costa Rica

17 Days | A wildlife-rich paradise brimming with active volcanoes, beaches and jungles

5 out of 5 based on 12 reviews submitted.
18 to 35s
From
EUR €1,107
View dates and book
This trip is for the 18 to 35 year olds

From the Guatemalan highlands to the cloud forests of Costa Rica and all the little towns and surf spots in between, you’ll roll through four Central American countries for a taste of what this incredibly diverse region is plating up. From tropical forests alive with jungle melodies to vast freshwater lakes and active volcanoes, this pocket of Central America is ready to be explored. Whether you’re gazing over a volcanic crater in Cerro Verde, spotting colourful birds perched on the colonial facades of Granada, standing in the shadow of mighty Arenal Volcano or spotting sloths among the canopy of Monteverde Cloud Forest – this trip through Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica is perfect for those who like their adventures 'la forma natural'.

Trip overview

Map of Real Guatemala To Costa Rica including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua
Start
Antigua, Guatemala
Finish
San Jose, Costa Rica
Theme
18 to 35s
Destinations
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 35
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
QBYJ
This trip generates 21 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.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Take a cooking class in Los Ramos – an Indigenous community in the middle of Ometepe Island’s volcanos – and learn traditional techniques used to make Nicaraguan dishes like nacatamales.
  • Enjoy a full day at leisure in one of El Salvador’s most beautiful national parks – Cerro Verde. Get up close and personal to a volcanic crater or take the plunge in a pristine lake. The choice is yours!
  • Island life doesn’t get much better than Ometepe in Nicaragua – volcanoes, wildlife-rich rainforests, stunning beaches, ancient rock carvings and a massive lake are all at your disposal.
  • 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.
  • Get a taste of four 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, kayak, swimming or dancing adventure.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. Donations help them provide local employment opportunities and tackle climate change one tree at a time as they restore forests across 10 different countries.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This trip involves some long travel days, and while travelling between some locations on local transport can be hard, it’s super rewarding and a great way to meet the locals.
  • You’ll be crossing the borders between five 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. 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 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 for a lot of things.

Itinerary

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

Inclusions

Meals

1 breakfast, 2 dinners

Transport

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

Accommodation

Hotel (12 nights), Camping (2 nights), Multishare Hostel (2 nights)

Activities
  • Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
  • 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
  • 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) - USD20
  • 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

Loading trip dates and availabilities...

Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 10 & 11 (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. Please be careful when booking flights to Antigua; make sure you fly into Guatemala City Airport [GUA]. Guatemala City Airport is the closest airport to Antigua. Please do not book flights to Antigua & Barbuda Airport [ANU] as this is an island in the Caribbean.
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.
5. 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.

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 12 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.

Filter by rating

Ivan · Traveled November 2023
Excellent itinerary that gives a flavour for Central America across the countries and brill tour guide in Vin :)
Review submitted 19 Dec 2023

Selvin · Traveled October 2023
Dennis is just the best
Review submitted 13 Nov 2023

Peter · Traveled September 2023
Our guide Lauren welcomed us to this stunning part of the world, showing such love and enthusiasm for these amazing countries. Best trip ever. 11/10.
Review submitted 24 Oct 2023

Sydney · Traveled July 2023
Fantastic trip! Best time of my life! Choko is an incredible tour guide! Went on this trip because I was struggling with my mental health. I don’t think I’d ever been happier than I was on this trip. It’s so worth every penny!
Review submitted 07 Aug 2023

Rose · Traveled July 2023
Review submitted 04 Aug 2023
Real Guatemala to Costa Rica
From
EUR €1,107