Real Central America

16 Days | Mexico, Belize and Guatemala – meet these three amigos on a Central American adventure

4.9 out of 5 based on 45 reviews submitted.
18 to 35s
From
EUR €1,278
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This trip is for the 18 to 35 year olds

Explore the lake vistas, volcanic landscapes and thick jungles of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala on this 16-day Central American adventure. Starting in Playa de Carmen, you’ll explore hotspot Tulum, where you can visit the Temple of Frescoes and dance the night away after a few margaritas. Hit island paradise in Caye Caulker, where you have a couple of days to snorkel, swim and laze on the beach (after taking your new profile pic). Explore San Ignacio, a place of waterfalls and Maya ruins, at your own pace before hitting Tikal National Park. Take scenic boat rides in Rio Dulce, trek through the jungle in your spare time and then head to the gorgeous Lake Atitlan, where you’ll visit the famous Chichi market and make the trip to San Juan La Laguna to immerse yourself in Mayan village life. End it all in World Heritage-listed Antigua, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes.

Trip overview

Map of Real Central America including Belize, Guatemala and Mexico
Start
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Finish
Antigua, Guatemala
Theme
18 to 35s
Destinations
Guatemala, 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
QBYA
This trip generates 26 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
  • 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!
  • Extended time in the paradise of Caye Caulker and unique Antigua offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy laidback island vibes and buzzing colonial city life. Swim among tropical fish, sharks and manta rays and then hit the salsa lessons!
  • Visit the colourful markets of Chichicastenango, nicknamed Chichi, where you can explore the local handmade wares like jade jewellery, pottery and traditional huipils – the traditional dress worn by Maya women.
  • See some of the best of Central America in one trip travelling through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. Enjoy loads of free time where you can rent bikes and explore on wheels, go snorkelling and kayaking or rent a paddleboard and explore the landscape from the water.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, the Adelante Foundation. Donations help them empower female entrepreneurs from low-income parts of Honduras to grow their businesses and build a livelihood with microfinance.

Is this trip right for you?
  • You’ll be crossing the borders between three countries on this trip and while it is usually straightforward, you may need to be patient.
  • Is it hot in here? Well, you’re in tropical Central America, so it can get really hot and humid. Carry plenty of water as hydration is key, especially when walking a lot.
  • It’s a good idea to try and brush up on as many Spanish words as possible. While locals are friendly, they’re also shy, so knowing some local lingo is a great way to break the ice and show you care.
  • 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.

Itinerary

Map of Real Central America including Belize, Guatemala and Mexico

Inclusions

Meals

2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

Transport

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

Accommodation

Hotel (10 nights), Multishare lodge (2 nights), Multishare hotel (3 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
Add on activities
  • Playa del Carmen - Bicycle Rental (per day) - MXN260
  • Tulum - Archaeological Site (incl. entrance & national park fee - no guide) - MXN142
  • Tulum- Bike rental - MXN250
  • 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 - BZD120
  • Caye Caulker - Full-day Guided Snorkelling Trip (gear, guide and transport included) - BZD230
  • Caye Caulker - Stand-up paddleboard hire (per hour) - BZD42
  • San Ignacio - Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves (Incl. entry, guide, transport & lunch) - BZD250
  • San Ignacio - Cave tubing (incl. entrance, guide & transport) - BZD190
  • San Ignacio - Butterfly Farm (incl. transport) - BZD150
  • San Ignacio - Cahal Pech Ruins entry - BZD10
  • San Ignacio - Iguana Conservation Project (entrance fee) - BZD23
  • San Ignacio - Xunantunich Ruins entry - BZD10
  • Tikal National Park - Guide for Ruins (per group) - GTQ750
  • Rio Dulce - Boat trip to Livingston (Price dependent on boat available & passengers) - GTQ210
  • Rio Dulce - Natural Hot Springs (entrance fee and transport) - GTQ200
  • Rio Dulce - San Felipe Fort (entrance fee) - GTQ85
  • Rio Dulce - Quirigua Ruins (entrance fee) - GTQ90
  • Panajachel - Kayak rental (per hour) - GTQ100
  • Panajachel - Bicycle rental (per day) - GTQ50
  • Panajachel - Zipline - GTQ375
  • Antigua - Chocolate-making workshop at ChocoMuseo - GTQ225

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 Days 2 & 3 (Tulum), Days 10 & 11 (Rio Dulce) and Days 13 & 14 (Lake Atitlan) 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 Antigua; make sure you fly out of Guatemala City Airport [GUA]. Guatemala City Airport is the closest airport to Antigua. Please do not book flights from Antigua & Barbuda Airport [ANU] as this is an island in the Caribbean.

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

4.9 out of 5 based on 45 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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Jeremy · Traveled December 2023
Real Central America is a great introduction to Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. The locals are kind and options of activities are in abundance.
Review submitted 20 Dec 2023

Alasdair · Traveled November 2023
A great tour, with quality accommodation. Although it is made by your tour guide which was 50:50 in our case!
Review submitted 16 Feb 2024

Yael · Traveled September 2023
This trip had a mixture of everything you could dream of. Culture, adventure, incredible scenery - whilst all unique in each place. Road tripping Central America was wonderful.
Review submitted 06 Dec 2023

Thomas · Traveled September 2023
Euri was an incredible guide, spoke English perfectly. Helped me with my Spanish and had such good banter. Made my first trip with intrepid so seemless and enjoyable
Review submitted 18 Oct 2023

Alicia · Traveled August 2023
This was my first tour and it was amazing! As a solo female traveller, the trip provided the security and safety that I was looking for whilst travelling through Belize and Guatemala. It also provided like mind-ed people to enjoy all the beautiful sights and experiences with along the way. Our group had so much fun, and we adored Caye Caulker, The ATM caves, and Guatemala. My highlight was the overnight Acatenago hike, make sure you leave an extra day on the end to attend the hike.
Review submitted 03 Sep 2023
Real Central America
From
EUR €1,278