22 Days | Ancient cultures, incredible food, jungle trails and sloth spotting





Raise glass of mezcal to the diversity of Mexico, then embrace ‘pura vida’ (the simple life) in the rainforests and on the beaches of Costa Rica. Discover history in the ruins of Chichen Itza, then visit a contemporary Maya village to see how ancient Mesoamerican traditions have evolved. Savour simple fare during lunch with a Zapotec family and sip smoky mezcal at a distillery in Oaxaca. Unwind in a small village near Corcovado National Park, hiking jungle trails in the morning and cooling off in the waters of the Osa Peninsula in the afternoon. Explore sloth country (AKA Manuel Antonio National Park) and match their leisurely pace as you relax among natural splendour of Costa Rica. Ancient cultures, incredible food, wildlife and wilderness – this 22-day trip has it all.
Trip overview

- Start
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Finish
- San Jose, Costa Rica
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Mexico, 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
- Comfort
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- QBKPC
- Take a step way way back during enlightening guided tours through the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza, Teotihuacan, Palenque and Mitla.
- Swim at white-sand beaches in Manuel Antonio National Park, after searching for exotic birdlife in the depths of the jungle.
- Get a taste of Maya culture during a homecooked Pibil lunch with a local family, sampling this traditional method of cooking which involves barbecuing food underground.
- Learn about the trade of one of Costa Rica’s largest exports: coffee. Take a visit to a family's coffee farm and learn the process from cherry to cup (with a tasting, of course).
- Discover the diverse and unique wildlife of Costa Rica: butterflies, birds, iguanas, sloths and caimans, to name a few.
- Some included activities, such as guided tours of archaeological sites can involve a lot of walking. Please ensure you bring sturdy walking shoes and comfortable clothes. To make the most of the trip, it's best if you have at least a moderate level of fitness.
- This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. It's all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. There are a few long days of travel, as you'll be covering a lot of ground. You will, however, make stops at interesting locations to break up the longer drives. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
- The tropical climate of Central America means conditions can be hot and humid. Always carry plenty of water with you and stay hydrated, especially on walking tours.
- With so much to see and do, Costa Rica can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would in mainland USA for a lot of things.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2025
Inclusions
21 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
Private vehicle, Plane, Shared boat
Comfortable Hotel (18 nights), Lodge (3 nights)
- Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
- Mexico City - National Museum of Anthropology (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays)
- Mexico City - Diego Rivera Murals in the Mural Museum (Entrance Fee)
- Mexico City - Metropolitan Cathedral (entrance fee)
- Mexico City - Leader-led orientation walk
- Teotihuacan - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
- Puebla - Leader-led orientation walk
- Oaxaca - Leader-led orientation walk
- Oaxaca - Tule Tree
- Oaxaca - Zapotecan home-cooked lunch
- Mitla - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
- Oaxaca - Mezcaleria visit
- Sumidero Canyon - Boat Excursion (entrance and transport)
- San Cristobal de las Casas - Leader-led orientation walk
- Zinacantan - Maya Church (entrance fee)
- San Juan Chamula - Maya Church (entrance fee)
- Agua Azul - Waterfall Visit
- Palenque - Archaeological site (Guide, Transport & Entrance fee)
- Merida - Leader-led orientation walk
- Chichen Itza - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
- Chichen Itza - Home-cooked pibil lunch
- San Jose - Leader-led orientation walk
- Los Santos - Tierra Amiga Coffee Experience including lunch
- Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
- Térraba River - Indigenous Community Visit & Lunch
- Térraba River - Mask Carving Lesson
- Corcovado - San Pedrillo Station Hike
- Manuel Antonio National Park - Tour with a Naturalist Guide (entrance fee, guide and transport)
- Mexico City - Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays) - MXN80
- Mexico City - Frida Kahlo Museum (entrance fee) - MXN250
- Mexico City - Leon Trotsky Museum (entrance fee) - MXN70
- Mexico City - Boat ride through Floating Gardens of Xochimilco (Approx. per boat per hour) - MXN600
- Oaxaca - Cooking class - MXN1300
- Oaxaca - Monte Alban archaeological site (entrance fee) - MXN90
- Oaxaca - Santo Domingo Cultural Centre (entrance fee) - MXN85
- Oaxaca - Folkloric ballet (seasonal) - MXN130
- San Cristobal de Las Casas - Bicycle rental (per hour) - MXN400
- San Cristobal de las Casas - Na Bolom Museum - MXN70
- San Cristobal de las Casas - Jade Museum - MXN65
- Merida - Celestun Bird Sanctuary (entrance and transport) - MXN1035
- Merida - Uxmal Ruins tour (inc. shared transport and guide) - MXN1400
- Merida - Fernando Garcia Ponce-Macay Contemporary Art Museum (entrance fee) - Free
- Copey District - Guided Bird-watching Tour - USD39
- Copey District - Finca Las Ovejas Guided Hike - USD10
- Copey District - Agricultural Production Tour - USD15
- Corcovado - Guided Night Walk - USD51
- Manuel Antonio – Cruise - USD95
- Manuel Antonio - Boogie board rental - USD69
- Manuel Antonio - Mangrove Kayak Activity (with lunch) - USD75
- San Jose - The Art of Craft Beer in San Jose - Urban Adventures - USD69
- San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) - USD11
- San Jose - San Jose By Night: Food and Culture - Urban Adventures - USD74
- San Jose - San Jose Bites and Sights Tour - Urban Adventures - USD38
- San Jose - Jade Archaeological Museum (Entrance fee) - USD16
- San Jose - National Museum (Entrance fee) - USD16
- San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum (Entrance fee) - USD16
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
3. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for entrance tickets. Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
4. Take care 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.
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