Arrival in Central America: Guatemala
AM: Upon your arrival in Guatemala City (Guatemala), you will be welcomed at the airport in Guatemala City, and driven to Antigua Guatemala, a charming colonial city. You will spend the night in Antigua.
Antigua Guatemala Walking Tour & Free Time
AM: After breakfast, we will go on a guided walking tour through the romantic cobblestone streets of this beautiful colonial city.
Iximche Mayan Site – Transfer to Lake Atitlan
AM: Following breakfast, you will be driven to Iximche, a pre-Columbian Mayan site in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Iximche was the capital of the former pre-classic Kaqchikel kingdom, which endured from 1470 until it was abandoned in 1524 with the arrival of the Spanish. After this tour, you will be driven to Lake Atitlan, where you will spend the night in the lakeside village of Panajachel.
Chichicastenango Village and Market
AM: This morning, you will be driven to the village of Chichicastenango to visit the wonderful market there (open on Thursdays and Sundays only). In the late afternoon, you will be driven back to Lake Atitlan and again spend the night in Panajachel.
Lake Village Tour
AM: Breakfast. Boat transfer to one of the villages on the shores of the lake. Lunch at a local restaurant. Guided walk in the village and transfer back to Panajachel. Land transfer to Antigua, Guatemala, where you will spend the night.
Antigua Guatemala (Free Day)
AM: Breakfast. Day of leisure in Antigua, Guatemala.
Arrival in El Salvador – Apaneca Highland Town – El Carmen Finca
AM: After breakfast, you will be driven to the border with El Salvador, and then continue to the scenic mountain town of Apaneca for a Coffee Tour at the El Carmen finca (farm). Here, you will have the chance to learn about coffee plants, coffee growing, coffee production and agro-forestry at the El Carmen Finca. Your guide will describe each stage of the coffee production process. You will spend the night in an area hotel.
Los Volcanes National Park – Joya de Ceren Archeological Site – Suchitoto
AM: Breakfast. Today we will visit Los Volcanes National Park, which is comprised of three volcanoes: Izalco, Santa Ana and Cerro Verde. You will have a chance to walk inside of Cerro Verde, an extinct volcano now covered with dense forest. You will be taken to viewpoints where you will be able to see the impressive nearby volcanoes and landscapes. From there we will continue on to Joya de Ceren (“the Ceren Jewel”), a unique Mayan archaeological site that earned the designation of a UNESCO-declared World Heritage Site. In the late afternoon, you will be driven to the town of Suchitoto, where you will spend the night.
Suchitoto Town Tour – Free Afternoon
AM: After breakfast, we will go on a guided walking tour of the town of Suchitoto, visiting the church, the market and corn mill. The afternoon will be at your leisure.
La Union – Arrival in Nicaragua – Leon
AM: Box breakfast. Early in the morning, you will be driven to La Union, a port city in eastern El Salvador. Here, you take a boat to Potosi, a small port in Nicaragua, and from there you will be driven to the colorful city of Leon. A cultural-historical attraction with an authentic atmosphere, Leon gives visitors an opportunity to easily connect with the locals. You will spend the night there in Leon.
Leon City Tour
AM: Breakfast. Explore the rich cultural and political history of one of Nicaragua’s oldest and most influential cities. Defined by its graceful Spanish colonial architecture and fascinating political history, you will soon discover why Leon is considered to be Nicaragua’s historical, cultural, educational and religious capital
Masaya Village & Market – Granada
AM: This morning we will head out for the city of Granada, en route visiting the Masaya Volcano, which is actually a volcanic complex composed of a nested set of calderas and craters. After visiting the volcanic complex, you will visit the famous Masaya Market, the very heart of Nicaraguan handicrafts. In this diverse marketplace, you will find unique Nicaraguan products such as hand woven hammocks, embroidered blouses, wood carvings, leather goods, ceramics, paintings and hemp weavings. We will then continue to the beautiful city of Granada, where you will spend the night.
Granada City Tour – Granada Islets
AM: Breakfast. Today we will go on a guided walk tour of Granada, one of the oldest cities in the western hemisphere. The cobblestone streets will take you to the old churches, the convent, and many other old buildings in this charming colonial city. After lunch, you will be picked up at your hotel driven to the harbor, where a private motor boat will take us to the Granada Islets, which is a great way to explore Lake Cocibolca (also known as “Lake Nicaragua”). You will later spend the night in Granada.
Ometepe Island
AM: Breakfast. Today you will be driven to the predominantly indigenous island of Ometepe, which is situated in one of the world’s largest fresh water lakes, Lake Nicaragua. We will take the ferry to Moyogalpa and then transfer to your hotel on the island. Ometepe has served as home to indigenous tribes and cultures for many centuries, which is why you can see many pre-Columbian petroglyphs here. Later, you will spend the night in Ometepe.
Ometepe (Free Day)
AM: Breakfast. Day at leisure. Overnight in Ometepe.
Ometepe – Arrival in Costa Rica – Rincon de la Vieja
AM: Breakfast. Transfer to Peñas Blancas, on the border with Costa Rica. Upon arrival and crossing, you will be driven to Rincon de la Vieja, one of Costa Rica’s most diverse ecological parks. Known for its stunning diversity of flora and fauna, this national park is home to two volcanoes: the Rincon de la Vieja and the Santa Maria, as well as six different volcanic peaks and 32 two rivers and streams.
Rincon de la Vieja (Free Day)
AM: Breakfast. Day at leisure. Overnight in Rincon de la Vieja.
Guanacaste (Free Day)
AM: Breakfast. Transfer to Guanacaste, a province in northeastern Costa Rica, along the Pacific Ocean. Afternoon at leisure in Guanacaste. Overnight at Tamarindo Beach.
Guanacaste (Free Day)
AM: Breakfast. Day at leisure. Overnight in Tamarindo Beach.
Guanacaste – San Jose
AM: Breakfast. Morning at leisure. Transfer to San Jose (about 4-1/2 hours)
Departure
AM: Breakfast. Transfer to Airport in time for your flight.