Tour overview

This 32-day route is the long way across Central America — beginning at the Caribbean turquoise of Playa del Carmen, finishing on the Pacific side of Costa Rica in San José. In between you travel overland through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and back into Costa Rica, by a mix of private vehicle, local buses, boats and ferries.

The mood is adventure, not luxury. You sleep in simple hotels, with a few multishare lodge nights and one camping stop in Cerro Verde — typical for an active overland route at this price point. The pace is fast: travel days are real travel days, and you’ll cross borders on local time. In exchange, you get a depth of experience no fly-and-flop holiday could deliver — you see how the countries actually connect.

Read more

Highlights include Tikal in Guatemala’s jungle, an overnight on Caribbean Caye Caulker, the indigo waters of Lake Atitlán, the volcano-rimmed colonial streets of Antigua, El Salvador’s pupusa kitchens, Nicaragua’s lakes and islands, and finally the cloud forest of Monteverde and the volcano of Arenal in Costa Rica. The trip is aimed at active travellers 18–35, with a Medium physical rating and a real appetite for crossing seven borders with the same small group.

Trip highlights

  • Step inside the Maya temples of Tikal, deep in Guatemala's jungle
  • Sleep one night on Caribbean Caye Caulker

    Belize's barrier reef just offshore

  • Wake up to Lake Atitlán surrounded by three volcanoes in Panajachel
  • Visit a Maya midwife and join a weaving workshop in San Juan La Laguna
  • Roll into Antigua's cobbled streets and the Pacaya, Acatenango and Agua volcanoes
  • Try freshly-made pupusas in Cerro Verde, El Salvador
  • Ferry across Lake Nicaragua to the twin-volcano island of Ometepe
  • Hike the Cloud Forest at Monteverde and the lava-shaped Arenal volcano

Your route

Route map of the Mexico to Costa Rica 32-day Central America overland tour, showing the path from Playa del Carmen through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and on to San José, Costa Rica.
Route map — Playa del Carmen → Tulum → Caye Caulker → Tikal → Antigua → Lake Atitlán → Cerro Verde → León → Granada → Ometepe → Monteverde → La Fortuna → San José.

Day-by-day itinerary

32 days from Playa del Carmen, Mexico to San José, Costa Rica

  1. Day 1 Playa del Carmen

    Welcome to Mexico's Caribbean coast. Welcome meeting at 6 pm at the hotel. Group dinner at a local taquería with an informal Spanish lesson over food.

  2. Day 2 Tulum

    Local bus south. Orientation walk and afternoon swim near the cliff-top ruins of Tulum.

  3. Day 3 Tulum free day

    Cenote swimming, biking the coastal road, yoga, or a beach afternoon.

  4. Day 4 Cross to Belize

    Border day. Local bus to Belize City, speedboat across to Caye Caulker.

  5. Day 5 Caye Caulker — Hol Chan Marine Reserve

    Snorkel the world's second-largest barrier reef. Tropical fish, rays, the occasional shark.

  6. Day 6 Caye Caulker free day

    Beach, manatee tour, sunset sail, or simply switch off on island time.

  7. Day 7 San Ignacio

    Boat back to Belize City, local bus inland via Belmopan to the Belizean jungle town.

  8. Day 8 San Ignacio free day

    Cave tubing, the Actun Tunichil Muknal Maya cave with 1,100-year-old remains, or the Xunantunich ruins reached by hand-cranked ferry.

  9. Day 9 Tikal, Guatemala

    Cross the border, drop bags at Tikal. Afternoon at the Maya jungle citadel, with Temple IV for canopy views.

  10. Day 10 Río Dulce

    Drive via Flores to the Caribbean lakeside lodge, reached by boat from the hotel jetty.

  11. Day 11 Río Dulce free day

    Boat to Livingston for Garífuna culture, the San Felipe fort, or the Chocón-Machacas manatee reserve.

  12. Day 12 Antigua

    Drive day to the cobbled volcano-rimmed colonial town. Afternoon to wander and find tamales.

  13. Day 13 Lake Atitlán via Chichicastenango market

    Market day in Chichi (Thursdays and Sundays), then on to Panajachel on the lake. Pupusería group dinner.

  14. Day 14 San Juan La Laguna — village day

    Maya weaving workshop, midwife visit, medicinal garden, home-cooked lunch with the host family.

  15. Day 15 Back to Antigua

    Return drive. Orientation walk. Free afternoon for volcano hikes (Pacaya, Acatenango), chocolate workshop or coffee tour.

  16. Day 16 Antigua free day + second welcome meeting

    A halfway-point day. Second welcome meeting at 6 pm for travellers joining for the Central America leg only.

  17. Day 17 Cerro Verde, El Salvador

    Border day. Drive south into volcanic El Salvador. Camping night in the national park.

  18. Day 18 Cerro Verde

    Santa Ana volcano hike option, swim at Lake Coatepeque, pupusa cooking demonstration dinner.

  19. Day 19 San Miguel

    Drive day via San Salvador to the volcano-backed town in the country's east.

  20. Day 20 León, Nicaragua

    Cross Honduras and into Nicaragua. Welcome to the university city — known for nightlife and revolutionary history.

  21. Day 21 Granada

    Orientation walk in León, optional volcano sandboarding on Cerro Negro, then drive to Granada on Lake Nicaragua.

  22. Day 22 Granada

    Breakfast at Café de las Sonrisas (a deaf-owned community café). Free day around the lake and colonial streets.

  23. Day 23 Ometepe Island

    Local bus to Rivas, taxi to ferry, across Lake Nicaragua to the twin-volcano island.

  24. Day 24 Ometepe free day

    Optional Maderas volcano hike, Ojo de Agua springs, petroglyphs. Los Ramos community cooking class for dinner.

  25. Day 25 San Juan del Sur

    Ferry off Ometepe and local bus to the Pacific surf town.

  26. Day 26 San Juan del Sur free day

    La Flor turtle reserve (Jul–Nov) or the Cristo de la Misericordia hike for the best Pacific sunset on the trip.

  27. Day 27 Monteverde, Costa Rica

    Cross into Costa Rica. Welcome to the cloud forest. Leader orientation walk.

  28. Day 28 Monteverde free day

    Zip-line through the canopy, walk the suspension bridges, butterfly farm, or cloud forest hike with a local guide.

  29. Day 29 La Fortuna

    Shared minibus then boat across Lake Arenal to the Arenal volcano town.

  30. Day 30 La Fortuna free day

    Hanging bridges, the La Fortuna waterfall, hot springs, or a boat safari on the Río Celeste.

  31. Day 31 San José

    Local bus to Costa Rica's capital. Orientation walk and the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum option. Farewell dinner.

  32. Day 32 San José

    Trip ends. No activities planned. Onward connections from Juan Santamaría airport, about a 30-minute taxi.

Where you stay

  • Playa del Carmen Hotel
  • Tulum Hotel
  • Caye Caulker Hotel
  • San Ignacio Hotel
  • Tikal Lodge
  • Río Dulce Lodge (multishare)
  • Antigua Hotel
  • Lake Atitlán (Panajachel) Hotel (multishare)
  • Cerro Verde Camping
  • San Miguel Hotel
  • León Hotel
  • Granada Hotel
  • Ometepe Island Hotel
  • San Juan del Sur Hostel (multishare)
  • Monteverde Hotel
  • La Fortuna Hotel
  • San José Hotel

What's included

Included

  • 31 nights' accommodation mix of simple hotels, multishare lodges and hostels, and one camping night in Cerro Verde
  • 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners welcome taco dinner in Playa del Carmen, pupusería dinner near Lake Atitlán, homestyle lunch in San Juan La Laguna, pupusa demonstration dinner in Cerro Verde, breakfast at Café de las Sonrisas in Granada, and a Los Ramos community cooking class on Ometepe
  • All ground transport private vehicle, local buses, taxis, shared minibuses
  • All inter-country boat and ferry transfers (Caye Caulker speedboat, Lake Arenal boat, Ometepe ferry)
  • Tikal National Park entrance and transport
  • Welcome and orientation walks in Tulum, Caye Caulker, San Ignacio, Antigua, Monteverde, La Fortuna and San José
  • Leader-led informal Spanish lessons en route
  • Local leader for the entire 32 days

Not included

  • International flights into Playa del Carmen and out of San José
  • All airport transfers
  • Visas UK passport holders need a single-entry Honduras visa in advance, and Nicaragua requires a passport photo page copy 15 days before departure
  • Travel insurance (mandatory)
  • Most meals and all drinks typical budget USD 30-50/day for food
  • Optional activities (volcano hikes, snorkelling trips, zip-lining, Acatenango overnight, cenote visits, etc.)
  • Tips for leaders, drivers and hotel staff

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a luxury or even mid-range hotel experience — this is mostly 2-star with shared-bathroom and multishare nights
  • You're outside the 18-35 age range — the trip is aimed at younger active travellers
  • You don't want to do 7 land border crossings on local timing — some days are long
  • You need air-conditioning every night — not all properties provide it
  • You're not willing to camp one night at Cerro Verde or sleep in a multishare lodge / hostel

Good to know

Tour starts Playa del Carmen — welcome meeting 6:00 pm Day 1 at the hotel
Tour ends San José, Costa Rica — Day 32, no activities planned
Languages Spanish across all seven countries; English in Belize
Currencies seven different — bring USD as backup
Visas Honduras single-entry visa required in advance for UK passport holders
Climate Hot and humid year-round at lower altitudes, cool at higher elevations
Group size Up to 16 (with second group meeting in Antigua at Day 16)
Ages 18-35
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Belize · UK FCDO travel advice for Costa Rica · UK FCDO travel advice for El Salvador · UK FCDO travel advice for Guatemala · UK FCDO travel advice for Mexico · UK FCDO travel advice for Nicaragua

Departures & prices

From £1,853 per person, twin share. 15 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

How big is the group?

This tour runs as a small group with a maximum of 16 travellers and an English-speaking local leader for the full duration. The exact group size on any given departure is confirmed once we have your booking in.

What's the typical traveller age and fitness level?

Most departures attract a 30–65 age mix and the group is solo-friendly. The physical pace is set out under "Good to know" above — check the highest altitude, daily walking distance and notes there. If you're unsure whether the route suits you, we'll talk you through it on the enquiry call.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary
From £1,853
See dates & prices